CD Tenerife Captain Aitor Sanz Sidelined by Controversial Suspension
CD Tenerife captain Aitor Sanz will miss the final stretch of the promotion race after receiving a suspension that the club has criticized as disproportionate.
Aitor Sanz’s long career at CD Tenerife is reaching a bittersweet conclusion. Local reports confirm that the veteran midfielder will miss the final, crucial stretch of the season due to a suspension handed down by the competition judge—a penalty the club’s leadership, led by Felipe Miñambres, has called excessive. This ruling keeps the player off the pitch just as the team makes its final push for promotion, a goal Sanz has chased for years.
His absence is a significant blow, both on and off the field. Having played 405 official matches for the club, Sanz is a symbolic figure who has endured the heartbreak of previous near-misses, such as the losses to Getafe in 2013 and Girona during the club’s centenary year. To protect his mental well-being, he has avoided dwelling on the outcome of this season. With the club choosing not to appeal, Sanz will miss the upcoming matches against Ponferradina and Barakaldo, only returning if the promotion race remains undecided by the time they face Unionistas.
This latest setback is just another chapter in a career defined by resilience. After overcoming serious injuries and turning down offers from other clubs like Cádiz, the 39-year-old captain is now reflecting on his future. Retirement is a real possibility, depending on his physical health and the club’s plans. While he has learned to manage the anxiety that comes with the end of a long career, he remains focused on helping the team reach the Liga Hypermotion.
The situation echoes past moments in the club’s history, such as when Ricardo León was forced to watch key matches from the sidelines. Coach Álvaro Cervera has expressed his frustration with the suspension, noting that the penalty for Sanz’s reaction after his expulsion in Mérida feels disproportionate. For Sanz, this forced break is one final challenge in a career marked by persistence, as he approaches what appears to be the definitive turning point of his time at Tenerife.