The referee for the Copa Sudamericana final has been changed. Jesus Valenzuela will take charge of the clash since Leodan Gonzalez, initially appointed by CONMEBOL, has tested positive for coronavirus.
Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela, 37, will take charge of the Copa Sudamericana final between Argentinian teams Lanus and Defensa y Justicia. That is because Uruguayan Leodan Gonzalez has tested positive for Covid on 19 January 2021. Gonzalez, 38, had been appointed last Sunday for the encounter that will take place at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba, Argentina. The Uruguayan official is asymptomatic and will self-isolate in Uruguay, said a CONMEBOL statement addressed to the Uruguayan and Venezuelan associations said. (Source: BeSoccer)
Leodan Gonzalez had also been appointed by FIFA to the Club World Cup in Qatar. The competition is scheduled from 4-11 February 2021, while Gonzalez has to self-isolate for 14 days, which would end only 2 days before the first match. FIFA announced that he will be replaced by Esteban Ostojich (Source:
FIFA)