This Sunday, August 2nd, is historic for the Spanish refereeing community. Yesterday, La Liga referees concluded their pre-season training in Las Caldas, Asturias. Today, the 22 referees of the Segunda División officially begin the new season, including 6 newcomers and 1 female referee. For the first time in Spanish refereeing history, two female referees belong to the same professional tier. Previously, this had only occurred in La Liga, and only with three assistant referees: Guadalupe Porras, Eliana Fernández González, and Judit Romano.
This means Marta Huerta de Asa will no longer be the only female referee in Spanish professional football. The Palencia-based referee, currently with the Tenerife refereeing team, has just finished her second season in the Spanish Second Division, officiating 38 matches (20 this season and 18 last season). She also officiates in women's professional leagues.
Starting today, Marta has a new partner, with another international referee, Oracz Rivero, joining her team. This Basque referee, like Marta, is a member of UEFA's elite referee panel. This season, the Spanish Referees Technical Committee also appointed her to officiate the Queen's Cup final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. She also officiated the El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid in late March.
Since her La Liga debut in 2017, this Athletic Bilbao referee has made remarkable progress. A prime example is her appointment last November to officiate the Women's U17 World Cup final between South Korea and the Netherlands. Just hours ago, she made her European Championship debut. She made her first appearance in the tournament last summer and will make her European Championship debut on June 12, 2025, in a Group C match between Poland and Denmark.
In addition, Olac Rivero served as the fourth official in the Switzerland vs. Iceland match officiated by Marta Huerta de Assa; two days earlier, she also served as the fourth official in the Germany vs. Poland match officiated by French referee Stéphane Frapar.
