CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026 – First Round (Second Leg)

10-12 February 2026

Deportivo Tachira – The Strongest
Referee: Derlis Lopez PAR (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Cuevas PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Julio Aranda PAR
Fourth Official: Derlis Benitez PAR
VAR: Fernando Lopez PAR
AVAR: Carlos Figueredo PAR
Referee Assessor: Luis Sanchez VEN
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Lamouroux COL

Alianza Lima – 2 de Mayo
Referee: Flavio Souza BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Alves BRA
Fourth Official: Rodrigo Pereira BRA
VAR: Rodrigo D’Alonso BRA
AVAR: Diego Pombo BRA
Referee Assessor: Ana Perez PER
VAR Supervisor: Roberto Silvera URU

Universidad Catolica – Juventud
Referee: Yael Falcon ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Sebastian Raineri ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Pablo Acevedo ARG
Fourth Official: Sebastian Zunino ARG
VAR: Pablo Dovalo ARG
AVAR: Lucas Novelli ARG
Referee Assessor: Juan Corozo ECU
VAR Supervisor: Julio Bascunan CHI

NFL referees are paid big bonuses for Super Bowl

Leading up to Super Bowl LX, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell raved about the job officials have done for the league. “I’m so amazed at how good our officials are,” Goodell told an audience during Super Bowl week. He may be the only person who feels that way. To the average fan, the NFL has an officiating problem. Of course, it’s important to recognize that their job is difficult. The action moves quickly in the NFL, and, right or wrong, every call is scrutinized. Although referees deal with plenty of criticism, they are paid well by the league. According to MoneyDigest.com, officials make an average of $205,000 per season. Those who call the Super Bowl are in line for an even bigger payday. Leading up to the Super Bowl, referees are reportedly paid anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 for postseason games. The big money, though, comes from officiating the big game. Super Bowl bonuses for NFL referees are reportedly between $30,000 and $50,000.

Who are the referees for Super Bowl LX? Referee: Shawn Smith (photo), Umpire: Roy Ellison, Down Judge: Dana McKenzie, Line Judge: Julian Mapp, Field Judge: Jason Ledet, Side Judge: Eugene Hall, Back Judge: Greg Steed, Replay Official: Andrew Lambert. Smith will be working his first Super Bowl on Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots face off. Mapp, Ledet and Lambert will also be making their Super Bowl debuts on Sunday. Ellison and Hall, meanwhile, will be officiating their fourth respective Super Bowls. A season-long evaluation system is used to name the officiating crew for the Super Bowl. The highest-rated officials at each position are selected to officiate, provided they meet the criteria of having worked in the league for five years or more.

Source: Syracuse

CAF Confederation Cup 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

8 February 2026

Kaizer Chiefs – Al Masry
Referee: Daniel Laryea GHA (photo)

Zesco United – Zamalek
Referee: Abdou Mefire CMR

San Pedro – USM Alger
Referee: Naby Toure GUI

Singida Black Stars – CR Belouizdad
Referee: Adalbert Diouf SEN

Azam – Maniema Union
Referee: Messie Nkounkou CGO

Nairobi United – Wydad AC
Referee: Ahmad Heeralall MRI

Olympic Safi – Djoliba
Referee: Omar Artan SOM

AS Otoho – Stellenbosch
Referee: Babacar Sarr MTN

CAF Champions League 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

6-8 February 2026

AS FAR – Young Africans
Referee: Abongile Tom RSA (photo)

MC Alger – Al Hilal
Referee: Clement Kpan CIV

JS Kabylie – Al Ahly
Referee: Brighton Chimene ZIM

Power Dynamos – RS Berkane
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda RWA

Stade Malien – Esperance de Tunis
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG

Petro de Luanda – Simba
Referee: Yannick Malala COD

St. Eloi Lupopo – Mamelodi Sundowns
Referee: Peter Waweru KEN

Rivers United – Pyramids
Referee: Mehrez Melki TUN

AFC Futsal Asian Cup Final 2026: Liu (CHN) & Sattorov (TJK)

7 February 2026

Indonesia – Iran
Referee 1: Liu Jianqiao CHN (photo)
Referee 2: Sukhrob Sattorov TJK
Third Referee: Fahad Al-Hosani UAE
Fourth Referee: Pornnarong Grairod THA
Timekeeper: Hawkar Ahmed IRQ
Referee Assessor: Badrul Kalam MAS

UEFA Futsal Euro Final 2026: Veselič (SVN) & Manzione (ITA)

7 February 2026

Final
Spain – Portugal
Referee 1: Dejan Veselič SVN (photo)
Referee 2: Nicola Manzione ITA
Third Referee: Ondřej Černy CZE
Fourth Referee: Nikola Jelić CRO
Timekeeper: Aleš Močnik Perič SVN
Referee Observer: Perry Gautier BEL

Match for Third Place
Croatia – France
Referee 1: Damian Grabowski POL
Referee 2: Arttu Kyynaeraeinen FIN
Third Referee: Chiara Perona ITA
Fourth Referee: David Schaerli SUI
Timekeeper: Daniel Matkovic SUI
Referee Observer: Pedro Galan Nieto ESP

AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 – Semi-finals

5 February 2026

Indonesia – Japan
Referee 1: Fahad Al-Hosani UAE (photo)
Referee 2: Anatoliy Rubakov UZB
Third Referee: Abdulaziz Al-Sarrafv KUW
Fourth Referee: Sukhrob Sattorov TJK
Timekeeper: Hawkar Ahmed IRQ
Referee Assessor: Nurdin Bukuev KGZ

Iraq – Iran
Referee 1: Liu Jianqiao CHN
Referee 2: Andrew Best AUS
Third Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Doseri BHR
Fourth Referee: Pornnarong Grairod THA
Timekeeper: Wahyu Wicaksono IDN
Referee Assessor: Tomohiro Kozaki JPN

Concacaf Champions Cup 2026 – First Round (First Leg)

3 February 2026

Olimpia – Club America
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Rosendo Mendoza USA
VAR: Allen Chapman USA
AVAR: Benjamin Whitty CAY

Forge FC – Tigres UANL
Referee: Armando Villarreal USA
Assistant Referee 1: Cory Richardson USA
Assistant Referee 2: Nicholas Uranga USA
Fourth Official: Ekaterina Koroleva USA
VAR: Chris Penso USA
AVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA

San Diego FC – Pumas UNAM
Referee: Mario Escobar GUA
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj GUA
Fourth Official: Sergio Reyna GUA
VAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC 

AVAR: Anthony Bravo CRC

4 February 2026
Xelaju – Monterrey
Referee: Filip Dujic CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Gerard Lebuis CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Da Silva USA
Fourth Official: Víctor Rivas USA
VAR: Benjamin Whitty CAY
AVAR: Chris Penso USA

Vancouver FC – Cruz Azul
Referee: Jose Torres PUR
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Figueroa PUR
Assistant Referee 2: Jairo Morales PUR
Fourth Official: Ricangel De Leca ARU
VAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
AVAR: Allen Chapman USA

Player sent off after half-time in Brazilian Super Cup VAR controversy

The use of VAR to send off Flamengo's Jorge Carrascal after half-time for an incident that occurred before the break raised fresh questions about its use during the Brazilian Super Cup at the Garrincha Stadium in capital Brasilia. The bizarre red card decision came after Corinthians players complained bitterly about an alleged elbow strike by Carrascal to Breno Bidon's face shortly before the interval. The Corinthians midfielder lay on the pitch for several minutes as his teammates demanded a VAR review that never came. Both teams headed to the dressing rooms assuming the matter was closed. However, referee Rafael Klein shocked everyone in attendance when he headed to the VAR booth after the players returned for the second half, ultimately concluding there had been aggression, delivering a red card to the Colombian midfielder that left Flamengo stunned. The decision caused outrage among Flamengo players, who believed any review would have happened during the first half. Corinthians went on to win 2-0 with goals from Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto to claim the trophy.

The Brazilian FA (CBF) blamed electrical problems for the unprecedented delay. CBF said a power outage hit several stadium sectors during halftime, including the video office room, which remained dysfunctional for large portions of the second half. "Initially, the available images did not provide conclusive evidence, which is why the first half ended normally," the CBF explained in a statement. "While the procedures were still ongoing, a new check allowed for clear identification of the infraction, which led to the recommendation for review so that the referee could evaluate and consequently send off the player." Initial angles were inconclusive, so the first half ended as normal. A subsequent check clearly revealed the offence, leading to a recommendation for the referee to review and the resulting red card. The procedure was supported by the 2025/26 Laws of the Game and FIFA’s VAR protocol, which permit VAR intervention for violent conduct at any time, including after play has restarted. There was a power outage during the break affecting several areas of the stadium, including the VOR, the VAR’s Video Office Room. A back-up system kept VAR operating for about 15 minutes. With power not promptly restored, the match proceeded without VAR between the 15th and 34th minutes of the second half. Match officials followed international protocols, with communication to both captains and head coaches, and all on-field decisions complied with the Laws without technical or sporting prejudice to the game.

Source: OneFootball

UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 – Semi-finals

4 February 2026

Croatia – Spain
Referee 1: Ondřej Černy CZE (photo)
Referee 2: Chiara Perona ITA
Third Referee: Julien Lang FRA
Fourth Referee: Victor Chaix FRA
Timekeeper: Damian Grabowski POL
Referee Observer: Perry Gautier BEL

France – Portugal
Referee 1: Nikola Jelić CRO
Referee 2: Aleš Močnik Perič SVN
Third Referee: Daniel Matkovic SUI
Fourth Referee: David Schaerli SUI
Timekeeper: Arttu Kyynaeraeinen FIN
Referee Observer: Massimo Cumbo ITA