The referee who expelled Messi and today whistles in the Colombia match

Jesus Gil Manzano He is a 37-year-old Spaniard who these days draws attention to Brazil. Is he European Cup America referee. A continental crossing like that of Fernando Rapallini, the Argentine of the Eurocup.

Gil Manzano began his career as a referee in the regional divisions in 1995. He then went on to the Third Division tournament, and remained there until 2001. With a solid career in promotion, at age 28 he reached La Liga, debuting in a Malaga-Mallorca. Since then, his passage was calm and ordered by the first division, until in January all the lights pointed it out.

(Read also: Copa América and Eurocup 2021: These are today’s matches, July 3).

He was the designated referee for the match between Barcelona and Athletic for the final of the Spain Supercup. After an intense game, although without shocks, a play indicated by the VAR pointed to an infraction of Lionel messi and there something historical happened: Gil Manzano showed him the pfirst red card to the Argentine after 753 games in the first Iberian division.

According to the subsequent report, the detail of the expulsion was as follows: in the 120th minute the Argentine player hit an opponent with his arm using excessive force while the ball was in play but not at a distance from being played. Finally it was Barcelona’s defeat by 3-2, and an image never seen before for the Catalans.

(You may be interested in: Colombia, despite the losses, goes for the quota to the semifinal).

Gil Manzano had not seen the action, but Hernández Hernández notified him from the VAR room and, after reviewing the images, showed the direct red to Rosario, who he left without protest before the clarity of his slap from behind in the face of the Athletic player.

The referee had already been at the center of the controversy when on other occasions expelled the Uruguayan Luis Suárez or Neymar, but the action with the Argentine became a major stir.

Suárez was sent off on February 7, 2017, during the second leg for the Copa del Rey semifinals against Atlético de Madrid. In the same meeting, Sergi Roberto was also expelled. The Uruguayan saw two yellow cards, the second for an elbow to Koke, and thus he missed the final.

That same year, Barcelona visited Malaga and the Brazilian – who already had a yellow card – ran over Diego Llorente with a late tackle and ended up being sent off. Thus, Barça was left without reaction capacity and could not overcome the 2-0.

(We recommend you read: Neymar and his part of victory after the classification of Brazil).

(If you read us from the app see here the referee’s photo).

By an agreement between the Conmebol and UEFA It was established that referees from both tournaments would provide their services in the competitions that this year are held in parallel, for which the Spanish Jesús Gil Manzano was selected to referee in the Copa América.

The Spaniard was the fourth designated official for the opening match of the competition in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Venezuela. In addition, he led two games as the main one: Ecuador vs. Peru and Chile vs. Bolivia. Now it will be the quarterfinal duel between Uruguay and Colombia.

Gil Manzano is FIFA referee since 2014, when he became the youngest Spanish international referee in history, at the age of 29.

(Keep reading: The violent kick of Gabriel Jesús: he was not saved from the red).

The Nation (Argentina) – GDA