How CBF assembled referee schedule in controversial round

In a turbulent round regarding refereeing, a rookie referee was present in Serie A, while experienced referees officiated Serie C matches. This division is part of the strategy of the CBF’s refereeing committee to assemble schedules for each league, taking into account the current moment of the season. The decision of who referees each match comes from the CBF’s refereeing committee. The committee’s president, Rodrigo Martins Cintra, ultimately determines who referees or does not referee a game. In the elite division, both experienced and young referees faced criticism and made errors. While 25-year-old Lucas Casagrande officiated Red Bull Bragantino vs. Grêmio, 36-year-old Ramon Abatti Abel, aiming for the 2026 World Cup, made a mistake in São Paulo vs. Palmeiras. They and the respective VAR referees will be out of the schedule for some time to undergo training. Meanwhile, four FIFA referees were appointed for the penultimate round of Serie C: Bruno Arleu (RJ), Paulo Cesar Zanovelli (MG), Wilton Pereira Sampaio (GO), and Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS). Normally, FIFA referees prioritize Serie A matches. However, the CBF chooses to appoint them for more critical stages of lower divisions as well, a practice in place for several years. The idea of using FIFA referees in Serie C is to bring prestige to matches that are vital for clubs with lower investments compared to the elite division. At the same time, when focusing on Serie A, the refereeing committee also provides opportunities to promising referees to gradually rejuvenate the squad. It was in this spirit that Fernando Antônio Mendes de Salles Filho made his debut in the top division during Vasco 4 x 3 Vitória. He faced criticism from the visiting team due to the expulsion of Lucas Halter. The refereeing committee believes that these new referees ascend with a solid record of performances in Serie B, for example, paving the way for their inclusion in the elite division. However, four FIFA referees were still appointed over the weekend. Alongside Ramon Abatti Abel (São Paulo vs. Palmeiras), Anderson Daronco (Ceará vs. Santos), Rodrigo Pereira de Lima (Bahia vs. Flamengo), and Flavio Rodrigues de Souza (Internacional vs. Botafogo) were also officiating.