Barcos Returns to Global Refereeing Role at IJF

Juan Carlos Barcos has returned to the International Judo Federation Executive Committee while taking up the role of IJF Head Referee Director once again. The appointment places the Spanish official back at the centre of international judo refereeing, an area that has shaped a major part of his career.

The IJF announced the decision in a congratulatory letter, pointing to Barcos’ knowledge, vision and extensive experience. According to the federation, those qualities will support the Executive Committee’s work and its future direction.

For Barcos, the new responsibilities represent both a return to a leading decision-making body and a reconnection with a role he knows deeply. He previously left the Head Referee Director position in 2021 to become IJF International Relations Director. Before that move, he had held responsibility for international refereeing for almost two decades.

Barcos said he was honoured by the renewed confidence placed in him by IJF President Marius Vizer and the other Executive Committee members. He also described the return to refereeing leadership as especially meaningful because of his long-standing connection to that side of judo.

Barcos returns to a refereeing role that formed a fundamental part of his international judo career.

His work in refereeing did not stop after his 2021 change of position. Barcos continued collaborating with the IJF and delivering seminars in countries around the world, sharing his experience and contributing to referee education and development.

The appointment also matters for European judo. Barcos is President of the RFEJYDA, sits on the European Judo Union Executive Committee and serves as EJU Education Referee Director. In those roles, he has been involved in the education and ongoing development of refereeing across Europe.

Spain’s presence within international judo administration is also strengthened by his return to the IJF Executive Committee. Barcos will work alongside fellow Spaniard Raúl Camacho, who is currently IJF Referee Director, adding further Spanish representation within the sport’s international refereeing structure.

The European Judo Union congratulated Barcos on the appointment and wished him success in his renewed responsibilities. His return brings long experience in education, international collaboration and refereeing to one of the key roles in world judo.

Source: EJU.net

Image source: EJU / European Judo Union