Agustin Lozano, the president of the Peruvian Football Federation, has launched a scathing attack on FIFA-badged referees working in Peru's top-flight Liga 1 competition.
Speaking at an event for a new generation of match officials, Lozano said established referees were making mistakes every week and showing no desire to improve.
His comments follow growing controversy in the Torneo Clausura, the second championship of the domestic season, where several clubs have formally complained about officiating errors in recent weeks.
Lozano told the attending development referees that he would prefer to see errors committed by newcomers rather than experienced officials who fail to resolve ongoing problems. He stated that because international badge holders are not progressing, the governing body must offer opportunities to new faces.
Rising dissatisfaction over refereeing errors
Sports journalist Gustavo Peralta revealed on the television program Hablemos de Max that senior federation leadership is deeply unhappy with the performance of Peru's FIFA referees, who are expected to maintain the highest officiating standards in the country.
Peralta reported that the National Referee Commission, known as CONAR, has already sanctioned and frozen out a majority of top-tier officials following repeated mistakes in league fixtures. He noted that FIFA-badged referees have accounted for the largest share of officiating errors this season.
Planned overhaul of FIFA referee panel
In response to the officiating crisis, the Peruvian Football Federation is preparing a comprehensive restructuring of match officials while attempting to improve working conditions.
According to Peralta, federation leaders plan to take decisive action at the end of the year, with most current FIFA referees expected to lose their international credentials and be replaced entirely for the upcoming season.
The Peruvian Football Federation, founded in 1922 and based in Lima, oversees all levels of competitive football in the country, including the national teams and Liga 1. FIFA referee badges are awarded annually to top match officials, granting them eligibility for international fixtures while serving as the benchmark for domestic refereeing quality.
