The UEFA Referees Committee approved the referee categories for the first half of the season 2017-2018. The most significant changes occurred on the men’s and futsal lists. Makkelie (NED) and Zwayer (GER, photo) are the newest additions to the men’s Elite group, while Moen (NOR) and Nijhuis (NED) were demoted to the Second Category. Clattenburg (ENG) is no longer on the Elite list since he decided to leave UEFA for a job in Saudi Arabia. On the futsal list, Malfer (ITA), who had important FIFA and UEFA appointments within the last two years, was surprisingly demoted from Elite to First Category.
Men
Removed from Elite: Mark Clattenburg (ENG).
Demoted from Elite to First Category: Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR), Bas Nijhuis (NED).
Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP), Orel Grinfeeld (ISR), Andris Treimanis (LVA), Daniel Stefanski (POL).
Retired from First Category: Alon Yefet (ISR).
Promoted from Third Category to Second Category: Irfan Peljto (BIH), Fran Jovic (CRO), Petr Ardeleanu (CZE), Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen (DEN), Georgios Kominins (GRE), Adam Farkas (HUN), Gunnar Jonsson (ISL), Ola Hobber Nielsen (NOR), Tiago Lopes (POR), Peter Kralovic (SVK).
Retired from Second Category: Carlos Clos Gomez (ESP).
Retired/removed from Third Category: Lorenc Jemini (ALB), Andi Koci (ALB).
Women
Promoted from First Category to Elite: Lina Lehtovaara (FIN).
Retired from First Category: Kirsi Heikkinen (FIN), Esther Azzopardi (MLT).
Demoted from First Category to Second Category: Karolina Tokarska (POL).
Promoted from Third Category to Second Category: Volha Tsiareshka (BLR), Marta Huerta de Aza (ESP), Angelika Soeder (GER), Eleni Antoniou (GRE), Maria Marotta (ITA), Graziella Pirriatore (ITA), Elvira Nurmustafina (KAZ), Cathrine Eide (NOR), Ewa Augustyn (POL), Silvia Rosa (POR), Desiree Grundbacher (SUI), Tess Olofsson (SWE), Melis Ozcigdem (TUR), Cheryl Foster (WAL),
Demoted from Second Category to Third Category: Ana Minic (SRB).
Retired from Third Category: Virginie Derouaux (BEL).
Futsal
Promoted from First Category to Elite: Gerd Bylois (BEL), Juan Cordero Gallardo (ESP), Angelo Galante (ITA).
Demoted from Elite to First Category: Pascal Lemal (BEL), Alessandro Malfer (ITA).
Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP).
Promoted from Third Category to Second Category: Kirill Naishouler (FIN).
Demoted from Second Category to Third Category: Toni Lehtinen (FIN).