The sudden disappearance of Juan Luis Pulido Santana from the roster of VAR referees for upcoming football matches has sent a clear signal throughout the refereeing community. His absence cannot be attributed to routine rotations or professional reasons—the decision was made by the management after Pulido Santana openly expressed his views on several contentious topics in the ‘Rogue Cast’ podcast. This move immediately sparked discussion among experts and fans, since such measures are rarely taken without serious grounds.
In his statements, Pulido Santana raised issues that have long sparked debate in Spanish football. He described in detail a situation when, following one match, he was left out of refereeing appointments for an entire month—a decision that, according to him, completely changed his standing in the professional community. Particular attention was drawn to his assessment of an incident involving player Nacho during the Girona-Real Madrid match, where, in the referee’s opinion, a deserved red card was not issued. Such candor is rare among active referees, which led to the harsh response from the management.
Sharp criticism
Pulido Santana’s remark about former referee Xavier Estrada Fernández proved just as controversial. He questioned his colleague’s professionalism, noting that, in his opinion, Xavier was never a real referee and now, being outside the system, allows himself to make irresponsible statements. These words caused a strong reaction in the refereeing community and heightened tensions around the situation.
As ‘Archivo Var’ notes, the decision to remove Pulido Santana from the list of referees assigned to upcoming matches is not related to technical issues or scheduled rotation. Normally, VAR referees are involved almost every week, and their absence is immediately noticeable. This time, the matter is a direct punishment for public statements, highlighting the strict stance of management on internal discipline.
Consequences for refereeing
This situation could set a precedent for other referees who may consider making public comments on controversial issues. Management has made it clear that it will not tolerate open criticism or discussion of internal decisions outside official channels. This could lead to even greater secrecy within the refereeing body and tighter control over employees’ public statements.
At the same time, such measures raise questions about the transparency and independence of refereeing. Many experts believe that open dialogue and discussion of controversial incidents help football develop and increase trust in referees. However, in this case, the management chose a tough response to prevent further conflict and maintain control over the situation.
Community reaction
Fans and experts are actively discussing the incident, expressing a range of opinions. Some support the management’s decision, considering it necessary to maintain order, while others see it as an attempt to suppress free speech and conceal problems within the refereeing system. According to russpain.com, such incidents can negatively affect the image of Spanish football and spark new debates over referee transparency.
Juan Luis Pulido Santana is a referee from the Canary Islands who has specialized in working with VAR in recent years. His career has featured participation in several key matches of the Spanish championship, as well as repeated debates over controversial incidents involving him. Pulido Santana is known for his principled stance and willingness to openly discuss refereeing issues, which has repeatedly led to conflicts with management. His current suspension has become one of the most talked-about events in the Spanish football community in recent months.
