UEFA has taken the unprecedented step of dismissing two Spanish referees, Alejandro Hernández Hernández and Jesús Gil Manzano, from officiating at Euro 2024 following complaints about their performance.
Hernández, who served as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), came under intense scrutiny for dismissing Scotland’s penalty claim in their 1-0 loss to Hungary last Sunday. Manzano faced criticism for an error during France’s 1-0 victory over Austria.
In addition to the referees, their assistants, Diego Barbero Sevilla and Ángel Nevado Rodríguez, have also been sent home.
This decision leaves Juan Martínez Munuera, another VAR official, as the sole Spanish representative for the remainder of the tournament.
Former La Liga referee Iturralde Gonzalez has urged the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to improve relations with UEFA following the dismissal of four out of five Spanish officials after the group stage.
“There is an urgent need for a Spanish representative on the refereeing committee,” Gonzalez told Spanish radio network Cadena SER.
Controversial Decisions
The controversy began during Scotland’s match against Hungary when Stuart Armstrong was brought down inside the box by Willi Orban. Argentine referee Facundo Tello dismissed the penalty claim, and lead VAR Hernández did not advise a review.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke expressed his frustration, stating, “In a European competition it might have been better to have a European referee.
But we had European VAR. Maybe the referee didn’t see the challenge clearly on the pitch, but what’s the purpose of VAR if they’re not going to come in on something like that? It’s a penalty. It’s 100 percent a penalty.”
In another incident, Austria was dissatisfied with Manzano’s officiating in their 1-0 defeat to France. The Austrians were not awarded a corner shortly before Max Wöber’s own goal secured the win for Didier Deschamps’ side.
Ongoing Implications
Despite earlier reports suggesting his removal, Facundo Tello has been named the fourth official for Italy’s last-16 tie against Switzerland on Saturday. This decision has added another layer to the ongoing debate about officiating standards at Euro 2024.
The dismissals highlight the challenges and pressures faced by referees at the highest levels of football, where every decision is scrutinized, and mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
As the tournament progresses, the focus on officiating standards remains high, with UEFA under pressure to ensure fair and accurate decision-making on the field.
