"How much is worth the dignity of a female referee who dedicates 24 hours to this activity?" With such a simple but resounding question, international assistant referee Guadalupe Porras Ayuso questioned those responsible for the failed start of the Spanish Professional Women's Football League (LPFF) this past weekend.
The representatives of the female referees and assistant referees have explained in the City of Football how the negotiations have developed in recent months and how the inflexibility of the LPFF, without the ability or willingness to move from its initial positions, has led to the current stage of stoppage suffered by the highest category of women's football in Spain. "We have not paralyzed football. We already have the professional women’s league and we are the only group that is not recognized as professional," said FIFA referee Marta Huerta de Aza.
Both Marta Huerta and the rest of her teammates thanked the female players for their support, "who fought before for the same rights that we are now demanding," as well as the help and solidarity provided by their teammates, referees of First and Second Division, some of them present this Monday, the referees of non-professional categories, the RFEF itself, UEFA, FIFA and the mediation work of the Higher Sports Council with its president, Jose Manuel Franco, in the lead.
Marta Frias Acedo has explained that the claims are not limited to the financial part, but include aspects relevant to any worker, such as social rights, sick leave due to injury and everything related to the existence of an employment contract that is now denied to this group: "They have ignored us, we have not been the ones who have paralyzed women's football. On the contrary, we are looking forward to taking the field."
The head of women's refereeing at the CTA, Yolanda Parga, has asked for respect from those responsible for the LPFF, while reiterating the support of the Committee to the female referees. "We do not force anything in this situation. We hope that they will soon be recognized as professionals like the rest of the participants in Spanish women’s football - they deserve it", concluded Parga.
Source: RFEF