Or Chilean referee Piero Maza41 years old, entered the spotlight after the controversial expulsion of Gonzalo Plata, from Flamengo, ten minutes into the second half against Racing-ARG, in the Libertadores semi-final. Maza issued a red card directly to Plata after the Ecuadorian punched Marcos Rojo’s penalty.
At the beginning of the move, Rojo passed by Plata and kneed the red-and-black athlete in the back of the head, who retaliated with the punch. Piero Maza had not seen what happened, but was alerted by one of the assistants and applied red.
Flamengo players even asked Piero Maza to go to the VAR to review the card, but the Chilean didn’t respond.
Expelled Plata! What did you think, fan? pic.twitter.com/imoiNmPe3J
— ge (@geglobo) October 30, 2025
At 28, Piero Maza gave Rojo a red card after a high-flying split with Léo Ortiz, considering that the Argentine elbowed the Brazilian. However, a few seconds later, he overturned the expulsion after going to VAR. In fact, the players clashed heads.
Rojo gets a red card, but the referee backs down after video review. pic.twitter.com/hTzc4EkB1f
— ge (@geglobo) October 30, 2025
Find out more about Piero Maza, who has had some controversies in his career.
Piero Maza: history and career
Piero Daniel Maza Gómez, born on October 25, 1984, in Santiago, has been with FIFA since 2018. Considered one of the main names in Chilean refereeing today, Maza has built a career marked by rapid rise, performances in decisive games and several controversies that have made him a much talked about figure on the South American scene.
His career began in Chile’s national competitions, debuting as main referee in the First Division on July 27, 2014, in the match between Cobresal and Palestino. With a disciplinary and technical profile, Maza quickly gained space within the National Professional Football Association (ANFP), starting to manage the most relevant matches in the Chilean championship.
International recognition came in 2018, when he joined the FIFA referee panel. In the same year, he debuted in continental tournaments when he took charge of the game between LDU, from Ecuador, and Guabirá, from Bolivia, in the Copa Sudamericana. From then on, he became a constant presence in competitions organized by Conmebol, such as Libertadores and Sul-Americana, as well as grassroots tournaments. In 2019, for example, he played in five matches at the Copa América U20, held in his country.
The leap to the elite scene occurred in 2022, when he was appointed as main referee of the Finalíssima – clash between the champions of the European Championship and Copa América – between Italy and Argentina. The following year, Maza returned to represent Chile at a high level when he was chosen to take charge of matches in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, including the duel between Colombia and Uruguay. This appointment was historic, as he became the first Chilean referee to officiate in the Qualifiers of that cycle.
Recognized for his firm style and tendency to apply many cards, Piero Maza is often described as a strict and controlling referee. In Conmebol competitions, he usually presents an average of more than five cards per game, being criticized by some coaches and praised by others for “not hiding” in tense matches.
Despite his rigidity, the Chilean has already stated that he prefers dialogue with the players, although he admits that in certain situations it is best to “not talk so much, because the athletes want to play”. In an interview with the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, he even stated: “I feel like I’m the best referee”.
His career, however, is also marked by controversies. In 2022, he was removed and fired along with ten other referees by the then head of Chilean arbitration, Javier Castrilli. The decision generated a strong reaction among his colleagues, and Maza ended up reinstated shortly after, after pressure from the category’s union.
In 2025, he returned to the spotlight when he officiated the Superclásico between Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile, in which he scored three penalties, sent off two players and surprised by using a microphone to explain two of his decisions to the public – something unprecedented in Chilean football. In another episode, he was criticized for using cards personalized with his own image, which generated negative repercussions and a formal request to abandon the practice.
Despite the tense moments, Piero Maza established himself as one of the most experienced and important referees on the continent. His constant presence in Libertadores and South American games reflects Conmebol’s confidence in his work, even in the face of controversies.
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