The Brazilian Football Confederation has appointed referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein from Rio Grande do Sul to officiate the match between Santos and Vitória on Saturday, May 30, at 8:00 p.m., in the 18th round of the Brasileirão. This will be the third Vitória match officiated by Klein in 2026.
Klein has already been in charge of two Vitória games this season. He officiated the 1-1 draw in the Ba-Vi derby in the fifth round and later oversaw Vitória’s 4-1 win over Coritiba in the 14th round. His return for another Vitória fixture adds continuity to the club’s refereeing history in the current league campaign.
The referee team for the match will also include assistants Maira Mastella Moreira and Maurício Coelho Silva Penna, both from the Rio Grande do Sul Football Federation. The fourth official will be Paulo Belence Alves dos Prazeres Filho, from Pernambuco. Wagner Reway, from Santa Catarina, has been selected as the video assistant referee (VAR) for the game.
The appointment places an experienced FIFA-listed referee in charge of a key Brasileirão clash as Santos and Vitória meet in a late-round fixture that could carry important implications for both teams. With Klein already familiar with Vitória this season, his assignment is notable for supporters following the club’s recent results and officiating record.
Referee assignments are closely watched in Brazilian football, especially when a match involves teams battling for points in a competitive league stage. In this case, the CBF’s choice of Klein brings a referee who has already handled Vitória matches in both a high-profile derby and a convincing away win earlier in the campaign.
The full officiating crew for Santos vs. Vitória is: Rafael Rodrigo Klein as referee, Maira Mastella Moreira as assistant referee 1, Maurício Coelho Silva Penna as assistant referee 2, Paulo Belence Alves dos Prazeres Filho as fourth official, and Wagner Reway as VAR.
