More than 48 hours have passed and we are still impressed by the refereeing of Busquets Ferrer last Sunday at Metropolitan. In his first derby in First Divisionwithin his second season in the top category, and when he has barely whistled a total of 28 games in the elite of Spanish football.
There were up to 23 last season, divided between 20 in the league competition and another 3 in the King’s Cup. To that we must add the five that he has already directed in this second campaign in the highest category of Spanish football.
Given its evolution, the big question is: And when will it achieve internationality? That date could be January 1, 2026 when he will only be 31 years old. An ideal age to begin your career as an international referee.
It couldn’t be before because right now Spain The ten international referee positions have been filled for this 2024-2025 season. Three are in the Elite group (Jesús Gil Manzano, Sánchez Martínez, Hernández Hernández).
Added to this are From Burgos Bengoechea and Martínez Munuera who are in the first group FIRST and the remaining five in the SECOND where they are Munuera Montero, Soto Grado, Cuadra Fernández, Alberola Rojas and Muñiz Ruiz.
But it turns out that next summer Soto Grado He will have to leave arbitration when the Riojan reaches 45 years of age on June 17, 2025. This will leave a free vacancy that, however, cannot be filled by a new referee until January 1, 2026. This is the date when the international is awarded to the new referees. And this is where it could appear Busquets Ferrer.
Only referee to have sent off three players
Another referee who could appear then is the Catalan Garcia Verdura. He was also promoted last season, and was the referee chosen to attend the last CORE course for young referee promises organized by UEFA: Although this data is not conclusive given that there are many precedents of referees who have attended this course and then have not been promoted. Or it has taken a significant time until they have made this leap. In fact, Spain does not have a representative to the CORE of 2025. An absence that is explained because not all countries are present in all these courses for young referee talents. UEFA It rotates so that all 55 countries can attend.
Up to 25 cards shown Busquets Ferrer in the First Division in the five games he has called. This represents an average of 5 per game. Curiously above the category average, which is 4.46 in the 357 shown so far in the 80 meetings held in the category. He is the only one in the category to have sent off three players. He has also called 2 penalties and a total of 142 fouls in his five games. If nothing changes, it seems the right one to achieve this condition with the start of 2026.
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A designation that responds to the total confidence that the refereeing establishment has in the young referee who is barely 30 years old. There are four matches that he has called in First Division this season and where he has already directed Las Palmas-Real Madrid of the second day that ended with a tie at one. He has not yet coached Atlético de Madrid this season.
There were twenty matches last season in the First Division in addition to 3 in the King’s Cup.
There are four matches that he has whistled so far in First Division this season and where he has shown a total of 21 yellow cards. This represents an average of 5.25 per match, above the category average which stands at 4.54 at the end of the seventh day.