Martínez Munuera in line to referee Levante v Valencia derby | OneFootball

According to AS, the CTA intends to announce next week that Martínez Munuera will take charge of Levante v Valencia on Sunday 15 at 18:30.

This season the CTA has begun dismantling territoriality in Spanish football. Previously, officials could not oversee teams from their own autonomous community. The change was phased, assistants first, then VAR, then the main referees, and only for derbies.

Under those criteria, Munuera Montero handled the Seville derby and García Verdura the Catalan one. Both appointments were deemed very satisfactory and echoed in other divisions and the Copa del Rey.

Martínez Munuera is poised to be the next to cross that line in the Valencian derby in two matchdays' time. He is a high level referee, well regarded internationally, and considered suited to a major occasion.

Even so, this does not mean territoriality will be broken in every remaining regional derby this season or beyond. The aim is to remove a barrier and appoint the most suitable officials, not to apply it automatically. For instance, García Verdura is the only Catalan referee in the top flight, so a repeat for Barcelona v Espanyol would not be logical.

One final step remains under debate, appointing an official who shares territoriality with only one of the teams, either this season or later. For now, little by little.

Source: AS