An insight into referee Jesús Gil Manzano’s personal take on his widely-scrutinised late mistake during Saturday’s La Liga meeting between Valencia and Real Madrid has today been provided.
The name of official Gil Manzano has of course taken its place centre stage in the media headlines across Europe over the course of the last 48 hours.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, however, this comes for altogether less than positive reasons.
Gil Manzano was at the centre of one of the most controversial scenes in the recent history of Spanish football late on Saturday night.
As much came upon the 40-year-old essentially costing Real Madrid what could prove to be a pivotal pair of points in the race for the La Liga title.
A split second before Jude Bellingham nodded home what looked set to mark the most last-gasp of winners deep into injury-time against Valencia, Gil Manzano blew his whistle for full-time.
The move sparked nothing short of chaotic post-match scenes at the Mestalla, as Real’s players and staff alike made their frustrations well known.
The Spanish official is now expected to spend some time away from the game, as punishment on the part of the Spanish football authorities.
And, if the latest comments on the part of Gil Manzano himself are anything to go by, it would appear that he shares the assessment that he was at fault.
Speaking on Monday, Edu García of Onda Cero confirmed that he spoke with the referee in the aftermath of Saturday’s clash.
And Gil Manzano, it is assured, ‘knows he was wrong’:
“I’ve spoken with Gil Manzano today, and what I can say is that he knows he was wrong. He knows he was wrong. But, he’s very calm.”
Conor Laird | GSFN