CTA president admits referee appointment mistake in Real Madrid-Girona clash

CTA president admits referee appointment mistake in Real Madrid-Girona clash

The debate around refereeing decisions in Spanish football has taken another turn, with Fran Soto, president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), openly acknowledging an error linked to a recent Real Madrid fixture.

The focus centres on the appointment of referee Javier Alberola Rojas for the clash between Real Madrid and Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That match became a talking point due to a contentious moment inside the penalty area involving Kylian Mbappe and Vitor Reis, which fuelled widespread discussion about officiating standards.

What’s the story?

Reflecting on that decision, Soto did not shy away from criticism of himself. He admitted.

“With hindsight, I think it was a mistake. I thought there wouldn’t be any issues.

“I’m very critical of myself and, if I think something can be improved, then I’ll try to improve it.

“If it happened again, I don’t think I would have appointed Alberola Rojas for the Real Madrid v Girona match.”

Real Madrid were denied a clear penalty against Girona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

It is a rare moment of transparency from a refereeing authority, especially in a league where officiating decisions are frequently scrutinised but seldom publicly reassessed in such direct terms.