Paraguayan Referee To Officiate Sundowns vs. Dortmund Match
Paraguayan referee Juan Gabriel Benitez will be in charge when Mamelodi Sundowns face Borussia Dortmund in their second FIFA Club World Cup Group F match at TQL Stadium this Saturday at 18:00 SA time.
Benitez will be assisted by fellow compatriots Eduardo Cardozo as the first assistant and Milciades Saldivar as the second assistant. Mutaz Ibrahim from Libya will serve as the fourth official.
This will mark Benitez’s first officiating assignment at the FIFA Club World Cup finals since the tournament began in the United States.
Sundowns enter this match on the back of a 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Dortmund played to a goalless draw against Brazilian side Fluminense in their opening Group F fixture at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite his prominent role in this international tournament, Benitez is relatively new to the professional refereeing scene, having started officiating in his home country during the 2023/24 season.
He has experience officiating matches within South America, including the Copa Libertadores (equivalent to the CAF Champions League) and the Copa Sudamericana (equivalent to the CAF Confederation Cup). He has also overseen matches in Paraguay’s domestic league, the Primera División Apertura.
