Who is Garcia Verdura, the first Catalan referee to officiate a derby?

BarcelonaVíctor García Verdura will make history, becoming the first Catalan to referee a Barça-Espanyol derby in La Liga. This unconventional appointment will test the abilities of the referee from Maresme and has stirred controversy, both among his colleagues and within the Espanyol camp, whose manager has made their displeasure with the decision clear.

García Verdura was born 31 years ago in Sant Iscle de Vallalta and his career has been meteoric. At 22, he debuted in Segunda B and five seasons later was promoted to the second tier of Spanish football. Once there, he only needed two seasons in professional football to captivate the directors of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) thanks to a refereeing style that perfectly suits the profile currently sought: discreet, low-profile referees who prefer to prevent conflicts and remain inconspicuous.

Thus, this high-voltage derby reaffirms the CTA's confidence in the Catalan referee, one of the great promises of national refereeing. Furthermore, if predictions hold true, next year he will wear the badge that accredits him as an international referee alongside Alberola Rojas and Busquets Ferrer, with García Verdura leading the way for the next generation of referees.

The Federation breaks with the territoriality criterion

The decision to appoint a referee from the same autonomous community is part of the refereeing reform being promoted by Rafael Louzán, the newly elected president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), together with Javier Tebas, the head of La Liga. The president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Fran Soto, has gradually implemented the measures imposed by the RFEF. At the start of the season, he selected two assistant referees from Asturias for the Oviedo - Real Sociedad match. A few weeks later, Carlos del Cerro Grande from Madrid officiated the VAR in the Atlético de Madrid - Real Madrid match, and during the first phase of the Copa del Rey, the main referees officiated matches involving teams from their own federation. The highlight was José Luis Munuera Montero, the Andalusian referee who officiated the Seville derby between Sevilla and Betis at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Now, García Verdura will write a new chapter at the RCDE Stadium.

Neither the referees nor Espanyol agree with this measure

A large part of the professional refereeing staff does not welcome this decision for safety reasons. They believe that being assigned to matches of this nature could endanger their safety and that it is not a significant step forward in improving refereeing. The CTA (Technical Committee of Referees) did not consult with the group before making its decision, leaving them to accept the new normal without any say in the matter. Manolo González, however, has spoken openly about the appointment. The Espanyol coach made his displeasure clear, considering it "a mistake" that doesn't make "much sense." "It's just trying to stir up controversy when it's not necessary." He also expressed his hope that the "pressure" of the match wouldn't "work against the referee." "I think it's putting pressure on him, so that whatever he does, people will criticize him. Imagine if Espanyol benefits. Which could happen... It's better to leave Catalonia if that occurs."