New Referees’ Committee chief comments on the Negreira case – ‘We have to put behind us’ | OneFootball

Francisco Soto Balirac has been confirmed as the new president of the Referees’ Technical Association (CTA) of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

He takes over the position from Luis Medina Cantalejo, who was sacked last week, after several refereeing controversies during the previous campaign.

‘New era, new air’: Soto

Upon his appointment, Soto interacted with the media where he was asked about some controversies that have impacted Spanish football over the past couple of seasons, including the Negreira case involving Barcelona and Real Madrid’s RMTV videos targeting referees.

The Negreira scandal refers to the payments made by Barcelona to Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice president of the CTA for over a decade.

Barça have received a clean chit, with courts finding no evidence of ‘sporting corruption’ but the matter remains in the court.

However, Soto is keen on moving on from the whole episode and leaving it in the rearview for good.

“I have not seen Negreira, nor do I know him. This is a new era, a new air. It doesn’t make sense for us to enter into something that is in the courts,” said the new CTA chief, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“It was a one-off situation that we have to put behind us. We are not going to find a solution by talking more,” Soto added.

He also made it clear that “his office will be open to all clubs.”