The Espanyol and Barcelona derby, scheduled for tomorrow Saturday, witnesses a historic event with the appointment of Catalan referee Víctor García Verdura to manage the match, while Juan Luis Pulido Santana will handle the video assistant referee duties, reflecting a clear change in the policy of referee assignments within Spanish football.

This appointment confirms the breaking of the regional principle that previously prevented referees from officiating matches involving clubs from the same region. It also serves as a reward for the outstanding performance of García Verdura this season, as he recently officiated the Alavés vs. Real Madrid match.

The decision came from the Professional Football Refereeing Committee, which includes Fran Soto, Gregorio Manzano, and Fernando Teixeira, as part of an increasing trend to normalize the appointment of local referees in derby matches, as has happened this season in several prominent encounters.