UEFA has today named a Spanish referee Lionel Messi snubbed as the man to oversee West Ham’s semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
One of the biggest single matches in the history of West Ham United is now just over 48 hours away.
The Hammers will head out to Germany this week looking to overturn the 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium.
But West Ham only actually need one goal for the chance to get to the final.
That would even the scores up on aggregate. And with the away goals rule having been abolished, that would give West Ham extra-time to find another goal or the chances to go through on penalties too.
Ahead of – and after – the first leg, many fans and pundits cited the fact Frankfurt had an extra day of rest over West Ham as a big advantage as the German’s recorded that 2-1 away win.
UEFA name Spanish referee Lionel Messi snubbed for West Ham semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt
The roles are reversed for the second leg as Frankfurt were in action a day after West Ham, losing 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen on Monday night.
Like Moyes, Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner rested key players to save them for the all-important Europa League final two decider.
Today UEFA have named Spanish referee Lionel Messi snubbed as the man to take charge for West Ham’s semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jesus Gil Manzano has handed out 136 yellow cards and seven red cards in 33 games this season.
The official recently refereed Liverpool’s 3-1 away win in Benfica. So let’s hope the Reds’s fellow English side West Ham record a similar scoreline on Thursday night.
It will be all Spanish officials with Gil Manzano supported by Diego Barbero and Ángel Nevado as his assistants.
Alejandro Hernández and Juan Martínez Munuera are on VAR duty while José María Sánchez is the fourth official.
But Gil Manzano is perhaps best known for an incident back in 2018 when the legendary Lionel Messi refused to shake his hand following Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Girona (The Sun).