Spanish Football Federation Plans Overhaul of Refereeing System

Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzán has announced plans for significant changes to the country’s refereeing system. The announcement came during the annual meeting between La Liga clubs, the Technical Committee of Referees, and league officials.

“The Spanish refereeing system will change,” Louzán stated before the meeting. “We’re here to listen to the clubs and find a system that satisfies everyone. It will be a structural model change.” He emphasized the importance of working closely with clubs to develop the new model.

A key goal is to make the Referees Committee an independent institution separate from the RFEF structure, similar to systems in Germany and England. Louzán indicated that all stakeholders, including La Liga, would be consulted before finalizing any changes.

The meeting, held in Madrid’s Retiro Park, was notable for the absence of Real Madrid, who have been critical of the current refereeing system. Louzán acknowledged this, saying: “All clubs are here, very enthusiastic… except for one very important club that initially said they would attend but ultimately did not.”

In addition to refereeing reforms, the meeting was expected to address issues such as competition financing and the RFEF’s budget for 2025. Louzán stressed the federation’s openness to dialogue and making significant progress on these matters.

This move represents a major shift in Spanish football administration, potentially bringing the refereeing system more in line with other top European leagues and addressing longstanding concerns from clubs and fans.