The Spanish elite Carlos del Thero Grande blows the whistle in the “eternal” debut after the Jovic injury!

White smoke and immediately!

A little while after the Croatian Fran Jovicdefined by Steve Bennett in Sunday’s derby (9/4, 21:00) between Panathinaikos and Olympiccausing strong reactions from both clubs, declared an obstacle due to injury, his replacement was found! As we had previously announced, he is elite and in fact, one of Europe’s leading whistlers. So it’s about him Spanish Carlos del Thero Grande!

The 47-year-old had blown the whistle for the first and last time in our country again on the Avenue, 2.5 years ago, and specifically the Panathinaikos-PAOK 1-3 on November 7, 2021. He has, however, directed several times matches of the Greek teams in Europe, but also of our National Team. It is worth noting that, in the relevant EPO announcement regarding the replacement of the derby referees, it is emphasized that “Jovic informed on Thursday afternoon and after the definitions had been announced, that due to injury he will not be available for the match in question».

And it is noted: “After personal contacts of head referee Steve Bennett with UEFA’s head of refereeing, Roberto Rossettithe referee of the Panathinaikos-Olympiacos match will be the Spanish elite class, Carlos del Thero Grande».

In order to explain, because the elite referee has now been found and not before ending up with top-ranked Croatian Jovic after the obstruction of the Israeli Greenfieldthe EPO states: “The referee in question (including Del Thero Grande), although initially, as the Spanish Federation had informed the EPO, he was not available, due to his obligations next Friday as a VAR in his domestic league (obviously in Sevilla-Thelta)after consultation between the two Federations and UEFA, finally accepted the proposal and will replace Fran Jovic, who due to a disability will not be able to manage Panathinaikos-Olympiakos».

It is worth noting that, of course, both the assistants and the VAR have changed, all spanish and… one spanish girl! The first assistant will be Poras Ayouso, the first female referee (assistant) in the history of the Spanish football league. In 2021, in fact, he was appointed to the main final of the Copa del Rey between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao. The second assistant will be Garcia Gonzalez and Hernandez Hernandez will be in the VAR. The rest -Greeks- remain as they are: 4th will be Papadopoulos and AVAR o Psarris.

The matches of Greek teams that Del Thero Grande has refereed:

Stoiximan Super League

November 7, 2021 Panathinaikos-PAOK 1-3

Champions League

September 19, 2018 Ajax-AEK 3-0

November 3, 2020 Manchester City-Olympiakos 3-0

Europa League

December 8, 2016 APOEL-Olympiakos 2-0

February 15, 2018 AEK-Dynamo Kyiv 1-1

March 18, 2021 Arsenal-Olympiakos 0-1

February 24, 2022 Olympiacos-Atalanta 0-3

International friendly

May 15, 2018 Saudi Arabia-Greece 2-0

Champions League qualifiers

August 21, 2019 Olympiacos-Krasnodar 4-0

Nations League

November 18, 2020 Greece-Slovenia 0-0

The EPO announcement in detail:

After contacting the referee Fran Jovic, who was originally appointed for the Panathinaikos-Olympiakos match in the context of the 4th matchday of the Super League play offs with KED, the Central Refereeing Committee is obliged to proceed with the immediate replacement of the refereeing team.

The referee in question although initially, as the Spanish Federation had informed the EPO, was not available, due to his obligations next Friday as a VAR in his domestic league, after consultation between the two Federations and UEFA, he finally accepted the proposal and will to replace Fran Jovic who, due to a disability, will not be able to manage Panathinaikos-Olympiakos.