MADRID, 15 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) published a circular this Friday to provide information on the preliminary criteria that will govern the evaluation and classification of First and Second Division referees, as well as the specific VAR PRO team, during the 2025/2026 season.
"The Technical Commission, together with the CTA Presidency, believes that the implementation of a structured and weighted evaluation model, combining objective parameters with qualified technical assessment, constitutes a fundamental step forward in strengthening transparency, meritocracy, and objectivity in Spanish arbitration," reads the statement accompanying the circular.
"This system aims to ensure that each referee clearly understands what is expected of their performance and how it will be evaluated, thus fostering confidence in the classification process and the motivation to achieve the highest professional standards," he added.
According to the CTA, this season "should be understood as a transitional stage in which the various elements that make up the model will be tested." "During this initial phase, the Technical Commission is committed to continuously reviewing the results and introducing the necessary improvements, with the aim of reaching the start of the 2026/2027 season with a fully defined, stable, and operational model," it states.
The system is structured into four essential assessment areas: Physical and Technical Evaluation, Reporting Official Evaluation, TV Observer/Analyst Evaluation, and Technical Committee Evaluation. The referee evaluation system in VAR Pro will have four other essential areas: Report Evaluation, Decision-Making Reliability, Examinations, Tests, and Complementary Exams, and Technical Committee Evaluation.
"The ultimate goal is to have a system that guarantees fairness in decisions, supports the detection and promotion of talent, objectively justifies appointments, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement throughout the arbitration community," the statement added. The CTA "seeks to consolidate a modern, respected, and professional arbitration system, in which the recognition of individual merit and commitment to the group are the foundation of its growth and prestige."
