Top Spanish Referee Martínez Munuera to Officiate Israel vs. Ireland

Spanish referee Juan Martínez Munuera, 44, will officiate Sunday's UEFA Nations League match between Israel and Ireland in Bačka Topola, Serbia. Munuera, a veteran of over a decade in Spain's La Liga, has a distinguished career that includes officiating El Clásico matches, cup finals, and numerous European competitions. He was appointed by UEFA to lead the officiating team, which includes linesmen Carlos Álvarez Fernández and Iván Masó Granado, with César Soto Grado serving as the VAR referee.

Munuera, born in 1982, began his refereeing journey at a young age, joining the Spanish refereeing system in 1993. He progressed through the lower leagues, reaching the second division in 2010 and La Liga in 2013. He received his international referee badge in 2015. Refereeing is a family affair for Munuera, as his father was also a referee, and his brother Miguel served as a linesman in top Spanish leagues.

His standing in Spanish football is underscored by his assignments, including the 2021 Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, and the 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship final. He also served as VAR for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final.

Munuera is particularly known for his El Clásico assignments, having refereed Barcelona against Real Madrid multiple times, including a notable 2020 match where he awarded Real Madrid a penalty after a VAR review, a decision that sparked significant debate. He also officiated the 2024 Supercopa final in Riyadh between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

This will not be Munuera's first encounter with Israeli football. He previously refereed Hapoel Be'er Sheva's 3-1 victory over Lugano in the 2022 Conference League qualifiers. He has also served as VAR for Maccabi Haifa in their Champions League and Conference League matches and for the Israeli national team in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Belarus in September 2023.

Munuera's career has not been without controversy. In March 2024, Real Madrid filed a complaint alleging he omitted offensive chants directed at Vinícius from his match report. The Spanish refereeing committee defended him, stating no such alerts were made by Real players, and a disciplinary committee later closed the proceedings against him.

Munuera continues to receive high-level assignments in European competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League. For the upcoming Israel-Ireland match, he brings extensive experience in high-pressure games, making him a seasoned official for the Israeli team.