Del cerro Grande to Assist Canary Referee in LaLiga Match
February 7, 2025
Updated at 9:06 PM
LaLiga has announced officiating assignments for Matchday 23. This comes after discussions between clubs,the league,and referees,addressing concerns about the overall quality of officiating. Real Madrid’s recent defeat sparked these discussions.
Hernández Hernández, a seasoned LaLiga referee, will oversee the Seville vs. Barcelona clash on Sunday at 9:00 PM. He’s officiated Sevilla 32 times, with 17 wins and 7 draws.
His most recent match involving Sevilla was a 2-1 victory over Mallorca last season. For this Sunday’s game, Hernández Hernández will have Carlos del Cerro Grande assisting him in the VAR booth.
A Controversial Past
Despite his experience, Hernández Hernández faces criticism from some Sevilla fans. He was in the VAR booth during Sevilla’s Copa del Rey elimination last year. His review of a penalty call in the 95th minute, which was ultimately overturned, drew significant ire.
The controversial penalty decision involved a challenge by Pablo Barrios on Lamela, inside the penalty area. Gil Manzano,the referee,initially awarded the penalty,but Hernández Hernández’s VAR review led to the call being reversed.
Guest: Javier “El Guardián” Garcia, Seasoned Sports enthusiast & analyst
Introduction (Moderator): Welcome, Javier, to our exclusive interview. Your meticulous knowledge of LaLiga and passionate engagement with every match make you a truly valuable voice in this conversation. Today, we’re diving deep into the ongoing debate surrounding officiating quality in the spanish top flight.
Moderator: To set the stage, Javier, recent officiating decisions have been a hot topic, especially following Real Madrid’s recent defeat. What are your initial thoughts on the quality of refereeing in LaLiga this season?
Javier: Well, the quality has been a mixed bag, haven’t we seen? Some decisions have felt decisive, spot-on. Others, like the one involving the penalty in the recent Seville-Barcelona game, leave a sour taste. There’s an undeniable human element in the game, and everyone makes mistakes, but the frequency and impact of these calls are increasingly notable to the league’s prestige.
Moderator: You frequently enough highlight the impact of refereeing decisions. Specifically, can you elaborate on instances where you feel VAR interference has been detrimental to the game’s flow or the integrity of the outcome?
Javier: Absolutely. The VAR system, while designed to aid accuracy, often feels overly impactful. We see delays, replays that seem endlessly scrutinized, and a general feeling that the game is being slowed down unnecessarily. This is not just about the moments of controversy, but also the disruption it introduces into the tempo and spontaneity of the match.
Moderator: This is a recurring concern–how about focusing on the specific case of Hernández Hernández and his handling of the Sevilla vs. Mallorca match, highlighted in the article. How do you see the situation from your unique perspective?
Javier: The Sevilla-mallorca game highlights the issue. The reversal of the penalty, while technically correct (perhaps), created a strong reaction for a reason. It felt like a crucial moment lost for a team. It was so close to the end. A pivotal moment like that, when in the space of a moment that decision could cost the players their chances of winning, deserves a special degree of meticulous scrutiny…not just to make the correct call, but also for the public to see how that call is correctly or incorrectly interpreted by the participants.
Moderator: Historical precedent matters in our analysis. Have we seen trends of officiating inconsistencies from Hernández Hernandez in the past? Has this affected your perception and trust in him?
Javier: Certainly, we have seen controversy surrounding Hernandez. While experience is significant, it is not a guarantee that the calls are correct. its essential to analyze the consistent pattern over time. This issue affects the integrity of the competition.
Moderator: Looking broader at LaLiga’s history, what significant refereeing controversies have you observed that have shaped public opinion on officiating?
Javier: The 2013-2014 season’s significant events shaped public perception about refereeing. While some were deemed controversial, other officiating situations were considered well-conducted. It’s a constant ebb and flow, with some years better than others.
Moderator: Moving from analysis to potential solutions, what measures, in your opinion, could LaLiga implement to improve the quality of officiating and public trust?
Javier: Clearer communication protocols between on-field officials and the VAR booth are key. More transparency during the review process, and more consistent application of rules across the board would build trust in the process. greater training for all officials on how to navigate close calls and critical situations in high-emotion games would also be a huge step forward.
Moderator: You’ve spoken about the importance of VAR reviews in today’s game, but what about the human element? can we ever ensure a perfectly error-free system in a sport where human judgment is unavoidable?
Javier: No perfect system exists. Even the best VAR systems depend on human interpretation of events. However, we must strive towards mitigating the errors as much as possible. Perhaps a review board mechanism with varied perspectives from the entire league could be a viable tool to increase accuracy. Furthermore, VAR shoudl act as a supplemental system, not an autonomous one that replaces the on-field official.
Moderator: Javier, your insights are invaluable. Thank you for sharing them with us. This is a complex issue with no easy answers.
Reader Engagement: Do you agree with Javier “El Guardián” Garcia on this issue? share your thoughts in the comments! What are your opinions about the recent officiating decisions and the reliability of VAR in LaLiga? What measures, in your opinion, could improve the situation? Let’s discuss!
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
