Pulido Santana, the football referee suspended for Catalan-phobic comments

SabadellCanary Islands referee Juan Luis Pulido Santana has sparked a new controversy following statements made on the Rogue Cast podcast, in which he harshly criticized former Catalan referee Xavier Estrada Fernández, whom he described as "a wretch" and "a sinister character." But the issue isn't just the insult itself, but the underlying message. During the interview, Pulido explicitly introduced a particularly sensitive element: Estrada's political ideology: "Now he's playing the nationalist, a total Catalan, but he was certainly getting paid by the Spanish Football Federation," he stated. He even added a highly symbolic remark: "When he officiated the Copa del Rey final, he had to bow down to the national anthem."

The communications team of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of the Spanish Football Federation authorized Pulido Santana's participation in the podcast, but was unaware of the interview's content before its publication. The governing body has decided to temporarily suspend Pulido Santana, who did not work as either VAR or AVAR this weekend, the two roles he usually performs during matchdays. The reason for the sanction is not only his statements about Estrada Fernández's background but also the fact that he spoke openly about Real Madrid TV and revealed internal aspects of the refereeing establishment. Referees know that when dealing with the media, they must maintain a low profile and project an image of neutrality and professionalism. Pulido did the opposite and ignited another fire at a particularly delicate time for the refereeing community.

A long career with an abrupt end

Pulido Santana, 42, born in Las Palmas, is affiliated with the Canary Islands refereeing association, a committee with limited historical influence within the Spanish refereeing structure. The most notable exception is Alejandro Hernández Hernández, an international referee who has reached UEFA's highest level. Pulido debuted in the former Segunda División B at just 23 years old, but had to wait almost a decade to make the leap to Segunda División. In the second tier, he completed six seasons, officiating three matches. play-off of promotion. One of them, the Eibar-Girona (0-2) match of the 2021-22 season, ended up being decisive for their promotion to the First Division.

The decision was made by the then president of the CTA, Luis Medina Cantalejo, even though several members of the Technical Committee favored Dámaso Arcediano Monescillo, who had officiated the decisive match between Tenerife and Girona that same season.

Pulido arrived in the First Division at 39 years old, an unusual age to debut in the elite. In these cases, the CTA usually values ​​experience with the idea that the referee can complete their cycle until the regulatory limit of 45 years. But things went badly: he did not adapt to the demands of the elite and the CTA's confidence in him dwindled.

His time in the First Division was marked by inconsistency. During the 2024-25 season, he accumulated a number of highly criticized performances, until a Girona-Madrid match marked a turning point. Pulido himself acknowledged it: "Not sending off Nacho for a tackle on Portu ruined my career." From that moment on, his assignments were limited to "mediocre matches." At 42 years old, the CTA (Technical Committee of Referees) decided to let him officiate on the field, which led to an earlier retirement than is typical for referees in the First Division. However, the new refereeing leadership later reinstated him to the system, and he is currently part of the specific VAR referee team.