FIFA has released the list of match officials for the upcoming 2025 Club World Cup, and for the first time, no Spanish referees were included. This decision highlights what appears to be a significant loss of confidence in Spanish officiating at the international level.
Only two Spanish officials, Carlos del Cerro Grande and Alejandro Hernández Hernández, will be involved—and only as assistant VARs. The absence of any Spanish referees on the main officiating list is especially notable given the country’s strong footballing pedigree.
Spanish referees have recently faced widespread criticism due to a series of controversial decisions and mistakes in both domestic and European competitions.
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The selected referees for the tournament are:
- Michael Oliver (England)
- Anthony Taylor (England)
- François Letexier (France)
- Clément Turpin (France)
- Felix Zwayer (Germany)
- Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
- Espen Eskås (Norway)
- Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
- István Kovács (Romania)
- Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
- Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
The tournament will be held in the United States with 32 teams participating, and FIFA’s decision has already sparked debate among fans and pundits regarding the declining reputation of Spanish refereeing.
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