Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Federico Valverde Injury Threatens Uruguay Friendly Against India
Federico Valverde, a football player for Real Madrid, hurt his left ankle.
Doctors found that he has a serious ligament injury called a grade-three sprain.
This kind of injury can mean the ligament is completely torn.
Reports say he may need two or three weeks to recover.
Because of this, he may miss Uruguay’s friendly match against India on October 6.
Valverde was hurt during Real Madrid’s loss to Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said the referee made serious mistakes.
Atletico Madrid responded by saying Mourinho was harassing the referee.
Real Madrid said Federico Valverde suffered a grade-three sprain in his left ankle.
Spanish media reported that Valverde could be sidelined for two to three weeks.
The injury is expected to rule him out of Uruguay’s October 6 friendly against India.
Valverde was injured during Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid but completed the match.
Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid criticized the refereeing, while Atletico Madrid accused him of referee harassment.
- Who
- Federico Valverde, Real Madrid, Uruguay, India, Atletico Madrid, Jose Mourinho, and Diego Simeone.
- What
- Valverde suffered a grade-three sprain in his left ankle and is expected to miss Uruguay’s upcoming fixtures.
- When
- The injury occurred during Saturday’s Madrid derby; the Uruguay-India friendly is scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- The injury occurred during the Madrid derby, and the India friendly is scheduled for Salt Lake Stadium.
- Why
- Valverde was injured after a heavy challenge, while the dispute arose from Mourinho and Real Madrid’s criticism of the match officiating.
Real Madrid and Mourinho
Atletico Madrid
Match officiating
Real Madrid and Mourinho
Mourinho questioned why a penalty was not awarded for the challenge that injured Valverde and cited incidents he believed should have produced red cards. Real Madrid’s match report described the defeat as being decided by “dreadful refereeing.”
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid responded with social-media posts accusing Mourinho of referee harassment.
- Injury
- Grade-three sprain in Valverde’s left ankle
- Expected absence
- Approximately two to three weeks, according to Spanish media reports
- Match at risk
- Uruguay versus India friendly on October 6
- Injury match
- Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid
- Venue
- Salt Lake Stadium
- Atletico response
- The club posted messages on X using the phrase “#StopAcosoArbitralYA,” translated as “stop referee harassment now”