Argentine football referees face union and AFA leadership overlap

The internal structure of refereeing in Argentine football is marked by significant conflicts of interest regarding the relationship between the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Argentine Referees Association (AAA).

Federico Beligoy serves as the Secretary General of the AAA while simultaneously managing Argentine refereeing within the AFA. This dual role means he acts as both the employer of the referees and their union representative. This overlap has led to internal disputes, such as when referee Diego Abal criticized Beligoy for sanctioning him through his AFA role without providing support through the union following a controversial error in a match between Gimnasia La Plata and Sarmiento.

Other officials also hold overlapping positions, including Sergio Zoratti, the vice-director of the National Refereeing Directorate and treasurer of the AAA, and Alejo Castany, who manages the youth referee squad and serves as the union's deputy secretary. Beligoy has maintained his leadership in the union since 2013, facing minimal opposition in recent elections.