“The arbitration is still the one in the field”

In one of the seminar breaks that all First and Second Division referees must go through this week, Sánchez Martínez attends AS. It does so with the recently released title of best Spanish braid and in one of its best moments at the international level. He defends his team against “interested criticism” and the authority of the field referee over the VAR referee.

Start the season in a great moment. He has been named the best Spanish referee and to be chosen for the VAR of the women's Champions final.

The truth is that if. It has been great news. Obviously I am much happier for the Acebedo award. Leaves the Committee itself. For all referees it is special because of what it means. I am very happy, but it is true that everything adds up. It does have that positive endorsement for as before. We cannot stop there and new challenges are coming.

Do they feel more valued outside of Spain?

You have to differentiate. The international presence of Spanish referees is increasingly evident: Mateu in the semis, Hernández from AVAR in the Champions League final or myself, from VAR in the women's. At the national level, being honest, respect and understanding, if we put it in a balance, it may not be balanced. There are always many interested statements behind. Also, what hurts us the most is that many times they speak from ignorance. All the referees and the Committee are going to do our bit so that the rules and video refereeing are understood.

Regarding international trust. What is missing for a Spaniard to be chosen to whistle a grand final?

There are also referees of other nationalities with a lot of potential. We have to be humble enough not to believe the navel of the world. The Spanish arbitration has a maximum consideration. But not only at this moment, also in the past, with Luis Medina, Díaz Vega, Velasco Carballo or Undiano, who whistled the last final of the League of Nations. Finals are only played once and Spanish teams have a greater presence.

There are new rules, which one do you think will be more remarkable?

The most innovative thing is the cancellation of that yellow card to the goalkeeper in the event that in a penalty shot he goes ahead and stops the ball. It will not be displayed unless there is a reiteration. Another is if in the penalty shootout he sees a second warning, he will not be sent off. And, on the other hand, we are also clarifying the hands that are produced in an unintentional way but that is an immediate action to the achievement of a goal and that will cause the cancellation of the same.

They qualify him as a referee with a very serious and strict style. Even after a Betis-Barcelona they called him showing yellow in an aggressive and cocky way….

Each referee has a personality, although we make decisions regarding the same regulation. I base my way of refereeing on three pillars that I consider the essential values: consistency, firmness and courage. I like to have a firm control of the game. It's not that it's my brand, it's that of the Spanish arbitration.

Returning to criticism. The VAR while helping them also raises them more

It is a tool that helps refereeing and football. Without it, many actions would not have been sanctioned and justice would not have been done. VAR and soccer are not an exact science. Both have gray situations and that admit interpretation. There is a referee on the field and he is the one who decides. Let's not forget one thing, the refereeing is still the one in the field. The VAR is a support tool.

Some say you would have to decide which one is in the VAR room

The conception and philosophy that VAR now has is correct. We cannot make video refereeing a way to re-referee everything that happens in a match. There is only one referee and he is on the field. The one at VAR is an assistant. He only advises the field to see a play. Everything else is a debate of interpretation and that corresponds to the debate of the street and the bar counter.