Garcia Aranda appointed president’s advisor for refereeing at Russian Football Union

Former Spanish referee Jose Maria Garcia Aranda has been appointed as the refereeing advisor to the president of the Russian Football Union Sergey Fursenko.

Aranda’s contract has been concluded until 2014 with an option of prolongation. The 55-year-old Spaniard will consult Fursenko on the issues of refereeing and relations with FIFA and UEFA, and will also have to take part in general strategic development of Russian football.

«As soon as I arrived, I saw a very fertile lanscape for such things. I will have to build a system of education for Russian referees. They have to become the best. In 2018, Russia will host the World Cup, so the country is very much in need of professionals.»

The most important for me is to give myself to the job. I always think about today, but if we make everything in a professional way, positive results will be sure to come,» said Aranda, according to the RFU official website.