Claus refereeing in 2023
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| Born | 6 September 1979 Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, Brazil |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2010– | FPF | Referee | |
| 2014– | CBF | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2015– | FIFA | Referee | |
| CONMEBOL | Referee | ||
Raphael Claus (born 6 September 1979) is a Brazilian football referee. He was a referee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar[1] and is a referee at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.[2]
Early life
Claus was born in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, Brazil. He was born to a family of professional athletes—including his father, Antônio Carlos Claus (who played for União Barbarense), and his brother, Niltinho Claus (a center-forward and top scorer for XV de Jaú during their 1995 promotion campaign, who also helped União Barbarense win promotion in 1998 and starred for Cúcuta Deportivo in Colombia). In 2002, he enrolled in the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF) referee training course, despite having no prior experience officiating amateur matches[3]
Career
Claus started as a referee for the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF). In 2014 the Brazilian Football Confederation's (CBF) National Referees Commission nominated him to be listed on the FIFA table, which he has been since the beginning of 2015.[3]
He served as the VAR official for the 2018 Copa Libertadores finals in Madrid, Spain, and for the 2019 Copa Libertadores semifinal match between River Plate and Boca Juniors. That same year, he officiated the Copa Sudamericana final between Colón and Independiente del Valle.[4]
He officiated nine Paulistão finals: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
He refereed in several international competitions, such as the 2021 Copa América and the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also refereed the 2024 Copa América final.[5]
He was one of the referees selected to represent the CBF and CONMEBOL at the 2022 World Cup, alongside Wilton Pereira Sampaio,[6] and at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Ramon Abatti and Wilton Sampaio.[7]
Claus took charge of two group stage matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was the referee for the England's 6-2 win over Iran, and Morocco's 2-1 win over Canada.[8]
In the 2026 World Cup, Claus was appointed a group stage match between Spain and Saudi Arabia and a round of 32 knockout match.[8] In the knockout match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Claus controversially sent off Folarin Balogun after the VAR Juan Soto called for a review for serious foul play.[citation needed]
References
- ^ "36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials appointed for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022". FIFA (Press release). 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Final List of Match Officials FWC 2026" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ^ a b "Raphael Claus". Associação de Árbitros da Grande São Paulo [Association of Referees of Greater São Paul] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
- ^ "Um ano daquela mágica Final Única da CONMEBOL Sul-Americana" [One year since that magical CONMEBOL Sudamericana Single Final]. CONMEBOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ^ "Argentina edge Colombia to win record 16th Copa América title". ESPN. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Escalada em 25% dos jogos, arbitragem brasileira é destaque na Copa do Mundo" [Brazilian referees, who officiated in 25% of the matches, are a highlight of the World Cup]. Confederação Brasileira de Futebol [Brazilian Football Confederation]. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ^ Masters, Tom (2 July 2026). "World Cup 2026 referees: Complete list of officials and VAR teams". ESPN UK. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- ^ a b Brennan, Joe (1 July 2026). "Who is Raphael Claus, referee for USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026 World Cup round of 32?". AS USA. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
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