Japan Sevilla: “With VAR I would have awarded five of the six penalties”

What does Japan Sevilla do now?

Well, now I am the honorary consul of Japan in Seville and that is what I do now since in addition to leaving arbitration more than two decades ago I am also retired from banking.

Being from Coria del Río, where the interesting story of the arrival of the Japanese in this town takes place (there is even a film about it), how did that possibility arise?

Ever since I refereed in the First Division and from the Japanese embassy they told me that I was the best-known Japan and then they looked for a well-connected person who could be the ambassador in Seville and they appointed me honorary consul when the 400th anniversary of the arrival was celebrated from that group of Japanese to Coria.

And what are its functions?

Well, in addition to representation functions in institutional acts and, in addition, we try to help Japanese citizens, both residents and visitors who may need anything during their stay in Seville.

Changing the subject, this weekend an Oviedo-Real Valladolid game is being played and everyone remembers that match in May 1996, when the Pucelanos won 3-8 with six penalties, two locals and four visitors, which are two records in First Division and Spanish football… You were the referee of that match, how do you remember it?

I am satisfied that 26 years later people are still talking about that game and they remember me, at least for the worse…

In Valladolid for the worse, no, I assure you… And I think that in Oviedo nobody said anything to him either…

The truth is that after having awarded six penalties, four of them against the local team, because neither of the two fans protested, rather the contrary, which for me was a satisfaction.

You awarded six penalties that day. With the VAR would he have whistled them?

Honestly, one of them, no. Specifically the fourth that whistled, the one that was 2-2 and I booked a player. Seen later I could have saved it because I think it clears the ball, but the other five I think I hit. With VAR he would have whistled five of the six.

Didn’t you notice what happened in that game?

Well, the truth is that yes because I did not expect that result, nor so many infractions that I had to sanction. I suppose that the footballers also believe that they have to be very clear as you are calling penalties so that you dare to call one more and I called the ones I saw. If he had seen any more then he would have whistled. It seemed strange to me that after losing the local team in such a lopsided defeat there was no incident but quite the opposite. It seemed that the hobbies were linked or something like that because it was a very nice game for me.

Did the Referees Committee scold you that week or ask you how you could have awarded so many penalties?

The president at that time, Victoriano Sánchez Arminio, asked me how it occurred to me to award six penalties in the First Division and I told him that I had awarded the ones I had seen, that in any case they should tell me up to what number I can award penalties and from there it stopped. I whistled what I saw and I don’t regret it.

Did you perceive tension before the game?

Yes, of course, Real Valladolid was playing for relegation, Oviedo was saved. There was tension for the result that could be given, but nothing beyond the importance of a game like this.

Did you meet later with any of the protagonists of that match?

Well yes. I once met Peternac, scorer of five goals that day, who was playing for Murcia in the 2001-02 season and I was the reporting delegate. José Luis Rodríguez Loreto went to introduce us and when he got closer the Croatian told him: you’re going to introduce me to Japan Sevilla if I have a picture of him on the bedside table at home. I have never scored five goals. And then we talked about that feat.

You, who have been retired for a long time, do you think that VAR helps the referees or is it increasing the refereeing controversies?

Well, I have never thought that the VAR was going to remove the controversy because before it existed there were already television programs where the images were seen and between four or five did not agree. The VAR was not going to remove that controversy, but it does help the referees a lot so that serious errors do not occur. It can help you in certain plays.

Are you clear when a hand should be whistled and when not?

I have it clear, what you have to see is that you have to unify criteria, then each one interprets it in a different way. The criteria are adjusted, but when it comes to seeing it, not all of us see it the same way.