Andrés José Rojas Noguera

Andrés José Rojas Noguera, Colombian referee born in Bogotá in 1984, is one of the most experienced officials in South American refereeing. From a young age, he became involved in refereeing and, over time, earned a privileged place in the elite of continental football. Firm character and serene but energetic style, Rojas has been a protagonist both for his good performances and for some decisions that have generated controversy.

Throughout his career, he has officiated important matches in the Copa Libertadores, the Copa Sudamericana, and World Cup qualifiers. He has also been part of the refereeing team in CONMEBOL and FIFA tournaments, standing out for his ability to maintain calm in high-pressure situations and for his rigor in applying the regulations.

One of his most remembered —and controversial— performances took place on June 8, 2021, during the World Cup qualifying match between Uruguay and Paraguay, played in Montevideo. Rojas disallowed a goal to Uruguay for a supposed offside that, after multiple replays, seemed inexistent. The play sparked a wave of criticism, even from official sectors of the Uruguayan national team, and put the Colombian referee at the center of the debate on the use and interpretation of VAR. As a result of this performance, he was temporarily suspended by CONMEBOL, an event that marked a before and after in his career.

Despite that setback, Rojas came back strong. His style consolidated as balanced, with a tendency for dialogue but without yielding authority. He has a very structured way of officiating, based on respect for fair play and with little room for simulations or rough play.