He was without doubt a brilliant ref but must have had a brain like a pea or shit advisers, he could have waited until he'd actually finished before cashing in.
Not worth anything after he's finished though. If I was facing my last year or so and couldn't do the big games anymore, I'd be thinking give me the cheque, and if it means I don't do that extra year, no problem. I suspect GM still had to cough up. However, I'd equally say that La Liga did the right thing.