A Madrid VAR keeps Mourinho's Madrid alive

BarcelonaMourinho's hostility towards referees has turned the Santiago Bernabéu into an especially uncomfortable stage for administering justice. Vinícius's expulsion against Villarreal added more fuel to the fire, with a controversy that culminated in the four-match ban imposed by the Competition Committee.

The referees who officiate Madrid games know that they will be examined under a magnifying glass and that any controversial decision against the white team can mark their professional career. In this context, the main goal is to tread lightly, without making much noise.

An alleged assault that could have changed the game

The Madrid-Sevilla match presented itself as a true trial by fire for Mateo Busquets Ferrer, the youngest referee in the First Division, who at only 32 years old already wears the international badge. The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) had bet on the Majorcan for his sobriety and ability to appease conflicts without making a scene. Furthermore, his record with the white team was immaculate: six wins and two draws in eight matches.

But everything could have blown up in the 22nd minute. Arda Güler was crossing the midfield line at full speed while fighting for position with Peque, who was repeatedly holding him. The Turk tried to shake off the Sevilla player until he lost his cool and struck him with his arm. Busquets Ferrer had his back to the action, with the ball far away from the alleged aggression, and all the responsibility fell into the hands of the VAR.

The VOR room was captained by Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, a Madrid-born referee assigned to the Balearic Committee who was relegated last season despite holding international status. Currently, he is part of the specific VAR referee corps and continues to accumulate top-level European appointments, under the wing of fellow Madrilenian Carlos Velasco Carballo, head of UEFA video officiating.

Cuadra initiated a very long review that lasted up to three minutes, but finally decided not to intervene. The regulations state that a player who strikes an opponent in the face or neck with their arm, without challenging for the ball, must be sent off, unless the force used is insignificant. The impact of Güler's arm was forceful. The point of contact, however, was not clear.

The television broadcast did not offer any conclusive image and it is likely that the VAR decided not to intervene because it did not have any clear enough evidence to prove the alleged violent conduct before Busquets Ferrer. The paradox is that it was precisely Güler who, minutes later, scored the first goal of the match and paved the way for Madrid's victory.

Meritocracy, reliability or promotion?

The Technical Committee of Referees has pondered the designation of the referee for the Clásico more than usual. A few days ago, a media outlet claimed that Alejandro Hernández Hernández would be the one chosen to officiate the duel, but, as ARA has learned, the Canary Islander will not whistle at the Camp Nou.

The Designation Committee is made up of former coach Gregorio Manzano, former referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes, and the current president of the CTA, Fran Soto. However, the designation of a Barça-Madrid match has an undeniable media and strategic component that transcends strictly sporting criteria and gives decisive weight to those in charge of Spanish refereeing.

In this scenario, several proper names have been put on the table, all of them international. To begin with, the Valencian Juan Martínez Munuera is the referee who has had the best start to the League, with high-level performances in demanding matches, among which the Sevilla-Barça game stands out. On the other hand, the Andalusian José Luis Munuera Montero has established himself as the most reliable referee of the last two seasons and his conciliatory nature fits especially well in the current context.

The third candidate is Javier Alberola Rojas, one of the great bets of Spanish refereeing, who has recently been promoted to the First category, the second most important in the European rankings. This Tuesday, he will make his Champions League debut refereeing Sabah-Borussia Dortmund, a new step forward in his international projection. The CTA could take advantage of the most prestigious showcase in Spanish football, the Barça-Madrid match, to give a definitive boost to his candidacy for the elite.

As an alternative, there is José María Sánchez Martínez, a reliable referee who has accumulated proven experience in high-stakes matches, with seven Clásicos under his belt.