Manuel Mejuto González
Encyclopedia
Manuel Enrique Mejuto González (La Felguera
, Langreo
, born 16 April 1965) is a former Spanish football referee. He is known for refereeing two matches in the Euro 2004 in Portugal. He has also refereed three UEFA Cup matches and thirty-seven UEFA Champions League
matches in his career, which include the 2005 Final
between Liverpool
and Milan
.
Mejuto received extreme criticism from the Scottish press following a vital Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland
and Italy
on 17 November 2007. Scotland had to win in order to qualify, but the match ended with an Italian win following the referee's decision to award Italy a dubious free kick (which they subsequently scored from) that the Scotland manager
Alex McLeish
described as "unbelievable".
On 26 August, 2009 Gonzalez was once again embroiled in controversy regarding questionable officiating. During a Champions League game, at New Highbury between Arsenal v Glasgow Celtic, Gonzalez awarded Arsenal a penalty shot when he judged Celtic goalkeeper Boruc to have tripped an Arsenal forward. Celtic players were incensed and proven to be right when replays clearly showed that the Arsenal player had dived. This call ended any chance Celtic had of winning the tie and once again vilified Gonzalez in all of Scotland's eyes.
At the Euro 2008 finals, Mejuto dismissed the managers of both teams, Joachim Löw and Josef Hickersberger
, from the touchline and into the stands at the end of the first half of the Group B
match between Austria
and Germany
on 16 June 2008, "for what appeared to be an ongoing spat with the fourth official", according to the BBC.
Mejuto was criticized by Zlatan Ibrahimović
for his performance in a 2010 World Cup qualification
match between Sweden
and Denmark
on 10 October 2009, where he dismissed two Swedish goals. The second goal was dismissed in a situation where neither Mejuto or his assisting referees had viewed the situation, thus sending Sweden out of the World Cup finals. In the 2009–2010 Uefa Champions League first leg tie between Inter Milan and Chelsea Gonzalez was criticized for his decision not to award a penalty to Salomon Kalou after an questionable foul by Walter Samuel on him Inter went on to win 2–1.
La Felguera
La Felguera is the largest parish in the municipality of Langreo, Asturias, in the north of Spain, with 21.000 inhabitants. It is the fifth largest town in Asturias, after Gijón, Oviedo, Avilés and Mieres. It is an 18 minute drive by car to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias...
, Langreo
Langreo
Langreo, , officially Llangréu / Langreo is a municipality of northern Spain, province of The Principality of Asturias....
, born 16 April 1965) is a former Spanish football referee. He is known for refereeing two matches in the Euro 2004 in Portugal. He has also refereed three UEFA Cup matches and thirty-seven UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
matches in his career, which include the 2005 Final
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
between Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
.
Mejuto received extreme criticism from the Scottish press following a vital Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on 17 November 2007. Scotland had to win in order to qualify, but the match ended with an Italian win following the referee's decision to award Italy a dubious free kick (which they subsequently scored from) that the Scotland manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
described as "unbelievable".
On 26 August, 2009 Gonzalez was once again embroiled in controversy regarding questionable officiating. During a Champions League game, at New Highbury between Arsenal v Glasgow Celtic, Gonzalez awarded Arsenal a penalty shot when he judged Celtic goalkeeper Boruc to have tripped an Arsenal forward. Celtic players were incensed and proven to be right when replays clearly showed that the Arsenal player had dived. This call ended any chance Celtic had of winning the tie and once again vilified Gonzalez in all of Scotland's eyes.
At the Euro 2008 finals, Mejuto dismissed the managers of both teams, Joachim Löw and Josef Hickersberger
Josef Hickersberger
Josef Hickersberger is a former professional football player and former coach of the Austria national football team and Austrian club side Rapid Wien.-Club career:...
, from the touchline and into the stands at the end of the first half of the Group B
UEFA Euro 2008 Group B
Group B of the 2008 UEFA European Championships was one of four groups of competing nations at UEFA Euro 2008. The first of the three rounds of matches were played on 8 June, and the final round was completed on 16 June. All six of the group's matches were played at venues in Austria, in Vienna and...
match between Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
and Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
on 16 June 2008, "for what appeared to be an ongoing spat with the fourth official", according to the BBC.
Mejuto was criticized by Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan and the Swedish national team for which he is captain....
for his performance in a 2010 World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
match between Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
and Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
on 10 October 2009, where he dismissed two Swedish goals. The second goal was dismissed in a situation where neither Mejuto or his assisting referees had viewed the situation, thus sending Sweden out of the World Cup finals. In the 2009–2010 Uefa Champions League first leg tie between Inter Milan and Chelsea Gonzalez was criticized for his decision not to award a penalty to Salomon Kalou after an questionable foul by Walter Samuel on him Inter went on to win 2–1.
Honours
- Guruceta TrophyGuruceta TrophyIn Spanish football, the Guruceta trophy is awarded by Spanish sports newspaper MARCA to the best referee for each season. It is named in honour of the famous Spanish referee, Emilio Guruceta.-Rules:...
: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 - Silbato de Oro: 1993–94 (Segunda División B), 2003–04 (La Liga)
- Don Balón AwardDon Balón AwardFrom 1976 until 2010, the Spanish magazine Don Balón confered the Don Balón Award to the best Spanish player, the best foreign player, the best referee, and the breakthrough player in La Liga...
(Best Spanish Referee): 1996–97, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2007–08