The RFEF and professional referees launch their first collective agreement

The General Directorate of Labor of the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment of the Community of Madrid has ordered the publication of the first collective agreement specifically for professional football referees, signed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Spanish Association of Football Referees (AESAF). The resolution, dated September 11, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid (BOCM) no. 243, dated October 12, 2026, with the agreement code 28104360012026 and file number (03/14.744/26).

Registration, deposit, and validity until 2030

The text was signed by the Negotiating Commission on July 29, 2026, and the General Directorate of Labor agrees to its registration in the Registry of Collective Agreements, Collective Labor Agreements, and Equality Plans, as well as its deposit and mandatory free publication. The resolution is signed by the Director General of Labor, Silvia Marina Parra Rudilla, and an administrative appeal may be filed against it before the Vice-Ministry of Economy and Employment within one month.

The agreement applies to main referees, assistants, and video assistants (VAR and AVAR) who carry out their activity as professional athletes for the RFEF under Royal Decree 1006/1985, of June 26, in the First and Second Divisions, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. Its validity begins on July 1, 2026, and concludes on June 30, 2030, with automatic annual extensions and mediation before the IRMA if no agreement is reached. The text consists of 45 articles and eight additional provisions.

Five salary levels and an audiovisual bonus of 500,000 euros

The salary table in Annex I for the 2026-2027 season sets the following gross amounts:

• Level I, First Division main referee: 152,692 euros annual fixed remuneration, 5,167.63 euros per match, and 26,206 euros for image rights.
• Level II, First Division assistant: 67,930 euros, 2,281.05 euros, and 11,661 euros.
• Level III, Second Division main referee: 84,004 euros, 2,274.62 euros, and 14,420 euros.
• Level IV, Second Division assistant: 36,809 euros, 1,070.95 euros, and 6,317 euros.
• Level V, professional VAR: 47,000 euros fixed remuneration and 13,200 euros for image rights, with bonuses of 2,125 euros (First Division VAR), 625 euros (First Division AVAR), 800 euros (Second Division VAR), and 281 euros (Second Division AVAR).

Additionally, an annual Audiovisual Bonus is created, endowed with 500,000 gross euros in 2026-2027 and distributed among the five levels (30.71%, 27.33%, 18.59%, 16.29%, and 7.08%). From July 1, 2027, salary concepts will increase by a fixed 2% per season, plus a variable component of 50% of the variation in the audiovisual distribution to clubs, conditional upon the fulfillment of objectives.

Working day, rest, and disciplinary regime

The maximum annual working day may not exceed 1,792 hours and its distribution shall be irregular. Members shall have 30 calendar days of vacation, of which at least 21 must be continuous, a minimum weekly rest of one and a half days, and shall not be appointed on December 24, 25, and 31, nor on January 1, provided there is no official competition.

The agreement classifies minor, serious, and very serious offenses, with sanctions ranging from written warnings and suspension from employment and pay for 1 to 3 days, up to 16 to 60 days and dismissal. Very serious offenses require a prior proceeding with a hearing of three working days, and precautionary measures such as the temporary withdrawal of appointments are contemplated.

Health, training, and reconciliation

The RFEF will take out a professional accident insurance policy with coverage of 6,000 euros for death or permanent disability, unlimited medical expenses in centers contracted by MAPFRE and up to 24,000 euros in non-contracted centers, in addition to compensation of 150,000 euros for death, severe disability, or permanent incapacity. Sports nutrition services are guaranteed during concentrations and six sports psychology sessions per referee per season.

The text includes a training fund of 100,000 euros per season, working groups on reconciliation and maternity, and a contractual extension of one additional season for pregnant referees.

The agreement provides, for the first time, a sectoral labor framework for a group that until now lacked its own coverage, with remuneration, working hours, and discipline negotiated jointly by the federative employer and the referee union. Its application affects all members of the professional men’s competition and sets a horizon of four seasons with an annual salary review.

Source: Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid, no. 243, of October 12, 2026, section I.C) Other Provisions, page 5 (official reference: BOCM-20261012-1).