Santiago Bernabeu the Only Exception: La Liga Referees to Avoid Speaking at Real Madrid Stadium

The first round of La Liga and the Segunda División saw a new initiative with referees appearing on television broadcasts. Adrián Cordero Vega made comments from the Metropolitano Stadium, while Hernández Maeso was seen at the Riazor Stadium, alongside Olatz Rivera in the second division.

According to "Mundo Deportivo," this initiative will expand starting from matchday ten, where referees will be allowed to speak before and after matches, provided that a television broadcaster requests this from the Spanish Football League.

If the request is submitted, the referee will be required to conduct an interview before the match and after its conclusion, with the possibility of being questioned about the incidents and decisions witnessed during the encounter.

This mechanism will be applied in 41 out of 42 stadiums in the Spanish Professional League competitions, with the Santiago Bernabéu being the only exception.

The exemption for Real Madrid's stadium is due to the ongoing dispute between the club and both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation. Currently, broadcasters are not allowed to conduct pre-match coverage from inside the stadium, while the club permits access only a few minutes before the matches begin.

The source added that this move comes alongside another change that emerged during the first round, which allows for a camera to be present in the referees' dressing room before they head out to the pitch to start the matches.