The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) announced this Tuesday (27) the professionalization model for refereeing in the first division of the Brazilian Championship. Initially, 72 professionals will be part of an elite group, made up of 20 central referees, 40 assistants and 12 video referees (VAR).
The arbitrators will be linked to the entity as service providers. The contracts will be signed throughout the month of February, lasting until the end of the year. Everyone will be remunerated, with monthly salaries, variable rates and performance bonuses, and must dedicate themselves primarily to the activity, but without the obligation of exclusivity.
Fixed salaries differ by category. Referees linked to FIFA will have higher remuneration than those linked only to the CBF, for example. Contractors will also be paid per match, as is currently the case. The entity will not disclose the specific values for each category, but, on average, each of the 72 contractors will have salaries of R$13,000 per month — this amount could reach up to R$30,000 fixed for the group of central arbitrators.
Legally, CBF cannot demand exclusive dedication from service providers. Despite this, the entity’s idea is to offer a remuneration and training package that leads professionals to have arbitration as their only source of income. This is the main difference in relation to the current model, with arbitrators also acting autonomously, but without the predictability of a fixed remuneration.
At the end of each season, at least two referees will be demoted to work in lower divisions of national football. There will also be promotion of professionals. The analysis of who enters and who leaves the elite will be based on a ranking, updated round by round, but without public disclosure. Only CBF will have access. The list will also outline the scales for the games.
In September last year, with the Brazilian Championship underway, the CBF released a report on the referees’ performance in the first round. The analysis of all games showed a resounding success, with 99.79% accuracy of decisions.
Two weeks after the release of the report, the confederation found itself facing yet another crisis on the whistle. With glaring errors throughout the 27th round, the CBF went against its own practice and announced on Sunday (5), shortly after the last game of the day ended, the removal of those mainly responsible for field work and VAR for two matches.
The immediate suspension because of clear failures was a response to popular outcry and pressure from directors of the affected clubs – in this case, Grêmio and São Paulo. But it was also a demonstration that the vaunted 99.79% accuracy is far from public perception, with recurring protests.
The most emblematic case occurred in the classic in which Palmeiras beat São Paulo 3-2. The tricolor team won the classic 2-0 and, at the beginning of the second half, had a penalty on Tapia denied by the referee. VAR didn’t even call.
Ramon Abatti Abel and Ilbert Estevam interpreted that there was no intention on Allan’s part when bringing down the São Paulo striker. The CBF admitted the error, and the STJD punished the duo with 40 days of suspension.
Bids like this motivated the entity to create a working group that was responsible for creating the first professionalization model.
According to the CBF, the professionalization of arbitration is part of a package of R$195 million that will be invested in the category until the end of 2027. The entity did not disclose the fixed amount that will be paid to each referee, but the budget allocated to this item is in the region of R$12 million per year.
Even with the new hiring model, the confederation will be able to remove professionals who have made a serious error from the roster.
The selection of referees that make up the first group directly linked to the CBF had as its starting point the FIFA (International Football Federation) framework. In addition, the Brazilian entity also took into account the performance evaluation scores in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Last year, the arbitration committee selected 32 different referees throughout the Brazilian Championship. Now, there is an understanding that a fixed staff of 20 central referees is sufficient to organize the tournament. The number was defined based on practices adopted by foreign leagues, consulted by the CBF.
“This is a profound and necessary structural change, requested for decades by all those who love our sport. It is a movement that follows the best practices of other major federations in the world,” said Samir Xaud, president of the CBF.
Also according to the confederation, the pioneers of the professionalization of arbitration will have individualized plans, with a weekly training routine, and will be under technological monitoring. They will have health support and will undergo four annual assessments, with physical tests and game simulations.
There will also be a training routine, with monthly immersions that include theoretical classes, tests and practical sessions in the field.
In addition to specific remuneration, the 72 referees will be systematically evaluated by observers and a technical committee hired by the CBF. They will receive grades based on a set of variables, such as game control, application of the rules, physical performance and clarity of communication, and will form part of an updated ranking for each round.
See the list of 20 central referees selected by the CBF
- Alex Stefano
- Anderson Daronco
- Braulio Machado
- Bruno Arleu
- David Lacerda
- Edina Batista
- Felipe Lima
- Flávio Souza
- Jonathan Pinheiro
- Lucas Casagrande
- By Lucas Torez
- Matheus Candançan
- Paulo Zanovelli
- Rafael Klein
- Ramon Abatti Abel
- Raphael Claus
- Rodrigo Pereira
- Savio Sampaio
- Wagner Magalhães
- Wilton Sampaio
The list of 40 assistants
- Alessandro Matos (CBF) Evandro Lima (CBF) (FIFA), Michael Stanislau (CBF), Nailton Junior (FIFA), Neuza Back (FIFA), Rafael Alves (FIFA), Rafael Trombeta (CBF), Rodrigo Correa (FIFA), Schumacher Gomes (CBF), Thiaggo Labes (CBF), Thiago Farinha (CBF), Tiago Diel (CBF) and Victor Imazu (FIFA)
Two 12 VAR referees ready
- Caio Max, Charly Wendy, Daiane Muniz, Daniel Bins, Diego Lopez, Marco Fazekas, Pablo Ramon, Rodolpho Tolski, Rodrigo Dalonso, Rodrigo Guarizo, Rodrigo Sá and Wagner Reway.
