On October 28, 2026, World Squash Officiating (WSO) announced that Leo Arozena has reached Level 4, one of the highest ranks a squash referee can earn. It is a proud moment for him, and also for Panam Squash, since Leo is part of our Officiating Committee.
Above all, this news matters for our region. Referees at this level are the ones trusted with the biggest matches in the world. Therefore, having one more of them from the Americas is a clear sign that officiating in our continent keeps growing.
With this step, Leo joins a very exclusive group. At the moment, only 3 referees from our continent hold WSO Level 4: Tammer Alnaggary (USA) · Daniel Greco (Venezuela) · Leonardo Arozena (Brazil).
Leo Arozena officiating at the PSA Squash Tour. (Photo: World Squash Officiating)
Who Is Leo Arozena?
Leonardo “Leo” Arozena was born in Argentina and has lived in São Paulo, Brazil, since 1998. In addition, he holds a degree in Philosophy, a postgraduate degree in Education and an MBA in International Business.
Interestingly, Leo was never a professional player. As a teenager in Argentina, he organized local tournaments, made draws and refereed matches at his club. That early passion for the game slowly turned into a career in officiating.
From Lima 2018 to the PSA Squash Tour
His first official role came in February 2018, when he served as Team Referee for Brazil at the South American Junior Championships in Lima. Later that year, he took his first refereeing course in Argentina.
After that, things moved fast. In 2019, he refereed at PSA events in Resistencia, Argentina, and in Asunción, Paraguay. In Asunción, he took charge of the final between Mexico’s Leonel Cárdenas and Argentina’s Robertino Pezzota.
Leo in the referee chair. (Photo: World Squash Officiating)
Since then, Leo has officiated at the 2024 World Junior Championships, the US Open, the Motor City Open and the Silicon Valley Open. At the 2025 Texas Open, he refereed both women’s semifinals, including Nour El Sherbini against Hania El Hammamy. This month, he is also on the referee panels for the Silicon Valley Open and the Canadian Women’s Open.
Leo Arozena and Officiating in the Americas
However, Leo’s impact goes far beyond the referee’s chair. Since May 2020, he has been a member of the WSO Advisory Group, where he represents PanAm (Central & South). In this role, he helps our national federations use the WSO platform and drives refereeing projects across the region.
In addition, he is the Officiating Director of the Brazilian Squash Confederation (CBS) and Vice-President of the Brazilian Officiating Committee. At Panam Squash, he is a member of both our Officiating and Technical committees. You can meet the full team on our committees page.
Why Level 4 Matters on the Road to LA28
This promotion also comes at a key moment for our sport. WSO recently launched its referee selection pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where squash will make its debut. For that process, Level 4 is the preferred standard for candidates.
So, Leo’s new level puts the Americas in a stronger position as squash gets ready for its Olympic debut. Moreover, it shows young referees in our region that the path to the top is possible. You can read more about his journey in his interview with World Squash Officiating.
A Passion That Keeps Him on Court
For Leo, refereeing is a way to stay close to the game. As he told WSO, “it keeps me active in the sport I love.” To stay sharp, he also trains on court, goes to the gym and studies the styles of the best players in the world.
Leo (second from right) with the referee team at the 2025 Cotidie Texas Squash Open. (Photo: World Squash Officiating)
That hard work has paid off. Now, with Level 4 in hand, Leo joins the top group of referees in world squash.
Congratulations, Leo, on this well-deserved achievement! The whole Panam Squash family is proud of you.
