# Costa Rican football refereeing developments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/costa-rican-football-refereeing-developments
> Updated: 2026-10-15T21:03:09.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The Costa Rican football officiating landscape has seen recent administrative and educational developments. The Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefútbol) appointed Mexican Miguel Ángel Chacón Viveros as the president of the Referee Commission, a move intended to utilize his expertise in video assistant referee (VAR) technology.

This appointment faced criticism from local analysts and former referees, who described the decision as an “irresponsibility” due to Chacón’s lack of a significant on-field officiating career and his unfamiliarity with the local football environment.

Concurrently, the Asociación Central de Árbitros de Fútbol (ACAF) launched its 2026-2027 referee training course in San José. The four-month hybrid program covers technical rules, psychology, nutrition, and physical preparation across various formats, including eleven-a-side, futsal, and beach soccer.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-15: ACAF launches referee training course in Costa Rica

The Asociación Central de Árbitros de Fútbol (ACAF) is launching a four-month hybrid referee training course in San José, Costa Rica, to mark its 55th anniversary.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/acaf-launches-referee-training-course-in-costa-rica

### 2026-09-30: Costa Rica appoints Mexican VAR expert to lead Referee Commission

Costa Rica's Fedefútbol has appointed Mexican VAR expert Miguel Ángel Chacón Viveros as head of its Referee Commission, a move that has sparked debate among local football analysts.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/costa-rica-appoints-mexican-var-expert-to-lead-referee-commission

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Cite as: Costa Rican football refereeing developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/costa-rican-football-refereeing-developments