Referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández, who presided over the Basque derby between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, addressed the media at the end of the match to clarify the controversial decision that gave the penalty in favor of Athletic. In an exclusive interview with DAZN, Hernández explained that, from his point of view, the incident was a clear penalty and that the VAR confirmed his decision.
According to the referee, the incident occurred when Athletic's NicoWilliams was four meters from the sideline of the penalty area, attempting a dribble. At that moment, JonAramburu, a Real Sociedad player, hit him in a way that Hernández considered punishable. “For me on the field it was a clear penalty,” he stated, adding that the action could be analyzed as inside or outside the area, but that the player's position made him feel that the infraction had occurred inside the area.
When questioned about the performance of the VAR and the protests by Real Sociedad, Hernández maintained his position. He noted that the VAR control room had confirmed the penalty decision, indicating that there was no clear and manifest error. “The VAR protocol is that it is confirmed when there is no doubt,” he explained, adding that the difference of opinion between him and the VAR was normal in a match of such intensity.
The referee also highlighted the sportsmanship shown by both teams. “The match was intense and very lively, but without hard or ugly tackles,” he commented. “The players stayed clean in terms of discipline, which is important in a derby with so much emotion.” Hernández concluded that, after the match, he plans to carefully analyze the action to identify aspects that can be improved in future matches.
With the penalty scored, Athletic won 1‑0 over Real Sociedad, which closed the day with a result that favored the players from the Basque city. The referee, after the match, expressed his desire to return home and review the match calmly, underlining the need for time to evaluate all the decisions made during the 90 minutes of play.