Gil Manzano appointed for Villarreal v Valencia derby amid fan unease | OneFootball

The Spanish federation announced that Jesús Gil Manzano will referee Sunday night’s Villarreal v Valencia derby at La Cerámica, a choice that has not pleased either fanbase given past controversies.

It will be his first LaLiga assignment with Villarreal this season, having overseen their 0-6 Copa win at Ciudad de Lucena. For Valencia it is his second of 2025/26 after Osasuna’s 1-0 victory on matchday two, when José Gayà was sent off and an Arnaut Danjuma goal was later ruled out after a tight call.

Valencia’s grievances are extensive. Late in 2024/25 at Mendizorroza he awarded Alavés a highly disputed penalty and stuck with it after a VAR review. Giorgi Mamardashvili and Pepelu said afterwards that even Alavés players told them it was not a penalty, and on Sunday Valencia also face Mouriño, now with Villarreal.

Previous flashpoints include Mestalla in January 2020, when he halted a clear counter after initially playing advantage, then gestured an apology. Two years later at Camp Nou he gave a penalty against Gayà for a challenge on Ansu Fati that the Valencia captain called unjust, insisting he touched the ball first.

Villarreal also recall decisions against them. In February 2017 he dismissed Fran Escribá and gave Real Madrid a handball penalty against Bruno, then in March 2020 at Athletic he penalised Pau for hands and overlooked a late Unai Núñez foul on Paco Alcácer.

In February 2021 he disallowed a late Dani Raba equaliser against Betis for a wrongly applied advantage, and in January 2023 Madrid’s 2-3 Copa comeback stood despite appeals for a Militao foul on Morales. At Mestalla in January 2024 Valencia won 3-1 with two penalties that Villarreal disputed.

Gil Manzano will be assisted by Ángel Nevado and Javier Martínez, with VAR run by Carlos del Cerro and Juan Luis Pulido Santana. He has refereed Villarreal 33 times for 13 wins, 10 draws and 10 defeats, and Valencia 39 times for 15 wins, 10 draws and 14 defeats.

Source: Superdeporte