Recently, FC Barcelona experienced a controversial day during their visit to Getafe. A 1-1 tie left much to discuss, especially regarding the refereeing performance. The most talked-about play involved Jules Koundé, who was held inside the area by Getafe player Christantus Uche.
The non-awarding of the penalty caused criticism, but what caused the most turmoil was the relationship between certain referees and members of Spanish soccer.
Xavier Estrada Fernández: a Critical Former Referee
Xavier Estrada Fernández is a former First Division referee and elected official for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC). He criticized the refereeing management of the match between Getafe and Barcelona. He quickly expressed his disagreement with the refereeing appointments for that match.
Estrada showed his distrust toward the appointments, highlighting the fact that the match referee was Pablo González Fuertes, while Francisco Hernández Maeso was in charge of the VAR. The Catalan former referee not only pointed out these names but also delved into a possible conflict of interest.
The Conflict of Interest
Estrada Fernández's criticism focuses on the appointment of Yolanda Parga Rodríguez as the match informant. According to the ex-referee, Parga is linked to people within the RSFF (RFEF in Spanish) with a direct relationship with Real Madrid. According to Estrada, Parga Rodríguez is the partner of Megía Dávila, field delegate of the white team and former international referee.
This circumstance, in the ex-referee's opinion, creates a "flagrant conflict of interest." In his post on X, Estrada emphasized that, in any organization seeking to ensure transparency and rigor, such a situation should not be allowed.
The Importance of Transparency in Refereeing
The ex-referee recalled that, in his time, Catalan referees were banned from officiating matches of teams from their region, such as Barcelona, Girona, and Espanyol. This regulation ensured there were no suspicions of bias or favoritism.
However, Estrada pointed out that these limitations no longer seem to be applied, especially when it comes to certain positions within the RSFF, like the current head of women's refereeing.
The Impact of Estrada's Criticisms
Estrada Fernández's statements didn't go unnoticed, and Laporta and Deco joined the outcry against the unfair treatment of Barcelona.
The Barcelona president criticized the lack of transparency in refereeing and said these situations undermine the integrity of Spanish soccer. Meanwhile, Deco, former player and now part of the club's structure, expressed his bewilderment at the RSFF's attitude and its apparent passivity in the face of criticism.