The moment a sigh of relief is heard during the review of the handball in Fermín’s goal, as seen on @elchiringuitotv.
He was the clear favorite to referee El Clásico, and according to ‘ABC’, there will be no surprises. Alejandro Hernández Hernández is poised to be the referee appointed by the Technical Committee of Referees of the Spanish Football Federation to officiate the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid next Sunday at the Spotify Camp Nou.
All rumors pointed in the same direction, and according to the cited source, the RFEF will choose Hernández Hernández, the only Spanish referee set to officiate at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, for a match that could decide the La Liga title. For the first time in history, El Clásico could see a champion crowned. Barcelona would win the league if they secure a win or a draw against their eternal rivals.
Barcelona boasts strong numbers in matches officiated by the Canary Islands referee: 25 wins, 12 draws, and only 4 losses. A 90% result rate under Hernández Hernández would allow them to retain the league title. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has weaker records with him: 21 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses.
If ‘ABC’s report is confirmed, the referee from Lanzarote will officiate his sixth Clásico. The previous five encounters under his watch ended with two Barcelona wins, two draws, and one Real Madrid victory.
**Last Season’s Controversy**
The most recent precedent, however, left a sour taste for Barcelona fans. Although Hansi Flick’s team defeated Madrid 4-3 at Montjuïc in the second half of last season, Hernández Hernández’s performance was far from flawless. He missed a clear handball penalty by Aurélien Tchouaméni, who could have been sent off with a straight red card in another action where only a yellow was shown. He also failed to call a possible foul by Valverde on Lamine during one of Mbappé’s goals and disallowed a goal by Fermín for a handball very similar to the one he had ignored from Tchouaméni.
It’s worth noting that the RFEF typically announces match referees the day before the games. So, we will have to wait until Saturday (in principle) to know if Hernández Hernández is ultimately chosen for a Clásico that could be historic.
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