Hernández Hernández was reported to be the frontrunner to referee Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on October 25, but the appointment had not been officially confirmed. Radio MARCA’s report, relayed by Managing Madrid on October 7, said the Spanish Football Federation was set to select the referee for the Clásico, the date and venue of which were set for the first league meeting between the sides this season.
Reports on the Clásico appointment conflict
Mundo Deportivo echoed Radio MARCA’s account, saying Hernández Hernández would be chosen, and the October 7 report expected the referee’s name to be announced within days. That made him the reported favourite, not a confirmed appointment.
There has since been a significant qualification. AfricaSoccer reported on October 8 that the claims had been rejected, citing refereeing account Archivo VAR, which said the appointments panel had not yet met. The outlet also reported that Sport had contacted federation sources who confirmed the identity would remain unknown; the two accounts leave the initial frontrunner report in doubt.
The reporting timeline matters: the first account described what was expected, while the later update said no decision had been made. As of the information available on October 8, Hernández Hernández could not be described as officially appointed to the match.
His records with Barcelona and Real Madrid
The October 7 report gave Hernández Hernández a substantial history with both clubs. He had refereed Barcelona in 42 matches and Real Madrid in 37, with the respective results listed as follows:
| Club | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 42 | 26 | 12 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | 37 | 21 | 6 | 10 |
Those figures are the records supplied in the original report; they do not establish how an appointment would affect either side. Refereeing decisions are already a point of heightened scrutiny around Madrid, amid the club’s recent complaints about officiating.
Federation decision still pending
The October 7 account anticipated an announcement within days, but the later report said the appointment remained undecided and described a policy of naming referees 24 hours before matches. The Spanish Football Federation had not officially named the referee in the reports available by October 8.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are due to meet at Camp Nou on October 25, with the stakes of the fixture adding to the attention around the eventual selection. Until the federation confirms its choice, Hernández Hernández remains a reported candidate rather than the Clásico referee.