Spain: first collective agreement signed between the RFEF and football referees

Rafael Louzán, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol, RFEF), and Paco Hevia, representative of AESAF (Spanish Association of Football Referees), signed the first collective agreement governing the rights and obligations of referees and assistant referees within their employment relationship with the federation, on 09/03/2026.

Also attending the event were "Javier Tebas, president of LALIGA, an essential partner in the negotiations, as well as Fran Soto, president of the Technical Committee of Referees," said the RFEF.

"This agreement represents an unprecedented step, as it is, at international level, the first collective agreement specifically dedicated to professional referees. The agreement strengthens the professional, legal and organisational structure of refereeing in Spain. It is the result of a four-month negotiation process in which LALIGA actively participated. LALIGA assumes the full cost of professional refereeing under the agreement governing relations between the federation and the Spanish league," added RFEF.

The agreement…