Former FIFA/MLS Referee Arturo Angeles will serve as our guest instructor at the next Cal South CORE Referee Session to be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at North High School, Torrance, CA from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Instructor Bio:
Arturo Angeles brings a wealth of referee knowledge to this webinar, starting his career as a high school referee in 1973, joining the U.S. Soccer Federation, in and 1975, and eventually collecting his FIFA badge 1988.

Among the highlights of his career, Angeles officiated at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia, the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, the 1993 Copa America, and the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States. He later refereed with Major League Soccer when the league began, and was selected to officiate in the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final.

Angeles retired from the field in 2008, but currently serves as a soccer referee instructor and is also the Director of Refereeing Instruction and VAR for the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol Asociación A.C.

Former MLS Assistant Referee (AR) and current Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR) Fabio Tovar will serve as the lead instructor at our CORE In-Person referee training session on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at North High School, Torrance, CA from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Instructor Bio:
Fabio Tovar is a seasoned professional soccer referee with an extensive and well-rounded career in the world of soccer. His journey began as a youth player, progressing to a Division I college soccer player, where he honed his deep understanding of the game. At 22, Fabio transitioned to officiating, quickly advancing due to his sharp decision-making and expertise. His dedication culminated in 2006 when he earned a FIFA Assistant Referee appointment, reaching the highest level of international officiating. For six years, Fabio was on the FIFA panel, officiating in prestigious international and domestic competitions.

In 2001, Fabio officiated his first Major League Soccer (MLS) game, marking the start of his impactful career in the league. He continued to officiate at the professional level until his retirement from on-field duties in 2015. Fabio remains an integral part of MLS as an AVAR (Assistant Video Assistant Referee) in the video review booth. In total Fabio has officiated over 400 MLS games and counting on-field and in the review booth.

In addition to his officiating career, Fabio has been deeply involved in coaching, having spent over 15 years coaching youth soccer and 3 years as part of the Cal Poly Pomona University coaching staff while earning a Level C coaching license. This experience has allowed him to understand the game from multiple perspectives, enriching his ability to mentor both players and referees alike.

Currently, Fabio is also a referee coach, dedicated to advancing the next generation of officials. His work in developing and mentoring up-and-coming referees reflects his passion for the game and his commitment to ensuring its integrity at all levels. Whether on the field officiating youth, college, or high school games, or helping to shape the future of officiating, Fabio continues to contribute to the beautiful game in a variety of impactful ways.