Matchday 9 Referees Named: Arasa Returns After Vélez Controversy, Mastrángelo Again Assigned to Lanús-Riestra

Nazareno Arasa is set to return to refereeing this weekend after the Argentine Football Association made the unusual decision to publicly announce his suspension following his performance in Vélez's visit to Deportivo Riestra.

The appointment has added interest to the next meeting between Riestra and Lanús. Hernán Mastrángelo will work as VAR when Riestra hosts Lanús on Monday, despite criticism from the Lanús camp over an incident in the same fixture last year. Diego Ceballos, who handled VAR on that occasion, does not appear in any of the new appointments.

The disputed match took place on July 14, 2025, at Riestra's Bajo Flores stadium. Lanús appealed for a penalty, but Mastrángelo and the VAR assistants decided that the incident was not punishable. Nicolás Russo, president of the club from southern Greater Buenos Aires, later said the decision had been clear-cut.

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On the field it looked like a penalty. When I went to the dressing room and watched the play, there was a camera that showed the ball going directly to the hand, and the hand was away from the body. I consulted three or four referees, and they all saw a clear penalty.

“On the field it looked like a penalty. When I went to the dressing room and watched the play, there was a camera that showed the ball going directly to the hand, and the hand was away from the body. I consulted three or four referees, and they all saw a clear penalty,” Russo said.

Pablo Dóvalo, who had been mentioned as a possible replacement for Federico Beligoy as the AFA's national refereeing director after recent scandals, said he would retire once the season ends. His departure could open the way for the change promoted by AFA president Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia and opposed by treasurer Pablo Toviggino, Clarín reported. “I am retiring in December, yes. I am 50. Everything comes to an end at some point; cycles end,” Dóvalo told ESPN. He made his top-flight debut in 2017 and has refereed 172 matches.

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I am retiring in December, yes. I am 50. Everything comes to an end at some point; cycles end. I am going through my final matches in the best possible way.