The RFEF, the Spanish Football Federation, appointed 44-year-old Carlos Clos Gómez to officiate the first El Clasico of the 2016-17 season, which will be played on December 3 2016 at the Camp Nou. It will be the first time Clos Gómez will referee a league game of arguably the biggest derby in football. Clos Gómez has previously taken charge of two Clasicos, one in the Supercopa de España, won by Barcelona by a score of 3-2, and a Copa del Rey Semifinal that ended one-all.
Clos Gómez hails from Zaragoza, Aragon, and has been a referee for ten years.