In San José, where Costa Rican football is beginning a fresh chapter in the management of its match officials, the federation has turned to Mexican experience and the changing technology of the modern game. Miguel Ángel Chacón Viveros, a former referee and longtime video-officiating specialist, has been appointed president of the Costa Rican Football Federation’s Refereeing Commission.
The federation said Chacón’s arrival is intended to reinforce domestic refereeing while maintaining the development of technological tools that assist officials during matches. In welcoming him, the FCRF expressed its support for the new commission head and wished him success in the role.
Chacón brings a career that has travelled from the centre circle to the video room. He refereed in Mexico’s top division between 2002 and 2018, with a quarter-final appearance standing as the highest-profile match of his on-field career. His later work moved increasingly towards referee education and the systems designed to support decisions in play.
From Liga MX video operations to Costa Rica
Most notably, Chacón spent seven years leading VAR coordination in Mexican football. His remit covered the journey from the system’s preparation and introduction through to its regular operation in Liga MX, giving him practical experience of one of the most consequential changes in refereeing across the continent.
He finished that VAR leadership post in February 2026, but has remained active internationally as an instructor for FIFA and Concacaf. His work has included training programmes for referees in the region and guidance on emerging forms of video support.
Among those projects is Football Video Support, the FIFA-developed alternative for competitions without the technological infrastructure required for a full conventional VAR operation. The system has particular relevance across a region where stadium resources and competition budgets can vary sharply from one country to another.
That blend of domestic match experience, video-refereeing administration and international teaching now accompanies Chacón to Costa Rica. As commission president, he will oversee the structure responsible for preparing and assessing officials in competitions run under the Costa Rican Football Federation.
