Major Shakeup in Spanish Futsal Refereeing Leadership
In a significant development within Spanish futsal, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced major changes to its refereeing structure. President Rafael Louzán’s recent wave of organizational changes has now reached the futsal division, resulting in the dismissal of Pedro Galán, who served as the head of futsal refereeing for two decades.
Galán’s Legacy and Future Prospects
Pedro Galán, who was initially appointed by Ángel María Villar, brought extensive experience to the role. Including officiating in three World Cups and the 2005 UEFA Futsal Cup final between Dinamo Moscow and Charleroi. Despite his departure from the RFEF, Galán is expected to maintain his influential position within FIFA’s expert panel, working alongside Pierluigi Collina in analyzing games and preparing referees for international competitions.
New Leadership
Alvaro Cid Bragado has been named as Galán’s successor, moving from his position as head of the Technical Commission of Football Referees in the Galician Football Federation. Cid Bragado brings 16 years of experience from the National Football League and becomes the fourth president in Spanish futsal refereeing history. Following Antón Iturralde Freire, Fermín Sánchez-Molina, and Galán.
Controversies and Criticism
The leadership change occurs amid growing tensions within Spanish futsal. Club officials have expressed concerns about rule changes, referee appointments, and controversial decisions. Notable criticism came from Servigroup Peñíscola’s president, Manuel Sierra, who publicly voiced concerns about referee conduct and transparency issues within the technical committee.
Strategic Planning Disputes
Further controversy emerged regarding the federation’s approach to strategic planning. Sierra revealed that several First Division clubs boycotted a meeting in Cartagena with the National Football Committee’s president, José Miguel Monje. The dispute centered around the selective invitation of teams to discuss strategic plans, leading to disagreements about the inclusive nature of the decision-making process.
While some officials, including National Football Committee head José Miguel Monje and advisor Antonio García Plata, reportedly favored FIFA referee Alejandro Martínez Flores for the position, President Louzán ultimately chose Cid Bragado, signaling his intent to maintain direct influence over this crucial department.
The appointment represents one of the first major departmental changes under Louzán’s leadership, highlighting the strategic importance of refereeing oversight in Spanish futsal’s governance structure.