Getafe furious at Real Madrid star after brutal challenge: “He tried to smash my face in”

Getafe pulled off a stunning upset at the Santiago Bernabéu, taking all three points thanks to a solitary goal from Martín Satriano. But the win was overshadowed by a dangerous incident involving defender Diego Rico, who was left furious after a hard and risky challenge from Real Madrid center-back Antonio Rüdiger. The German’s knee struck Rico squarely in the face, a move the Getafe player described as deliberate.

Rico: “He could have ended me on the pitch”

In an emotional interview with Deportes COPE, Rico did not hold back when describing the severity of the challenge. “If I had been in the wrong position, he could have left me lying on the field. He went out to smash my face in,” said the left-back defender, visibly upset by his opponent’s conduct.

Rico made it clear he saw intent in the collision, linking it to a confrontation between the two just seconds earlier. “It’s obvious he meant to hit me because in the previous play we had a scuffle, and the referee called a foul. On his way back to defend, he was saying things, and on the next play, he comes at me with the ball. You even see him almost push a teammate out of the way to smash my face in,” Rico explained.

Criticism of VAR and double standards

The Getafe fullback’s frustration extended beyond Rüdiger to the match officials, particularly the VAR. Rico criticized the video review system for failing to intervene, citing what he sees as a clear double standard. “If it were the other way around, I’d have been out for 10 games and wouldn’t have played all season,” he said firmly.

Rico called the decision not to review the incident “incomprehensible,” pointing to referee Valentín Pizarro, who oversees the VAR room. “I don’t know what the VAR is for if not for situations like this,” he added.

Full squad shares the outrage

Rico’s complaints mirrored the mood across the entire Getafe squad, which left the Bernabéu bewildered at how the German international was allowed to stay on the field.

In the mixed zone, the word “red card” was repeated over and over. Head coach José Bordalás and several senior players, including midfielder Luis Milla, spoke to the media, insisting that the challenge warranted a straight sending off. While the victory for Satriano’s goal brought joy, the incident once again raises questions about VAR consistency in Spanish soccer.

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