Are referees professional athletes? Regarding the Justice Supreme Court of Madrid judgment (STSJM 1789/2024)

Abstract

The sport refereeing community has been undergoing an evolution in recent years in terms of its level of dedication and professionalism. Consequently, an update of its legal-labour regime has been necessary to regulate its provision of services. At the same time, a doctrinal and jurisprudential debate has been elucidated that has led to different legal positions regarding the employment or not of sports referees in our country.
This is how the latest judicial resolution was reached, from the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid, which not only recognizes the work of soccer referees, in particular, but also considers them as professional athletes with the legal implications what that entails.