The Professional League confirmed this Tuesday that Yael Falcón Pérez will be the referee for the final of the 2026 Apertura Tournament between River and Belgrano, which will be held next Sunday May 24 at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in Córdoba.
Five days before the decisive match, the referee assignment was one of the focal points of attention, and it was finally decided to go with Falcón Pérez, one of the referees with the most presence in important matches over the last few years. Other potential candidates such as Darío Herrera (questioned for his refereeing in the controversial Rosario Central - Racing quarterfinal), Facundo Tello (injured and recovering to be ready for the World Cup), and Nicolás Ramírez (who had just officiated the River - Rosario Central semifinal).
Records with each club and appearances in finals
In total, the Buenos Aires native has officiated for the Millonario on 22 occasions, with a record of 9 wins, 5 draws, and 8 losses. On the Pirata's side, he served as the main referee in 9 matches, of which the Córdoba team wins 3 and loses 9. Additionally, he has already officiated two matches between the two: Belgrano's 2-1 victory in the 2023 Professional League and River's 3-0 thrashing in the current Apertura Tournament.
Regarding decisive matches, this will be his fourth time as central referee. He previously officiated in the 2023 Supercopa Argentina finals between River and Estudiantes (2-1), the reduced playoff for the first promotion of the 2024 season of the Primera Nacional between San Martín de Tucumán and Aldosivi (0-2), and the 2024 Argentine Cup between Central Córdoba and Vélez (1-0).
The officiating team for the 2026 Apertura Tournament final
Referee: Yael Falcón Pérez
Assistant 1: Facundo Rodríguez
