Simeone Doesn't Hold Back: "They Think We're All Fools"
The coach of Atlético Madrid made it clear that the important thing is not the fact that VAR audios are leaked, but rather the content of them. Pay attention to his words.
After a tumultuous refereeing day in LaLiga EA Sports and on the eve of facing Sevilla in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, Atlético Madrid's coach, Diego Simeone, warned on Wednesday that "it doesn't matter what gets leaked" from VAR audios, but rather their content.
"It's so difficult... because depending on which side you're on, there are always situations. The referees are going through very pressured moments. Absolutely sure. The VAR improves them, but at the same time exposes them. That's the reality. Then, we start arguing whether the audio is good or if it's being leaked... It doesn't matter what gets leaked, but what happens, but they think we're all fools. That's what's annoying," he emphasized in a press conference.
After the controversial Real Madrid victory against Almería, with three VAR audios officially published between Hernández Hernández, the VAR referee in that match, and Hernández Maeso, the match referee (the penalty in favor of the white team, the goal disallowed to the Andalusian team, and the goal allowed to Vinicius, considering that he hits it with his shoulder and not with his hand), another audio has been leaked, broadcast by the 'Jijantes' program about a possible foul by Vinicius on an opponent. The Technical Committee of Referees is investigating this leak.
At the same time, Simeone advocated for naturalness in VAR and referee decisions. "What we all need is the tranquility that things are natural, and when things are natural, anything can happen; we can all make mistakes because nobody is perfect, even with the possibility of VAR, but with naturalness," he expressed.
" When things happen naturally, everything flows. When things start not to be natural, obviously people get nervous; they go to the stadium, and as soon as there's a situation in the box, it's a penalty; when a player is stepped on even minimally, it's a yellow card and expulsion... And the referees are already overwhelmed. It's a very complicated moment for them," he reviewed.
"I absolutely believe that the only way we can generate improvement from the place that corresponds to us, coaches and players, is to be quiet, run, let them referee, and play because that's the only thing we can do," added Simeone.
