Fran Soto Announces CTA Reforms and ‘Tiempo de Revisión’ Overhaul at Las Caldas Referee Camp
Fran Soto unveils CTA reforms at Las Caldas camp, promising meritocracy, transparency and a revamp of ‘Tiempo de Revisión’ ahead of the 2026-27 season.
CTA holds pre-season referee concentration in Las Caldas
The Spanish Referees Committee (CTA) convened its top-tier referees, assistants and VAR staff this week in Las Caldas, Oviedo, ahead of the 2026-27 season. The gathering included fitness and technical evaluations, with all officials completing the testing program except for Lluís Bestard, who arrived with reported physical discomfort. The camp serves as the CTA’s operational start to the season and as the platform where President Fran Soto laid out the governing body’s immediate priorities and procedural changes.
The session combined on-field drills, classroom review and VAR scenario work designed to rehearse procedures and align interpretation ahead of competitive fixtures. It also provided the CTA leadership an opportunity to brief clubs and media representatives present in the region about forthcoming adjustments. Soto’s address at the camp framed the changes as part of a wider institutional reset under his leadership.
Fran Soto frames reforms around meritocracy, transparency and openness
Fran Soto told attendees that his presidency will be guided by three central principles: meritocracy, transparency and openness in relations with clubs and the wider media. He said the CTA intends to be more demanding internally while making decision-making more intelligible to stakeholders across Spanish football. Soto emphasized that these are practical aims tied to selection criteria, communications protocol and stakeholder engagement rather than mere slogans.
Soto signalled that the CTA will continue to publish explanations of refereeing decisions but pledged to refine how those reviews are presented to improve clarity. He described the approach as a balance between acknowledging correct interventions and openly addressing errors. The president framed the reforms as measures to increase trust between match officials, clubs and supporters.
‘Tiempo de Revisión’ to be retained but substantially reformatted
The CTA will keep its weekly video review initiative, known in Spanish as "Tiempo de Revisión", but plans to change its aesthetic and narrative format. Under the new plan, the format’s visual presentation and narration will be redesigned to provide clearer, more accessible explanations of selected incidents from Primera División, Segunda División and the Liga F. Soto said the goal is to show both successful decisions and mistakes in a way that aids understanding and learning across the game.
As part of this reformulation, the CTA confirmed there will be a change in the voice used for the segment. Marta Frías, a former international referee who has served as the spokesperson and narrator for the review videos, will no longer voice the weekly pieces under the revised format. The committee indicated the selection of a new presenter and editorial team will be finalized ahead of the competitive season, with a focus on enhancing impartiality and pedagogical clarity.
Committee that selected weekly plays will be overhauled
The panel responsible for choosing the incidents featured in the weekly reviews will also be reconstituted for 2026-27. Last season the selection fell to a trio composed of coaches José Luis Oltra, José Ramón Sandoval and former striker Fernando Morientes. The CTA confirmed that, initially, none of those three will continue in the same role for the coming campaign. An internal review prompted the decision, as the CTA seeks to broaden the criteria and oversight behind the play selection process.
Officials said the revamped committee will aim to combine technical refereeing expertise with broader football perspectives while avoiding conflicts of interest. The CTA is expected to announce the membership and remit of the new selection body within the weeks before the league season begins. The change reflects Soto’s stated priority of increasing transparency around why particular incidents are chosen for public analysis.
Medical and fitness updates: Lluís Bestard’s status monitored
At the Las Caldas concentration, all referees and VAR operators completed their scheduled tests with one exception. Lluís Bestard arrived at the camp with unspecified ailments and did not take part in the fitness assessments on the opening day. Medical staff at the camp are monitoring his condition and the CTA will provide updates on his availability following further evaluation.
Officials emphasized that fitness and health are non-negotiable standards for match appointments and that any prolonged absence would be managed through existing substitution protocols. The CTA also indicated that the camp includes rehabilitation and conditioning resources intended to minimize the risk of extended lay-offs among its cohort of top-level officials.
Merit-based selection to shape referee appointments and career progression
A central tenet of Soto’s message was a renewed emphasis on merit-based selection across refereeing categories. The CTA plans to apply more exacting performance metrics and clearer promotion channels aimed at ensuring that the best officials occupy positions in each competition tier. Soto described this approach as a tool to improve consistency on the field and to position Spanish refereeing as a global benchmark.
The committee intends to introduce tighter evaluation criteria that combine objective data from match performance, VAR handling and fitness benchmarks with qualitative assessments from referee observers. The stated ambition is to make advancement within the CTA demonstrably dependent on measurable excellence, thereby reinforcing accountability. Soto framed the measure as part of a long-term strategy to make Spain a reference point for refereeing worldwide.
Anticipated timeline, stakeholder engagement and potential implications
The CTA expects to implement the first tranche of changes before the 2026-27 season kicks off, with the newly designed "Tiempo de Revisión" format and the reconstituted selection committee among the earliest items. The body plans to communicate the revised review schedule, narrator choice and committee membership publicly once decisions are finalized. CTA leaders also stressed their intention to open communication channels with clubs and media to explain the rationale behind choices and to receive feedback.
Observers in the football community will watch how the updated review format influences public perception of referees and whether the committee’s transparency measures reduce contention around contentious incidents. The changes could also affect how referees prepare for matches if the new review criteria lead to a shift in emphasis toward different types of match situations. The CTA’s focus on meritocracy is likely to change appointment patterns if performance benchmarks are consistently applied.
The reforms announced at Las Caldas represent a significant administrative shift for Spain’s refereeing body, combining procedural adjustments with a stronger public communications strategy. As the season approaches, clubs, broadcasters and supporter groups will assess whether the measures translate into clearer decision-making, fewer controversies and a more accountable refereeing culture.
The CTA has framed these moves as steps toward greater professionalism and international recognition, with Soto explicitly linking internal reform to an aspiration for Spanish refereeing to set global standards. The coming weeks should reveal how the reforms are operationalized and how quickly they affect on-field officiating and public understanding.
