The CBF has made the refereeing appointments official for the derby between Flamengo and Botafogo. Alex Gomes Stefano will be in charge of officiating the match at the Maracanã stadium for the 25th round of the Brasileirão.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has confirmed that Alex Gomes Stefano will lead the officiating team for the Rio de Janeiro derby between Flamengo and Botafogo, part of the 25th round of the Brazilian Championship.
The match is scheduled for August 30th, at 4:00 PM (Brasília time), at the Maracanã stadium. While the entity finalizes the rest of the officiating crew, fans are already discussing Stefano‘s track record with the Rubro-Negro.
This will be the third time the Rio-born referee officiates a match involving Mais Querido this 2026 season. Previously, he was present during the 7-1 thrashing of Sampaio Corrêa-RJ and the 2-1 defeat against Fluminense, both games played during this year’s Carioca Championship.
Favorable History and Previous Encounters
Analyzing the history of Flamengo‘s matches under the command of Alex Gomes Stefano, there is a predominance of positive results.
The referee was present in significant victories, such as the 4-0 wins against Boavista and Audax Rio (2024), as well as a 4-1 victory over Portuguesa-RJ (2023).
It is worth noting that in 2025, Stefano officiated the Rubro-Negro’s 3-0 triumph over Botafogo itself, in a campaign that ultimately led to Mengão winning the national title.
The referee comes into the derby after officiating the 1-1 draw between Athletico-PR and Bragantino in the 23rd round of the national tournament, without any significant incidents.
Regarding the appointment of a referee from Rio de Janeiro for such a high-stakes match, the M360 Team highlights the atmosphere of anticipation:
“A Rio referee for a derby match… I hope there are no controversies so we don’t have to deal with crying, not just from Botafogo, but from all other clubs, like Palmeiras.”
Total Focus Before the Derby
Although the clash against their black-and-white rivals is a major highlight of the calendar, Flamengo maintains its full focus on its game marathon.
Before facing Botafogo, the club has two crucial commitments against Cruzeiro. The first takes place this Wednesday (19th), at 9:30 PM, at the Maracanã stadium, for the second leg of the Libertadores round of 16.
Shortly after, on Saturday (22nd), the Rubro-Negro will visit the team from Minas Gerais at the Mineirão stadium, this time for the 24th round of the Brasileirão.
This sequence of decisive games will be fundamental for the club’s aspirations this season. With the refereeing team set for the derby, the coach and players aim to maintain consistency to approach the August 30th match with high confidence, seeking to extend their favorable record under Alex Gomes Stefano‘s officiating.
