José María Sánchez Martínez (SM) is the great favoriteas we already anticipated in MARCA a few weeks ago, to whistle the final of the Copa del Rey on May 6 in La Cartuja (Seville) between Real Madrid and Osasuna. An international referee must whistle that day and, although there were several candidates, Sánchez Martínez seems to be on pole position, according to referee sources confirmed to MARCA a few days ago. The Lorca referee whistled the last Real-Barça Classic (October 2022) in Madrid and has just been, with good success, in the dramatic Espanyol-Getafe last weekend.
The Murcian has had a great season and, in fact, at the European level, the most complicated quarterfinal match (first leg) of the Europa League, between Feyenoord and Roma, was very good at it. The Spaniard solved it with flying colours, hitting all the momentous decisions: penalty in favor of Roma, cards… In Europe, moreover, they do not rule out that our referee will represent Spain in another game in the remainder of the season. He deserves it, of course.
As soon as the Cup is confirmed, and emphasizing that SM is guaranteed, like most of our referees, the hope that Antonio Mateu Lahoz had of saying goodbye to refereeing with the Cup final vanishes, something that had been an unwritten law in our arbitration. Two recent cases: Clos Gómez retired in 2017… and whistled the Cup final. The great Undiano, the Spanish referee with the most First Division matches, retired in 2019… and whistled the Cup final. But Mateu, for the little existing ‘feeling’ with President Luis Medina Cantalejo, will not be graced with this honor.
Mateu and Del Cerro Grande, let’s remember, will be removed from the arbitration scene (they will not be renewed) by the Technical Committee of Referees. Del Cerro was ruled out of the cup final because he was from Madrid and Madrid was competing in the final, but Mateu Yes, I could have chosen. But…it won’t be her dream homage.
2023-05-01 22:02:00
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