In a change of procedure for LaLiga and the Spanish football federation, referees will now be named just a day before matches.
The news is seen as an effort to tackle video compilations from Real Madrid TV that show a referee’s previous mistakes against their side.
The channel previously had several days to put pressure on officials, a situation which exploded ahead of last season’s Copa del Rey final.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears over the abuse, with Real Madrid then boycotting their media duties ahead of a defeat to Barcelona.
RMTV will now have less time to build their campaigns, with the Professional Competition Refereeing Committee [CACP] announcing the change to the format in a statement.
They wrote: “The Professional Competition Refereeing Committee (CACP), the body of the Royal Spanish Football Federation in charge of referee appointments in professional football, will publish the refereeing teams for each match the day before the match is played before 4:00 p.m.
“This decision is part of a series of measures to reorganize the refereeing system adopted this season by all stakeholders in Spanish football.
“Thus, the referees for Friday’s matches will be announced on Thursday, Saturday’s matches on Friday, and so on for all LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION matches.”
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