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It may seem like a light, veiled profession, more compared to the new players, but refereeing can be even more complex than getting an aircraft off the ground or putting a satellite into orbit. "Although some problem may be difficult, in engineering you have all the time in the world to solve it, to investigate. But on the pitch you have to decide in a second." And with 11 players, his coaching staff and the stadium, in, at least, maximum boiling. It's not hyperbole. "You have to have leadership, personality and you have to know how to make decisions now, under pressure", feels the Our Father who knows it well: Alicia Espinosa (Alcorcón, 1997), who in 2022 set aside her career as an aerospace engineer to, at last, professionalize as a collegiate and, thus, accumulate milestones, at a speed, why not define it, spatial.

Because with only 23 years, five years after starting as a referee while studying at the university, she became the second youngest – just one month behind the youngest player, Arantza Gallastegui – of the First Division. And who communicated such an achievement, could not be other than a former historical international: Undiano Mallenco. "I was working and, when he called me to tell me that I was one of the two in Spain that had ascended, the joy was brutal. You work for that since you become a referee, "he says on his return from whistle the Sporting de Huelva-Levante, yesterday. Alicia Espinosa treasures three seasons in the women's elite and whistles in the men's third. Always with the adrenaline of responsibility before each meeting. "I run an average of 11 km. I end up more tired with men; they sprint more."

And although the trade did not weather its most lustrous era with Caso Negreira, and players like Piqué assure that "buying a referee is as easy as paying him in black", this Madrid is conclusive: "The feeling of being a referee is something that I would never corrupt". It doesn't even have, "logically," a favorite team. "What a referee wants to impart is justice. I would never do otherwise or for all the money they offered." As if to spoil; He is a young prodigy, yes, but also because of tenacity.

And with one dream: to be international. Everything is possible for this daughter of pharmacists, with Carlos del Cerro, the oldest of Primera, 47 years old, and Stéphanie Frappart, first woman to referee in a men's World Cup, of idols, who became passionate about football with her father: "We watched tournament after tournament all day. In the park, I would go down with my brother and it was playing and playing..." She ended up as a full-back at school, despite the fact that "there were almost no girls and it was super difficult to find a team. Now it's amazing." Then, to futsal, and again, to 11, on the side.

Before turning to refereeing -with family disagreement-, he endured two years making it compatible with engineering: midweek matches, Copa de la Reina, meetings, training, (not) holidays dedicated to football ... "I could take a train at 5.30 to get straight to the office with the referee's suitcase and, from there, to train and then home to review the game, because you have 48 hours to deliver the self-analysis." A time trial that, until last September, was only compensated with 300 euros / game. Now, after the break of protest and the agreement between the RFEF, the CSD and the women's league, they are around 30,000 a year -subject to variables-. "They were hard months. We wanted to be professionals like everyone else. You couldn't make a living as a referee and you didn't have a contract. If you were injured, you didn't get paid."

Now, they exceed expectations, to "be even better than the demand of a party." They train two and a half hours, plus the technical, psychological, tactical part... However, they multiply their salaries tenfold. At least, on the lawn they are more considerate. "There are sexist comments, unpleasant, but already the least. It used to be, 'A girl is coming.' Not anymore; Now they respect the same as the partner."

Question. Have you ever insulted a referee when you were on the other side?

Answer. Never, I promise, never. Not even a player, no matter how hot she was.

DNA

- Stewardess, footballer until 20 and engineer, and only referee.

- He plans to do his PhD in aerospace.

- It is being trained for the implementation of VAR.

According to The Trust Project criteria

Learn more

  • Alcorcón
  • Gerard Pique
  • Negreira Case
  • Women's Football