Ref Calls Kang-in Lee Tackle ‘Clean’ Before Valverde Is Diagnosed With Grade-Three Sprain

Ref Cam footage has revealed the referee describing Kang-in Lee’s challenge on Federico Valverde as “clean” before the Real Madrid midfielder was diagnosed with a grade-three ankle sprain.

The incident occurred during Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 derby victory over Real Madrid on Sunday.

Lee caught Valverde on the left ankle with his studs as the Uruguayan attempted to carry the ball forward. No foul was awarded, no card was shown and VAR did not intervene.

Footage recorded from referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias’s body camera captured him immediately calling: “Ball, clean.”

Valverde remained on his feet, continued playing and completed the match despite suffering what Real Madrid initially described as severe trauma to his left ankle.

Further tests later confirmed a grade-three sprain, the most serious classification of ankle sprain.

Spain’s refereeing committee subsequently reviewed the incident and concluded that the original decision had been wrong. Its assessment found that Lee’s studs made contact with Valverde’s leg while the challenge caused a dangerous twisting of the ankle.

The committee said Lee should have been shown a red card and VAR should have intervened to correct what it described as a clear and obvious error.

Jose Mourinho had already highlighted the challenge during his post-match press conference, arriving with a printed image of the contact as part of his evidence against the officials.

The Ref Cam was introduced to provide supporters with a clearer understanding of decisions from the referee’s perspective.

On this occasion, it successfully demonstrated how a red-card challenge can be declared completely clean with considerable confidence and an excellent view.