Spanish referees give AI a new role in reviewing La Liga controversies

Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) will use artificial intelligence to select the most significant refereeing incidents for analysis in the second season of its weekly programme, “Tiempo de Revision”.

The programme will continue to examine major decisions from matches in the first and second divisions, as well as the women’s league. CTA officials will explain the reasoning behind each decision, using the Laws of the Game and their interpretation, while also stating openly whether the referee was right or wrong.

The main change this season is the removal of the panel of former players and coaches that previously chose which incidents should be reviewed. That group included Fernando Morientes and Sandoval.

Instead, La Liga will select the key refereeing incidents from each round through an artificial intelligence-based system, according to Spanish newspaper AS. The selected clips will then be analysed technically by the CTA.

The refereeing committee says the new process should bring greater objectivity, transparency and traceability to the way incidents are chosen for the programme.

The CTA will, however, retain the right to add one further incident if it believes the case has exceptional educational or training value. Any such addition must be made without removing any of the incidents selected by the AI system.

“Tiempo de Revision” will remain a weekly programme, examining the most controversial decisions from each round. It will give the CTA an opportunity to acknowledge refereeing errors when they occur, as well as explain situations in which the correct decision was made.

The project is intended to educate supporters, clubs, players and coaches, rather than simply announce a decision without explaining the reasons behind it.

The first episode of the new season is expected to be delayed by two weeks because the opening round of league fixtures is being played across seven different days.

The CTA has also announced changes to the programme’s presentation, with greater use of graphics and audio-visual material. It said the updated version would be “clearer, more dynamic and more attractive”, with new visual tools designed to make technical explanations more direct and quicker to follow.

The committee said the central purpose of the initiative remained unchanged: to bring refereeing closer to clubs, players, coaches and supporters, improve understanding of the Laws of the Game and explain how decisions are reached. It described the project as being based on transparency, education and innovation.

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The CTA’s push for greater openness extends beyond “Tiempo de Revision”. It has also launched a comprehensive guide to controversial refereeing decisions, allowing clubs, players, media organisations and supporters to consult it throughout the season.

The digital guide, called “Card”, contains a wide range of refereeing situations explained in detail. Some entries also include illustrative video clips, making the resource a reference point for understanding how the laws are applied in different circumstances.

AS had previously reported that the CTA was preparing to launch the guide. It is now available in digital form.

Rafael Louzan, president of the Spanish Football Federation, said bringing refereeing standards closer to players, coaches, clubs, the media and supporters would improve understanding of decisions and increase trust and respect for the work of referees.

Fran Soto, chairman of the Technical Committee of Referees, said the initiative reflected the committee’s desire to provide greater transparency about referees’ work and the technical criteria behind their decisions.

Soto described the publication of the guide as unusual at international level. He said its purpose was to share knowledge, explain the foundations of refereeing decisions and bring the officials’ work closer to every part of the game.