The Association of Spanish Football Referees (AESAF) on Monday expressed its support for referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea over statements made by Getafe coach Jose Bordalas after the defeat to Mallorca in which he made an “indirect” reference to the Basque referee.
The Federation noted, after the words of the coach of the Getavenense team, who pointed out that “some people start complaining and saying that they have a family,” referring “indirectly” to De Burgos Bengoechea in the press conference held before the last King’s Cup final, that “ISAF renews its commitment to the dignity, integrity and mental health of the referees’ staff.”
The AFC noted that its “mission” is “to defend, accompany and professionalize the refereeing community in Spain, ensuring legal protection, well-being, training and institutional representation”, which is why it stressed that “the personal and professional dignity of referees must be respected in the sporting, media and social environment”. He added: “References to the personal, family or psychological sphere of the referee go beyond the mere evaluation of the refereeing and affect the health and mental health of the referee.”
The organization noted that de Burgos Bengoetxea, as a “subsidiary”, enjoys “the legal and psychological support it provides to the group,” and explained that it is not its responsibility to “evaluate technical or tactical arbitration decisions.” “Our job is to protect the referee working as a person, on and off the field,” he said.
“At the AFC, we reaffirm our commitment to the comprehensive protection of the referee group and to defend their dignity, on and off the field. UEFA calls for mutual respect between all football players: clubs, coaches, players, referees and fans. Refereeing is an essential part of the sports system and requires a framework of respect to ensure its independence and impartiality,” the association stressed. “UEFA is in contact with its affiliated associations and is evaluating appropriate measures to strengthen institutional support and environmental awareness.”
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