As is the norm, every year the Member Associations send the lists of international judges who will represent their country for the meetings organized by the governing body in October, and the FIFA Releases them on January 3, 2022.
Argentina proposed changes to its list of arbitrators, with Pablo Echavarría (39 years old) by Néstor Pitana and Yael Falcón Pérez (32) by Mauro Vigliano, who would continue to serve in the VAR.
The list of the 10 international judges is completed with Fernando Echenique, Nicolás Lamolina, Fernando Espinoza, Andrés Merlos, Fernando Rapallini, Facundo Tello, Darío Herrera and Patricio Loustau.
Meanwhile, as international assistant referees Julio Fernández and Lucas Germanotta leave their places, entering Sebastián Raineri and José Savorani.
However, an unprecedented decision was made: being considered the best referee on the South American continent, Conmebol chose to support Pitana by acting internationally, in principle in all tournaments organized by the South American Confederation, despite not being nominated by Argentina. Strengthening the determination made, he proceeded to invite him to participate in the next arbitration preseason to be held in January in Paraguay, along with the others chosen as internationals by the member countries.
Now it only remains to know if FIFA repeats the resolution regarding the 46-year-old missionary Pitana. If this happened, Argentina would be the only country in the world that would have 11 international referees, if the 10 nominated by the country are recognized, of course. When will we know? At the beginning of the year, when the judges that FIFA will count on for tournaments organized under its tutelage are published, including the epilogue of the Qualifiers and the biggest event: the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Pitana has two World Cups on its record. In Brazil 2014 he conducted four games, with very good grades. And in Russia 2018 he directed the final of the competition, in which France prevailed against Croatia, matching the achievement that Horacio Elizondo had achieved in Germany 2006. These particularities led to Conmebol’s consideration of its benefits today.
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