Río Colorado football league starts 2026 Clausura season, opens referee course

The Torneo Clausura 2026 of the Liga de Río Colorado kicked off on Sunday after the winter break, launching both the men's and women's competitions. In the men's division, Independiente will defend its Apertura championship, while the women's league welcomed the return of Barrio Unión and features a title clash between defending champions La Adela and challenger Buena Parada. Matches for the women's first round began at 10:30 h, followed by the men's fixtures at 15:30 h, with the regular season set to proceed through 14 rounds and a playoff format that gives the first‑place team a direct semifinal berth.

In parallel, the municipality of Río Colorado and the local referees association inaugurated a five‑month referee training course. More than 30 candidates enrolled, and the opening ceremony was attended by mayor Duilio Minieri and instructors Carlos Maldonado and Omar Méndez. The program combines theory, physical preparation and on‑field practice, aiming to increase the pool of certified officials for the city’s lower‑division matches, which currently rely on 19 active referees.