New Referee advisor defends Actual Madrid fandom – ‘My daughter is an Atletico fan’

[ad_1] New Referee advisor defends Actual Madrid fandom – ‘My daughter is an Atletico fan’ The brand new members of the refereeing physique in Spain, the Technical Referees Committee (CTA), had been offered 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 advisor for innovation in know-how and AI, however seemingly is an avid Actual Madrid fan.

Not less than that's what a sequence of social media posts from Alonso over the past 15 years up till as lately as 2023 would counsel, 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.

Function within the CTA Alonso did distance himself from any materials affect over refereeing, how the know-how is designed to guage refereeing efficiency, and certainly how referees are designated, which is the principle job of the committee he's on. His function can be strictly advisory.

“I’m simply right here to advise Francisco Soto on his committee together with his crew on know-how. It’s very clear that I’m an ‘Advisor’ and never a ‘Accountable Particular person’.”

Picture by way of SERGIO ENRÍQUEZ NISTAL | EL MUNDO

“All of those technological initiatives 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 comfy that the know-how they develop meets the standard standards.”

He reasoned that he is not going to be shouldering the blame for any errors in large matches consequently.

“I’m not going to the touch VAR even remotely, and my job is merely to advise in conferences about AI and know-how, which is the work different groups are doing. If VAR or the referees make a mistake… you’ll must 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. @FCBarcelonapic.twitter.com/x7UG47jnPy

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 22, 2025 Alonso: ‘I’m a fan of Actual Atletico Madrid’ The previous hacker and cybersecurity knowledgeable, who works for Telefonica, additionally reasoned that his Actual Madrid ties will not be 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 bundle on my TV anymore; I watch them socially with pals) and naturally it makes me pleased when Actual Madrid wins.”

Picture by way of RFEF

Alonso explains that his daughter’s love for Atletico Madrid has additionally made him sympathetic to Los Rojiblancos – which is able to 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 at all times needed to name her ‘Aupa Atleti,’ as a result of when she was little or no she at all times mentioned ‘Gopa Atleti.’ So I’m additionally an Atletico Madrid fan. ‘Actual Atletico Madrid,’ which I say loads. 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 pleased is priceless, and if it’s Atletico Madrid – Getafe, even higher.”

🚨🇺🇸 JUST IN: Johnny Cardoso has determined to chop his trip brief and can be becoming a member of the crew within the coming hours. The participant is raring to get began with Atlético Madrid and begin coaching below Diego Simeone as quickly as doable.@mundodeportivopic.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 facet both. Barcelona had been mentioned 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 determine on the VAR know-how or the AI know-how that may referee the soccer matches of the longer term. By no means. I’m simply right here to advise Francisco Soto on his committee together with his crew on know-how. It’s very clear that I’m an ‘Advisor’ and never a ‘Accountable Particular person’. All of those technological initiatives 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 comfy that the know-how they develop meets the standard standards. My function is to assist put together know-how conferences, attend committee conferences, and little else. The duty for VAR, referee project, referee analysis, and so forth stays with the individuals and professionals throughout the CTA and the RFEF. And I’m pleased to assist them higher perceive the know-how. 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 bundle on my TV anymore; I watch them socially with pals) and naturally it makes me pleased 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 at all times needed to name her ‘Aupa Atleti,’ as a result of when she was little or no she at all times mentioned ‘Gopa Atleti.’ So I’m additionally an Atletico Madrid fan. ‘Actual Atletico Madrid,’ which I say loads. 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 pleased 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 really like arguing about them. Sooner or later, my Barca pals 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 mentioned, we had a very good snort. I’m not going to the touch VAR even remotely, and my job is merely to advise in conferences about AI and know-how, which is the work different groups are doing. If VAR or the referees make a mistake… you’ll must search for the offender elsewhere, whereas I’ll be watching TV. [ad_2] Source link