Controversy Over the Referee Chosen for El Clásico
Alejandro Hernández Hernández will referee the Barcelona-Real Madrid clash on October 25 at Camp Nou. The Canary Islands official returns to a fixture he knows extremely well and one that has featured several highly debated decisions throughout his career.
The next El Clásico already has a date and venue. Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet on Sunday, October 25 at Camp Nou on Matchday 10 of LaLiga, in a game that will once again put Alejandro Hernández Hernández under the spotlight.
The Canary Islands referee will be responsible for officiating one of the most high-pressure fixtures in world football, returning to a stage he knows particularly well.
His appointment also comes with an interesting detail: this will be the second consecutive LaLiga El Clásico in Barcelona officiated by Hernández Hernández. On May 10, he was also in charge of the match that ended with a 2-0 victory for the Catalan side at Camp Nou.
That night, Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a free kick after nine minutes before Ferran Torres doubled the advantage shortly afterward. Real Madrid appealed for a possible penalty following contact from Eric García on Jude Bellingham, but no foul was given.
A Referee With Plenty of History Between Barcelona and Real Madrid
Talking about Hernández Hernández and El Clásico also means looking back at several matches that ended surrounded by controversy.
One of the most memorable came during the 2016-17 season, when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu thanks to Lionel Messi's historic late winner.
A year later came one of his most debated performances. The 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in 2018 featured the sending-off of Sergi Roberto, along with several incidents disputed by both teams.
He was also in charge of the goalless draw in December 2019, another match that left Real Madrid protesting two incidents involving Raphaël Varane inside the penalty area.
His eventual return to the fixture once again came with controversy. During Barcelona's 4-3 victory in May 2025, one of the biggest talking points was a handball by Aurélien Tchouaméni inside the box that did not result in a penalty following a VAR review.
His Most Recent El Clásico Also Featured a Debated Decision
The story continued in May 2026.
Hernández Hernández officiated Barcelona's 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Camp Nou, once again in a match that featured a controversial refereeing decision.
The biggest talking point came in the second half when Eric García caught Jude Bellingham with his arm inside the penalty area. Real Madrid appealed for a penalty, but the referee allowed play to continue and VAR did not intervene.
Former referee Eduardo Iturralde González later argued that a penalty should have been awarded because of the movement of the Barcelona defender's arm.
Not every assessment was negative. Former international referee Barrenechea Montero described Hernández Hernández's overall performance in that match as assured and highlighted his ability to control such a high-intensity fixture.
Another High-Pressure El Clásico at Camp Nou
The sporting context will not leave much room for error either.
Barcelona will enter the match as LaLiga leaders with 21 points after winning their opening seven matches of the season. Real Madrid, meanwhile, currently sits fourth with 15 points following five victories and two defeats.
The match is scheduled for Sunday, October 25 at Camp Nou and will be played as part of Matchday 10 of the Spanish championship.
For Hernández Hernández, it will mean another return to the most closely watched fixture in Spanish football.
His experience is not in question, nor is his familiarity with everything surrounding a meeting between Barcelona and Real Madrid. That is precisely why every decision will once again be under the microscope from the opening whistle.
Hernández Hernández Is Back Under the Spotlight
- Alejandro Hernández Hernández will referee the Barcelona-Real Madrid clash on October 25 at Camp Nou.
- The referee was also in charge of the most recent El Clásico played in Barcelona, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Catalan side in May 2026.
- His history includes several El Clásico matches marked by debated decisions, making his appointment one of the major talking points ahead of the game.
