Cristián Garay

Cristián Marcelo Garay Reyes (born 8 April 1989 ) is a Chilean football referee who has been on the FIFA International List of Referees since 2019.

Career Born in April 1989 in Macul, Chile, Garay ascended to the Liga de Primera in 2018 and received his FIFA badge one year later. Garay is part of the "new generation" of Chilean referees who are mentored by Roberto Tobar, a former referee himself.

Garay has been involved in high-stakes matches as well as in some controversies, including the request by Argentine international referee Javier Castrilli to dismiss him from Liga de Primera games. Castrilli had been chosen as the head of the Commission of Referees of Chile. That same year, Garay was heavily criticized by manager Francisco Meneghini, who considered that he had made detrimental decisions against his team, Everton Viña del Mar. In 2025, Garay was selected for the FIFA Club World Cup.

In local football, Garay refereed Universidad Católica and Colo-Colo in April 2023.

Selected performances 2026 FIFA World Cup – North America Date Match Result Round Venue 18 June 2026 – 6–0 Group stage BC Place, Vancouver