Who is Jésus Gil Manzano, the referee for Galatasaray vs Liverpool in the Champions League?
The Champions League round of 16 kicks off in Istanbul, where a familiar face to Real Madrid and Barcelona fans will be in the middle.
The Champions League round of 16 gets underway on Tuesday, with Galatasaray hosting Liverpool in Istanbul. Rams Park is known for its hostile atmosphere and a familiar face to fans of Real Madrid and Barcelona will be on hand to make sure things don’t spiral out of control.
Who is referee Jésus Gil Manzano?
Spanish referee Jesús Gil Manzano will be the man attempting to keep the peace and order in Turkey. The 42 year old has officiated four Clásicos between Madrid and Barça since 2014 so has plenty of experience of high-profile encounters.
Hailing from Don Benito, located in the western Spanish region of Extremadura, Gil Manzano commenced his career as a referee in Spain’s LaLiga during the 2012/13 season and, at the youthful age of 29, achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest Spanish official to ascend to the rank of FIFA international referee.
🗒️Jesus Gil Manzano'nun bugüne kadar yönettiği Türk takımı ve A Milli Takım maçları;
— Webaslan (@webaslan) March 8, 2026
🏆UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi elemeleri (2016/17)
✅Fenerbahçe 2-1 Monaco
🏆2018 FIFA Dünya Kupası Elemeleri
✅Türkiye 2-0 Finlandiya
🏆UEFA Uluslar Ligi B - Grup aşaması (2018/19)
✅İsveç 2-3… pic.twitter.com/5pNLOrOYxE
Subsequently, he has presided over numerous prestigious tournaments, such as Euro 2024, the Champions League, the Europa League, 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Euro 2020 qualifiers, and the UEFA Nations League.
Gil Manzano’s Messi run-ins
He is remembered by many as the referee who showed a red card to then Barça captain, Lionel Messi, marking the first red card of his club career, in the 2021 Spanish Super Cup final between Barcelona and Athletic Club, which ended in a 3-2 win for the Basques.
That was Gil Manzano’s second run-in with the Argentine superstar. Following a 2-2 draw between Barça and Girona in September 2018, Messi refused to shake the official’s hand, unhappy with decisions that had gone against him and his team.
So far this season, Gil Manzano has refereed 25 games, five of which have been in the Champions League. Most recently, he was in charge of the first leg of the knockout phase playoff between Monaco and PSG, in which he sent off the hosts’ Aleksandr Golovin early in the second half.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool referee team
Gil Manzano will be assisted by fellow Spaniards Angel Nevado and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso. Juan Martinez Munuera will act as fourth official, while Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez and Valentín Gomez handle VAR duties.
Related stories
Who's through after match day 4
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment