Friends, this is like when a runner arrives ready at the starting line and is suddenly told not to run. This is how Luis Enrique Santander, one of the most experienced referees in Liga MX, felt when he was removed from the Clausura 2026 semifinals just when he already had the match assigned.
What happened?
The Referees Commission released a brief, almost cold statement, announcing a last-minute adjustment. Santander was going to whistle the Pachuca vs Pumas first leg, but minutes after making it official, they turned it around. His place was taken by Ismael Rosario López Peñuelas, a whistler who is on a good streak this tournament.
“The Referees Commission of the Mexican Soccer Federation reports an adjustment in the referee designation corresponding to the first leg of the semifinals of the Clausura 2026 tournament of the Liga BBVA MX”
The rumor that spreads in the locker room
According to several sources, everything indicates that the decision has to do with what happened in the series between América and Pumas. There, Santander scored two penalties against the university team, and that seems to have weighed in the balance. In sports, sometimes a bad step takes you out of the race, even if you have miles of experience.
My opinion as a former runner
This reminds me that in sport, as in life, a mistake can cost you dearly, but it is also an opportunity to learn. Santander knows what pressure is—he’s been in big games—but this change teaches him a lesson: consistency is key, not just the name. López Peñuelas has the opportunity to show that the change was correct. In the end, what matters is that the game is fair and that the protagonists—players and referees—give their best. Let’s keep trying!
