The derby referee, an example of improvement

Javier Alberola Rojas He faces his first big game in Liga by directing his first Madrid derby in Spanish football this Sunday. This 32-year-old Castilian from La Mancha has not had it easy in Spanish professional arbitration since he was promoted in the summer of 2017 at the age of just 26.

Alberola was always called upon to preside over Spanish arbitrationl. This was considered by the then president of the arbitration establishment and recently deceased, Victoriano Sánchez Arminio. That alone explains why he was promoted to the highest category of Spanish football and after only two years in the Second Division. Not only that, it also took him to the UEFA CORE referee course where young talents are trained. What seems to be the previous step in a very close international.

However, Alberola’s job turned out to be more difficult than at first. And now, at the age of 32, he began to see his fruit from the hand of the current president. Luis Medina Cantalejo. The Sevillian was part of the technical team when the man from La Mancha was promoted to the First Division. It was the Andalusian who opened the doors of internationality. On January 1, Alberola was one of two referees to achieve the so-called FIFA medal, which covers the vacant positions of Mateu Lahoz and Del Cerro Grande.

Alberola finally enjoyed refereeing this year 2023 and after a year 2022 he will never forget. He was unable to whistle a game for nearly eight months. to the refereeing elite for a serious situation arising from the blockage of two veins very close to the clavicle. A situation that forced him to undergo surgery twice.

More than eight months without being on the field, doing what he loves most. It all started with the refereeing preseason in August 2022 and he was kept in dry dock until December 14 when he finally passed the physical tests. The league break stemming from the World Cup dispute meant it wasn’t until December 22, in a Copa del Rey match between Cacereño and the Gironawhen he jumped on the grass again to feel like he was a referee.

The first after her dire situation and after more than eight months in dry dock. In the First Division, their first match was held a day before the end of the year. On December 30, he again joined the professional referee at the Getafe Coliseum and in the match played by the Madrid team against Majorca. Their previous top category match, which took place on May 5, 2022, was a long time ago. It was Levante – Real Sociedad on matchday 35.

ONLY 19 ARBITRATED MATCHES

There are 19 games played this season in the First Division. 16 in the League and three in the Cup. This season, tonight is their third league match of the 2023-2024 season. He has whistled up to 12 times so far Atlético de Madrid with a balance of seven wins, two draws and only three losses. The last one was in the round of 16 of the Cup of the 2021-2022 season against Real Sociedad in Anoeta.

On only seven occasions did he direct the real Madrid with a balance of four wins, one draw and two losses. Tonight is your world showcase. The debut before the whole world of a referee called to lead the future of Spanish arbitration.