Overview

• Francisco Soto Balirac, a 44-year-old attorney and partner at Garrigues who served on the Galician referees committee, was formally installed on July 2 as president of the RFEF’s Technical Referees Committee.
• He will replace the traditional junta with a functional leadership model featuring a technical director, spokesperson and dedicated roles for women’s football, futsal and beach soccer.
• The overhaul formalizes the integration of artificial intelligence into referee assignments and establishes a VAR director position to enhance decision-making consistency.
• A commission of former coaches and players will convene with voice but no vote to harmonize officiating criteria across Spanish football.
• The reforms aim to rebuild confidence eroded by the Rubiales and Negreira scandals by aligning standards with international best practices and boosting transparency.