The officiating team has been announced for Crystal Palace’s crucial European semi-final second leg against Shakhtar Donetsk. The match, which kicks off at Selhurst Park at 20:00 BST on Thursday, May 7, will determine which side advances to the final in Leipzig. An all-Spanish crew of veteran officials has been selected to manage the high-stakes encounter.
The Lead Official: Alejandro Hernández Hernández
Tasked with the whistle is Alejandro Hernández Hernández, a premier Spanish referee with UEFA elite category status. A FIFA-listed official since 2014, the Lanzarote native brings an immense amount of experience to South London, having overseen more than 450 senior fixtures. His resume includes over 230 La Liga games and 17 international matches.
Hernández Hernández is no stranger to pressure, having refereed five El Clásico matches. This season, he has been a frequent fixture in the Champions League and Europa League, recently officiating Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-2 victory over Chelsea. He is also slated to officiate at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America.
The Assistant Referees and Fourth Official
Supporting Hernández Hernández on the touchlines are José Naranjo and Diego Sánchez Rojo.
- José Naranjo: A seasoned UEFA assistant who has been a regular in top-tier European club competitions since 2022.
- Diego Sánchez Rojo: A FIFA-listed assistant who began his career at just 14 years old. Notably, he is set to become the first Galician official to participate in a World Cup and has recently seen more elite-level action than many senior head referees.
The fourth official will be José María Sánchez Martínez. The 42-year-old has been a FIFA official since 2017 and has refereed over 20 Champions League matches, as well as major domestic finals like the 2023 Copa del Rey.
Video Assistant Referees (VAR)
The technology booth will be managed by two highly decorated officials:
- VAR: Carlos del Cerro Grande, a former FIFA referee (2013–2023) with a storied career that includes officiating the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League Final and serving as an official during the Euro 2020 Final.
- AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, who has been FIFA-listed since 2020. His experience spans La Liga, the Under-21 European Championships, and the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Match Official Summary
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Alejandro Hernández Hernández |
| Assistant Referees | José Naranjo & Diego Sánchez Rojo |
| Fourth Official | José María Sánchez Martínez |
| VAR | Carlos del Cerro Grande |
| Assistant VAR | Guillermo Cuadra Fernández |
