Crackdown on Referees: Gil Manzano Delayed Again After Barca-Sociedad Controversy
Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano has been pulled from officiating for a second consecutive round due to errors in the Barcelona vs Real Sociedad clash. The move reflects La Liga's merit-based sanctions under the referees' committee led by Franco Soto. This is not the first time this regime has handed down penalties, as a similar sanction was imposed on Jose Luis Munuera Montero in a prior round. The ruling emphasizes on-field decisions rather than VAR mishaps and cites a missed red card in the final minutes. The investigation hinges on the January 18 Barca-Sociedad match and the referee’s broader performance metrics.