Spanish referee strike ends as female officials turn professional

Spanish top-flight women’s football will resume this week after a deal was struck to end a referee’s strike, handing professional status to the country’s female officials.  

The new Primera Division Femenina season was due to get under way last weekend, but a dispute between the Professional Women’s Football League (LPFF) and the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) led to strike action from officials.

After the RFEF announced the officials’ “unanimous decision not to direct any match of the First Division National Championship”, the full set of matchday one fixtures was postponed.

On Thursday, however, the RFEF announced the relevant parties had reached an agreement, paving the way for the Primera Division’s resumption.

A statement from the RFEF read: “There have been a succession of conversations between the CSD [the National Sports Council] and the RFEF that have borne fruit in a historic agreement for the professionalisation of the refereeing establishment in women’s football.

“CSD and RFEF reinforce their commitment to women’s football through the consolidation of some budget items that have resulted in a pioneering agreement that will allow the start of the First Division of Women’s Football.”

Defending champions Barcelona, who won all 30 of their league matches last season, are due to host Granadilla Tenerife on Saturday. 

Acuerdo histórico CSD-RFEF para la profesionalización del arbitraje femenino

José Manuel Franco, Luis Rubiales, Yolanda Parga y Marta Frías Acedo sellan el pacto en el CSD

Comunicado Oficial

 https://t.co/nZJDqK5cI7 pic.twitter.com/kiwgmhIuRa

— RFEF (@rfef) September 14, 2022