After a full day, little has shifted in the dispute. F League referees continue to refuse officiating the matches assigned to them because they feel unclear about the compensation offered for this season. Three meetings have occurred since Monday at the request of the CSD, and while both Liga F and the RFEF show signs of movement, no middle ground has been found that could end the arbitration standstill.
Through the RFEF, which acts as the representative for the referees, the group is demanding a gross annual fee of 50,000 euros. Liga F remains firm on its proposal from Monday: 25,000 euros, effectively half of the requested amount.
According to sources cited by EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, the Prensa Ibérica newspaper, during the meeting the CSD suggested that Liga F should pay the referees whatever they can secure. Beatriz Álvarez Mesa, who leads the F League, estimated a figure of 25,000 euros for the lead referees and 14,000 euros for the assistant referees.
The government has pressed the F League to raise the second amount to 16,000 euros, aligning with the minimum wage standard for professional football players. The proposal that employers might accept later positions the main referees at 25,000 euros and the assistants at 16,000 euros. The F League argues that this would be a drastic increase for the line judges, suggesting they would receive more than five times what they have earned in the past.
RFEF offer
RFEF officials explained in the meeting that the federation proposed a reduction of 650,000 euros per year in non-wage costs such as travel, lodging, organization, and seminars. Still, Yolanda Parga, head of women’s refereeing at the RFEF, warned that the change was not enough and anticipated another rejection from the referees’ representatives. The sense among participants pointed to a stubborn impasse that refused to budge at this stage.
In summary, the situation shows no signs of a quick resolution. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, and there is a real possibility that the weekend games of the second round of the championship could proceed only with some uncertainty. Yet the tone has become more cordial after the three recent meetings, even as the core disagreements persist.
The initial session was convened by the CSD minutes shortly after the referees issued a public statement on Monday morning defending their choice not to officiate until they secure working conditions they consider professional and worthy of the competition. They claimed the decision was theirs alone and that they were not influenced by anyone, including Luis Rubiales.
This first meeting helped ease tensions and reestablish dialogue between the parties, who then reconvened Tuesday morning without government participation. That second meeting did not go well and prompted a third gathering on Tuesday afternoon. In that session, the language was clearer but the positions remained distant, exposing the difficulty of reaching a rapid settlement.