Simeone Slams Refereeing After Atlético Win Falls Short vs Botafogo: “I’ve Never Seen Anything Like It”
Despite a 1-0 victory over Botafogo, Atlético de Madrid crashed out of the Club World Cup, and tempers flared post-match especially from Giuliano Simeone, who didn’t hold back on criticizing the officiating.
“Both were clear penalties. We’re not getting anything. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Simeone told DAZN.
The match was marred by controversy, with two potential penalties involving Julián Álvarez going uncalled, leaving Atlético players and fans in disbelief.
The Controversial Incidents
In the first half, Julián Álvarez was involved in two major penalty shouts:
- In the opening incident, Álvarez dribbled past Gregore, who appeared to pull his leg. The Argentine forward went down but play continued.
- Just before halftime, another clash between Álvarez and Gregore saw the Botafogo midfielder step lightly on Álvarez’s foot after a challenge.
The second incident was reviewed by VAR, and referee César Ramos even went to the monitor. But after a brief look, he chose not to overturn the no-call, sparking outrage from the Atlético bench
Griezmann Scores — But It’s Not Enough
PEAK INSANITY! And we thought Spanish refereeing was the worst…pic.twitter.com/JUJE2jyY3u https://t.co/CHVwjKst6M
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) June 23, 2025
In the second half, Atlético pressed hard and finally broke through with a goal from Antoine Griezmann. But the win wasn’t enough. All three top teams in Group B PSG, Botafogo, and Atlético finished with six points, and goal difference decided the outcome.
- PSG topped the group.
- Botafogo advanced as runner-up, edging Atlético on goal differential.
- Seattle Sounders finished bottom without scoring a point.
Simeone Family Frustration
While Giuliano Simeone voiced his frustration at halftime, his father and head coach, Diego Simeone, also showed visible signs of discontent on the touchline. For a team that dominated much of the match, being eliminated on tiebreakers especially amid refereeing controversy was a bitter pill to swallow.
Key Takeaways
- Atlético de Madrid beat Botafogo 1-0, but failed to qualify due to goal difference.
- Two disputed penalty decisions against Julián Álvarez left players furious.
- VAR reviewed one incident but the call was not overturned.
- The Club World Cup exit adds more pressure on both players and coaching staff as they return to domestic duties.
