Spanish Referee Sánchez Martínez Appointed for PSG-Liverpool Clash
UEFA has appointed Spanish official José Maria Sánchez Martínez as the referee for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool at the Parc des Princes. The announcement, confirmed by the European governing body's official list, places an official with a mixed history for French clubs in charge of one of the competition's most anticipated ties.
Sánchez Martínez, a FIFA-listed referee since 2019, has taken charge of a PSG match only once before. That encounter was last season's dramatic round of 16 second leg away at Bayern Munich, a 2-0 defeat where the Parisians endured a nervy second half but ultimately progressed on aggregate. His overall record in matches involving French clubs in the Champions League, however, makes for more concerning reading for the Ligue 1 champions.
According to a statistical review by French outlet L'Équipe, Sánchez Martínez has overseen six Champions League games with French participants. The only victory for a French side in those matches came this season when Stade Brestois beat PSV Eindhoven 1-0 in the playoff round. Other notable fixtures include a 0-0 draw for AS Monaco against Juventus and, more controversially, Olympique de Marseille's 1-0 home defeat to Atalanta in this season's group stage, a match marred by disputed officiating decisions.
For Liverpool, the appointment is likely to be viewed as a neutral factor. The Spaniard has refereed the Reds twice previously in European competition. He was in charge for a 2-0 win over Midtjylland in the 2020-21 Champions League group stage and, more recently, oversaw Liverpool's 5-1 away victory at Sparta Prague in this season's round of 16. His style is considered strict, with a tendency to issue cards; he showed eight yellows in that recent Sparta Prague match.
The context adds a minor subplot to a tie already rich with narrative. PSG, led by Luis Enrique, are seeking to advance beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since 2021, while Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, aim to continue their strong European tradition. The referee's past assignments will have little bearing on the 90 minutes of play on the pitch, but his previous encounters with French teams have undoubtedly been noted by the Parisian coaching staff. The focus for both teams now shifts to final preparations, with the official appointment a standard procedural step in the build-up to a major European night.
