One non-European referee selected for Euro 2024: Who is Facundo Tello?

Preparations are well underway for this summer’s European Championships in Germany. Stadiums are being readied, squad lists are being whittled down and on Tuesday UEFA announced the identities of the officials for the tournament.

The 51-match Euro 2024 will see 18 refereeing teams - referees with their assistants, VAR officials and support - oversee the action. Of those 18 groups, 17 hail from Europe. There will also be one group from Argentina, as part of an ongoing partnership between UEFA and CONMEBOL.

Argentine referee Facundo Tello and his assistants will join the European referees at this summer’s tournament, the latest major event in his high-profile career.

Who is Facundo Tello, Argentina’s Euro 2024 referee?

The 41-year-old was born in Bahia Blanca, Argentina and his risen to the very top of the Game. He is part of the Bahiense Association of Referees and began officiating Games in the Argentine Soccer Association from 2011. His first high-profile assignment came in 2018 when he refereed the Superclásico between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

Tello was called up by FIFA as its roster of international referees in 2019, initially serving as fourth official for the South American Under-20 Championship in Chile.

He went on to officiate the FIFA Arab Cup in 2021 and was assigned three games at the World Cup in Qatar the following year. Tello refereed three games at the World Cup, including two shock defeats for Portugal against South Korea and Morocco.

Why did Facundo Tello give out ten red cards?

Tello has risen the ranks to officiate at some of the biggest tournaments in world soccer but his career has not been without incident. In 2022, when overseeing Argentina’s Champions Trophy final, Tello found himself in the headlines after an ill-tempered ending to the game.

Racing Club and Boca Juniors were drawing 1-1 in the final moments of extra-time when Racing midfielder Carlos Alcaraz struck a dramatic late winner. Alcaraz embarked on a joyous celebration in front of the opposing fans and was quickly leapt upon by Boca players.

The frustrated opponents grabbed Alcaraz by his ear, threw the match ball at him and a mass brawl broke out on the field. Tello showed Alcaraz the red card for inciting the chaos and dished out a further five to the Boca players involved in the melee. The overwhelmed referee had already dismissed three players and Boca manager Hugo Ibarra during the match, taking the total tally to an astonishing ten red cards.