Ylenia Sánchez, Pioneer in Men's Second Federation Refereeing

The Penedès-Garraf referee will make history as the first Catalan woman to officiate matches in the men's category.

Generic image of a referee's whistle and a yellow card on grass.
IA

Generic image of a referee's whistle and a yellow card on grass.

Ylenia Sánchez Miguel from Penedès has been appointed to referee men's Second Federation matches in the 2026/2027 season, setting a precedent as the first Catalan woman to achieve this milestone.

Ylenia Sánchez Miguel's progression in professional refereeing reaches a new peak with her appointment to the men's Second Federation for the 2026/2027 season. This designation makes her the first Catalan female referee to reach this level.
Sánchez will participate through the Elite Program for Refereeing Excellence, a pioneering initiative for referees and assistants in the Liga F. The program's main goal is to enhance training and raise the standard of professionalism in women's elite refereeing.
With fourteen seasons of accumulated experience, the referee, affiliated with the Penedès-Garraf delegation, has been part of the top tier of Spanish women's football, Liga F, since the 2017-2018 season. Furthermore, for the past three seasons, she has balanced this role with officiating in the men's Third Federation.