Spain's Football Refereeing Milestone: First Dual Female Officials in Professional League

On 2 August, Spanish football marked a historic moment as two women, Marta Huerta de Aza and Olatz Rivero, were appointed to officiate in the professional leagues for the first time. Huerta, a veteran of the Primera División, and Rivero, a UEFA‑elite referee, will share duties in the Segunda División, ending the sole‑female presence that previously existed only in the top tier.

The appointment follows the annual gathering of referees in Las Caldas, where the three‑member committee that selects officials for all 38 Primera and 42 Segunda matchdays convened. The committee is chaired by CTA president Fran Soto, includes a LaLiga representative and former top‑flight referee Fernando Teixeira Vitienes, with technical oversight by David Fernández Borbalán. This season, artificial‑intelligence analysis will also inform the selection process, complementing reports from TV observers and the VAR coordinator Eduardo Prieto Iglesias.