MWhile the noise harasses Spanish arbitration within our borders (with multiple controversies), FIFA, with its designations for the 2022 World Cup, ratifies that the Spanish arbitration, and particularly VAR, is at the forefront of the world, as evidenced by the fact that three VAR officials from our country will be in Qatar, a unique case, since no other National Committee will have three representatives. Are Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, Alejandro Hernández Hernández and Juan Martínez Munuera.
Mateu, to Qatar. The Valencian referee will be at the World Cup as the only Spanish referee, along with his usual assistants Pau Cebrin and Roberto Daz. He is the “team”, as Mateu usually calls it. There were three candidates from our country: Mateu, who has just turned 45; and the also exceptional Del Cerro Grande (one year older); and the extreme Gil Manzano (the youngest and who points to the 2026 World Cup, if he continues in this good line).
A broken ‘norm’. It was not an easy decision for FIFA. Collina, his refereeing ‘boss’, holds Mateu in great esteem, but there was a historical precedent against which the Valencian was fighting. Lahoz already directed in the 2018 World Cup (Denmark-Australia and Iceland-Croatia) and in Spanish arbitration there was this unwritten rule: since 1966, no Spanish ‘braid’ had been in two World Cups in a row. Specifically, the only one who repeated was Juan Gardeazabal, who was in three in a row: Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and England 1966. Due to that precedent, Mateu had it more difficult, at least on paper. Lahoz has also directed at the 2016 Olympic Games and Euro 2021, in addition to being in the last 2021 Champions League final between Chelsea and City. And successfully, by the way..
Renew at 45. Before the referees who reach that age, went to retirement. But the Committee abolished that rule (it already happened to Del Cerro), and Mateu, who recently turned 45, will complete a great year, this one, renewing his arbitration commitment for one season, provided that the Committee confirms it and passes the physical tests. relevant in the summer.
The playoffs, another success for Spanish arbitration? And not everything can stay here. At the beginning of June, the two remaining European play-offs are played: Scotland-Ukraine and their winner against Wales in Cardiff. And, according to FIFA sources, the Spanish arbitration could have a representative in one of those matches. The names will not be far from the aforementioned Mateu, Del Cerro or Gil Manzano. This would confirm that Spanish arbitration, regardless of who weighs it, is one of the best in the universe. This is how FIFA endorses it.
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