La Liga legend referee Mallenco: I've never slept better than I have with VAR

A referee's life is anything but easy, but Alberto Undiano Mallenco believes that his job has been made easier by the introduction of VAR.

Undiano Mallenco, from Pamplona, will hang up his whistle after taking charge of Real Madrid's game with Real Betis on Sunday lunchtime after 348 games at Spain's highest level.

"If I had [VAR] for my entire career I would have less grey hair and I would have slept more peacefully," Undiano Mallenco said of the technology's arrival in Spanish football in an interview with MARCA.

"I've never slept better than I have with VAR. It had doubts when it first arrived, like all new things do, but it has been a great success."

Refereeing at the highest level isn't easy, nor is constantly being subjected to hatred and abuse from fans in the stadiums and criticism from the media as well.

"At first it does affect you," he admitted.

"But with age you get used to it. Before there were 10 things [said], but now there's thousands on social media.

"I understand the passion behind it, but the only thing I cannot stand is when I'm accused of favouring someone."

Undiano Mallenco spends a long time away from his family in the job and joked about how he sees his assistants more than his children, but that's not the only difficult thing about the job.

"The worst thing is officiating the regional leagues," he said.

"You have to have a lot of balls; it's hard to follow the play and you're 17 years old managing older people with massive pressure. It matures you.

"On one occasion I was hit in the shower and it hurt. I didn't think it was worth it, but it makes me remember how privileged I am and I moved on from it quickly."