Real Madrid has responded with indifference and unease to the appointment of Fran Soto as the new president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA). The decision comes after the dismissal of Luis Medina Cantalejo and Carlos Clos Gómez, the former heads of Spanish refereeing and VAR, respectively. While there had been cautious optimism at the club about potential reform, Soto’s appointment has left disappointment and skepticism.

Within the walls of the Santiago Bernabéu, the sense is that Soto’s arrival does not signify a real break from the past, despite the intentions publicly expressed by RFEF President Louzán. Real Madrid views the move as cosmetic rather than transformative, especially in the context of its longstanding criticism of Spanish refereeing practices—highlighted by the club’s frequent video reports on Real Madrid TV and other internal channels.

The club remains deeply concerned about the unresolved implications of the Negreira case, in which it sees itself as a primary victim. For Madrid, true change must go beyond appointments—requiring deep structural reform rather than symbolic gestures.

Fran Soto, a former referee and until recently a practicing lawyer, was officially appointed this week. He has pledged to form a new team within 15 days, including roles such as institutional relations head, technical director, VAR supervisor, and even an AI manager.

However, when asked about the Negreira scandal at his presentation, Soto deflected: "I don’t even know Negreira. There’s no point in looking back when we’re here to build a new era. It’s not worth reopening that debate.”

Soto also suggested the end of Real Madrid TV’s critical tone: "Let’s leave the past controversies behind. The future will be different—and better—for everyone.”

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