CBF makes radical change, names new head of refereeing commission

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·9 June 2026

CBF makes radical change, names new head of refereeing commission

CBF decided on the change after criticism of refereeing in Brasileirão matches

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced this Tuesday (09) the dismissal of Rodrigo Cintra from the head of the Refereeing Commission. The entity also stated that the new person in charge of the role will be former referee Sandro Meira Ricci.

See an excerpt from the entity’s statement:

OneFootball Videos

CBF informs that former referee Sandro Meira Ricci, who in recent years held the position of referee manager at the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), a company contracted by Major League Soccer (MLS), will take over the functions of the board. Until the transition is completed, the activities of the Refereeing Commission will continue normally, without any harm to the ongoing competitions.

Why the change in charge of CBF refereeing?

Cintra’s dismissal and Sandro’s hiring came after a series of refereeing controversies, especially in the Brasileirão. In the 18th round, for example, Chapecoense had a goal incorrectly disallowed against Palmeiras, which cost the southern team a point.

The seriousness of the mistake led CBF to sideline the match officials. Felipe Fernandes de Lima and Antonio Magno Lima Cordeiro will be out for an indefinite period. However, the suspension comes during the break for the World Cup.

Since when had Rodrigo Cintra been in charge?

Since 2025, Cintra had been responsible for managing, training, and assigning the referees and assistants who work in national competitions. The period is much shorter than the tenure of his predecessor, Wilson Seneme, president of the Refereeing Commission from 2022 to 2025.

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