The Argentine Football Association began considering referee options on April 10 for the upcoming Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate, scheduled for April 19 at the Monumental stadium.
The selection of the referee is seen as a key decision ahead of one of Argentina’s most anticipated football matches. Four candidates are reportedly being considered: Nicolás Ramírez, Yael Falcón Pérez, Darío Herrera, and Leandro Rey Hilfer. Among them, Rey Hilfer appears to be the frontrunner to officiate this high-profile game.
If chosen, Rey Hilfer would break a recent trend where Ramírez officiated the last three Superclásicos. Both Falcón Pérez and Herrera have international experience and have been involved in major competitions, making them strong alternatives as well. However, sources suggest that Rey Hilfer is likely to be given his first opportunity to oversee a match of this magnitude.
Another factor supporting Rey Hilfer’s candidacy is that he was not assigned as principal referee in any match during the previous round; instead, he will serve in the video assistant referee (VAR) role for Belgrano vs. Aldosivi. Such assignments are often interpreted as signs pointing toward future appointments to important matches.
Rey Hilfer’s recent performances include overseeing key fixtures such as the Avellaneda derby between Independiente and Racing Club. His record with Boca Juniors includes 19 matches with 12 wins for Boca, four draws, three losses, along with issuing 42 yellow cards, two red cards and awarding four penalties across those games. This year alone he has already refereed two Boca home games at La Bombonera.
With River Plate his experience is more limited—12 matches resulting in five wins for River, four draws and three losses—and he has yet to officiate any River games this season so far. The final decision on who will take charge of Argentina’s biggest club fixture is expected in coming days.
