The RFEF Promotes Inclusion through the Be My Referee Initiative
RFEF President Rafael Louzán met this Monday in Las Rozas with the associations and organizations involved in this pilot project, which aims to open up the refereeing experience to people with different abilities.
“We want to give back to society part of what it gives us, and in doing so, ensure that everyone can take part in football,”
declared the President of the RFEF as he welcomed representatives from Down España, AGF, and the Mi Alex Foundation, who are working hand in hand with the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) on the Be My Referee project to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
With the participation of LALIGA President Javier Tebas, CTA Director Fran Soto, and Conxita Esteve, member of the RFEF Board of Directors and head of Be My Referee, the Ciudad del Fútbol hosted a working meeting on Monday to present the progress of this pilot programme. The initiative seeks to create new training and employment opportunities for people with diverse abilities, promoting social inclusion through refereeing.
Trained by international referee Olatz Rivera and VAR officials Luis Mario Villa and Jorge Figueroa, fourteen aspiring referees have completed 25 hours of instruction, shared six days of group activities, and officiated matches both independently and with support during the Be My Referee Championship and the DICUP Tournament, held last June at the Joan Gamper Sports City in Barcelona. “Respect shows us the way, and with diversity we all win, because the greatest victory is ensuring that no one in society is left offside,”
affirmed Conxita Esteve, echoing a sentiment shared by Javier Tebas, President of LALIGA and Vice President of the RFEF, who added:
“This is not a competitive project, but it is an immensely important one, because football must also serve as a social platform. We have been running LALIGA Genuine for six seasons, and now I would also like to thank the refereeing community for its involvement in this initiative.”
Be My Referee is thus being developed with five key objectives—educational, social, sporting, awareness-raising, and institutional. As announced by the RFEF President, “These efforts complement those carried out with an inclusive spirit during the Spanish national team’s matches, along with others that will take place in the future. Football is not only about goals—it is a wonderful sport in which everyone can and should take part,”
he concluded.
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