Referee technical chief David Fernández Borbalán gave a briefing to Atletico Madrid this Tuesday at Cerro del Espino. The informative session came after the red-and-white team completed their first three matches of the 2026-2027 season, a start that has seen them take seven points from nine to sit third in the La Liga standings.
The information was reported by journalist Ramón Fuentes for the newspaper Mundo Deportivo. The meeting was attended by the entire first-team squad and the coaching staff led by Diego Pablo Simeone. Atletico had not yet received the usual pre-season and competition-start refereeing briefing, so this session served to update players and coaches on current criteria.
Who is David Fernández Borbalán?
David Fernández Borbalán is the current technical chief of referees and a former international official with a long career. His briefing to Atletico Madrid comes in a context of adaptation to new guidelines. The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), chaired by Fran Soto, backed the decision to award a penalty and show a red card to Le Normand for a foul on Mikautadze in the match against Villarreal this same Tuesday. This support came after the introduction of the new 'Time of Review' protocol, which has been implemented following experiences from recent tournaments like the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
How does Atletico arrive at this briefing?
Simeone's team faces this international break after a solid start to the championship. With two wins and a draw, Atletico occupies third place with seven points, just two behind leaders Barcelona. In attack they have scored seven goals and conceded three, giving them a +4 goal difference. Their next commitment is a visit to San Mamés to face Athletic Club, twelfth in the table, on September 5th. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The squad's condition also influences preparation. Currently, striker Alexander Sørloth is on the injuries list and is unavailable for the clash. This competitive context makes every detail, including clarification of refereeing criteria, important for maintaining pace in the title race.
What was covered in the informative session?
The briefing focused on explaining to the players and staff the current interpretations of the rules and the protocols of the refereeing body. David Fernández Borbalán personally conveyed these guidelines in an interactive session. The goal is to minimise misunderstandings during matches and for the team to know first-hand how the rules will be applied this season. This type of meeting between referees and clubs has become an increasingly common practice to foster dialogue and transparency.
The location, Cerro del Espino, is a usual venue for the club's activities. The session allowed for specific doubts that may have arisen after the first official matches to be resolved. With the team fully involved in the fight for the top, every point counts, and understanding the referees' framework can make a small difference. The current standings, which can be followed on standings, show how tight the battle at the top of the table is.
Atletico Madrid will resume competition on September 5th with a trip to Bilbao to face Athletic Club.
