Spanish columnist accuses Liverpool of playing with ‘severe roughness’ in win over Atletico

Spanish columnist Walter Zimmermann has accused Liverpool of using "severe roughness" in their 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield. Despite the match statistics suggesting a relatively tame encounter, with only two yellow cards and 21 fouls, the refereeing by Davide Massa left Zimmermann and some Spanish media sources outraged.

Zimmermann specifically criticized Liverpool for targeting Lee Kang-in with "severe roughness," citing incidents such as the yellow card issued to Alexis Mac Allister for an ankle injury and Virgil van Dijk's theatrically fallen challenge on Lee. Additionally, Zimmermann accused Atletico's players of engaging in unsportsmanlike tactics, particularly in the first half, with Lee being a major culprit.

He also faulted Massa and VAR official Marco di Bello for their lack of action on the pitch. The columnist expressed surprise at Massa's apparent tolerance of Atletico's theatrics, including Alexander Isak's brief absence from the game after a late tackle. Overall, Zimmermann believes the refereeing was one of the worst he has witnessed, with the home side having the most cause for complaint rather than the visitors.