Referees rarely give their time, but for years, in events like the Cup or the Super Cup, their voice and, above all, their opinion can be heard. More important in a context in which the ‘Negreira case‘ monopolizes the conversations around his profession. César Soto Grado, who will be in charge of the VAR in the ‘classic’ of the final, has his blood “boiling” at the labels they receive due to the issues of the payments received from FC Barcelona by the former vice president of the Referee Technical Committees.
“They can’t take us all as if we were corrupt”
“We are tired. Imagine if we say that in your media, because there is one corrupt person, you are all corrupt. That is happening with the ‘Negreira case’. He is the character who has done the most damage to Spanish arbitration,” criticized the Riojan with an overflowing naturalness and rage. “I honestly don’t know of any impact on my career as a referee. I spoke with him three times in my life (11 years of career in First Division) in 30-second conversations. “90% of the committee was led by Díaz Veiga and Sánchez Arminio”assured Juan Martínez Munuera, main referee of the final.
The members say they feel harassed in their daily lives, “even in the supermarket they tell us that we are corrupt.” For both Martínez Munuera and Soto Grado, they hope “that the court makes decisions once and for all and that whoever has to pay has to pay. They cannot take the rest of the CTA as if we were corrupt“Hence, the field referee of the final assures that the group is experiencing “the most difficult moment, because our honesty is constantly being questioned.”
“I just want this to be resolved on a professional level”
Miguel Martínez Munuera, his brother and LaLiga assistant, revealed to the Civil Guard that his brother paid alleged coaching services to Javier Enríquez Romero, son of José María Enríquez Negreira. In the appearance prior to the Super Cup final, the referee said he was unaware of this information: “When there is such an important game, I try to isolate myself.” He also acknowledged that during the statement he was at the Women’s World Cup in Sydney.
“When the sentence comes out I will answer all the questions about Enríquez Negreira. I guarantee it. But I am very calm. I know that I have not done anything illegal. I just want this to be resolved professionally.. I don’t want people calling me corrupt in the supermarket. They scold you. We want this to be solved now,” Martínez Munuera insisted.
On a sporting level, for Martínez Munuera “Tomorrow’s game is faced with an added responsibility, but it doesn’t catch me by surprise”. The man from Alicante made his debut in the ‘clásicos’ in 2019/2020 with an empty goal, when Real Madrid attacked the Camp Nou (1-3). The second was a resounding victory for Barcelona at the Bernabéu (0-4) and the third, last season, also ended 0-4, although favorable to Real Madrid, who thus reached the Cup final.
2024-01-13 11:46:26
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