Fran Soto calls on coaches to show respect to improve refereeing

Fran Soto called on coaches to show respect at the meeting held the day before at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas with managers from the two divisions. Only four coaches were absent: José Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini, Iñigo Pérez and José Bordalás.

The president of the referees took part in the meeting, during which the rules of the game introduced this season were not discussed at any point. The talks focused on ways to improve refereeing, with respect presented as the central element.

Fran Soto believes improvement is possible if everyone respects one another, starting with the refereeing role. He specifically highlighted how respect is sometimes lost in coaches’ post-match press conference comments.

The president therefore set out in detail the principles governing the new referees’ committee, beginning with meritocracy. He explained to the coaches that four referees were relegated at the end of last season. He also stressed that the refereeing body remained ready to listen to everyone and open to any proposal from coaches.

Eder Sarabia, former Elche coach and present at the meeting, confirmed that availability by recalling the one-and-a-half-hour telephone conversation he had with the president of the referees last season. “The long and cordial discussion also concluded with the president explaining to the coaches the incidents from last Sunday’s derby that were broadcast a few hours later on a review programme,” Fran Soto said.

There is already a precedent with the change to the sanction imposed on coaches for dissent, implemented after a proposal from the referees’ committee. Midway through last season, that sanction was reduced from two matches to one when a coach is sent off for dissent towards the referee.

Among the incidents explained was the one involving Kang-in Lee and Federico Valverde. A refereeing error was acknowledged, but Real Madrid’s quick restart left little room for the video assistant referee to intervene. Once the ball had been put back into play, the incident could no longer be reviewed.