Back
According to a report by Madrid Universal on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Real Madrid have successfully challenged the yellow card issued to Ibrahima Konate during their match against Villarreal, reducing his booking tally from four to three and improving his chances of featuring in the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona on October 25.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee overturned the referee’s decision after examining video evidence submitted by the Spanish club. The ruling provides relief for Madrid, who had been concerned about the possibility of losing the French defender through suspension ahead of their crucial league encounter with Barcelona.
Before the appeal was approved, Konate faced the risk of missing the El Clasico if he received another yellow card during Sunday’s meeting with Sevilla. The successful challenge has removed that immediate concern, allowing the defender to approach the fixture without the same disciplinary pressure.
Konate received the booking from referee Isidro Diaz de Mera during Madrid’s encounter with Villarreal. The incident occurred in the 81st minute when he was penalised for an alleged foul on Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno.
According to the referee’s report, the defender was cautioned for bringing down Moreno while attempting to challenge for the ball. The official considered the incident an interruption of the attacker’s progress that prevented a promising offensive opportunity.
Real Madrid disagreed with the decision and submitted an appeal supported by video footage. The club argued that the available evidence did not support the circumstances recorded by the referee, prompting the disciplinary authorities to review the incident.
After examining the footage and Madrid’s submissions, the committee concluded that the original booking was based on a significant factual error. The video evidence reportedly showed that Konate had not made physical contact with Moreno during the incident.
This finding provided sufficient grounds for the authorities to overturn the yellow card and amend the defender’s disciplinary record. His total number of bookings has consequently fallen from four to three.
The decision represents an important boost for Madrid as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures. Konate’s availability could provide additional defensive stability as the club prepares to face Sevilla before turning its attention to Barcelona.
However, Madrid will still have to cope with the absence of Vinicius Junior for the highly anticipated El Clasico. The Brazilian forward has reportedly received a four-match suspension from the Disciplinary Committee following his red card against Villarreal.
With the appeal resolved, Madrid can now focus on their upcoming matches while managing the remaining disciplinary and selection challenges affecting the squad.