A player who was sent off for a 'sexual assault-level' foul beyond imagination during a soccer match has protested his innocence.
Spanish outlet Marca on the 15th (Korea time) provided a detailed report on the clash between Getafe's Abkar, who received a red card for an absurd action during the match, and Atlético Madrid's Alexander Sørloth, who, furious, committed a retaliatory act. Atlético won the match 1-0.
The incident occurred in the 55th minute. With the match temporarily stopped, Abkar and Sørloth became entangled. Referee Ortiz Arias did not hesitate to show a red card. The official report the referee submitted after the match was shocking. Referee Arias stated, "The reason for sending off Abkar was that he deliberately pinched the opponent's genital area while the ball was not in play."
On the footage, Abkar is indeed seen pinching Sørloth's genitals. The victim, Sørloth, did not remain passive either. In pain and shame after the surprise attack on his groin, he grabbed Abkar and forcefully threw him down, and the referee issued a yellow card to Sørloth as well. The report precisely recorded the reason for Sørloth's caution as "grabbing the opponent and throwing him down after the opponent pinched his genital area."
After heavy criticism poured in following the match, Abkar sought to defuse the situation in an interview. In an interview with Movistar LaLiga, he expressed his grievance. Abkar insisted, "I swear I had no intention of touching the genitals. In football, colliding and contact are commonplace. But I would never dream of targeting that area."
He then invoked his "family" to prove his innocence. He added, "I swear to my family. As you can see in the video, I did not look at that area while reaching out. I was trying to touch the abdomen to check where the opponent was, and by chance my hand touched that spot." He explained it was part of a occasional checking motion defenders use to feel the position of opposing attackers.
Despite Abkar's explanation, public opinion is cold. That is because the referee's specific report states not just simple contact but that he "pinched." Rough physical play is common in soccer, but deliberately striking or pinching a specific part of the body is subject to severe discipline beyond an "unsporting act."
In particular, the fact that this incident occurred while the ball was stopped is likely to work against Abkar. From Sørloth's perspective, it was an ambush like a bolt from the blue.
LaLiga's disciplinary committee will conduct a thorough review of the incident. If it determines intent is clear, it will be difficult for Abkar to avoid a long suspension beyond a simple sending-off sanction. Whether his absurd explanation that he "was trying to touch the abdomen" will carry weight with the disciplinary committee is unknown.
[OSEN]