CBF holds first PRO refereeing training session | OneFootball

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is holding the first PRO CBF Refereeing training camp through Friday (3), taking place at Granja Comary in Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro. The event began on Tuesday (31), with an opening led by the president of the Refereeing Commission (CA), Rodrigo Cintra; the vice president of the Amapá Football Federation and president of the CBF Refereeing Working Group, Netto Góes; CBF Academy manager Davi Feques; and the other CA members and participating referees.

OPENING

During the opening of the training week, Rodrigo Cintra highlighted the support and investment of CBF president Samir Xaud in refereeing. This initiative shows the commitment of Brazilian football’s top governing body to on-field performance.

“President Samir Xaud and his entire board came in and delivered on what they promised, giving us working conditions, helping us, creating a Working Group to listen to us and break out of the bubble, even taking us into environments outside refereeing,” he said.

Davi Feques, Rodrigo Cintra and Netto Góes during the opening of the PRO Refereeing training weekCredits: Samara Moumei/CBF

Netto Góes reinforced the importance of having FIFA instructors at the event and confirmed that he will be present throughout the entire PRO Refereeing training week. The president of the CBF Refereeing Working Group also said this is only the first meeting in the organization’s initiative.

“I would like to thank the FIFA instructors for being here because that greatly enhances the event. I’m very happy to be part of this, and I’ll be here throughout the week talking, answering questions, and experiencing this moment with you. This is just the first of many events like this that we will still have,” he said.

PRO REFEREEING

During the first PRO CBF Refereeing training camp, 72 referees and 28 professionals from the Refereeing Commission, Working Group, Refereeing Technical Department, and FIFA instructors took part.

The event will also feature a multidisciplinary team with psychologists, nutritionists, physiologists, and physiotherapists for practical activities.

From Tuesday (31) to Friday (3), there will be practical sessions, field training, improvement classes, video tests, psychological and decision-making work, as well as a ceremony on Friday morning to present the PRO Refereeing badges to the contracted referees.

CBF holds first PRO Refereeing training campCredits: Samara Moumei/CBF

“It is a very important moment for refereeing as a whole, especially for this group of referees who are being professionalized under this financial arrangement by the CBF, where we are also including technical monitoring. It is important for the CBF to be increasingly closer to the referees, able to provide these conditions so that this directly impacts these professionals’ performance on the field,” said Netto Góes.

This is only the first of 10 more meetings that will take place in 2026. The 72 referees will remain in contact with the Refereeing Commission throughout the year for new evaluations and closer alignment on criteria.

These are the first referees to go through the professionalization process in Brazil. Starting this year, they can focus solely and exclusively on refereeing, without needing to work another job on days when they are not on the field.

Roberto Silvera and Ana Leite are FIFA refereeing instructorsCredits: Samara Moumei/CBF

“The unprecedented nature of this project is something fantastic for the professionalization of refereeing, not only because of the word ‘PRO,’ but mainly because of the opportunity we are now giving referees to train daily without the concern they had until now of a profession outside football. With this type of initiative, we improve not only refereeing but, consequently, football as well, because refereeing is part of the spectacle,” Rodrigo Cintra highlighted.

REFERENCES AND IMPLEMENTATION

In an exclusive interview with CBF TV, referees Paulo Cesar Zanovelli and Edina Alves Batista revealed how it feels to be part of a pioneering project.

Zanovelli, who represents the Minas Gerais Football Federation, said this is a special moment and one for reflection. He recalled when he decided to pursue refereeing: it was in college, while studying Physical Education, in 2013, that he began the career that started on indoor courts, officiating futsal matches.

“It’s a dream. I think that’s the word. It’s nice to see this, to have this structure and the opportunity to start such a beautiful project. Taking this first step is truly the fulfillment of a dream, not only for those of us here working, but also for former referees and people who fought for this,” he said.

Referees begin training at Granja ComaryCredits: Samara Moumei/CBF

Edina, from Paraná and representing the São Paulo Football Federation, says she fell in love with refereeing at 19. Among other achievements, she was the first woman to officiate a men’s professional FIFA match, at the 2021 Club World Cup. Once again, the referee becomes a pioneer by joining the first class of CBF PRO Referees alongside other women.

“I only have gratitude for the people making this happen: President Samir Xaud, Netto Góes, Davi Feques, and the entire Refereeing Commission. Also the press, the athletes, and the coaches who wanted this to happen. We are living a dream. We will dedicate ourselves to showing that this is the way forward and to strengthening refereeing more and more,” she said.

ACTIVITIES

On Tuesday (31), the opening day of the event, the referees had two theoretical activities led by FIFA instructors Roberto Silvera and Ana Leite.

This Wednesday (1), the day began with a physical-technical activity on the field. In the afternoon, the refereeing professionals will have a series of lectures, cognitive work, and theoretical sessions. The schedule will continue along the same lines on Thursday (2), but will also include seminars on sports nutrition, administrative guidance, activities with psychologists, among others.

The closing will be on Friday (3), with a morning ceremony that will officially launch the first CBF PRO referees.

Davi Feques, Rodrigo Cintra and Netto Góes during the opening of the PRO Refereeing training weekCredits: Samara Moumei/CBF

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.