Hernandez Hernandez scores just 4.75 in controversial Betis win over Real Madrid

Spanish referee Hernandez Hernandez has been given a mark of 4.75 by Spanish officiating platform Archivo VAR after a controversial performance during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat by Real Betis.

The La Liga fixture was played on Friday at La Cartuja, where several of the referee’s decisions attracted scrutiny as Betis secured victory against the visitors.

Archivo VAR judged that Hernandez Hernandez failed to manage the match effectively, with his control deteriorating as the game progressed and tensions increased between the players of both sides.

One of the key decisions came shortly before half-time, when the referee showed Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler what the review described as a harsh yellow card. That decision subsequently made it more difficult for Hernandez Hernandez to deal with the same player.

According to Archivo VAR’s assessment, Guler committed another foul that warranted a booking, but the referee chose not to issue a second yellow card and therefore did not send him off.

The review also examined a late penalty awarded to Real Madrid. Archivo VAR considered the decision defensible, but said the incident did not appear to involve a reckless or obvious challenge.

Replays suggested that the contact was not as forceful as Vinicius Junior’s “theatrical” reaction indicated. The analysis also noted that the ball had already moved away from the Real Madrid forward before the contact occurred.

There was further debate over the positioning of Marc Bartra during the penalty. The Real Betis defender appeared to enter the penalty area as the kick was being taken, but Archivo VAR said there was no conclusive evidence that he had stepped on the line before the shot was struck.

If it had been confirmed that Bartra entered the area illegally, the penalty would have had to be retaken, according to the analysis.

Archivo VAR’s referee ratings are based on several aspects of a match official’s performance. These include consistency when awarding fouls and disciplinary sanctions, maintaining a uniform standard for decisions and bookings, overall game management and the referee’s authority when making important calls.

The platform also assesses how VAR is used in decisive situations, as well as reviewing major incidents such as penalties, sending-offs and disallowed goals. Situations in which an offence might have been awarded but was not are also included in its evaluation.

Hernandez Hernandez’s low score came after Real Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Real Betis in the fourth round of La Liga. The result and the officiating decisions ensured that the referee’s display remained a major talking point after the final whistle.