Huijsen Condemns RFEF For Suspension Of One Match

Dean Huijsen (left) still doesn't accept the red card in the Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad (Instagram/@realmadrid) match.

JAKARTA - Dean Huijsen condemned the decision by the Spanish Football Federation Appeal Committee (RFEF) which confirmed the suspension of one match even though he had previously admitted that the Real Madrid defender should not have been sent off last weekend.

The 20-year-old received a straight red card in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday, September 13, 2025, with referee Jesus Gil considering his foul on Mikel Oyarzabal as an attempt to thwart a goal-scoring opportunity.

The centre-back was later suspended for one match despite the incident being discussed in a recent video analysis of the Spanish Referee Committee (CTA) on controversial decisions on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, admitting that the most appropriate punishment was a yellow card.

Despite this, the RFEF Appeal Committee maintained the sentence on Thursday, September 18, 2025, by finding that different interpretations of the incident may have occurred, including those in the referee's report.

That is, according to the RFEF Appeal Committee, the referee's interpretation in the field cannot be considered a clear and real mistake.

"They admitted their mistake, but I was still punished. A good image for Spanish football," Huijsen wrote in an Instastory on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, a weekly summary of the CTA video published this season, in an effort to increase transparency around referees, stated that Huijsen's violation of Oyarzabal, which occurred near the midfield line, with another defender, Eder Militao, nearby, was open to interpretation.

"This action presents two possible scenarios, depending on the second Real Madrid defender (Militao)."

"If we believe he can come and fight for the ball, the right punishment should be a yellow card, for a promising attack."

"If, as the referee interpreted, distance makes it impossible to fight for the ball, it is a clear scoring opportunity, which is punishable by a red card," the video voice actor said.

CTA said the incident did not meet 100 percent of the necessary criteria for DOGSO (rejecting a goal-scoring opportunity). The most appropriate punishment is a yellow card even though CTA also argues that VAR is right not to intervene.

"This action is included in what we call a gray area, which allows more than one interpretation. So, the decision must remain in the hands of the referee in the field," said CTA.

Huijsen's red card prompted Real Madrid's internal TV channel, Real Madrid TV, to announce that the club was compiling a referee's decision file in Spain over the past year, to be sent to FIFA.

Huijsen will now miss the La Liga match against Espanyol on Saturday, September 20, 2025, WIB night.

Los Blancos have frequently criticized the standards of Spanish referees. The criticism has escalated following the Negreira scandal, with witnesses testifying in court this week as part of an investigation into payments made by their rival Barcelona to the former Deputy President of the Spanish Referee.