Sports · Football · 4 hrs ago
Conflicting reports surround referee appointment for Barcelona-Real Madrid
Barcelona and Real Madrid meet Sunday in LaLiga's Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou.
Reports disagree over who will referee: one names Juan Martínez Munuera, another says Javier Alberola Rojas is the leading candidate, while a third reports that Martínez Munuera and Javier Iglesias Villanueva are set to handle the match and VAR.
The referee appointment is not official, and the announcement is expected on Saturday, the day before the game.
Real Madrid coach José Mourinho objected to the referee's name being reported before the planned announcement.
Past decisions involving the officials have drawn criticism from Real Madrid, adding to attention on the appointment.
The match is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m.
ET in the United States.
Reports differ over who is expected to referee Barcelona’s match against Real Madrid on October 25.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Javier Alberola Rojas was the leading candidate, while OneFootball said Alejandro Hernández Hernández had reportedly been dropped from consideration.
UNANIMO Deportes later reported that Juan Martínez Munuera would referee and Javier Iglesias Villanueva would be in charge of VAR.
The Committee of Referees had not officially announced the appointment in the reports.
The match is scheduled for Spotify Camp Nou.
- Who
- Barcelona and Real Madrid; the referee has not been officially confirmed.
- What
- The teams are due to play a LaLiga Clásico, amid conflicting reports about the referee and VAR appointment.
- When
- Sunday, October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Spotify Camp Nou.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Javier Alberola Rojas was the leading candidate to referee the Clásico.
OneFootball reported that Hernández Hernández was no longer being considered and said the replacement had not been confirmed.
UNANIMO Deportes reported that Martínez Munuera would referee and Iglesias Villanueva would oversee VAR, while noting that the appointment was not official.
Barcelona are scheduled to host Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.
- Match date
- October 25, 2026
- Venue
- Spotify Camp Nou
- Mundo Deportivo’s reported favorite
- Javier Alberola Rojas
- UNANIMO Deportes’ reported referee
- Juan Martínez Munuera
- UNANIMO Deportes’ reported VAR official
- Javier Iglesias Villanueva
- Official appointment
- Not announced in the reports
3 sources
What people are saying
The one who was going to be the referee was Hernández Hernández.
Hernández Hernández is not refereeing.
What they do not want is to give Mourinho ammunition.
If Güler is sent off at 0-0 in the 25th minute, the match changes.
Posts on X
🚨 EXCLUSIVA @JuanfeSanzPerez sobre los ÁRBITROS del CLÁSICO. 🚨 👉 MARTÍNEZ MUNUERA ARBITRARÁ el FC BARCELONA-REAL MADRID. 👉 IGLESIAS VILLANUEVA estará en el VAR. ‼️ ¡𝗡𝗼𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝟭𝟮 𝗱𝗲 𝗹𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗢!