A few hours before the start of the first women’s professional league, baptized as Liga F, a new conflict threatens to paralyze the day. The arbitration group announced yesterday night its intention not to direct any match if they were not assured optimal economic conditions. “It is not conceivable that the arbitration establishment is the only one that remains on the sidelines of a growth that we consider as fair as it is necessary,” they pointed out. They consider that in order to “provide the best possible service to football” “minimum working conditions” are necessary, similar to those for men, which allow them to “devote the essential time required to be in a professional competition”.
If we take last season’s figures as a reference, the salary of a main referee in a Primera Iberdrola match was 300 euros per match (168 euros for each assistant). The clubs, on the other hand, paid 3,300 euros for each day to the RFEF, which is in charge of distributing the amount it receives. The rest of the money that does not end up in the pockets of the members is to cover travel, subsistence and accommodation.
It seems logical that the refereeing establishment demands improvements at the level of a professional competition, but the forcefulness with which they have done so is surprising and a few hours after the start of the season. This morning, the Professional Women’s Football League (LPFF) wanted to respond with a forceful statement in which they affirm that “the arbitration group is being deceived by the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales”, whom they accuse of “using the woman as a battering ram to achieve her only objective, to destroy Spanish women’s football”.
The LPFF explains that it transferred to the RFEF two days ago a proposal that “quadrupled” the salaries of the referees and claims not to have received a response from the Federation. “Given that, it seems, the arbitration group should not have been informed of said offer, we invite the arbitrators to sit down directly with the LPFF so that they can learn about the offer first-hand and continue negotiations directly with them”, they add.
The League assures that the clubs will appear at their matches this weekend and reminds the refereeing establishment of their obligation to appear: “The refereeing function is a delegated public function, so if for any reason the matchday is not played , from the LPFF and its clubs all legal, disciplinary and damages actions will be initiated”, they warn.
This is a new chapter of the old confrontation between the Spanish Federation (RFEF) and the Professional Women’s Football League (LPFF) that tarnishes the start of the competition. It should be remembered that arbitration is precisely one of the matters that is excluded from the exclusive powers of the LPFF and that it must be negotiated together with the RFEF in a collaboration agreement that has not yet been closed. In the absence of agreement between both parties, and until all these aspects are reflected in the agreement for future seasons, it is the Higher Sports Council (CSD) that must mediate between both parties in all disagreements that arise. Therefore, it will be the Government that determines how this conflict is resolved when there are less than 24 hours left before the competition starts. The first matches, Atlético-Real Sociedad and Alhama-Madrid CFF, are scheduled for this Saturday at 12 noon, and there are two other matches scheduled for tomorrow, in addition to the other four that will be played on Sunday, concluding with Levante Las Planas-Barcelona (Sunday, 6pm).
