Referee Jesus Gil Manzano Issues Unusually High Number of Yellow Cards in Hapoel Be'er Sheva Victory

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 1-0 win against Red Star Belgrade on August 4, 2026, in a match officiated by Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano. The game was marked by an unusually high number of yellow cards, with Manzano issuing nine in total, including four to Be'er Sheva players. Notably, Be'er Sheva's Matán Baltaxa was sent off after receiving two consecutive yellow cards in the same sequence of play. Manzano, known for his strict refereeing style, averaged 5.16 yellow cards per game over his career, which is above average, but this match's ratio of 2.7 fouls per yellow card was significantly stricter than typical referees who usually issue a yellow card every 5 to 7 fouls.

Manzano also initially gave a red card to Red Star's Derek Lukassen, which was later overturned by VAR. The referee is recognized as one of Spain's top officials and has previously officiated high-profile matches such as El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid. He is remembered for a 2018 incident when Lionel Messi refused to shake his hand after a 2-2 draw between Barcelona and Girona. Manzano also gave Messi his first career red card in 2021. Despite his reputation, Manzano was not selected for the last World Cup and is considered to be in decline.

In the past, Manzano has refereed two matches involving Maccabi Tel Aviv, both resulting in victories for the Israeli club. He has also officiated cup finals in Greece and Egypt, building a reputation as a tough referee who maintains control over games. The match's high card count and disciplinary actions have drawn attention to Manzano's strict approach in European competitions.