Hernandez Hernandez tipped to referee Barcelona v Real Madrid as criticism begins

Spanish football journalist Roberto Gomez has named Hernandez Hernandez as the expected referee for the clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday, 25 October, in the 10th round of La Liga.

Gomez made the claim on the La Tribu programme on Marca radio. Presenter Raul Varela immediately responded: “Well, that is bad news.”

The exchange was reported by Marca, with Varela then joking: “Now the campaign to stop it begins. Well, tomorrow it might be Fran Soto…” His comment referred to the possibility of the referee being changed because of the presenter’s view.

Varela subsequently explained why he did not want Hernandez Hernandez to take charge of the match.

“I don’t like him as a referee, and I don’t like his record in clasicos,” he said. “I think it is completely unnecessary. I believe it is the wrong decision.”

Gomez replied: “You have just ruined it.”

When Gomez asked which other officials might be better suited to overseeing the most important fixture in Spanish football, Varela suggested several alternatives.

“I would prefer Martinez Munuera, for example. I like that referee a lot,” he said.

Varela also named De Burgos Bengoetxea, whom he described as “a good person and a good referee”.

The discussion took place ahead of the meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou, with Hernandez Hernandez’s reported selection already prompting debate in the Madrid media.

The fixture is scheduled for Sunday, 25 October, as part of the 10th round of La Liga.

The source listing also includes Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Getafe on 10 October 2026, and Real Madrid’s La Liga match against Villarreal on the same date.