The refereeing of the recent Superclasico in Saudi Arabia continues to provoke debate. The performance of Jesús Gil Manzano, the main referee for the match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, is at the centre of criticism. Among the most vocal was that of Mateu Lahoz, a former referee, who caused a sensation.
Barcelona crushed Real Madrid 5-2, but for Mateu Lahoz, scrupulous respect for the laws of the game could have changed the outcome of the match. Speaking on Movistar+’s “El día Después” programme, Mateu Lahoz did not mince his words. In his opinion, Jesús Gil Manzano showed major shortcomings in his management of crucial moments in the match. In particular, he criticised the decision not to send off Eduardo Camavinga for a second yellow card. ‘Camavinga should have been sent off. When a player commits such an obvious foul, the referee has no excuse, especially with the help of VAR. Not to see that is worrying,’ he said.
🚨🗣️ Mateu Lahoz : « Je peux comprendre la décision de ne pas expulser Vinicius car l'intervention n'était peut-être pas intentionnelle, mais Camavinga méritait clairement d'être expulsé. » pic.twitter.com/qBjlMJXV7w
— Barça News (@BarcaNewsFRA) January 13, 2025
Another incident of note concerned Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian winger, already known for his emotional outbursts, stepped on Jules Koundé during a duel. Lahoz believes that this action could have been punished more severely.
‘Vinicius acted dangerously, but he was looking at the ball. It was clumsy, but not intentional. Camavinga, on the other hand, already had a yellow and blatantly caught Lamine. These different decisions raise questions,’ he added.
For the former LaLiga referee, Camavinga’s behaviour during the Clasico is symptomatic of a wider problem. The former referee stresses that this kind of attitude can unbalance a match and that referees need to be more vigilant. Allowing a suspended player to continue without sanction undermines the balance and fairness of the game.
The refereeing team under pressure?
Mateu Lahoz also criticised the time taken by the referee to consult VAR, particularly when Barcelona’s Polish goalkeeper Szczesny was sent off. ‘When it takes so long to make a decision, even with video assistance, it shows a lack of preparation. With several years‘ experience in the refereeing team, these errors are incomprehensible,’ he said.
Another point raised by Mateu Lahoz concerns the attitude of the referees after the match. He sharply criticised their presence on the winners’ podium, deeming it inappropriate. ‘The referees should keep a low profile. To see them celebrating on the podium gives an image of arrogance. Humility is essential, especially after such a contested match’, he reminds us. These statements reopen the debate on the quality of refereeing in major matches. With the stakes so high, every decision counts. Lahoz is calling for a reform of the decision-making process and for referees to be better prepared, particularly in the use of VAR.
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