Rafael Louzán joins Spanish referees for training camp in Asturias
The president of the RFEF joined the pre-season sessions being run by the CTA with First and Second Division referees ahead of the start of the 25/26 campaign and presented the Vicente Acevedo Awards.
President Rafael Louzán is in Las Caldas, in Asturias, the location hosting the Refereeing Training Seminar organised by the RFEF’s Technical Committee of Referees ahead of the start of the football season.
On Thursday, during the RFEF president’s visit to Asturias, the traditional Vicente Acevedo Awards ceremony took place to honour the most outstanding referees from the 24/25 season. “Thank you for the warm welcome,” Rafael Louzán began his address to the officials.
“I have to say this from the bottom of my heart, we are probably standing before the best refereeing team in all of Europe. With the new leadership team, we’re going to build a closeness that is essential for your work to be truly valued. I leave here convinced that our referees’ work will live up to the standard of the best league in the world.”
The president of the RFEF was received by the president of the Technical Committee of Referees, Fran Soto. Joining Rafael Louzán were RFEF vice-president Sergio Merchán, the president of the Football Federation of the Principality of Asturias, and María Suárez of the RFEF’s Executive Board.
Under the guidance of the CTA team led by Fran Soto, the Spanish referees are working on all technical and physical aspects for a full week to ensure they start the 25/26 season with the highest level of preparation and confidence.
Referees honoured with the Vicente Acevedo Awards
In the Primera División, the winning referee was Javier Alberola from Castilla-La Mancha, an international official since 2024, who earns the award after eight seasons officiating in the top flight. The assistant referee award went to Guillermo Santiago, after two seasons in the top division.
In the Segunda División, the award for best lead referee went to Iosu Galech, who has just been promoted to the First Division after six seasons in the second tier. The award for best assistant went to Navarre’s Ion Rodríguez, after four campaigns in the Second Division.
