Costa Rica appoints Mexican VAR expert to lead Referee Commission

The Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefútbol) has appointed Mexican Miguel Ángel Chacón Viveros as the new president of the Referee Commission. The decision focuses on leveraging his extensive experience in video assistant referee (VAR) technology and implementation.

Chacón Viveros previously served as the VAR coordinator for Mexico's Liga MX for seven years and has worked as an instructor for FIFA and Concacaf. His background includes experience with Football Video Support (FVS), a FIFA-developed tool.

The appointment has drawn criticism from local analysts and former referees in Costa Rica. Critics argue that Chacón lacks a significant on-field officiating career and is unfamiliar with the Costa Rican football landscape. Some experts have labeled the decision an “irresponsibility,” questioning his suitability to address the specific challenges facing Costa Rican officiating.