The new category of the First RFEF continues to take shape, although important details remain to be closed. The 40 clubs that will compete in this new competition met in Las Rozas with the Spanish Federation, with its president Luis Rubiales present at the event. At the summit, the composition of the groups was decided (east-west distribution) and other issues that created controversy in the previous meeting, such as the number of U-23 chips in the teams.
Composition of the groups
The 40 teams of the First RFEF voted in the Ciudad del Fútbol of Las Rozas between two models of group composition. The chosen criterion was an East-West distribution and not a North-South distribution, as expected. Castilla has been separated from the rest of the Madrid teams and there will be a miniClassic, since they coincide in the same group as Barça B. The model approved by the teams is as follows:
Groups of the First RFEF.
Mario de la Riva
Group 1: Racing de Ferrol, Deportivo, Racing de Santander, Celta B, Cultural Leonesa, Bilbao Athletic, Tudelano, Calahorra, UD Logroñés, Valladolid B, Zamora, Unionistas, UD Sanse, Rayo Majadahonda, DUX Inter, Talavera, Badajoz, Extremadura, Real Unión and SD Logroñés.
Group 2: Sevilla Atlético, Betis Dvo, Linares, Atlético Sanluqueño, San Fernando, Algeciras, Linense, Andorra, UCAM Murcia, Alcoyano, Albacete, Castilla, Atlético Baleares, Vilarreal B, Castellón, Nàstic, Cornellà, Barcelona B, Sabadell and Llagostera.
Format of the First RFEF
The First RFEF will be made up of 40 teams divided into two groups of 20 by geographic criteria (East West). The competition will be divided into two phases. The first will be in league format, where 38 days (round trip) will be played between the members of each group. From this first phase, those who finish in first position are promoted directly to Second (LaLiga SmartBank), while those who are between second and fifth place, both inclusive, they will go on to play a promotion promotion. While the last five of each group (from 16 to 20) will go down to Second RFEF.
As for the playoff, the eight teams will compete for the two remaining places in a one-game playoff and one-off venue. There will only be two rounds and the pairings will be made with the second against the fifth and the third against the fourth. Although it hasn't been closed yet if those crosses will be between teams of the same groups or between those of different. The matches will have extra time, but no penalties. In case of a tie, the one with the best position obtained in the first phase will pass. If the circumstance arises that both teams finished in the same position in the league, there will be a penalty shoot-out.
Competition details
Several of the points discussed in the last meeting are confirmed. With the ambition and the purpose of professionalizing this new category, so that the jump to LaLiga SmartBank is less traumatic and simple in some cases, minimum requirements will be imposed to participate. Although compliance will be gradually required by implementing moratoriums given the difficulty of some teams to have everything ready this new season. In this way, for the 21-22 season will require a minimum of light power (600lux); for 22-23, that all the fields are made of natural grass and for 23-24 that the minimum capacity of the stadiums is 4,000 spectators. In addition, in this first season clubs will not be required to have a mandatory minimum budget to compete. You also work on a “realistic” minimum wage.
An achievement of the clubs It has been to reverse the RFEF proposal to impose that eight of the chips are for U-23s and they have reduced them to six, as happened in Second B. The teams did not like that amount as most of the best U23s are in the subsidiaries, which would give them a greater advantage. There will be a total of 17 professional files and no limit for non-EU citizens. Another point, of which there is still no news, is the sale of audiovisual rights. The Federation continues to work on a tender that must be presented to the National Competition Commission and that it hopes to have all or most of the clubs with the signed agreement. Regarding the naming of the competition (that a brand gives a name to the category as happens with Santander in First and Second) there is still no news.
The RFEF First Commission will have the presence of clubs as a representation of the 40 that participate in it. The DUX Inter de Madrid, Unionistas, Racing, Bilbao Athletic and Rayo Majadahonda have been elected. The official ball of the competition will be that of the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup, but themed for the category.