After a recent increase in complaints regarding officiating from top-flight clubs and Liga officials, Spanish referees requested "respect" on Tuesday.

"As Spanish football's professional referees, we want to express our deep concern about the unexpected incident that was created," the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) stated.

"We regret the unrelenting attacks by La Liga and its main leaders," the CTA said, adding that referees are the focus of "a perfectly calculated and organized campaign."


The criticism has grown since a case involving Barcelona and former CTA chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

After a 7.3 million euros payment to a firm owned by Negreira was discovered earlier this year, Spanish authorities accused the Catalan club of corruption last month.

On Wednesday, Liga clubs will host an extraordinary meeting at which Barcelona president Joan Laporta will speak. According to Spanish media, the teams will also contemplate making the CTA autonomous of La Liga.

According to the CTA, it is already self-sufficient.


"Our profession works autonomously and professionally for the benefit of refereeing."

"The leaders of La Liga cannot perpetually lament a crisis of confidence in Spanish soccer while also contributing to it through violent criticism of referees," it continued.

"We plead with La Liga and its leaders for respect and institutional duty in the face of an unprecedented situation," the statement added.