Referee compensation in Brazil’s professional football leagues varies based on certification and league level, as detailed in a recent financial breakdown.
Referees in Brazil’s Brasileirão Série A earn differently based on their certifications. FIFA-certified referees make R$6,900 per match, while CBF-certified referees get R$5,000. Assistant referees and VAR officials earn R$4,100 if FIFA-certified and R$3,000 if CBF-certified per game.
READ MORE
++ Brasileirão 2024 record R$555 million in sponsorship deals, up 66% from last year
++ Brasileirão Série B: the biggest clubs that have lifted the second division trophy
In Série B, FIFA-certified referees receive R$5,400 per match and CBF-certified referees earn R$3,600. Payments for assistant referees and VAR officials are R$3,200 and R$2,100, respectively, for those with FIFA certification, with lower rates for CBF certifications.
Additional roles like fourth referees, AVARs, and VAR observers also feature scaled pay according to league and certification, detailed in CBF’s latest spreadsheets.
Here’s a detailed comparison of compensation for FIFA-certified and CBF-certified officials in Brasileirão Série A and Série B:
Brasileirão Série A:
Referee:
- FIFA-certified: R$6,900 per match
- CBF-certified: R$5,000 per match
Assistant Referee/VAR:
- FIFA-certified: R$4,100 per game
- CBF-certified: R$3,000 per game
Fourth/Fifth Referee:
- FIFA-certified: R$1,740 per game
- CBF-certified: R$1,260 per game
AVAR (Assistant VAR):
- FIFA-certified: R$2,500 per game
- CBF-certified: R$1,800 per game
VAR Observer:
- FIFA-certified: R$1,880 per game
- CBF-certified: R$1,260 per game
Quality Manager: (CBF-only)
- CBF-certified: R$830 per game
Brasileirão Série B:
Referee:
- FIFA-certified: R$5,400 per match
- CBF-certified: R$3,600 per match
Assistant Referee/VAR:
- FIFA-certified: R$3,250 per game
- CBF-certified: R$2,160 per game
Fourth/Fifth Referee:
- FIFA-certified: R$1,390 per game
- CBF-certified: R$970 per game
AVAR:
- FIFA-certified: R$1,950 per game
- CBF-certified: R$1,300 per game
VAR Observer:
- FIFA-certified: R$1,450 per game
- CBF-certified: R$970 per game
Quality Manager: (CBF-only)
- CBF-certified: R$650 per game
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
The first and second episodes are available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel and the series will receive weekly releases to tell this legend’s life story.
