Spanish Federation RFEF admit refereeing errors in groundbreaking first instalment of explanations | OneFootball

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), in tandem with the Technical Referees Committee (CTA) released a new and groundbreaking initiative today, where they seek to explain controversial decisions made officials during games. The video touched on seven incidents from across La Liga and Segunda from the opening three weeks of the season.

Incidents are selected by former managers Jose Luis Oltra, Jose Ramon Sandoval, Jose Luis Sanchez Vera and former Spain forward Fernando Morientes, who form the ‘Assessment Committee’. They are then reviewed by the CTA, and explained by spokesperson Marta Frias, in a short video, in this case six minutes long.

Barcelona goal against RCD Mallorca should not have stood

One of the most controversial incidents in the opening stage of the season was a goal for Ferran Torres, as he scored while defender Antonio Raillo was down with a head injury. The referee did not stop play, and as Frias explains ‘the correct decision would have been to stop the play’.

Alejandro Balde call ruled correct

A week later, Barcelona complained themselves, feeling that VAR was egregious in its decision to intervene, helping to call a penalty for a handball against Alejandro Balde. ‘The important thing here is the position of the arm. As the attacker goes to strike the ball, the arm is raised a straight angle away from the body, a position which is not natural in play. As such, the defender intentionally increases the space they are occupying, and diverts a shot that was headed for goal.’

Image via Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Arda Guler goal was correctly disallowed

Meanwhile in Matchday 3, Real Madrid complained that their goal should not have been disallowed for a handball against Arda Guler. Their argument was that the attacker did not immediately score after Guler’s handball, having had a save, a clearance and then the goal.

Yet the CTA viewpoint is that “the rule, which has been in place for several seasons, is known by the whole world of football. What does the rule say? That the attacker will commit an infraction if they score immediately after the ball touches their hand or arm, even if it is accidental. In this play, even though it is a second shot, and a clearance, due to the short time that elapses, it counts as immediate. That goes even it it includes a save by the goalkeeper, or a rebound off the post, and thus, is the correct decision.”

Giuliano Simeone call was incorrect

Image via Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images

Meanwhile Alaves fans complained that Giuliano Simeone’s goal was not disallowed, despite an offside earlier in the move, during their 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. This error has been confirmed by the CTA. Their ruling is that the “VAR interprets that the rebound off the goalkeeper enables Simeone to touch the ball, but in reality, he was offside as he touches the ball from an illegal position.”

New initiative to reduce pressure on referees

The video goes on to resolve three more incidents between Sporting Gijon-Cordoba, Real Zaragoza-Andorra and Cordoba-Las Palmas. In the first two the decisions of the referee are ratified, but the third sees an error acknowledged in the non-sanction of a yellow card to a Cordoba player.

This is the latest step taken by the CTA to try and reduce the tension surrounding officiating, and the abuse received by officials. Referees will now only be known by one surname, a step to humanise them within Spain, as opposed to the customary two for the last 56 years. The announcing of which referees will take charge of which games has also been delayed until the day before games, to reduce potential media or club pressure that can be applied in the lead up to a match.