The brand new members of the refereeing physique in Spain, the Technical Referees Committee (CTA), had been introduced on Monday by newly appointed president of the CTA Francisco Soto Balirac, and it has not taken lengthy for controversy to rear its head. Chema Alonso was appointed as a guide for innovation in expertise and AI, however seemingly is an avid Actual Madrid fan.
Not less than that’s what a sequence of social media posts from Alonso during the last 15 years up till as lately as 2023 would recommend, however Alonso has come out to defend himself with an open letter, as recounted by Marca. He each performed down his emotions for Actual Madrid, and distanced himself from any materials significance within the CTA.
Position within the CTA
Alonso did distance himself from any materials affect over refereeing, how the expertise is designed to guage refereeing efficiency, and certainly how referees are designated, which is the primary job of the committee he’s on. His function shall be strictly advisory.
“I’m simply right here to advise Francisco Soto on his committee together with his staff on expertise. It’s very clear that I’m an ‘Advisor’ and never a ‘Accountable Individual’.”
“All of those technological tasks are being led by Sportian from La Liga, so that they’re those creating all of the algorithms and all of the AI. In different phrases, I solely have to help the CTA to allow them to make a judgment and guarantee they really feel snug that the expertise they develop meets the standard standards.”
He reasoned that he won’t be shouldering the blame for any errors in huge matches because of this.
“I’m not going to the touch VAR even remotely, and my job is merely to advise in conferences about AI and expertise, which is the work different groups are doing. If VAR or the referees make a mistake… you’ll need to search for the offender elsewhere, whereas I’ll be watching TV.”
Official: Como is Barcelona’s rival for the Joan Gamper Trophy on August tenth. @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/x7UG47jnPy
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 22, 2025
Alonso: ‘I’m a fan of Actual Atletico Madrid’
The previous hacker and cybersecurity professional, who works for Telefonica, additionally reasoned that his Actual Madrid ties usually are not as robust as they as soon as had been.
“I don’t watch greater than ten or twelve video games a 12 months (I don’t even have the soccer package deal on my TV anymore; I watch them socially with mates) and naturally it makes me comfortable when Actual Madrid wins.”
Alonso explains that his daughter’s love for Atletico Madrid has additionally made him sympathetic to Los Rojiblancos – which can do little to placate the group most perplexed by Alonso’s appointment, Barcelona and their followers.
“Then life rewarded me with a daughter who’s a Actual Madrid fan and an ultra-anti-Madrid fan of Atletico Madrid, who, to show her how one can write, I all the time needed to name her ‘Aupa Atleti,’ as a result of when she was little or no she all the time stated ‘Gopa Atleti.’ So I’m additionally an Atletico Madrid fan. ‘Actual Atletico Madrid,’ which I say quite a bit. Sure, I do know that for a lot of it’s anathema, however I’m not that a lot of a fan, and seeing my little daughter comfortable is priceless, and if it’s Atletico Madrid – Getafe, even higher.”
🚨🇺🇸 JUST IN: Johnny Cardoso has determined to chop his trip brief and shall be becoming a member of the staff within the coming hours.
The participant is raring to get began with Atlético Madrid and begin coaching underneath Diego Simeone as quickly as attainable.@mundodeportivo pic.twitter.com/gnSDzXGUoz
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) July 22, 2025
Whereas Atletico don’t share the identical rivalry with Barcelona that Los Blancos do, Los Rojiblancos are historically not very keen on the Catalan aspect both. Barcelona had been stated be ‘baffled’ by the alternatives made by the brand new CTA president, with a former Actual Madrid participant on the committee, and the spouse of Actual Madrid delegate Yolanda Parga answerable for Liga F refereeing.
Chema Alonso’s full open letter
I’m not an worker of the RFEF or the CTA. I’m simply an exterior advisor to lend help in committee conferences on these points. However some have thought that this implies I’m going to resolve on the VAR expertise or the AI expertise that can referee the soccer matches of the longer term. Under no circumstances. I’m simply right here to advise Francisco Soto on his committee together with his staff on expertise. It’s very clear that I’m an ‘Advisor’ and never a ‘Accountable Individual’.
All of those technological tasks are being led by Sportian from La Liga, so that they’re those creating all of the algorithms and all of the AI. In different phrases, I solely have to help the CTA to allow them to make a judgment and guarantee they really feel snug that the expertise they develop meets the standard standards.
My function is to assist put together expertise conferences, attend committee conferences, and little else. The accountability for VAR, referee task, referee analysis, and so forth stays with the individuals and professionals inside the CTA and the RFEF. And I’m comfortable to assist them higher perceive the expertise. And nothing extra.
In the long run, I don’t watch greater than ten or twelve video games a 12 months (I don’t even have the soccer package deal on my TV anymore; I watch them socially with mates) and naturally it makes me comfortable when Actual Madrid wins.
Then life rewarded me with a daughter who’s a Actual Madrid fan and an ultra-anti-Madrid fan of Atletico Madrid, who, to show her how one can write, I all the time needed to name her ‘Aupa Atleti,’ as a result of when she was little or no she all the time stated ‘Gopa Atleti.’ So I’m additionally an Atletico Madrid fan. ‘Actual Atletico Madrid,’ which I say quite a bit. Sure, I do know that for a lot of it’s anathema, however I’m not that a lot of a fan, and seeing my little daughter comfortable is priceless, and if it’s Atletico Madrid – Getafe, even higher.
I take pleasure in watching vital soccer matches, however extra so the gossip of arguing with colleagues and arguing. I do know so many statistics, I like arguing about them. Sooner or later, my Barca mates and I had been thrown out of a bar in Barcelona for arguing in regards to the the Barsa of the academy gamers squad. That stated, we had an excellent chuckle.
I’m not going to the touch VAR even remotely, and my job is merely to advise in conferences about AI and expertise, which is the work different groups are doing. If VAR or the referees make a mistake… you’ll need to search for the offender elsewhere, whereas I’ll be watching TV.