14-year-old on being player &referee: If playing doesn't work out, I can always continue officiating

According to Spain's Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona youth academy player Gael José Seijo recently revealed in an interview with the Spanish Football Federation that in addition to aspiring to become a professional footballer, he is also passionate about football refereeing. The 14-year-old previously obtained referee qualifications in the Galicia region and has experience officiating youth football matches.

This summer, Barcelona signed Seijo from Deportivo La Coruña and incorporated him into the La Masia academy. Previously, the youth departments of clubs such as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid had also shown interest in him.

Seijo was born in Taboada, Lugo province, Galicia, Spain. He primarily plays as a centre-back but can also operate as a defensive midfielder. He received his football training in Lugo from a young age, then joined Deportivo La Coruña, where he played for two seasons. He was previously called up to the Spain U14 national team and is now a member of the Spain U15 national team.

During the Spain U15 national team training camp, Seijo was interviewed by the Spanish Football Federation, sharing his experience of combining his passion for playing with his love of officiating matches.

Regarding his future career plans, Seijo said: "If I don't become a professional footballer, refereeing will always be another option for me. I can always start again and continue my refereeing career."

Recalling how he got into refereeing, Seijo said: "The reason I started being a referee was actually because of my mother."

"One Saturday, Real Madrid was playing, and I asked my mum to take me to watch. There were other games afterward, and I wanted to go to those too."

"My mum told me that if she had to take me to so many games, I might as well sign up for a referee training course. She also told me: 'That way, you can not only watch games but also earn some money.'"

"At first, I didn't really enjoy being a referee. But after attending the training and actually starting to officiate matches, I completely fell in love with the job."

"Back then, every weekend I would officiate two or three youth football matches, depending on the schedule."

Now, although Seijo needs to devote more energy to player training after joining La Masia, he has not abandoned the possibility of becoming a professional referee in the future.

In his opinion, his refereeing experience is not only a personal hobby but also helps him become a better footballer.

Seijo explained: "Being a referee helps me understand the rules of football better, which is very important."

"More importantly, I know how to treat referees, how to communicate with them, how to stay calm, when to speak, and what to say."

"You have to understand referees, understand the mistakes they might make, and help them as much as possible."

Seijo also revealed that he sometimes reminds his teammates before matches how to properly treat referees.

He said: "Some teammates occasionally go a bit too far, so they have to learn to control their emotions."

"My refereeing experience allows me to tell my teammates: 'Hey, don't complain to this referee,' or 'You can't do it this way.'"

"Sometimes, I even need to gather my teammates and talk to them, asking them to respect the referees and try to understand them."

"That way, everything gets better. The referees can enjoy the game, we can enjoy the game, and the game itself will be smoother and fairer."

Speaking about his officiating style, Seijo said he is a very communicative referee.

He said: "I'm a referee who likes to communicate. Whatever decision I make, I will explain the reason to the players."

"I try to communicate with everyone on the field and manage the flow of the game. I think that's the most important thing."

"Of course, making the right decision is also very important, but relatively speaking, I focus more on game management and my overall officiating approach."

Seijo expressed strong dissatisfaction with the abuse directed at referees in football matches.

He said: "This frustrates me a lot. Referees, like footballers, are just doing their job."

"However, many people come to the stadium not to enjoy the game, but to insult others and vent all their accumulated anger and emotions."

"I don't like this aspect of football at all."

"If I were to show a red card, I would show it to those who disrespect and insult others. These people should not be in a football match at all."

In addition to discussing his refereeing experience, Seijo also introduced his technical characteristics as a footballer.

He said: "I am a versatile player who can play as a centre-back and also in the number 6 role."

"I like to push forward and don't always like to pass backward. I'm a player who dares to try things and has a lot of personality."

"I have an advantage in terms of height and physicality, and I am very competitive in physical duels. I aspire to make a difference on the field."

Speaking about his early football experiences, Seijo said that football has been an indispensable part of his life almost since birth.

He recalled: "According to my mum and everyone around me, from the moment I was born, from the time I can remember, there has always been a football at my feet."

"My mum never specifically bought me toys, because as long as I had a football, I would be very happy."

"Seeing how much I loved football, my mum signed me up for football training as early as possible."

"I started playing football at a football school in Lugo when I was three. After that, I progressed through the age groups, and at six, I entered the club's youth categories."

"I played in Lugo until the 2024-25 season. After that, Deportivo La Coruña signed me."

"I played two seasons of youth football there, and now I'm at Barcelona."

Today, 14-year-old Seijo continues his football career at La Masia. Although his primary goal is currently to become a professional player, his refereeing experience has given him a deeper understanding of the rules of football, game management, and the importance of respecting referees.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com