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FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2024 – Group Stage (Matches 9-12)

2 September 2024

Ghana – Austria
Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia KGZ (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Ramina Tsoi KGZ
Assistant Referee 2: Nuannid Donjangreed THA
Fourth Official: Vincentia Amedome TOG
Reserve AR: Sherly Socop GUA

Korea DPR – Argentina
Referee: Ivana Projkovska MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Linda Schmid SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Camille Soriano FRA
Fourth Official: Casey Reibelt AUS
Reserve AR: Maja Petravić CRO

Japan – New Zealand
Referee: Dione Rissios CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Marcia Castillo CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Leslie Vazquez CHI
Fourth Official: Vincentia Amedome TOG
Reserve AR: Sherly Socop GUA

Costa Rica – Netherlands
Referee: Akissi Konan CIV
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Fides Bangurambona BDI 
Fourth Official: Casey Reibelt AUS
Reserve AR: Maja Petravić CRO

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024 – Group Stage (Matches 1-8)

31 August 2024
Colombia – Australia
Referee: Ivana Martincic CRO (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Maja Petravic CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Stasa Spur SVN
Fourth Official: Vincentia Amedome TOG
Reserve AR: Vanessa Gomes POR

France – Canada
Referee: Dong Fangyu CHN
Assistant Referee 1: Xie Lijun CHN
Assistant Referee 2: Bao Mengxiao CHN
Fourth Official: Susana Corella ECU
Reserve AR: Viviana Segura ECU

Cameroon – Mexico
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez ESP
Fourth Official: Vincentia Amedome TOG
Reserve AR: Vanessa Gomes POR

Brazil – Fiji
Referee: Crystal Sobers TRI
Assistant Referee 1: Carissa Douglas-Jacob TRI
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Nicholas TRI
Fourth Official: Susanna Corella ECU
Reserve AR: Viviana Segura ECU

1 September 2024
Spain – USA
Referee: Anahi Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 1: Daiana Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 2: Belen Clavijo URU
Fourth Official: Casey Reibelt AUS
Reserve AR: Stefania Paguay ECU

Germany – Venezuela
Referee: Natalie Simon USA
Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kali Smith USA
Fourth Official: Lizzet Garcia MEX
Reserve AR: Iris Vail GUA

Paraguay – Morocco
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Svitlana Grushko UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Amina Gutschi AUT
Fourth Official: Casey Reibelt AUS
Reserve AR: Stefania Paguay ECU

Nigeria – Korea
Referee: Karen Hernandez MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Jessica Morales MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Elva Gutierrez MEX
Fourth Official: Lizzet Garcia MEX
Reserve AR: Iris Vail GUA

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2024

Colombia, 31 August - 22 September 2024

AFC
Referee: Dong Fangyu CHN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Xie Lijun CHN
Assistant Referee 2: Bao Mengxiao CHN

Referee: Veronika Bernatskaia KGZ
Assistant Referee 1: Ramina Tsoi KGZ
Assistant Referee 2: Nuannid Donjangreed THA

Referee: Oh Hyeon-Jeong KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Kim Kyoung-Min KOR
Assistant Referee 2: Supawan Hinthong THA

Support Referee: Casey Relbelt AUS

CAF
Referee: Akissi Konan CIV 
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Fides Bangurambona BDI

Referee: Shahenda El-Maghrabi EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Soukaina Hamdi MAR
Assistant Referee 2: Asma Ouahab ALG

Support Referee: Vincentia Amedome TOG

CONCACAF
Referee: Astrid Gramajo GUA
Assistant Referee 1: Iris Vail GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Sherly Socop GUA

Referee: Karen Hernandez MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Jessica Morales MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Elva Gutierrez MEX

Referee: Natalie Simon USA
Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kali Smith USA

Referee: Crystal Sobers TRI
Assistant Referee 1: Carissa Douglas-Jacob TRI
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Nicholas TRI

Support Referee: Lizzet Garcia MEX

CONMEBOL
Referee: Maria Daza COL
Assistant Referee 1: Mayra Sanchez COL
Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Ortiz COL

Referee: Dione Rissios CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Marcia Castillo CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Leslie Vazquez CHI

Referee: Marcelly Zambrano ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Viviana Segura ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Stefania Paguay ECU

Referee: Anahi Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 1: Daiana Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 2: Belen Clavijo URU

Support Referee: Susana Corella ECU

UEFA
Referee: Ivana Martincic CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Maja Petravic CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Stasa Spur SVN

Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez ESP

Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Tiziana Trasciatti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Vanessa Gomes POR

Referee: Ivana Projkovska MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Linda Schmid SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Camille Soriano FRA

Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Svitlana Grushko UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Amina Gutschi AUT

Champions League referees suspended for five months after stealing road sign and being taken to drunk tank

The Polish referees who nicked a road sign hours before a crucial Champions League clash have been banned for five months. Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musial were removed from VAR duties for the Glasgow Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv match after the incident. Local outlet TVP Sport say the Polish FA have banned them from matches for five months, with a further seven suspended. Experienced referee Frankowski was initially appointed as VAR, with Musial backing him up as assistant VAR.
TVP Sport reported that the duo and a third individual were caught by police allegedly stealing a road sign in the early hours of the morning. It claimed the trio were arrested at 1.43am for "destroying road infrastructure." The men, who were reported as being intoxicated, were then taken to a sobering-up centre - which will cost them money as police charge for use. Drunks tanks are used in many European countries when the crime is deemed not serious enough to be banged up in a cell. Senior Superintendent Kamil Golebiowski said: "At around 1:40am we received a report of three men carrying a road sign down the street. Police officers were dispatched to the scene. All of the men were intoxicated and had over 1.5 per milligrams of alcohol in their blood. They were taken to a sobering-up centre." As always for UEFA matches, the refereeing team was confirmed 48 hours before the match. Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas was confirmed to be leading the officials. Frankowski and Musial were listed as his VAR officials but were taken off the listing. Instead, fellow top flight Polish official Tomasz Kwiatkowski became the VAR, with Pawel Malec as his assistant. Frankowski, 37, is one of the top referees in Poland and an experienced international official. FIFA-listed for 10 years, he was an official at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 - acting as VAR in the latter.
The Polish FA have also published a statement, which reads: "The Committee decided to:
- Recognise the liability of Bartosz Frankowski and Tomasz Musiał for the alleged act;
- Impose a basic penalty on each of the accused referees - one year suspension: each referee will serve the mandatory suspension of five months, while the execution of the remaining part of the penalty, i.e. seven months, is suspended for a probation period of two years;
- Additionally impose a fine of PLN 25,000 (£4,000) on each of the referees."

Source: Express

First EPL female referee Welch announces her retirement

The Premier League's first female referee Rebecca Welch has announced her retirement from her on-field career to take up a managerial role within PGMOL. Welch made history on a number of occasions as a match official, becoming the first woman to referee EFL and Premier League fixtures, while she was consistently entrusted on the international stage with regular appointments to major tournaments as well as being chosen to referee the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in May. She has decided to hang up her whistle after successfully coming through a competitive recruitment process to become the manager of the Select Group Women’s Professional Game, with the aim to support and develop the growing pool of Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship officials as well as continuing to inspire the next generation of officials. “I’m incredibly grateful for the support, guidance and opportunities I’ve been given during an unforgettable time on the field,” Welch said. “I’ve loved working alongside some great people and officials from all over the world – refereeing has given me so much including many amazing memories and I hope to continue to see more youngsters take advantage of the growing opportunities which are there for everyone.” She added: “I’m now excited by my new challenge and giving back to the game I love in a new capacity. There’s a real focus on the pathway and development at PGMOL and, alongside a great team already in place, I’m eager to help drive that culture of high-performance, offering my experience and support in developing officials within the women’s game.”
Welch began her refereeing journey in 2010, initially balancing this alongside her career in the NHS. Since becoming a full-time match official in 2019, Welch’s pathway has been marked by numerous historic achievements. In 2021 she became the first woman to referee an EFL match, taking charge of Harrogate Town v Port Vale, a feat which she backed up by refereeing matches in the Championship and the third round of the men’s FA Cup. These all preceded her Premier League debut in December 2023 as the world’s eyes watched her whistle Fulham v Burnley at Craven Cottage. Welch’s impressive resume solidifies her position as a leading light in women’s refereeing, having also overseen the Women’s FA Cup final in both 2017 and 2020. She was on the FIFA International List of Match Officials from 2015, and her talents were further recognised by UEFA in 2020 when she was chosen for the Elite Women’s List. Since then, Welch has officiated on some of football’s biggest stages, including the 2022 UEFA Women’s EUROs, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2024 UEFA Women’s Champions League final and, most recently, the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football tournament where she concluded the final game of her career as fourth official for the Gold Medal Match. Welch’s illustrious list of achievements will see her officially inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame in due course.

Source: EPL

UEFA Europa League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (Second Leg)

29 August 2024

Petrocub Hîncești – PFK Ludogorets
Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Achmüller GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christof Günsch GE
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen GER
VAR: Benjamin Brand GER
AVAR: Riem Hussein GER
Referee Observer: Jorn-West Larsen DEN

Apoel – RFS
Referee: Matej Jug SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
VAR: Alen Borošak SVN
AVAR: Dragoslav Perič SVN
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA

IF Elfsborg – Molde FK
Referee: Harm Osmers GER
Assistant Referee 1: Dominik Schaal GER
Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
VAR: Sören Storks GER
AVAR: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP

RSC Anderlecht – Dinamo Minsk
Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE
Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE
Assistant Referee 2: Srdjan Jovanovic MNE
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Piotr Lasyk POL
Referee Observer: Jan Wegereef NED

AFC Ajax – Jagiellonia Bialystok
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Antonio Giua ITA
VAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
AVAR: Matteo Gariglio ITA
Referee Observer: Itchko Lozev BUL

Beşiktaş JK – FC Lugano
Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Grigoriu ROU
Fourth Official: Marcel Birsan ROU
VAR: Cătălin Popa ROU
AVAR: Andrei Chivulete ROU
Referee Observer: William Young SCO

FCSB – LASK
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Sven Jablonski GER
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Johann Pfeifer GER
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE

Heart of Midlothian – Viktoria Plzen
Referee: Georgi Kabakov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Margaritov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Diyan Valkov BUL
Fourth Official: Volen Chinkov BUL
VAR: Dragomir Draganov BUL
AVAR: Vasimir El-Hatib BUL
Referee Observer: Claus Bo Larsen DEN

TSC Bačka Topola – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Referee: Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: Joao Gonçalves POR
VAR: Helder Malheiro POR
AVAR: Gustavo Correia POR
Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez ESP

Shamrock Rovers – PAOK
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Jochem Kamphuis NED
Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold NOR

Borac Banja Luka – Ferencvarosi TC
Referee: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Jo de Weirdt BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny BEL
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen BEL
VAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
AVAR: Bert Put BEL
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT
 
Rapid Wien – SC Braga
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott ENG
VAR: David Coote ENG
AVAR: Daniel Cook ENG
Referee Observer: Antony Gautier FRA

UEFA Europa Conference League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (Second Leg)

28-29 August 2024

Basaksehir FK – St. Patrick FC
Referee: Balázs Berke HUN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Vencel Tóth HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Balázs Szert HUN
Fourth Official: Mihály Káprály HUN
VAR: Tamás Bognár HUN
AVAR: Ferenc Karakó HUN
Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB

KAA Gent – FK Partizan
Referee: Filip Glova SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Poláček SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bednár SVK
Fourth Official: Martin Dohál SVK
VAR: Michal Očenáš SVK
AVAR: Lukáš Dzivjak SVK
Referee Observer: Vladimir Antonov MDA

Astana FK – SK Brann
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Dejan Kostadinov MKD
Assistant Referee 2: Goce Petreski MKD
Fourth Official: Igor Stojčevski MKD
VAR: Momčilo Marković SRB
AVAR: Aleksandar Živković SRB
Referee Observer: Libor Kovařík CZE

HJK Helsinki – KI Klasksvik
Referee: David Fuxman ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Omer Barbiro ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Tuval Koltunoff ISR
Fourth Official: Avraham Mizrachi ISR
VAR: Daniel Natan ISR
AVAR: Nati Dotan ISR
Referee Observer: Nuno Castro POR

Zira PFK – Omonia Nicosia
Referee: Vitalijs Spasjonnikovs LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Raimonds Tatriks LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Arturs Šakurovs LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs LVA
VAR: Andrejs Gluhovs LVA
AVAR: Jevgenijs Keziks LVA
Referee Observer: Karel Vidlák CZE

MFK Ruzomberok – FA Noah
Referee: John Beaton SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Douglas Potter SCO
Fourth Official: Matthew MacDermid SCO
VAR: Andrew Dallas SCO
AVAR: Gregory Aitken SCO
Referee Observer: Pavel Salii KAZ

Trabzonspor – St. Gallen
Referee: Andris Treimanis LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonnikovs LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs LVA
VAR: Kristaps Ratnieks LVA
AVAR: Sergejs Vasjkovs LVA
Referee Observer: Augustus Constantin ROU

Paksi FC – Mlada Boleslav
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Inigo Prieto Lopez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iker de Francisco Grijalba ESP
Fourth Official: Miguel Ortiz Arias ESP
VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Raul Cabanero Martínez ESP
Referee Observer: Viktor Shvetsov UKR

Olimpija Ljubljana – HNK Rijeka
Referee: Urs Schnyder SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Zürcher SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Zürcher SUI
Fourth Official: Sven Wolfensberger SUI
VAR: Fedayi San SUI
AVAR: Johannes von Mandach SUI
Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís CYP

Pafos FC – CFR Cluj
Referee: Craig Pawson ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Bennett ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Robathan ENG
Fourth Official: Darren Bond ENG
VAR: Andrew Madley ENG
AVAR: Sian Massey-Ellis ENG
Referee Observer: Ladislav Gádoši SVK

The New Saints – FK Panevezys
Referee: Jakob Sundberg DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Deniz Yurdakul DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Victor Skytte DEN
Fourth Official: Jacob Karlsen DEN
VAR: Jonas Hansen DEN
AVAR: Jens Maae DEN
Referee Observer: Carlos Clos Gómez ESP

Santa Coloma – Vikingur Reykjavik
Referee: Atilla Karaoglan TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Ceyhun Sesigüzel TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Abdullah Özkara TUR
Fourth Official: Çagdaş Altay TUR
VAR: Erkan Engin TUR
AVAR: Mustafa Coşkun TUR
Referee Observer: Neale Barry ENG

Zrinjski Mostar – Vitoria SC
Referee: Robert Jones ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Ian Hussin ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies ENG
Fourth Official: Michael Salisbury ENG
VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG
AVAR: Nick Hopton ENG
Referee Observer: Mattias Gestranius FIN

Cercle Bruges – Wisla Krakow
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Alexandru Cerei ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Kovacs ROU
VAR: Sebastian Colțescu ROU
AVAR: Sorin Costreie ROU
Referee Observer: Sergejus Slyva LTU

Panathinaikos – Lens
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Martínez Munuera ESP
Fourth Official: César Soto Grado ESP
VAR: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
AVAR: Alejandro Muiz Ruiz ESP
Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO

FC Drita – Legia Warszawa
Referee: Daniel Schlager GER
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Gittelmann GER
Assistant Referee 2: Sven Waschitzki GER
Fourth Official: Florian Exner GER
VAR: Pascal Müller GER
AVAR: Katrin Rafalski GER
Referee Observer: Chrístos Nikolaidis CYP
 
Kilmarnock FC – FC Copenhagen
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Miroslav Ivanov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Petar Mitrev BUL
Fourth Official: Vladimir Valkov BUL
VAR: Nikola Popov BUL
AVAR: Georgi Ginchev BUL
Referee Observer: Stefan Johannesson SWE

NK Celje – FA Pyunik
Referee: Christian Ciochirca AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Maximilian Weiss AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Obritzberger AUT
Fourth Official: Alan Kijas AUT
VAR: Manuel Schüttengruber AUT
AVAR: Julian Weinberger AUT
Referee Observer: Hannes Kaasik EST

NK Maribor – Djurgardens IF
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas LTU
Fourth Official: Mindaugas Jackus LTU
VAR: Donatas Šimėnas LTU
AVAR: Orestas Abramavičius LTU
Referee Observer: Ognjen Valjić BIH

FC Heidenheim – BK Hacken
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Levan Varamishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Zaza Pipia GEO
Fourth Official: Giorgi Avazashvili GEO
VAR: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
AVAR: Bakur Ninua GEO
Referee Observer: Rusmir Mrković BIH

Servette – Chelsea
Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Giallatini ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giovanni Baccini ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Zufferli ITA
VAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
AVAR: Rosario Abisso ITA
Referee Observer: Domagoj Vučkov CRO

Larne FC – Lincoln Red Imps
Referee: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Guillaume Maire SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Müller SUI
Fourth Official: Nico Gianforte SUI
VAR: Stefan Horisberger SUI
AVAR: Anojen Kanagasingam SUI
Referee Observer: Mark Whitby WAL

Puskas Akademia – ACF Fiorentina
Referee: António Nobre POR
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Ribeiro POR
Assistant Referee 2: Nélson Pereira POR
Fourth Official: David Silva POR
VAR: Tiago Martins POR
AVAR: Ricardo Baixinho POR
Referee Observer: Jouni Hyytia FIN

Real Betis – Kryvbas Kryvyy Rih
Referee: Igor Pajač CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Ivan Mihalj CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Vedran Djurak CRO
Fourth Official: Dario Bel CRO
VAR: Mario Zebec CRO
AVAR: Tihomir Pejin CRO
Referee Observer: Alan Sant MLT

UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (Second Leg)

27-28 August 2024

Galatasaray SK – BSC Young Boys
Referee: Espen Eskas NOR (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Mohammad Aslam NOR
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA

Sparta Praha – Malmö FF
Referee: Clement Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: Ruddy Buquet FRA
VAR: Willy Delajod FRA
AVAR: Jeremie Pignard FRA
Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović CRO

FC Salzburg – Dynamo Kyiv
Referee: Halil Meler TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Ibrahim Uyarcan TUR
Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler TUR
VAR: Luca Pairetto ITA
AVAR: Valerio Marini ITA
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR

Qarabag Agdam – Dinamo Zagreb
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Lee Betts ENG
Fourth Official: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
AVAR: Timothy Wood ENG
Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER

Slovan Bratislava – FC Midtjylland
Referee: Tobias Stieler GER
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Foltyn GER
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Borsch GER
Fourth Official: Robert Schröder GER
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Timo Gerach GER
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge NOR

Slavia Praha – LOSC Lille
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenović SVN
VAR: Nejc Kajtazović SVN
AVAR: Asmir Sagrković SVN
Referee Observer: Joao Ferreira POR

Crvena Zvezda – Bodo Glimt
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Daniele Paterna ITA
Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz TUR

Soares Dias: “I had planned my retirement differently, but some events changed the way it was announced”

Artur Soares Dias hangs his whistle after more than 500 games in Portugal. More than 700 in total, if we add his international matches. At 45 years old, the referee from Porto leaves the field, but not football. In the first interview since the announcement, Artur Soares Dias went with A Bola to the former Portucel factory, in Viana do Castelo, where he worked until 2012, when he decided to stop being Director of Human Resources to become a professional football referee. An exclusive journey through a career full of tremendous challenges, but one that fills with pride the son of Manuel Soares Dias, also a former referee.
- Why did you choose to speak for the first time about the end of your referee career here at former Portucel, in Viana do Castelo?
- We are normal people, we have families, we have children, we are parents and so it is always good to show what is beyond that person that everyone sees on the field. And so I think it's good to show us in this reality. I was very happy here. It was here that I spent many of my youth years after college. I took over the management of Human Resources when I was only 24 years, with 310 employees and a budget of 11.4 million euros to manage. It was one of my biggest challenges, being able to lead a company of such a large size.
- As a Human Resources director, you had to negotiate, hire people and fire others. Among these collaborators some have certainly called you a lot of things, but not the bad words that football has made you known. No one called you corrupted here...
- It is true. One of the least rewarding areas of Human Resources is having to fire people. I was very resilient because I argued that dismissal should be the last measure to happen. They surely didn’t call me corrupt, unlike what happened on these football fields. But they may have called me something else, but I didn't know, did I? In the final part of my career, there was always a great respect for my experience, an understanding of the mistakes I made - and I made many of them, unfortunately - but they knew that they were human, and because they were human were acceptable. It was always very gratifying.
- But you dealt with frequent insults...
- I confess that we, when we are on the field, because of concentration, of the focus on what is the most important, which is to make good decisions, we are far aside from what everyone else perceives. Another thing is the insult on the streets, the gratuitous insult, the cheap insult. This is more difficult to digest, because we all have the right to our privacy, respect, and they were the most difficult times. Although, the result of what my career was, recognition, in particular in recent years, was easier. There were more selfies, words of encouragement, not to give up and continue. In the recent past, there was more and more of this, because some people began to realize that the end was near.
- I was at this former Portucel when, in 2010, you became an international referee and two years later you decided to be a full-time professional referee. How did you make the decision to abandon this life for the love of refereeing?
- I had two moments in my life that were the hardest to make decisions. One, surely, was in 2012, when, after a trip I made between Viana do Castelo and Porto, I heard a song from Antonio Variacoes that we all know – “Mude of life if you do not live satisfied...” [singing] I started working at 8:30 and could only leave from here a few times at eight o’clock at night, I arrived home very tired, still trained and the day after I was here again. I came home many times exhausted and found myself thinking that was not life. I had a huge passion for refereeing and the pressure I felt on the field. Oh, I love it. Resilience is one of the names that accompanies me. I believe that passion is essential to success. At that moment, I decided to go after my passion and I thought I would make it. I was going to make it to the Olympic Games, where no Portuguese referee had gone before. When I decided to be a professional referee, I decided to train, prepare, dedicate, strive to get there. It was not easy. I already had children and when I left the business world for some “biting”, as they said, it was not easy. We are not valued, we are not treated well... My father often said: “Boy, no one can serve two masters well.” I had a very big gentleman who is this [former Portucel] and another even bigger master who was football. I decided on the passion to manage 22 players, and my perspective was to conquer the world. It was to go out there to show that Portugal has top referees and has quality to show. The refereeing in Portugal is good.
- But from 2012 until today we continue to question the quality of refereeing...
- I believe there is background work to be done, there are mentalities to be changed and new perspectives to be given. There is new blood to enter, and I believe that there is a lot of work to be done in this matter because I think the value is here and we will be able to easily reach that level, if we can show the value that exists. It is a hard way, it will be a difficult path, but with everyone involved, including the leaders who are equally very mistreated, we will succeed. If it were not for the vision of these leaders to make good investments in certain referees and to develop the infrastructure this would be worse. I think there's little recognition.
- Not all football problems start and end with refereeing?
- That’s for sure, but it’s hard to have that perception, it’s true. If we all sit at a table, reflect... football is an industry, it is a business that gives something to all of us, if it is valued in the same way. It's time that we all think together.
- If the referees speak more often, would that help?
- I often say that communication is essential. Let’s go to what’s more basic: if we don’t talk to our children in a right way, if we don’t interact with them and if we don’t explain them the world, most likely they’re not. We have to communicate all. We must not be afraid to say, “I have erred, now help me not to err anymore.” We will create conditions that facilitate their work. Let's build it, it's easy. Let's share ideas.
- There were games where you wished to be the Human Resources director who called the players to speak openly as you couldn’t do as a referee?
- One of the most valued issues in refereeing is the body language, it is communication without verbalizing, but it is very difficult, because we will not stop the game because the fans want to see the game going on. But I loved it. The worst feeling I had in my life as a referee was to get home and realize that I was wrong, that I hurt someone, and then not being able to have the opportunity to change it. I had the habit of going to see what went well and what went wrong in the game. Let me send a word to the younger ones: help us to be better. Since I made this decision, I have received hundreds of messages, many of them from young people asking for videos to motivate them, something that has made me astonished. To think that I'm an idol for some people... I thought about it. There is a big shortage of referees. There are games that go not played due to lack of referees and we all have to help those 17- and 18-year-olds who want to start. We have to motivate them, so a word of appreciation to these young people who are resilient to be able to build the Soares Dias of the future. I wish you have an easiest life than I had. I remember when I was appointed to a derby I thought before whether I would survive or if it was going to be the end of my career. We know that our success or failure is at a second, a penalty, a red card. Fortunately, I managed to survive 20 years and many derbies and classics. Now with VAR you don't die in a second anymore, because we have someone who helps us make, and review, the best decision.
- Did you decide to be a referee because you were the son of the former referee Manuel Soares Dias?
- No. My father contradicted my wishes, because he knew well how difficult it was to be a football referee, and during his time it was worse. At this moment, it is much easier because there was a huge evolution in refereeing, at all levels; the result of the work of all people who were involved in refereeing, but at the time of my father it was very difficult and therefore he never encouraged me.
- How did the refereeing bug get into you?
- Look, I was a kid. I was 15 years old when I went with my father to a game in the old Estádio da Luz, full, and I remember perfectly entering those very narrow tunnels and having noticed the emotions, feeling the enormous pressure that was in that place. I found it cute, as a result of my young age, not knowing what I was going to get into.
- How did you say to Manuel that you were going to be a referee too?
- I’m a father and I know that parents want better for their children. We try to refer them to what we think is the best way for them, but we all have the right to experience anything, good and bad. He tried to discourage me but could not convince me and then became my greatest support and it was with him that I managed to get here.
- He died early in 2009 and did not have a real sense of the level his son reached...
- This is one of my greatest heartbreaks... I often joked with him and told him, “Father, I’m going to pass you in two years”. He replied, “You are judging now”. I have always defended the name Soares Dias. It’s one of the things I like most, it’s the respect I have in it, it’s what I consider most. It is a constant struggle to dignify it.
- You have a son and a daughter whom you have always protected from everything that was said?
- I tried to protect them to the fullest. Some stories are very difficult. My son came home and said, as he told me a few times, fortunately very few, that a classmate at the school told him that his father was a thief... hearing this from an eight- or nine-year-old. This comes from the lack of education, the lack of principles and values that is given at their home. Unfortunately, this happens, but I tried to protect my children. The only thing I taught them was: “When someone says a comment about your father, just say that your father is the best at what he does. Then ask them if their father is as good as yours. If their father is as good as yours, he'll be a very respected person, because your father is very good at what he does”.
- At some point you thought of quitting?
- Lots of times I found myself many nights wondering “what am I doing here?”
- Did anyone try to bribe you?
- Not really. Perhaps there have been attempts, but they have not been materialized. When we're talking about bribes, we're talking about giving a tracksuit when I started and was only a kid. But if we cut right away with these little things, like a workout pass or a lunch, people soon would know that you’re not going to do it.
- So that idea that they are all corrupt, they are all sold, is it pure invention?
- I believe so. In my case, it is pure invention. In society there are serious and less serious people. I'm not saying that others do or don't. I speak for myself and will always defend myself. I also believe that my colleagues in the first category do not have anything to do with this. I believe in their seriousness. I believe they are examples to follow for society, just like me.
- In 2017 you lived perhaps the worst moment of your career, at Maia’s training center. Were you threatened by a cheerleader?
- I'm glad you mentioned this. At Maia there were two 20-year-old kids who spent their time on the street and when they saw me, before the game Pacos de Ferreira-FC Porto, they said: “If you don’t behave well tomorrow, we’ll take care of your health.” I have received messages like these dozens of times. Even recently I got messages during the night threatening me. This is the life of a referee. However, that was only one in a thousand contacts. What is certain is that a story has been created around it, intentionally, in the sense of manipulating society, manipulating the masses. The facts occurred but were presented in the media on a larger scale. But do me a favor: mediatize all others, because there are many more. Create conditions so they do to happen. This is essentially because of education of the fans, creating conditions for families to go to the stadiums, children to go to stadiums with their parents, which happens less and less. I always say that when there is a problem, there is a cause.
- You have refereed three Euro 2024 matches. Why didn't you announce the end of your career when you returned from Germany?
- When Roberto Rosetti, the head of UEFA refereeing, said goodbye to me, I told him that I had finished my career. This decision was communicated to him and to all other leaders of Portuguese refereeing. I had planned to finish my career at 45 and that’s what I did.
- But why did we only find out about it on the eve of the Saudi Super Cup?
- There are circumstances of our lives that we do not control. I had planned it differently, thinking that the end of my career would be communicated in a structured, planned way. This structure, this plan, existed and exists, but we have had some events in-between that I think were not well managed. They made the news come out in a way that is not compatible with a career like mine, but life is like that. There are unforeseen events, and we just need the ability to relativize them and keep moving forward.
- After all this you refereed the Saudi Super Cup.
- I was very well received by Jorge Jesus, Luís Castro and Ronaldo, Ruben Neves, Otavio. It was fantastic.
- Why did you end your career with the Saudi Super Cup and not the Portuguese Super Cup?
- The president of the committee makes the appointments, and he considered that it was good for another colleague to be appointed. I think they should bet on the future of Portuguese refereeing.
- Is it without a heartache?
- None with anyone, even those who have hurt me. I thank them too, because they were the gasoline for my career.
- You are seen as the successor of Pedro Proença. When he leaves the League and heads to other roles, and it is said that the Portuguese Football Federation may be next for him, can you succeed him in the League?
- Fortunately, I can be anything, but it’s not anything I’m going to be. I will continue in sport, certainly, and in football in particular. I have a profile and knowledge that allows me to be in several roles and I have already been challenged to various possibilities. I have given a lot to refereeing, but the refereeing cycle has come to an end. I am sure I can bring value to football in some way.
- I see you as someone ready to work in football, but not just refereeing. Is that it?
- I have the same vision, but I think it’s still premature to close any door. I am not available for anything, but I am available to serve football. That will be the way.
- Is there still much to do in football?
- There is, definitely; new blood is needed in the organizations, and I feel like I have that blood. And I believe I can be an asset.
- Are there any doors open outside?
- The doors are open. But I'm still living the end of my referee career. It's still bubbling. The path will be found with clairvoyance. Now I need to relax. After so many weekends living football, I need to pay attention to my children.
- So, you won’t watch a lot of football, nor the matches of your colleagues?
- I need to rest from refereeing at this time.
- Refereeing gave you more friends or more enemies?
- My career was much better than I thought. Going to two European Championships, a World Cup, Olympic Games... Last year I was elected among the 25 best referees in the world. I never imagined this in my life, it was fantastic. I owe a lot to refereeing, it made me know the world. I'm grateful. I appreciate it.
- Which player did you like the most? Was there any?
- There were several. I can talk about one. Or two of them. Or better three. Pepe, who is a great person. There's that whole show on the field. Outside the field, he shows good education, fantastic attention, respect... I value this a lot. Renato Sanches: in a game in Russia, without asking him anything, knocking on the door and handing me a shirt of his team. Because I was Portuguese, and he liked my refereeing. Incredible! These things mark me. Bernardo Silva, for the same reasons. Incredible values. Even on the field, distinct from others. But there are more... these principles must be valued.
- The best leader?
- We have several. Those who are able to acknowledge their mistake, which has happened several times. As the result of the emotion, they feel ended up spilling over what was normal and some had the competence and principles of recognizing the error and apologizing. The leaders in Portugal should be more valued, for what they give to football. All are determined and I thank them for having put me on and even when I made mistakes, they always had the right way to tell me about them.
- The most difficult coach on the bench?
- Some go extra miles, more than others, but as I like the positive characters, I remember Jorge Jesus, who was kind enough to give me a shirt and applaud my refereeing. This is what I value and thank for.
- As a 45-year-old who ended your career as international referee, what do you ask for?
- I have everything. I'm not missing anything.
- What about the controversial video in the Povoas pool, in which you are seen by the pool, close to Pinto da Costa, former president of FC Porto?
- I landed in Saudi Arabia, and I was surprised by a video, which I didn’t even know that existed, and with the communication of the end of my career. It was all precipitated in the wrong way and it doesn’t make sense what happened. I have a right as a person - and I cannot dissociate, because I must have respect, education and principles - to be with friends. And I was invited to go to a party of a friend, Dr. Fernando Povoas, to go to his house with the family to see the animals. It was the first time I went there. And I was surprised by the presence of other people, among them Pinto da Costa”, he explains.
- If it were today, would you go again?
- I would perhaps think about going or not going, to protect myself, because it is certain that we are talking about a former referee and a former president who met at a private event. If I knew he was there, I wouldn't go. We have to protect ourselves a lot because society doesn't see this with good eyes. I never depended on club officials, so it was not now that I would need it. Not because he is Pinto da Costa, but because he is a leader or former leader of a club.
- Tiago Martins came up with the idea that “there are unjust cards to show.” You showed many cards throughout your career and one of them was showed to Jurgen Klopp in a Europa League match between Liverpool and Sparta Prague.
- He’s a football lord and, after showing him the card, he apologized to me for the attitude and told me that I was absolutely right. The ability to recognize error is not for everyone.
- In the final of the UEFA Conference League and in your last game, the Saudi Super Cup, you had Tiago Martins as VAR.
- Tiago Martins was one of the people, among others, very important in my career. I remember that in 2018, when FIFA asked me if there was any Portuguese to act as VAR, I indicated Tiago. Fortunately, I was right, because he has demonstrated his competence.

Source: A Bola

Concacaf Leagues Cup Final 2024: Nation (JAM)

25 August 2024

Final
Columbus Crew – Los Angeles FC
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Wales (TRI)
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)
Fourth Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Reserve AR: Nick Uranga (USA)
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic (USA)
AVAR: Allen Chapman (USA)

Match for Third Place
Philadelphia Union – Colorado Rapids
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Michel Espinoza (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Leonardo Castillo (MEX)
Fourth Official: Victor Caceres (MEX)
Reserve AR: Jorge Sanchez (MEX)
VAR: Erick Miranda (MEX)
AVAR: Oscar Mejia (MEX)

Roldan sent off Boca player after 9 seconds in Copa Sudamericana

Boca Juniors defender Luis Advincula was sent off after only nine seconds in his team’s Copa Sudamericana knock-out match against Brazil’s Cruzeiro on Thursday. Cruzeiro advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament after a 5-4 win in a penalty shootout.
The 34-year-old Peruvian right-back received the red card from veteran referee Wilmar Roldan after stepping with his right foot on the ankle of Cruzeiro’s Lucas Romero, who screamed in pain, but managed to continue playing. Advincula left the Mineirao Stadium in tears as his teammates tried to comfort him. Cruzeiro won the match 2-1, which forced the penalty shootout after Boca’s 1-0 win in the first leg. The Brazilian club will take on Paraguay’s Libertad in the next round of the tournament.

Source: AP

Finalissima U-20 (UEFA-CONMEBOL) 2024

24 August 2024

Flamengo – Olympiacos
Referee: Yender Herrera VEN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Ponte VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Migdalia Rodriguez VEN
Fourth Official: Bryan Loayza ECU
VAR: Carlos Orbe ECU
AVAR: Monica Amboya ECU
Referee Assessor: Sabrina Lois ARG
VAR Supervisor: Angel Sanchez ARG

UEFA Europa League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (First Leg)

22 August 2024

Molde FK – IF Elfsborg
Referee: István Kovács ROU (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: George Neacsu ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
AVAR: Katalin Kulcsár HUN
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX

LASK – FCSB
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Joost van Zuilen NED
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig NED
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal NED
VAR: Clay Ruperti NED
AVAR: Alex Bos NED
Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP

RFS – Apoel
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev AZE
Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov AZE
Assistant Referee 2: Akif Amirali AZE
Fourth Official: Ingilab Mammadov AZE
VAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
AVAR: Francesco Meraviglia ITA
Referee Observer: Lutz-Michael Fröhlich GER

Viktoria Plzen – Heart of Midlothian
Referee: Sven Jablonski GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger GER
Fourth Official: Timo Gerach GER
VAR: Benjamin Brand GER
AVAR: Pascal Müller GER
Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai HUN

PAOK – Shamrock Rovers
Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Ridiger Çokaj ALB
Fourth Official: Florian Lata ALB
VAR: Luca Pairetto ITA
AVAR: Marco Serra ITA
Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST

PFK Ludogorets – Petrocub Hîncești
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Tryfon Petropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Iordanis Aptosoglou GRE
Fourth Official: Alexandros Tsakalidis GRE
VAR: Angelos Evangelou GRE
AVAR: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE

Maccabi Tel Aviv – TSC Bačka Topola
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner AUT
Fourth Official: Walter Altmann AUT
VAR: Alan Kijas AUT
AVAR: Josef Spurny AUT
Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski POL

Ferencvárosi TC – Borac Banja Luka
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Graeme Stewart SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Calum Spence SCO
Fourth Official: Christopher Graham SCO
VAR: Kevin Clancy SCO
AVAR: Alain Muir SCO
Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP

FC Lugano – Beşiktaş JK
Referee: Morten Krogh DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Rasmussen DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Bramsen DEN
Fourth Official: Mikkel Redder DEN
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR

Dinamo Minsk – RSC Anderlecht
Referee: Rohit Saggi NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Morten Jensen NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Anders Dale NOR
Fourth Official: Sigurd Kringstad NOR
VAR: Maurizio Mariani ITA
AVAR: Rosario Abisso ITA
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT

Jagiellonia Białystok – AFC Ajax
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: Martin Matoša SVN
VAR: Matej Jug SVN
AVAR: Dragoslav Perič SVN
Referee Observer: Matteo Trefoloni ITA
 
SC Braga – SK Rapid
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Dmytro Zaporozhenko UKR
Fourth Official: Denys Shurman UKR
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Edwin Van De Graaf NED
Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN

UEFA Europa Conference League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (First Leg)

20-22 August 2024

FC Noah – MFK Ružomberok
Referee: Joey Kooij NED (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Inia NED
Assistant Referee 2: Dyon Fikkert NED
Fourth Official: Jannick Van Der Laan NED
VAR: Jeroen Manschot NED
AVAR: Richard Martens NED
Referee Observer: Edward Foley IRL

Vitoria SC – Zrinjski Mostar
Referee: Vassilis Fotias GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Fotopoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Vasileios Nikolakakis GRE
Fourth Official: Panagiotis Tsiaras GRE
VAR: Anstasios Sidiropoulos GRE
AVAR: Konstantinos Katoikos GRE
Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman NED

Pyunik FC – NK Celje
Referee: Luka Bilbija BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Damir Lazić BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandar Smiljanić BIH
Fourth Official: Dragan Petrović BIH
VAR: Antoni Bandić BIH
AVAR: Miloš Gigovic BIH
Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA

Legia Warszawa – KF Drita
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Wade Smith ENG
Fourth Official: Darren England ENG
VAR: Peter Bankes ENG
AVAR: Ian Hussin ENG
Referee Observer: Pavle Radovanović MNE

Mlada Boleslav – Paksi SE
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: David Akhvlediani GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Davit Gabisonia GEO
Fourth Official: Irakli Kvirikashvili GEO
VAR: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
AVAR: Giorgi Avazashvili GEO
Referee Observer: Helmut Fleischer GER

FK Panevezys – The New Saints
Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Ilir Tartaraj ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Xhulio Mani ALB
Fourth Official: Kreshnik Cjapi ALB
VAR: Kreshnik Barjamaj ALB
AVAR: Olsion Yzeiraj ALB
Referee Observer: Georgios Bikas GRE

AC Omonia – Zira FK
Referee: Juri Frischer EST
Assistant Referee 1: Veiko Mõtsnik EST
Assistant Referee 2: Sander Saga EST
Fourth Official: Kristo Külljastinen EST
VAR: Kristo Tohver EST
AVAR: Joonas Jaanovits EST
Referee Observer: Christof Dierick BEL

Djurgardens IF – NK Maribor
Referee: Jasper Vergoote BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Martijn Tiesters BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Geerolf BEL
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme BEL
VAR: Erik Lambrechts BEL
AVAR: Jan Boterberg BEL
Referee Observer: Emil Bozinovski MKD

SK Brann – FC Astana
Referee: David Šmajc SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandar Kasapovič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: David Gabrovec SVN
Fourth Official: Aleksandar Matkovič SVN
VAR: Asmir Sagrković SVN
AVAR: Alen Borošak SVN
Referee Observer: Antonio Damato ITA

BK Häcken – FC Heidenheim
Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Volodymyr Vysotskyi UKR
Fourth Official: Dmytro Kubriak UKR
VAR: Oleksii Derevinskyi UKR
AVAR: Dmytro Panchyshyn UKR
Referee Observer: Michal Beneš CZE

FC Copenhagen – Kilmarnock FC
Referee: Fabio Maresca ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Davide Imperiale ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA
Fourth Official: Antonio Rapuano ITA
VAR: Paolo Mazzoleni ITA
AVAR: Matteo Gariglio ITA
Referee Observer: Sabri Celik TUR

CFR Cluj – Pafoc FC
Referee: Novak Simović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Nikola Djorović SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Miloš Simović SRB
Fourth Official: Stanko Ostraćanin SRB
VAR: Momčilo Marković SRB
AVAR: Aleksandar Živković SRB
Referee Observer: Christopher Lautier MLT

Lincoln Red Imps – Larne FC
Referee: Ishmael Barbara MLT
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Vella MLT
Assistant Referee 2: Luke Portelli MLT
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann MLT
VAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
AVAR: Daniele Paterna ITA
Referee Observer: Alan Sars FRA

Víkingur – Santa Coloma
Referee: Ante Čulina CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Luka Pušić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Kolarević CRO
Fourth Official: Ante Terzić CRO
VAR: Fran Jović CRO
AVAR: Dario Bel CRO
Referee Observer: Marian Ruzbarsky SVK

RNK Rijeka – Olimpija Ljubljana
Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iván Masso Granado ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Álvarez Fernández ESP
Fourth Official: Victor Garcia Verdura ESP
VAR: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea ESP
AVAR: Javier Alberola Rojas ESP
Referee Observer: Michael Argyrou CYP

ACF Fiorentina – Puskas Akademia
Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe Jeanne FRA
Fourth Official: Thomas Leonard FRA
VAR: Bastien Dechepy FRA
AVAR: Eric Wattellier FRA
Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI

Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih – Real Betis Balompie
Referee: Arda Kardeşler TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Mehmet Tugral TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Deniz Özaral TUR
Fourth Official: Zorbay Küçük TUR
VAR: Mustafa Coskun TUR
AVAR: Onur Özütoprak TUR
Referee Observer: Petteri Kari FIN

FK Partizan – KAA Gent
Referee: Elchin Masiyev AZE
Assistant Referee 1: Elshad Abdullayev AZE
Assistant Referee 2: Parvin Talibov AZE
Fourth Official: Farid Hajiyev AZE
VAR: Kamal Umudlu AZE
AVAR: Rashad Ahmadov AZE
Referee Observer: Gylfi Orrason ISL

Wisla Krakow – Cercle Brugge
Referee: Philip Farrugia MLT
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Camilleri MLT
Assistant Referee 2: Duncan Sultana MLT
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson MLT
VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG
AVAR: Constantine Hatzidakis ENG
Referee Observer: Michael Koukoulakis GRE

KI Klaksvik – HJK Helsinki
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis GRE
Fourth Official: Athanasios Tzilos GRE
VAR: Stefanos Komparakis GRE
AVAR: Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson SWE

St. Patrick's Athletic – Istanbul Başakşehir
Referee: Mohammed Al-Emara FIN
Assistant Referee 1: Turkka Valjakka FIN
Assistant Referee 2: Juuso Mantere FIN
Fourth Official: Peiman Simani FIN
VAR: Sören Storks GER
AVAR: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel FRA

FC St. Gallen – Trabzonspor
Referee: Miguel Nogueira POR
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Martins POR
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Brás POR
Fourth Official: Bruno Vieira POR
VAR: André Narciso POR
AVAR: Fábio Melo POR
Referee Observer: Michael Ross NIR

RC Lens – Panathinaikos
Referee: Gergo Bogár HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Theodoros Georgiou HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Balázs Szalai HUN
Fourth Official: Tamás Bognár HUN
VAR: István Vad HUN
AVAR: Ferenc Karakó HUN
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi SMR

Chelsea FC – Servette FC
Referee: Jérémie Pignard FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Aurélien Drouet FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Laurent Coniglio FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
VAR: Benoît Millot FRA
AVAR: Mathieu Vernice FRA
Referee Observer: Drago Kos SVN

UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 – Play-offs (First Leg)

20-21 August 2024

Dinamo Zagreb – Qarabag Agdam
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck SWE
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Johann Pfeifer GER
Referee Observer: Michael Riley ENG

LOSC Lille – Slavia Praha
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Radosław Siejka POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Pawel Malec POL
Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller AUT

Bodo Glimt – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Jochem Kamphuis NED
Referee Observer: Lucílio Batista POR

FC Midtjylland – Slovan Bratislava
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Perez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: José Munuera Montero ESP
VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA

Malmö FF – Sparta Praha
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado Rodriguez ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
AVAR: Valentín Pizzaro Gómez ESP
Referee Observer: Haim Jakov ISR

Dynamo Kyiv – FC Salzburg
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Jonas Erni SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Susanne Küng SUI
Fourth Official: Lionel Tschudi SUI
VAR: Fedayi San SUI
AVAR: Johannes von Mandach SUI
Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG

BSC Young Boys – Galatasaray SK
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Benjamin Cortus GER
Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB

Referee Kulbakov ended his career with many records in Belarus

The match of the 18th round of the national championship between Torpedo and Neman was the last for Aleksei Kulbakov, the most accomplished referee of Belarus in the 21st century.
Aleksei Kulbakov began to referee in 1996, at the age of 16, when he was periodically assigned matches in the championship of the Gomel region. Very soon, he was noticed by specialists, and his career quickly went uphill: in 1998, Aleksei (not yet 19 years old) was trusted with games of the championship of Belarus in the second division, in 2000 – first division, in 2001 - the national youth tournament and the Cup. In 1998, Kulbakov was in the first referee category and only four years later promoted to national level. In the spring of 2003, at the age of 23, his long-awaited debut in the highest league took place on 12 May at the Youth City Stadium. He received special compliments from the honorary coach of Belarus, Nikolai Blashko, who inspected that match, and therefore he soon received a second match, followed immediately by the third and so on. At that time, no one knew that a new star had risen in the domestic refereeing.
In May 2005, Kulbakov refereed his first Belarus Cup final at the capital stadium Dynamo. Around the same time started Aleksei's international career, that developed steadily. His first match outside Belarus was Portugal – Albania, at a youth tournament in January 2004. Kulbakov received his FIFA badge in 2006 and, since then, his name has never left the refereeing list of FIFA. He refereed his first European Cup match in June 2006 (Daugavpils – Torshavn), followed by his first match of national teams (Cyprus – San Marino) in September 2007.
In 2008, there was a breakthrough in the career of a rapidly progressing Belarusian: Kulbakov became one of the 19 participants of the UEFA program "Talents and Mentors" for promising European referees. Over the next two years, Aleksei refereed UEFA matches under the leadership of the referee observer Andreas Schluchter from Switzerland. Since the 2009-10 season, the Belarusian began to receive regular appointments in the group stage of the Europa League (first match CFR Cluj – FC Copenhagen). From the 2014-15 season, he began to referee matches in the group stage of the Champions League, with the debut on 9 December 2014 (Benfica - Bayer Leverkusen).
In 2006, Kulbakov was in the fourth category of UEFA referees, but advanced quickly: 2008 – Category 3, 2009 – Category 2, 2011 – Category 1. In June 2019, He was promoted to the Elite category, which includes the top 26 leading European referees. Kulbakov's track record includes European U-17 Championship 2006 in Luxembourg (including the match for the third place Spain - Germany), the European U-19 Championship 2013 in Lithuania (including the final France - Serbia), and the European U-21 Championship 2019. He was involved in Euro 2016 in France as a reserve referee in 8 matches. In 2020, when the pandemic was rampant around the world, Aleksei became a participant in a very interesting experiment - to obtain international experience, he refereed in foreign competitions, such as Saudi Arabia, Greece and Libya.
During his long career, Kulbakov, a 44-year-old native of Gomel, refereed 535 matches, where he awarded 142 penalty kicks and issued 1836 yellow cards, 32 second yellow cards and 40 red cards. Aleksei leads the Belarusian Referees Club, established by the "Pressball," which includes referees who completed at least 300 games of the highest category. In the second place, after Kulbakov, is the best Belarusian referee of the last century, Vadim Zhuk with 389 matches, followed by Sergey Shmolik with 344. From the current generation of referees, the most matches in the highest category have Viktor Shimusik (210) and Dmitry Dmitriev (201).
Kulbakov’s national matches: 330 in the top national division, 48 in the Belarus Cup, 4 in the Super Cup, 15 in foreign national competitions. International matches: 88 in European Cups (Champions League 21, Europa League 61, Conference League 4, Intertoto Cup 2), 36 games with the participation of national A teams and 14 with national youth teams. Out of his 88 European Cup matches, 42 were in the group stage (Champions League 14, Europa League 25, Conference League 3), wile 12 were in the Europa League knock-out stage. Kulbakov’s domestic records: six finals of the Belarusian Cup (2005, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024) and four Super Cups (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022). He was recognized seven times as the best referee in Belarus (2004, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023).

Source: Pressball

CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)

20-22 August 2024

Racing – Huachipato
Referee: Juan Benitez PAR (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Canete PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Cuevas PAR
Fourth Official: Giancarlo Juliadoza PAR
VAR: Ulises Mereles PAR
AVAR: Luis Onieva PAR
Referee Assessor: Joel Ruiz PAR
VAR Supervisor: Marcelo Santiago BRA

Corinthians – Red Bull Bragantino
Referee: Andres Rojas COL
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Ortiz COL
Assistant Referee 2: David Fuentes COL
Fourth Official: Carlos Betancur COL
VAR: Mauricio Perez COL
AVAR: Maria Daza COL
Referee Assessor: Pedro Saucedo BOL
VAR Supervisor: Claudio Rios CHI

Fortaleza – Rosario Central
Referee: Esteban Ostojich URU
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Barreiro URU
Assistant Referee 2: Agustin Berisso URU
Fourth Official: Anahi Fernandez URU
VAR: Andres Cunha URU
AVAR: Jonathan Fuentes URU
Referee Assessor: Oscar Maldonado BOL
VAR Supervisor: Sebastian Restrepo COL

Lanus – LDU Quito
Referee: Kevin Ortega PER
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Orue PER
Assistant Referee 2: Jesus Sanchez PER
Fourth Official: Michael Espinoza PER
VAR: Diego Haro PER
AVAR: Jonny Bossio PER
Referee Assessor: Roberto Perassi BRA
VAR Supervisor: Juan Lugones BOL

Independiente Medellin – Palestino
Referee: Flavio Souza BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Fabrini Bevilaqua BRA
Fourth Official: Edina Alves BRA
VAR: Wagner Reway BRA
AVAR: Jose Rocha BRA
Referee Assessor: Cynthia Franco PAR
VAR Supervisor: Ednilson Corona BRA

Sportivo Ameliano – Libertad
Referee: Augusto Aragon ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Lescano ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Ricardo Baren ECU
Fourth Official: Bryan Loyaza ECU
VAR: Carlos Orbe ECU
AVAR: Monica Amboya ECU
Referee Assessor: Paolo Conceicao BRA
VAR Supervisor: Sandra Zambrano ECU

Belgrano – Athetico Paranaense
Referee: Carlos Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Fourth Official: Juan Lopez PAR
VAR: Derlis Lopez PAR
AVAR: Eduardo Britos PAR
Referee Assessor: Carlos Ulloa CHI
VAR Supervisor: Victor Martinez PAR

Cruzeiro – Boca Juniors
Referee: Wilmar Roldan COL
Assistant Referee 1: John Leon COL
Assistant Referee 2: John Gallego COL
Fourth Official: Carlos Betancur COL
VAR: Juan Lara CHI
AVAR: Edson Cisternas CHI
Referee Assessor: Roberto Silvera URU
VAR Supervisor: Luis Vera ECU

CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)

20-22 August 2024

Fluminense – Gremio
Referee: Andres Matonte URU (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran URU
Assistant Referee 2: Pablo Llarena URU
Fourth Official: Jose Burgos URU
VAR: Christian Ferreyra URU
AVAR: Richard Trinidad URU
Referee Assessor: Abraham Gonzalez COL
VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo PER

Atletico Mineiro – San Lorenzo
Referee: Felipe Gonzalez CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Rocha CHI
Fourth Official: Fernando Vejar CHI
VAR: Jose Cabero CHI
AVAR: Alan Sandoval CHI
Referee Assessor: Miguel Nievas URU
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Avila ECU

Junior – Colo Colo
Referee: Anderson Daronco BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Danilo Manis BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Luanderson Lima BRA
Fourth Official: Rodrigo Pereira BRA
VAR: Igor Benevenuto BRA
AVAR: Diego Pombo BRA
Referee Assessor: Jose Carpio ECU
VAR Supervisor: Pericles Cortes BRA

The Strongest – Penarol
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Urrutia CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Serrano CHI
Fourth Official: Dione Rissios 🇨🇱
VAR: Francisco Gilabert CHI
AVAR: Miguel Araos CHI
Referee Assessor: Marcelo Rogerio BRA
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Lamouroux COL

River Plate – Talleres
Referee: Gustavo Tejera URU
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Soppi URU
Assistant Referee 2: Andres Nievas URU
Fourth Official: Javier Feres URU
VAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
AVAR: Santiago Fernandez URU
Referee Assessor: Christian Schiemann CHI
VAR Supervisor: Giulliano Bozzano BRA

Palmeiras – Botafogo
Referee: Facundo Tello ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Cristian Navarro ARG
Fourth Official: Sebastian Zunino ARG
VAR: Silvio Trucco ARG
AVAR: Hector Paletta ARG
Referee Assessor: Hector Baldassi ARG
VAR Supervisor: Carlos Pastorino URU

Sao Paulo – Nacional
Referee: John Ospina COL
Assistant Referee 1: Alexander Guzman COL
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Padilla COL
Fourth Official: John Hinestroza COL
VAR: John Perdomo COL
AVAR: Heider Castro COL
Referee Assessor: Jose Lara ECU
VAR Supervisor: Angel Sanchez ARG

Bolivar – Flamengo
Referee: Yael Falcon ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Facundo Rodriguez ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Maximiliano Del Yesso ARG
Fourth Official: Laura Fortunato ARG
VAR: Mauro Vigliano ARG
AVAR: Mariana de Almeida ARG
Referee Assessor: Jairo Romero VEN
VAR Supervisor: Gustavo Rossi ARG

Concacaf Leagues Cup 2024 – Semi-finals

21 August 2024

Los Angeles FC – Colorado Rapids
Referee: Mario Escobar (GUA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj (GUA)
Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Reserve AR: Juan Tipaz (GUA)
VAR: Jose Rivero (USA)
AVAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)

Columbus Crew – Philadelphia Union
Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Cory Richardson (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Fourth Official: Jon Freemon (USA)
Reserve AR: Cameron Blanchard (USA)
VAR: Daniel Radford (USA)
AVAR: Edvin Jurisevic (USA)

CONMEBOL Futsal U-17 Copa America 2024

Paraguay, 17-25 August 2024

Referees
1. Lautaro Romero (ARG, photo)
2. Lorena Sanchez (ARG)
3. Gustavo Ortega (BOL)
4. Juan Villarroel (BOL)
5. Anelize Schultz (BRA)
6. Guilherme Schwinden (BRA)
7. Christian Espindola (CHI)
8. Rodolfo Vera (CHI)
9. Daniel Manrique (COL)
10. Nilson Norena (COL)
11. Leonel Ruales (ECU)
12. Daniel Villacis (ECU)
13. Maria Caceres (PAR)
14. Jose Ocampo (PAR)
15. Bill Villalba (PAR)
16. Rolly Rojas (PER)
17. Alejandro Villanueva (PER)
18. Andres Martinez (URU)
19. Diego Nisivoccia (URU)
20. Federico Piccardo (URU)
21. Jesus Chinchilla (VEN)
22. Oriana Zambrano (VEN)

Referee Assessors
1. Leandro Lorenzo (ARG)
2. Nestor Valiente (PAR)
3. Manuel Benitez (VEN)