The 23rd round of the Brazilian Serie A is making history with an unprecedented milestone: three female referees have been assigned to officiate matches in the top tier of Brazilian football.
Brazilian refereeing is experiencing a paradigm shift. For the first time in the history of the Brazilian Championship Serie A, three referees with the Fifa badge will be in charge of matches in a single round. The appointments announced by the CBF for the 23rd matchday of the national tournament highlight the growing presence of women in leadership roles on the field.
The names of Charly Deretti, Daiane Muniz, and Edina Alves Batista are leading this significant change. The prominence of women in national refereeing is not limited to the center referee role, also extending to complete female trios in important matches, consolidating a space that seeks greater equity in sports.
Debuts and Consolidation in Officiating
The round kicks off with the clash between São Paulo and Coritiba, at Morumbi, next Saturday (15). Charly Deretti from Santa Catarina will make her debut as a central referee in the national elite. “The professional, who has experience as a VAR official and was named the best video referee of the Women’s Brasileirão in 2025, now takes on the main challenge on the field,” highlights the M360 Team.
On Sunday (16), Daiane Muniz from São Paulo will take charge of the match between Chapecoense and Bahia, at Arena Condá. Then, on Monday (17), the experienced Edina Alves, who has already officiated several matches in the 2026 season, will conclude the round in the match between Internacional and Remo, at the Beira-Rio stadium.
Female Presence Also in VAR
The female representation in this round extends beyond the field. The VAR technology will also feature a strong presence of women in the refereeing booth. A total of four assistants will be responsible for reviewing key plays in different matches, including those between Fluminense and Palmeiras, Athletico and Bragantino, Vasco and Santos, and also in Chapecoense and Bahia.
This historic milestone reflects a movement of professionalization and encouragement by the CBF for the inclusion of women in high-level refereeing ranks. With the next step being the normalization of this presence, it is expected that female referees will become increasingly frequent in all levels of Brazilian football, elevating the technical standard and representation in a historically male-dominated environment.
M360 Team
