Football Break Has Negative Impact on Referees

The football break had a negative effect on all levels, not only on its main protagonists (the players), but also on those who administer justice, the referees. They are independent workers, whose professional service is provided to the APF.

The regulatory body, the Referees Department, provided them with a significant financial advance during the quarantine. This amount will only be deducted gradually in 2021, as stated by Julio Quintana, a referee with extensive national and international experience.

Quintana told ÚH that they would return to in-person training on June 26th, in the meantime, they are training at home.

He also optimistically stated, "Last Tuesday, we had a meeting with Horacio Elizondo, who informed us that football would resume soon. We in the union were already living in anguish over the situation."

Regarding the protocol, he stated, "As referees, we have a protocol similar to the First Division. The only issue for some colleagues would be that they have another job. In my case, I am a teacher and work from home."