The former referee and member of the appointment arbitration committee Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto has gone through the microphones of “El Larguero” from Cadena SER to clarify the arbitration controversy in the penalty of Lenglet to Sergio Ramos in the Classic.
Martínez Munuera in the Classic: “He did a magnificent refereeing of player control.”
Penalty on Ramos: “It is widely seen and discussed. What goes into the play, does it take hold? Is there an opportunity to whistle a penalty when there is a hold? Do we have a television that right now is a Big Brother of football? Well, let each one think” .
VAR penalty: “Do you see it on television? Do you see clearly that there is a restraint? My reflexion is invasive. If you are in the VAR, do you have to call for that play? When a ball hits your hand, you take it out, it is not interpretable there it is almost factual. A restraint may be more interpretable, but a tug of a shirt on television is very noticeable. The VAR notified the referee and decided what he had to decide. The VAR's performance was perfect. One thing is the protocol or that I like. If we want VAR, this is VAR “.
Audio saying it was a prior foul: “Many times an assistant indicates a situation and the referee considers it. To appreciate the fault. The assistant's location is not the most suitable.
Whole play from VAR: “I suppose they would see the whole picture. Perhaps they consider that there is nothing in the positioning. Not like in the Betis game that is interpreted as being a grab. It is the VAR regulation. When it favors, it likes and when it hurts not. VAR has brought it football “.
Choose the referee on Thursday: “We appointed all the referees 48 hours before from the COVID period. If you look at this season, we keep it this season to prevent changes from being the least possible.”
It bothers what Barça says before the game: “The referees arrive because they have an important career. Martínez Munuera did very good refereeing.”
Debate for the referee in this match: “There was debate about the referee better prepared to direct the Clásico. Both Velasco and I thought that Martínez Munuera was the ideal one. We have quality referees and you have to open up so that they can enter these games. Martínez Munuera was very valid for him match”.
VAR: “It has been said that it has to enter into a clear and evident play and that is a silly lie. That is interpretable for each no. In the VAR if there is a grab it is evident. The problem of the VAR is the interpretable. It binds the referee and loses the interpretation of the game. Most teams want more VAR intervention. It takes longer in millimeter plays. There are plays that call what you call you are doomed. Now we talk about Martínez Munuera who did a magnificent refereeing. I would love a debate deep in the world of soccer on the VAR, but not by a punctual play like the one of the Classic “.
Trip from Lenglet to Ramos: “A one-touch play is more interpretable.”
VAR in football: “I haven't heard anyone talk about VAR without complaining when they lose.”
Raise Play: “The referee is the one who decides. The protocol is perfect.”