Spain's Technical Committee of Referees has declared that Lee Kang-In should have received a red card during Sunday's Madrid derby, endorsing the on-field officiating while also supporting the decision not to dismiss Cristian Romero.

The committee's assessment, released in the days following the capital clash, sided firmly with Real Madrid's position — that the tackle from Lee Kang-In on Federico Valverde warranted a straight sending-off, not merely a yellow card as issued during the match.

At the same time, Spanish officiating authorities backed the referee's call to allow Cristian Romero to remain on the pitch, ruling that the challenge which drew controversy did not meet the threshold for a red card.

The dual verdict adds an official layer of scrutiny to a derby already thick with tension, and is likely to fuel further debate between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid supporters over the handling of key flashpoints in the game.