The Catalan Football Federation (FCF) has suspended all futsal matches across Catalonia for the upcoming weekend. This unprecedented response follows a violent assault on a referee. The decision, announced Wednesday night, affects every scheduled game from 27 February to 1 March and directly supports a strike organised by the region’s refereeing body protesting escalating violence in the sport.
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The shutdown was triggered last Saturday during a youth match in the coastal town of Canet de Mar. With less than two minutes remaining in a fixture between Canet FS and CFS La Unión Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a spectator threw a fanny pack from the stands, striking the referee, Clever Junior Cohelo Santana, with considerable force. Video of the incident shows the official falling to the floor after the impact.
Although the referee recovered, the collective described the attack as the final straw, having grown increasingly concerned for its safety.
The Final Straw for Referees
The assault in Canet was not an isolated event but the culmination of what referees describe as a worrying trend. In a joint statement, the refereeing collective denounced a “sustained increase in verbal and physical assaults in recent weeks,” which has exhausted their patience.
“Verbal and physical aggression has reached a point that forces us to reflect deeply as a collective,” the statement read, as reported by Ara Cat. “No person carrying out their refereeing duties should feel fear or see their integrity compromised while simply doing their job.”
A fan associated with the visiting team from Santa Coloma de Gramenet committed the act. This municipality has also recently appeared in news reports for other public safety concerns, including an assault on an elderly woman. The club, CFS La Unión, has since issued its own statement expressing its rejection of the attack.
A ‘Zero-Tolerance’ Stance
After meeting with the referees, the Catalan Football Federation decisively postponed all futsal activity, from youth leagues to senior competitions, in a powerful gesture of solidarity. The federation labelled the assault an “absolutely intolerable” act with “no place in Catalan sport.”
In an official communiqué, the FCF reiterated its stance on ensuring safety and respect within the sport.
“The Federation underlines its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and to the protection of referees as an essential part of the game. We will continue to work with determination to ensure that football pitches and futsal pavilions are safe spaces of respect and coexistence.”
The institution also confirmed its permanent contact with the affected referee, offering all necessary support since the incident. This widespread suspension mirrors other collective actions in Catalonia, such as when Catalan schools threatened to cancel trips over a pay dispute. This demonstrates a regional willingness to take drastic measures to highlight critical issues.
The weekend-long pause is intended to serve as a period of reflection for clubs, players, and fans, forcing a conversation about the culture of aggression that has crept into the sport at all levels. As matches go silent across the region, officials hope the message will be heard loud and clear: violence against referees will not be tolerated.
