Osses and Roldán in charge of Libertadores finals

The South American confederation's (CONMEBOL) referee committee has announced this year's match officials who will take control over the finals between Boca Juniors and Corinthians SP in Copa Santander Libertadores, the South American Champions League. 

Enrique Osses (c) Árbitro Internacional

Enrique Osses of Chile will take charge of the first leg of the Argentine-Brazilian final that will be played at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires. The 38 year-old referee, who is also on FIFA's prospective list of referees for 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, will be supported by his regular assistant referees Francisco Mondria (39) and Carlos Alexis Astroza (35), while Patricio Polic (40) will function as fourth official at the benches. Probably joining the top3 of South American referees at the moment, Osses has already overseen eight Copa Libertadores clashes in this season, including one involvement each of both teams: Corinthians SP defeated the Paraguayans of Club Nacional in March (2-0) and Boca Juniors managed to achieve a very late and important draw at Fluminense Rio de Janeiro in the quarterfinal's second leg (1-1). In addition, he "only" exhibits a card average of 4,3 yellow cards and 0,25 sending-offs per match, which is quite low in the competition.

It will be the Chilene's 31st match as a referee in the most important South American club competition, played at 27 June.

Roldán and Clavijo (c) futbolred

Only one week later, the return match will be held at Sao Paulo's Pacaembú Stadium. Colombian official Wilmar Roldán has been appointed to blow the real final whistle in this match. It will be his first international final in a club competition after last year's semifinal. Assisted by Abraham González (41) and Humberto Clavijo (38) as assistant referees and José Buitrago (41) as the fourth official, 32 year-old Roldán is considered as the best Colombian referee ever along with Oscar Ruíz. His total number of Copa Libertadores appointments in this season is 10, so that he equals the respective record established by three officials in 2006. It will be his 25th inset in a Copa Libertadores match after only four years of international refereeing. His appointment follows kind of rule of thumb, as it has frequently been the case that a referee, who had been in charge of a semifinal's first leg, will referee the final's second leg. And this rule has again proven to be right. Roldán refereed the semifinal tie between Boca Juniors and Universidad de Chile in Buenos Aires (2-0). Moreover, he also refereed the Argentine side in the round of 16, when they had beaten the Chilenes of Unión Española by 3-2. His only involvement in a match of Corinthians SP was in this season as well, when they achieved a draw in a match against Deportivo Táchira of Venezuela. Roldán issued averagely five yellows in his matches along with a total amount of four sending-offs in nine matches. He will be also active at 2012 FIFA Olympic Games London, which implies his appearance on 2014 World Cup's short list, too.

Both appointments underline the widely open future of these referees and the leading role they possess at the moment in South America.

Overview:

First leg:

27 June 2012, La Bombonera, Buenos Aires

Boca Juniors - Corinthians SP

Referee: Enrique Osses (CHI)

Assistant Referees: Francisco Mondria (CHI), Carlos Alexis Astroza (CHI)

Fourth Official: Patricio Polic (CHI)

Second leg:

04 July 2012, Pacaembú, Sao Paulo

Corinthians SP - Boca Juniors

Referee: Wilmar Roldán (COL)

Assistant Referees: Abraham González (COL), Humberto Clavijo (COL)

Fourth Official: José Buitrago (COL)