CBF Launches Ambitious Professionalization Program to Elevate Brazilian Football Refereeing
The CBF has launched a R$ 195 million program to professionalize Brazilian football refereeing, featuring 72 elite referees and advanced training to raise officiating standards.
- • CBF announced the Programa de Profissionalização da Arbitragem with R$ 195 million investment.
- • 72 referees, including FIFA officials and VAR specialists, are selected for the program.
- • The program features four pillars: structure, health, training, and technology.
- • Referees receive salaries, bonuses, rigorous training, and evaluations, including 8 from Rio Grande do Sul.
Key details
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has unveiled a substantial initiative to professionalize football refereeing in Brazil, aiming to modernize officiating standards and align them with international benchmarks. The Programa de Profissionalização da Arbitragem (PRO) represents a historic investment of R$ 195 million for the 2026-2027 period, signaling a strategic shift in the governance of Brazilian football refereeing.
This pioneering program will initially encompass 72 elite referees, including 20 central referees (11 of whom are FIFA officials), 40 assistant referees (20 FIFA), and 12 Video Assistant Referees (VAR). The official program launch is scheduled for March 2026. Referees will receive monthly salaries, variable fees, and performance bonuses to prioritize their officiating careers, though exclusive dedication is not mandatory.
The PRO program is built on four main pillars: General Structure, Excellence with Health, Technical Training, and Technology and Innovation. Referees will follow individualized weekly training regimens monitored with advanced technology, supported by health service excellence, and subject to rigorous evaluations throughout the year. These include four formal assessments featuring physical tests and real-game simulations. Moreover, referees will participate in monthly immersive training sessions in Rio de Janeiro, combining theoretical and practical lessons with intense performance analysis.
Notably, eight referees from Rio Grande do Sul are among the selected cohort, including well-known names such as central referees Anderson Daronco, Jonathan Pinheiro, and Rafael Klein. These referees will benefit from continuous feedback after matches to enhance decision-making and accountability through systematic evaluations that influence their rankings after each match day.
CBF President Samir Xaud emphasized the necessity of this "deep structural change" to meet long-standing demands from the football community. The program's comprehensive approach, developed with input from 38 clubs across Series A and B, international consultants, and refereeing associations, sets a new standard for Brazilian football refereeing professionalism and is expected to significantly improve officiating quality in the country’s top tiers, primarily focusing on the Série A of the Brasileirão while allowing referees to officiate in other competitions.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Launch date of the program
Sources report different launch dates for the program
fgf.com.br
"The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially launched its new Referee Professionalization Program on Tuesday."
cbf.com.br
"the official launch slated for March."
Why this matters: One source states the program was launched on Tuesday, while the other indicates the official launch is slated for March. This discrepancy affects the understanding of when the program officially begins.