Jan Oblak is not pleased with the role of referee Danny Makkelie during the Champions League match between Liverpool and Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening (2-0). The Dutch referee handed out a red and seven yellow cards to the team of coach Diego Simeone and also disallowed two Spanish goals. “It is the arbitral decisions that hurt us,” said the goalkeeper, who is supported by Simeone.
Makkelie gave Felipe a red card in the 36th minute. The defender of Atlético Madrid took down Sadio Mane from behind and thus defused a counterattack. Felipe then walked away from the situation, after which Makkelie called to him. When Felipe refused three times, Makkelie drew a red card. “One more. One in the game against Liverpool and now another one,” Oblak told Movistar Plus. “There were similar incidents against FC Porto and AC Milan and there were no red cards,” said Oblak, who said he finds it “difficult to talk about it”.
Atlético Madrid did not have a good first act ??
Trailing 2-0 and then a red card to Felipe followed by two quick yellows for Luis Suárez and Koke ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #LIVATM pic.twitter.com/fTJNnpkD3z— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) Nov 3, 2021
Simeone can understand the frustration of Oblak and his players. “You saw it for yourself,” said the Argentinian during the press conference after the game. Luis Suárez and Koke were punished with yellow by Makkelie when she protested against Felipe’s red card. “The boys show their emotions about what they feel and what they perceive,” Simeone said. Atlético striker Griezmann, who was suspended after a red card in the home game with the Reds two weeks ago, tweeted that he also did not agree with the red card. With the text ‘Amarilla en Anfield’ (Yellow at Anfield), the Frenchman believes that his Brazilian teammate’s offense was previously worth a yellow card.
Amarilla and Anfield…??
— Antoine Griezmann (@AntoGriezmann) Nov 3, 2021
After the break, Makkelie disallowed two goals from Atlético. The goals, by Diogo Jota and Suárez respectively, were reversed after VAR intervened due to offside. Atlético are third in group B of the Champions League with four points from as many games after the loss on Wednesday. They are now eight points behind leaders Liverpool. The Spanish superpower, which is one point behind number two FC Porto, will take on the last player AC Milan on November 24. The away game against Porto is scheduled for December 7.