Spanish Referee Restructuring Demotes Four, Including FIFA Internationals, for New Season
On June 22, 2026, Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) announced a major reshuffle for the 2026-27 La Liga season, demoting four First Division referees—including FIFA internationals Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz—to VAR or second-tier roles. Four Second Division referees were promoted to fill vacancies. The overhaul, driven by a new zero-tolerance performance policy, also introduced new FIFA international proposals and marked the promotion of the first woman to the Second Division.
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CTA Revolution: Four Referees Demoted to VAR, Four Promoted to First Division
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in Spain has announced major changes to refereeing panels for the upcoming season. Four First Division referees—Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, José Luis Guzmán Mansilla, Iosu Galech Apezteguía, and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz—have been relegated following season evaluations. Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz, both FIFA internationals, will move to VAR roles, losing their on-field elite status. Four referees from the Second Division have been promoted to the First Division: Jon Ander González Esteban, Carlos Muñiz Muñoz, Lluís Bestard Servera, and Orellana Cid. Victor García Verdura and Alejandro Quintero González are proposed as new FIFA international referees to fill vacancies. In women's football, Olatz Rivera becomes only the second female official promoted to the Second Division. The overhaul also includes VAR system departures, signaling a performance-based restructuring of Spanish refereeing.
Últimas NoticiasSpanish Refereeing Revolution: Four Top Referees Relegated, Four Promoted
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) in Spain has announced a major restructuring of refereeing teams for the upcoming season. Four First Division referees, including FIFA internationals Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, have been relegated to the VAR category, losing their status as field referees. Two other referees, José Luis Guzmán Mansilla and Iosu Galech Apezteguía, were also demoted. In response, four referees from the Second Division—Jon Ander González Esteban, Carlos Muñiz Muñoz, Lluís Bestard Servera, and Orellana Cid—have been promoted to the First Division. The CTA also proposed Víctor García Verdura and Alejandro Quintero González as new FIFA international referees to fill the vacancies. Additionally, Pablo González Fuertes retired from professional refereeing, and Olatz Rivera was promoted to the Second Division in women's football. The VAR team also saw exits as part of a deep reorganization.
Últimas NoticiasFour Referees Relegated from First to Second Division in Spanish Football
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has announced the referee squads for the upcoming season, with notable promotions and relegations between the First and Second Divisions. Four referees are relegated from the First Division: international referees Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and José Luis Guzmán Mansilla, along with Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz (also an international) and Iosu Galech. They are replaced by four promoted referees: Luis Bestard, Jon Ander González, Carlos Muñiz, and Manuel Jesús Orellana. Additionally, four assistant referees are relegated and replaced. In the Second Division, eight new referees join, including Olazt Rivera, who becomes the second woman referee in the category alongside Marta Huerta de Aza. The article also details changes to the VAR team, with Guillermo Cuadra, Álvaro Moreno, and Alejandro Muñiz joining, while Oliver de la Fuente, Pablo González Fuertes, and Mario Melero depart. The CTA will propose Víctor García Verdura and Alejandro Quintero as new international referees.
FútbolGuzmán Mansilla and Iosu Galech Relegated to Segunda; Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz Move to VAR
The Spanish Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has announced the officiating rosters for the upcoming 2026-27 season, featuring significant changes in the First Division (La Liga). Four referees are being relegated: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, both international category referees, will cease being main referees and join the specific body of VAR referees. José Luis Guzmán Mansilla and Iosu Galech, who only spent one season in the top tier, return to the Second Division (Segunda División). Replacing them as promoted referees are Manuel Jesús Orellana, Carlos Muñiz, Jon Ander González, and Lluís Bestard. To fill the international referee vacancies left by Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz, the CTA proposes Alejandro Quintero González and Víctor García Verdura. Additionally, Mario Melero López and Pablo González Fuertes are leaving the VAR, concluding their refereeing careers. In the women's game, Ágata López and Arantza Gallastegui have been promoted to the First Division. Notably, referee Olatz Rivera, who officiated the Copa de la Reina final, has been promoted from the Primera RFEF to the Second Division, joining Marta Huerta. Other promotions to the Second Division include Abraham Domínguez, Juan Manuel Gordillo, Daniel Miranda, Pablo Morales, and Gonzalo Romero.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaFour referees relegated in La Liga reshuffle; Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz move to VAR
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) announced the refereeing teams for the 2026-27 season. Four referees descend from the First Division: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz will join the VAR refereeing body, while José Luis Guzmán Mansilla and Iosu Galech return to the Second Division after only one year in the top flight. Mario Melero López and Pablo González Fuertes exit the VAR. Four new referees promoted to fill the vacancies: Manuel Jesús Orellana, Carlos Muñiz, Jon Ander González, and Lluís Bestard. Alejandro Quintero González and Víctor García Verdura are proposed as new FIFA international referees. In the Second Division, Olatz Rivera (first woman) gains promotion alongside five others, with four referees leaving. In the Women's League, Ágata López and Arantza Gallastegui join the First Division.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaFour La Liga Referees Relegated: Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz to VAR, Guzmán Mansilla and Galech to Segunda
The Spanish Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) has officially announced the officiating crews for the upcoming La Liga season, revealing significant changes to the refereeing roster. Four referees have been relegated from the First Division: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, both international referees, will move to VAR duties, while José Luis Guzmán Mansilla and Iosu Galech have been demoted to the Second Division. This restructuring comes as a surprise, particularly for Cuadra Fernández and Muñiz Ruiz, given their international status. The article, published by Marca on June 22, 2026, notes this is a developing story, with the CTA's decision reshaping the officiating landscape for the next season.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaCTA Relegates Two International Referees; Four Demoted from Spain's Top Division
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) released the season ratings on June 22, 2026, demoting four referees from Spain's top division to the second tier. Among those relegated are international referees Guillermo Cuadra Fernández and Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz, who will lose both their FIFA badge and top-division status, moving to VAR roles. Also demoted are debutants Galech Apezteguía and Guzmán Mansilla, who will continue as active referees in the Second Division. Promoted to the top category are Bestard, Jon Ander González, Carlos Muñiz, and Orellana. The article details the new CTA leadership's zero-tolerance policy on underperformance and explains the grading system, which includes physical-technical evaluation (15%) and evaluator assessment with AI assistance (45%) as key components.
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