Andrés Merlos

Andrés Merlos, born on May 8, 1981 in San Rafael, Mendoza, is an Argentine referee who has officiated in the Argentinian First Division since 2013. Before his refereeing career, Merlos worked as an aircraft mechanic in the Argentine Air Force, a job he combined with his training as a referee.

Throughout his career, Merlos has been involved in various controversies. One of the most remembered took place in 2014, during a match between Lanús and Arsenal, where he added extra time that allowed Lanús to overturn the score, leading to criticism and a temporary suspension.

In September 2024, after a Copa Argentina match between Boca Juniors and Talleres de Córdoba, an altercation occurred between Merlos and Talleres executives. The referee was accused of assaulting the vice president of the Cordoban club, Gustavo Gatti, leading to his indictment for "minor intentional injuries" by the 33rd Prosecutor's Office of Mendoza.

Despite these incidents, Merlos has continued his work in Argentine refereeing. However, in December 2024, he was excluded from the list of Argentine referees for international competitions in 2025, a decision that marked a significant point in his career.