FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 19-20)

8 December 2025

Morocco – Saudi Arabia
Referee: Mario Escobar GUA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj GUA
Fourth Official: Cristian Garay CHI
Reserve AR: Jose Retamal CHI
VAR: Antonio Garcia URU
AVAR: Fedayi San SUI

Oman – Comoros
Referee: Pierre Atcho GAB
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Ditsoga GAB
Assistant Referee 2: Styven Moutsassi CGO
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Isaac Trevis NZL
VAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG 

AVAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Candidate Referees Seminar (CONMEBOL & CONCACAF)

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 12-18 January 2026

CONMEBOL

1. Yael Falcon (ARG, 1988)
2. Dario Herrera (ARG, 1985)
3. Facundo Tello (ARG, 1982, photo)
4. Ramon Abatti (BRA, 1989)
5. Raphael Claus (BRA, 1979)
6. Wilton Sampaio (BRA, 1981)
7. Cristian Garay (CHI, 1989)
8. Juan Benitez (PAR, 1984)
9. Kevin Ortega (PER, 1992)
10. Andres Matonte (URU, 1988)
11. Gustavo Tejera (URU, 1988)
12. Jesus Valenzuela (VEN, 1983)

Not retained from the pre-selected list:
1. Ivo Mendez (BOL, 1991)
2. Piero Maza (CHI, 1984)
3. John Ospina (COL, 1992)
4. Andres Rojas (COL, 1984)
5. Augusto Aragon (ECU, 1986)
6. Derlis Lopez (PAR, 1988)
7. Roberto Perez (PER, 1991)
8. Alexis Herrera (VEN, 1989)

CONCACAF
1. Drew Fischer (CAN, 1980)
2. Juan Calderon (CRC, 1987)
3. Ivan Barton (SLV, 1991)
4. Mario Escobar (GUA, 1986)
5. Said Martinez (HON, 1991)
6. Cesar Ramos (MEX, 1983)
7. Katia Garcia (MEX, 1992)
8. Joseph Dickerson (USA, 1987)
9. Ismail Elfath (USA, 1982)
10. Tori Penso (USA, 1986)

Not retained from the pre-selected list:
1. Walter Lopez (GUA, 1980)
2. Oshane Nation (JAM, 1991)
3. Marco Ortiz (MEX, 1988)

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 17-18)

7 December 2025

Qatar – Tunisia
Referee: Espen Eskas NOR (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Juan Calderon CRC
Reserve AR: Juan Mora CRC
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA

Syria – Palestine
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf OMA
Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al-Amri OMA
Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al-Ghaithi OMA
Fourth Official: Amin Omar EGY
Reserve AR: Ahmed Ali EGY
VAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA 

AVAR: Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Final 2025: Zambrano (VEN) & Gutierrez (ESP)

7 December 2025

Final
Portugal – Brazil
Referee 1: Oriana Zambrano VEN (photo)
Referee 2: Noelia Gutierrez Munoz ESP
Third Official: Maria Pinto ARG
Fourth Official: Florentina Kallaba KOS
Timekeeper: Reem Al-Bishi KSA

Match for Third Place
Argentina – Spain
Referee 1: Kimberly Valverde CRC
Referee 2: Alice Vevodova CZE
Third Official: Anelize Schultz BRA
Fourth Official: Valeria Palma CHI
Timekeeper: Liang Qingyun CHN

Former and current FIFA referees arrested as part of betting scandal

Prosecutors in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for dozens of players and officials in relation to a betting scandal that has shaken Turkey. The Turkish Football Federation said in October that it was investigating more than 150 referees in professional leagues for allegedly betting on soccer matches. The probe soon expanded to include players, administrators, TV commentators and others in the sport. Last month more than 100 professional players, including 25 from the top-tier league, were given temporarily bans. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 46 suspects. The office said that 35 had already been detained, including the chair of Ankaraspor, Antalyaspor’s vice-chair and Adana Demirspor’s former chair. In a statement, prosecutors said Baltaci, who previously played for national youth sides, had been found to have placed bets on his own team’s games. Yandas allegedly placed his bets through someone else.

Former FIFA referee and commentator Ahmet Cakar and current FIFA referee Zorbay Kucuk (photo) were also arrested, news agency DHA reported. Seven people, including Cakar and Kucuk, were arrested after “suspicious financial transactions” were found in their bank accounts. All the suspects were detained under a law to prevent disorder in sport, the statement added. The law criminalizes the manipulation of sports competitions and carries a sentence of one to three years’ imprisonment, which can be increased if the offense is connected to betting markets, involves officials or affects professional leagues. Under FIFA and UEFA regulations, players, referees and club officials are prohibited from betting on games at any level. In November, the Turkish FA suspended more than 1,000 players from competition over alleged betting infractions, after its president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu first accused hundreds of referees of being linked to betting accounts in October. He has vowed to clean up the sport, saying he would protect it from “scandal, decay and corrupt relationships.”

Source: AP

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 13-16)

6 December 2025

Kuwait – Jordan
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Urrutia CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Retamal CHI
Fourth Official: Piere Atcho GAB
Reserve AR: Boris Ditsoga GAB
VAR: Antonio Garcia URU
AVAR: Dennis Higler NED

Bahrain – Algeria
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Assistant Referee 1: Isaac Trevis NZL
Assistant Referee 2: Edward Cook NZL
Fourth Official: Ismail Elfath USA
Reserve AR: Kyle Atkins USA
VAR: Jarred Gillet ENG
AVAR: Jumpei Iida JPN

Sudan – Iraq
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al Kalaf JOR
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al Roalle JOR
Fourth Official: Ma Ning CHN
Reserve AR: Zhang Cheng CHN
VAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT
AVAR: Allen Chapman USA

UAE – Egypt
Referee: Gleen Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Soderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Mario Escobar GUA
Reserve AR: Humberto Panjoj GUA
VAR: Fedayi San SUI 

AVAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA

FIFA eyes referee body cams and faster offside calls for 2026 World Cup

FIFA is weighing up the introduction of new refereeing technologies and stricter timekeeping rules at the 2026 World Cup as it looks to build on trials conducted at this year's Club World Cup in the United States, senior officials said on the eve of the World Cup draw. Johannes Holzmueller, FIFA's director of innovation, said the governing body wanted to expand use of a referee body camera system and an advanced version of semi-automated offside, both tested at the Club World Cup, but first needed to secure regulatory approval. "We want to build on the success of the FIFA Club World Cup that happened this year in the U.S., where we very successfully trialled the referee body camera," Holzmueller said on a panel on Thursday. He said adding the system - branded "referee with you" - fed images into the live television feed and on to stadium giant screens to show spectators "what the referee saw in that special moment". "That's definitely something we want to bring forward," he said. "But of course... so far it was a trial. We need to get the approvals so we can bring that to the World Cup as well." Any rule changes would have to be approved by the International Football Association Board at its meeting in Wales in February.

Holzmueller said FIFA had also quietly advanced its semi-automated offside technology in the Club World Cup by sending certain offside alerts directly to assistant referees instead of only to the video assistant referee (VAR), reducing delays. "For positional offside, the information was via an audio alert directly sent to the assistant referee... and they could raise the flag," he said. "So, we had not really any longer delay for positional offside." He rejected the idea that technology was creating a new version of the sport, arguing it was instead restoring the game's traditional flow. "For us it's always a balance between what we can improve and what is the tradition of our sport," he said. "Technology can help to support the referees but also support coaches, medical staff, fans... without changing the game."

Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said changes to how long goalkeepers could hold the ball, announced by IFAB last March, were aimed at speeding up play after FIFA found some keepers took up to 25 seconds. "We gave goalkeepers two seconds more... But they have to be 100% sure that once the eight seconds are finished, the referee will intervene," he said. Comparing today's officiating environment with his own World Cup experiences, Collina said the level of support and accuracy now available to match officials was "night and day".

Source: Reuters

UEFA Futsal Champions League 2025/2026 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)

1-5 December 2025

Sporting SP – AEK FC
Referee 1: Daniel Matkovic SUI (photo)
Referee 2: David Schaerli SUI
Third Official: Darko Boskovic SUI
Timekeeper: Emilie Aubry SUI
Referee Observer: Šarunas Tamulynas LTU

Etoile Lavalloise – Hjorring
Referee 1: George Jansizian SWE
Referee 2: David Glavonjic SWE
Third Official: Ademir Avdic SWE
Timekeeper: Kastriot Gerxhaliu SWE
Referee Observer: Talal Darawshe ISR

Cartagena Costa Calida – Luxol St. Andrews
Referee 1: Jiri Bergs BEL
Referee 2: Juan Boelen BEL
Third Official: Amine El Hilali BEL
Timekeeper: Stijn Lehembre BEL
Referee Observer: Bogdan Sorescu ROU

Kairat Almaty – Sporting Anderlecht
Referee 1: Juan Cordero Gallardo ESP
Referee 2: Pablo Delgado Sastre ESP
Third Official: Javier Moreno Reina ESP
Timekeeper: Sara Gutiérrez Echeverría ESP
Referee Observer: Ainar Kuusk EST

Riga – Prishtina
Referee 1: Lars van Leeuwen NED
Referee 2: Ibrahim El Jilali NED
Third Official: Joern Te Kloeze NED
Timekeeper: Jacob Van Dijke NED
Referee Observer: Vyacheslav Daragan UKR

Benfica – Araz
Referee 1: Petar Radojcic SRB
Referee 2: Nikola Rabrenović SRB
Third Official: Jasmina Mickoska SRB
Timekeeper: Srdjan Mihajlovic SRB
Referee Observer: Swen Eichler GER

Piast Gliwice – Semey
Referee 1: Denys Kutsyi UKR
Referee 2: Yevhen Hordiienko UKR
Third Official: Orest Dutsiak UKR
Timekeeper: Sviatoslav Kliuchnyk UKR
Referee Observer: Romuald Bourgois FRA

AE Palma – FC Hit
Referee 1: Vlad Ciobanu ROU
Referee 2: Bogdan Hanceariuc ROU
Third Official: Liviu Chita ROU
Timekeeper: Laurentiu Deaconu ROU
Referee Observer: Alessandro Malfer ITA

Former FIFA referee Benn loses unfair dismissal case

Lisa Benn, a 34-year-old official, claimed that she was 'physically manhandled and threatened' by former Premier League assistant referee and PGMOL coach Steve Child at a tournament in 2023 arranged to offer female referees video assistant referee (VAR) experience. However, an employment tribunal judgment found that Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) acted reasonably when it dismissed Lisa Benn after she lost her place on a FIFA officiating list. In a 32-page ruling, the tribunal panel also rejected an allegation of unfair dismissal but accepted a claim for breach of contract relating to a right to pay in lieu of notice. Claims for direct sex discrimination and unlawful deduction from wages were withdrawn before the ruling, which followed evidence heard by a panel sitting in south London last month.

Ms. Benn, 34, claimed she was grabbed by the arm and 'forcefully' pushed onto a pitch by Mr Child before the kick-off of a training camp match in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in March 2023. She also claimed that she had lost her position as a FIFA referee because she complained about his behaviour. The Women's Super League (WSL) official alleged Mr. Child, a former Premier League assistant referee, would not have acted in that way if she was a man. Dismissing a claim for harassment related to her sex, the panel accepted that a form of physical contact between Mr. Child and Ms. Benn 'did have the effect of creating an intimidating environment' for her. But the ruling said it was 'likely that Mr. Child would have done exactly the same with a male referee in the same circumstance, namely where he was frustrated by a referee who he considered was "going slow" to start a game that had been delayed and who had told him to "chill".' The judgment added: 'The majority (of the three-member panel) considered it relevant that on the claimant's own evidence, Mr. Child had previously shouted at mixed groups of officials. There were no facts from which the majority felt it appropriate to draw an inference that this incident was related to sex.' The tribunal was told that at the end of the training camp match, there was a brawl between the two sides, with Ms. Benn claiming that Mr. Child subsequently told her she was bloody-minded and that her card was marked. The panel said it had unanimously concluded that Mr. Child did tell the claimant that she was bloody-minded but ruled that he had not said her card was marked. The ruling added: 'The tribunal unanimously agreed both that the claimant subjectively felt an intimidating atmosphere had been created by the exchange and that, given the anger expressed by Mr. Child, this was reasonable in all the circumstances of the case. The majority did not consider that Mr. Child acted as he did because of the claimant's sex or that his actions were otherwise related to the claimant's sex but were rather the result of his frustration at the claimant's handling of the match, which Mr. Child considered had contributed to the brawl.'

Explaining its reasons for dismissing the claim for unfair dismissal, the panel said Ms. Benn's relatively lower rating compared to five other referees was the main reason for her 'dropping off' the FIFA list. The panel stated: 'The decision to remove the claimant from the FIFA list was made by FIFA in not accepting the sixth nominated referee and the consequence of that was the termination of the claimant's employment. In circumstances where the employment was entered into with the express condition that removal from the FIFA list would result in dismissal, and the main reason for the claimant dropping off the FIFA list was her relative performance. Our conclusion is that the employer was acting within the band of reasonable responses in dismissing the claimant in the circumstances of this case.' Upholding the claim for breach of contract, the panel said it was 'well founded and succeeds in respect of damages arising from payment in lieu of basic salary only during the period of notice.' A notice will be sent out shortly confirming the date of a hearing to decide on a remedy for breach of contract, the panel said. The tribunal was told nominations for the FIFA list are made by the referee's committee of the Football Association, which includes PGMOL staff. In women's football, appointment to the FIFA list entitles a referee to become an employee of PGMOL. Ms. Benn was employed by PGMOL from January 2022, with a clause in her contract saying that her employment was conditional on being included in the FIFA list. In March 2022, Ms. Benn was appointed to referee the Women's League Cup Final and took charge of her first international fixture in the same month. But in August 2023, a meeting to determine nominations for the FIFA list ranked Ms. Benn sixth, with only five higher nominees being accepted by the global governing body. The panel which ruled on the claims said it did 'not consider that performance management or warning was required in this case given the claimant was not a poor performer and was well aware that inclusion on the FIFA list was the result of competition with other high-performing referees'.

Source: Daily Mail

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 11-12)

5 December 2025

Oman – Morocco
Referee: Juan Benitez PAR (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Fourth Official: Espen Eskas NOR
Reserve AR: Jan Engan NOR
VAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA
AVAR: Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA

Comoros – Saudi Arabia
Referee: Juan Calderon CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora CRC
Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta CRC
Fourth Official: Amin Omar EGY
Reserve AR: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
VAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC
AVAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 9-10)

4 December 2025

Palestine – Tunisia
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Ma Ning CHN
Reserve AR: Zhou Fei CHN
VAR: Allen Chapman USA
AVAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA

Syria – Qatar
Referee: Mario Escobar GUA
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj GUA
Fourth Official: Cristian Garay CHI
Reserve AR: Jose Retamal CHI
VAR: Antonio Garcia URU
AVAR: Dennis Higler NED

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 – Semi-finals

5 December 2025

Argentina – Portugal
Referee 1: Tayana Moreno VEN (photo)
Referee 2: Mariia Myslovska UKR
Third Official: Noelia Gutierrez Munoz ESP
Fourth Official: Kimberly Valverde CRC
Timekeeper: Gelareh Nazemi IRN

Spain – Brazil
Referee 1: Valeria Palma CHI
Referee 2: Martina Piccolo ITA
Third Official: Oriana Zambrano VEN
Fourth Official: Alice Vevodova CZE
Timekeeper: Zari Fathi IRN

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 6-8)

3 December 2025

Algeria – Sudan
Referee: Amin Omar EGY (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Ali EGY
Fourth Official: Cristian Garay CHI
Reserve AR: Claudio Urrutia CHI
VAR: Fedayi San SUI
AVAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA

Iraq – Bahrain
Referee: Pierre Atcho GAB
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Ditsoga GAB
Assistant Referee 2: Styven Moutsassi CGO
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi SWE
VAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA
AVAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT

Jordan – UAE
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf OMA
Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al-Amri OMA
Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al-Ghaithi OMA
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Edward Cook NZL
VAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG 

AVAR: Jarred Gillett ENG

FIFA set to use VAR for corner kicks at World Cup

FIFA is set to press ahead with plans to have VAR checks on the awarding of corner kicks at the 2026 World Cup despite domestic leagues rejecting the idea for the wider game. At an October meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) - which determines the Laws of the Game - there was agreement that VAR could be expanded to cover incorrectly shown second yellow cards that lead to a red. But FIFA's proposal to review corners was rejected, meaning world football's governing body will need to effectively create a trial to use it in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer. The measures will be discussed further at the next IFAB meeting in January, but FIFA has regularly applied trials to its competitions. Semi-automated offside technology and referees announcing VAR decisions to the crowd are two examples, and it could use the same mechanism to start reviewing corners.

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's head of referees, has been a supporter of the change as part of a wider review of VAR protocol. Collina is open to going further, too, believing that any error that can quickly be identified by the VAR could potentially be communicated. The former referee has highlighted an incident in the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal was wrongly awarded a free kick in extra time for handball on the edge of the area that almost led to a goal. Using video assistant referee checks to rule on corners will not hold up matches, says FIFA's head of referees Pierluigi Collina. "The main criteria is no delay. With corners, there is a physiological delay because when a corner is given, normally you wait until the two centre-backs come up," Collina said at a briefing in Washington DC on Thursday when asked about potential delays. "It normally takes 10-15 seconds to get the attackers ready. In these 10-15 seconds, if the corner kick is wrongly given, everybody has the evidence that the start of play is wrong and to me, it's difficult to understand if they have the possibility to see that [the decision is wrong]. Why do we have to hide our heads under the sand and hope that nothing happens on the corner kick which is taken?" Collina cited the need to make correct decisions as the main reason for using VAR on corners. "I think we should all have as the objective to make correct decisions on the field of play," the former Italian referee said. "It would be a pity if the result of a competition is decided not by what the players do on the field of play, but by an honest mistake made by the decision-maker. This is what convinced us 13, 14 years ago to start thinking how to support referees [with technology]. So, if we can get this, to me, it's positive. We discuss and we will see what the outcome will be because I think the objective would be worth it." The measures will be discussed further at the next IFAB meeting. In October, IFAB already agreed that VAR could be expanded to cover incorrectly shown second yellow cards that lead to a red.

Source: BBC

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 3-5)

2 December 2025

Morocco – Comoros

Referee: Ma Ning CHN (photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Zhou Fei CHN
Assistant Referee 2: Zhang Cheng CHN
Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim QAT
Reserve AR: Taleb Al-Marri QAT
VAR: Jumpei Iida JPN
AVAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT

Egypt – Kuwait
Referee: Espen Eskas NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Ismail Elfath USA
Reserve AR: Corey Parker USA
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Antonio Garcia URU

Saudi Arabia – Oman
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al-Roalle JOR
Fourth Official: Juan Benitez PAR
Reserve AR: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
VAR: Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA
AVAR: Allen Chapman USA

UEFA Women’s Nations League Final 2025/26 (Second Leg)

2 December 2025

Final
Spain – Germany
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti ITA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Giulia Tempestilli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefania Signorelli ITA
Fourth Official: Frida Klarlund DEN
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Michael Fabbri ITA
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damkova CZE

Match for Third Place
Sweden – France
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez ESP
Fourth Official: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP
VAR: Valentin Pizarro Gomez ESP
AVAR: Judit Romano Garcia ESP
Referee Observer: Silvia Spinelli ITA

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 1-2)

1 December 2025

Tunisia – Syria
Referee: Juan Calderon CRC (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora CRC
Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta CRC
Fourth Official: Mario Escobar GUA
Reserve AR: Luis Ventura GUA
VAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC
AVAR: Fedayi San SUI

Qatar – Palestine
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Isaac Travis NZL
VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG
AVAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG

Former UEFA Champions League final referee sent off by current Spanish FIFA referee

Getafe’s LaLiga victory over Elche produced one of the quirkiest stories of the matchday - and arguably the season. In the closing stages of the Week 14 clash at the Estadio Coliseum, referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández brandished a red card in the direction of the Getafe bench. At first glance, the recipient seemed to be José Bordalás, Los Azulones’ ever-fiery head coach. Bordalás even protested the decision as if it were aimed squarely at him. However, Hernández Hernández’s official match report revealed a surprising twist: the man sent off was a familiar face in officiating circles - Manuel Mejuto González, a former top-flight referee and now Getafe’s matchday delegate. “In the 90th minute, delegate Mejuto González, Manuel Enrique, was dismissed for the following reason,” reads the referee’s report documenting the incident. “As the person responsible for the stadium’s ball boys, he was held accountable for their behavior during the second half, which caused several delays in restarting play.”

Mejuto González, considered one of the best referees in Spanish football, ended his career in 2010 after officiating the Copa del Rey final on May 19, played between Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla, which Sevilla won thanks to goals from Diego Capel and Jesús Navas. An international referee since 1999, he participated in two European Championships and the legendary Champions League final in which Liverpool came back from 0-3 against AC Milan before winning on penalties.

Source: as

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 – Quarter-finals

1 December 2025

Argentina – Colombia
Referee 1: Mariia Myslovska UKR (photo)
Referee 2: Noelia Gutierrez Munoz ESP
Third Official: Monica Czudzinowicz POL
Fourth Official: Florentina Kallaba KOS
Timekeeper: Alice Vevodova CZE

Spain – Morocco
Referee 1: Zari Fathi IRN
Referee 2: Gelareh Nazemi IRN
Third Official: Liang Qingyun CHN
Fourth Official: Reem Al-Bishi KSA
Timekeeper: Panadda Khotsenaphattra THA

2 December 2025
Portugal – Italy
Referee 1: Oriana Zambrano VEN
Referee 2: Tayana Moreno VEN
Third Official: Anelize Schultz BRA
Fourth Official: Maria Caceres PAR
Timekeeper: Valeria Palma CHI

Brazil – Japan
Referee 1: Kimberly Valverde CRC
Referee 2: Krystin Pahia USA
Third Official: Marijana Orešić CRO
Fourth Official: Filipa Prata POR 

Timekeeper: Martina Piccolo ITA

Referee dishes out 17 red cards in a Copa Bolivia mass brawl

A Copa Bolivia quarter-final between Club Blooming and Real Oruro descended into chaos, with the referee dishing out a staggering 17 red cards, including 16 following a massive brawl that required police intervention with pepper spray.

The fracas began with what Bolivian outlet El Potosi described as a scuffle involving some Blooming players and Oruro's Sebastian Zeballos and Julio Vila. The altercation quickly spiralled as punches and kicks broke out in a frenzy, with both clubs' staff, including Oruro coach Marcelo Robledo, also getting involved. Oruro posted a picture on Instagram showing Robledo in hospital after Tuesday's brawl, which resulted in four of their players receiving red cards. 

Blooming fared even worse in the disciplinary stakes, with seven players sent off – six of those red cards coming after the brawl. The other six red cards were given to the teams' backroom staff, including the Oruro coach. Blooming shared an Instagram video saying a member of their security staff had undergone surgery for a fractured cheekbone sustained during the violence. Blooming advanced to the semi-finals after winning the tie 4-3 on aggregate, having taken a 2-1 advantage from the first leg. They will now face Club Bolivar, last year's Bolivian top-flight champions, in the semi-finals.

Source: Flashscore

CAF Confederation Cup 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

28-30 November 2025

Olympic Safi – USM Alger
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf EGY (photo)

Azam – Wydad AC
Referee: Antoine Effa CMR

AS Otoho – CR Belouizdad
Referee: Celso Alvacao MOZ

Zesco United – Al Masry
Referee: Andre Kolissala CTA

Kaizer Chiefs – Zamalek
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda RWA

San Pedro – Djoliba
Referee: Brighton Chimene ZIM

Nairobi United – Maniema Union
Referee: Aklesso Gnama TOG

Singida Black Stars – Stellenbosch
Referee: Lamin Jammeh GAM

CAF Champions League 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

28-30 November 2025

Rivers United – RS Berkane
Referee: Issa Sy SEN (photo)

AS FAR – Al Ahly
Referee: Ahmed Abdulrazg LBY

JS Kabylie – Young Africans
Referee: Ahmad Heeralall MRI

MC Alger – Mamelodi Sundowns
Referee: Jean Ouattara BFA

Petro de Luanda – Esperance de Tunis
Referee: Jean Ndala COD

Power Dynamos – Pyramids
Referee: Omar Artan SOM

St. Eloi Lupopo – Al Hilal
Referee: Dahane Beida MTN

Stade Malien – Simba
Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona MAD

FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2025 – Round 2

14 December 2025

AS FAR – Wuhan Jiangda
Referee: Ivana Martincic CRO (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karsic CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Stasa Spur SVN
Fourth Official: Ivana Projkovska MKD
VAR: Ovidiu Hategan ROU
AVAR: Jelena Cvetković SRB

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 21-24)

29 November 2025

Tanzania – Japan
Referee 1: Yeraldin Araya CRC (photo)
Referee 2: Yendis Montalvo COL
Third Official: Kimberly Valverde CRC
Fourth Official: Krystin Pahia USA
Timekeeper: Maria Caceres PAR

New Zealand – Portugal
Referee 1: Panadda Khotsenaphattra THA
Referee 2: Liang Qingyun CHN
Third Official: Mariia Myslovska UKR
Fourth Official: Zari Fathi IRN
Timekeeper: Gelareh Nazemi IRN

Iran – Italy
Referee 1: Maria Pinto ARG
Referee 2: Valeria Palma CHI
Third Official: Tayana Moreno VEN
Fourth Official: Filipa Prata POR
Timekeeper: Oriana Zambrano VEN

Panama – Brazil
Referee 1: Kana Saito JPN
Referee 2: Mari Yamamoto JPN
Third Official: Zhu Xin CHN
Fourth Official: Nurul Janah MAS
Timekeeper: Reem Al-Bishi KSA

UEFA Women’s Nations League Final 2025/26 (First Leg)

28 November 2025

Final
Germany – Spain
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu ROU (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihaela Tepusa ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Roxana Ivanov ROU
Fourth Official: Ivana Martinčić CRO
VAR: Cătălin Popa ROU
AVAR: Ovidiu Haţegan ROU
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damková CZE

Match for Third place
France – Sweden
Referee: Désirée Blanco SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Linda Schmid SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Amina Gutschi AUT
Fourth Official: Sven Wolfensberger SUI
VAR: Katalin Kulcsár HUN
AVAR: Michèle Schmölzer SUI
Referee Observer: Teodora Albon ROU

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 19-20)

28 November 2025

Thailand – Colombia
Referee 1: Marijana Oresic CRO (photo)
Referee 2: Martina Piccolo ITA
Third Official: Florentina Kallaba KOS
Fourth Official: Alice Vevedova CZE
Timekeeper: Monica Czudzinowicz POL

Canada – Spain
Referee 1: Nurul Janah MAS
Referee 2: Reem Al-Bishi KSA
Third Official: Panadda Khotsenaphattra THA
Fourth Official: Zhu Xin CHN
Timekeeper: Mari Yamamoto JPN

CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025

Morocco, 21 December 2025 - 18 January 2026

Referees

1. Youcef Gamouh ALG
2. Mustapha Ghorbal ALG (photo)
3. Louis Houngnandande BEN
4. Pacifique Ndabihawenimana BDI
5. Abdou Mefire CMR
6. Mahamat Allaou CHA
7. Jean Ndala COD
8. Jessie Messie CGO
9. Clement Kpan CIV
10. Mohamed Maarouf EGY
11. Amin Omar EGY
12. Pierre Atcho GAB
13. Patrice Tanguy GAB
14. Daniel Laryea GHA
15. Peter Waweru KEN
16. Boubou Traore MLI
17. Dahane Beida MTN
18. Abdel-Aziz Bouh MTN
19. Ahmad Heeralall MRI
20. Jalal Jayed MAR
21. Mustapha Kech MAR
22. Samuel Uwikunda RWA
23. Issa Sy SEN
24. Omar Artan SOM
25. Abongile Tom RSA
26. Mahmoud Ismail SDN
27. Mehrez Melki TUN
28. Shamirah Nabbadda UGA

Assistant Referees
1. Adel Abane ALG
2. Abbes Zerhuouni ALG
3. Jerson Dos Santos ANG
4. Ivanildo Lopes ANG
5. Eric Ayimavo BEN
6. Elvis Noupue CMR
7. Steven Moutsassi CGO
8. Yanes Malondi CGO
9. Guylain Nguila COD
10. Gradel Mbilizi COD
11. Liban Abdourazak DJI
12. Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
13. Ahmed Hossam EGY
14. Amos Abeigne GAB
15. Boris Ditsoga GAB
16. Gilbert Cheruiyot KEN
17. Stephen Yiembe KEN
18. Souru Phatsoane LES
19. Dimbiaina Andriatianarivelo MAD
20. Modibo Samake MLI
21. Mostafa Akarkad MAR
22. Zakaria Brinsi MAR
23. Arsenio Marengula MOZ
24. Abelmiro Dos Reis STP
25. Nouha Bangoura SEN
26. Zakhele Siwela RSA
27. Mohammed Ibrahim SDN
28. Koffi Ahonto TOG
29. Khalil Hassani TUN
30. Carine Atezambong CMR
31. Diana Chikotesha ZAM

Video Match Officials
1. Lahlou Benbraham ALG
2. Mahmoud Ashour EGY
3. Hossam Hagag EGY
4. Mimisa Dickens KEN
5. Ahmed Abdulrazg LBY
6. Babacar Sarr MTN
7. Hamza El Fariq MAR
8. Sadou Brahamou NIG
9. Djibril Camara SEN
10. Abdalaziz Yasir SDN
11. Haythem Guirat TUN
12. Chimene Brighton ZIM
13. Letticia Viana ESW
14. Maria Rivet MRI

Top African referee Karboubi angrily retires after shock AFCON exclusion

Morocco’s trailblazing referee Bouchra Karboubi has officially announced her retirement from active refereeing after being excluded from the list of match officials selected for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Karboubi, widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest and most respected referees, expressed deep disappointment over her omission, particularly given that the continental showpiece was taking place in her home country. The experienced referee made history by becoming the first woman to officiate a senior men’s CAF Champions League match and featured prominently at AFCON 2023 in the Ivory Coast, where she received widespread praise for her professionalism, fairness, and game management. However, despite her achievements and strong reputation, Karboubi’s name was absent from the final list of referees released by CAF for the AFCON 2025. According to reports, the Moroccan official felt “hurt and disrespected” by the decision and immediately opted to call time on her career. With Morocco hosting the tournament, many believed she would be a key part of the officiating crew yet her unexpected exclusion has now left a major question mark over the referee selection process.

At 38 years old, Bouchra Karboubi was considered one of the best referees in Africa. She recently officiated the opening match of the first-ever Women’s Champions Cup between Jiangda WFC and Auckland United FC. Karboubi officiated major competitions throughout her career, including the Botola, the Throne Cup, the Olympic Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Africa Cup of Nations. She hoped to referee matches at the 2026 Men’s World Cup and the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. In a letter addressed to Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Karboubi has announced her retirement from football refereeing and accused the National Refereeing Directorate of blocking her progress and ending her career prematurely. Karboubi expressed her pride in representing Morocco on the international stage: “I have represented my country in the best way possible in all the international competitions where I was called to officiate. I was proud to see the name of Morocco present on the continental and global stage. I achieved this thanks to your efforts in service of the Nation.” But the tone of her message changed sharply when addressing recent events. Karboubi accused the leadership of the National Refereeing Directorate of “practices” that, she says, damaged her career and erased years of work. “It is with deep regret that I find myself today facing harmful practices from the director of the National Refereeing Directorate and its members,” she wrote. She argued that their actions “disrupted” her path, “tarnished” her past and future achievements, and “destroyed an entire project.” “This pushed me to end a career to which I dedicated 25 years of my life.” Her announcement came only hours after the list of Moroccan referees selected for AFCON Morocco 2025 was published, a list she was not included in. Her retirement announcement has sparked reactions across African football circles, with many describing her exclusion as shocking and unjust. The FRMF has not yet issued a statement in response to the controversy.

Source: MWN

FIFA U-17 World Cup Final 2025: Perez (PER)

27 November 2025

Final
Portugal – Austria
Referee: Roberto Perez PER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Leonar Soto PER
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Castillo PER
Fourth Official: Jasper Vergoote BEL
Reserve AR: Michele Seeldraeyers BEL

Match for Third Place
Brazil – Italy
Referee: Choi Hyun-Jai KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Bang Gi-Yeol KOR
Assistant Referee 2: Cheon Jin-Hee KOR
Fourth Official: Hamza El Fariq MAR
Reserve AR: Hamza Nassiri MAR

UEFA Europa Conference League 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 4)

27 November 2025

AZ Alkmaar – Shelbourne FC
Referee: Michal Očenáš SVK (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jekkel SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Tobiáš Pacák SVK
Fourth Official: Matej Choreň SVK
VAR: Martin Dohál SVK
AVAR: Boris Marhefka SVK
Referee Observer: Martin Atkinson ENG

Slovan Bratislava – Rayo Vallecano
Referee: Lawrence Visser BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Ruben Wyns BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Thibaud Nijssen BEL
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme BEL
VAR: Jan Boterberg BEL
AVAR: Ella De Vries BEL
Referee Observer: Stephen Tanner ENG

Lech Poznan – FC Lausanne
Referee: Sigurd Kringstad NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Runar Langseth NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Alf Rossland NOR
Fourth Official: Daniel Higraff NOR
VAR: Kristoffer Hagenes NOR
AVAR: Marius Lien NOR
Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP

Omonia Nicosia – Dynamo Kyiv
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Miroslav Ivanov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Petar Mitrev BUL
Fourth Official: Volen Chinkov BUL
VAR: Nikola Popov BUL
AVAR: Dimitar Dimitrov BUL
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT

Zrinjski Mostar – BK Hacken
Referee: Christian Ciochirca AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Maximilian Weiss AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Obritzberger AUT
Fourth Official: Harald Lechner AUT
VAR: Alan Kijas AUT
AVAR: Josef Spurny AUT
Referee Observer: Antonio Damato ITA

Sigma Olomouc – NK Celje
Referee: Genc Nuza KOS
Assistant Referee 1: Edmond Zeqiri KOS
Assistant Referee 2: Fatmir Sekiraqa KOS
Fourth Official: Vigan Ibërdemaj KOS
VAR: Dardan Çaka KOS
AVAR: Lirim Jashar KOS
Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere BEL

Rakow Czestochowa – Rapid Wien
Referee: Duje Strukan CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Alen Jakšić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Marjan Tomas CRO
Fourth Official: Ante Terzić CRO
VAR: Mario Zebec CRO
AVAR: Ivan Matić CRO
Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen FRO

Universitatea Craiova – FSV Mainz
Referee: Dario Bel CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Janić CRO
Fourth Official: Patrik Kolarić CRO
VAR: Fran Jović CRO
AVAR: Ivan Vučković CRO
Referee Observer: Asim Xudiyev AZE

Hamrun Spartans – Lincoln Red Imps
Referee: Jovan Kačevski MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Goce Petreski MKD
Assistant Referee 2: Darko Jovčevski MKD
Fourth Official: Igor Stojčevski MKD
VAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
AVAR: Daniele Paterna ITA
Referee Observer: Kenneth Clark SCO

AC Fiorentina – AEK Athens
Referee: Robert Jones ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Neil Davies ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Wade Smith ENG
Fourth Official: Anthony Harrington ENG
VAR: Darren England ENG
AVAR: James Bell ENG
Referee Observer: Aliaksiej Kulbakou BLR

Legia Warszawa – Sparta Praha
Referee: Anastásios Sidirópoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Polychrónis Kostarás GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lázaros Dimitriádis GRE
Fourth Official: Fótios Polychrónis GRE
VAR: Ángelos Evangélou GRE
AVAR: Mários Christofórou CYP
Referee Observer: Calum Murray SCO

Shamrock Rovers – Shakhtar Donetsk
Referee: Filip Glova SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Poláček SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bednár SVK
Fourth Official: Bálint Kišš SVK
VAR: Piotr Lasyk POL
AVAR: Lukasz Kuźma POL
Referee Observer: Jonathan Lardot BEL

RC Strasbourg – Crystal Palace
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Alfredo Rodríguez Moreno ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Álvarez Fernández ESP
Fourth Official: Víctor García Verdura ESP
VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
AVAR: Francisco Hernández Maeso ESP
Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai HUN

Jagiellonia Bialystok – KUPS Kuopio
Referee: Gustavo Correia POR
Assistant Referee 1: André Dias POR
Assistant Referee 2: Tiago Costa POR
Fourth Official: Cláudio Pereira POR
VAR: Bruno Esteves POR
AVAR: André Narciso POR
Referee Observer: Paolo Valeri ITA

HNK Rijeka – AEK Larnaca
Referee: Robert Hennessy IRL
Assistant Referee 1: Dermot Broughton IRL
Assistant Referee 2: Emmett Dynan IRL
Fourth Official: Paul McLaughlin IRL
VAR: Richard Martens NED
AVAR: Jeroen Manschot NED
Referee Observer: Vítor Melo Pereira POR

Aberdeen – Noa FA
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski POL
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek POL
Assistant Referee 2: Filip Sierant POL
Fourth Official: Marcin Szczerbowicz POL
VAR: Pawel Pskit POL
AVAR: Lukasz Szczech POL
Referee Observer: Paolo Dondarini ITA

FC Drita – KF Shkendija
Referee: Mikkel Redder DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Deniz Yurdakul DEN
Assistant Referee 2: René Risum DEN
Fourth Official: Lasse Graagaard DEN
VAR: Jakob Kehlet DEN
AVAR: Jonas Hansen DEN
Referee Observer: William Collum SCO

Breidablik – Samsunspor
Referee: Denys Shurman UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Valentyn Kutsev UKR
Fourth Official: Klym Zabroda UKR
VAR: Viktor Kopiyevskyy UKR
AVAR: Dmytro Panchyshyn UKR
Referee Observer: Aleksandar Stavrev MKD

UEFA Europa League 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

27 November 2025

FC Porto – OGC Nice
Referee: Matej Jug SVN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SVN
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič SVN
VAR: Alen Borošak SVN
AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi SMR

AS Roma – FC Midtjylland
Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE
Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE
Assistant Referee 2: Srdjan Jovanović MNE
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE
VAR: Tiago Martins POR
AVAR: Sören Storks GER
Referee Observer: William Young SCO

Feyenoord Rotterdam – Celtic FC
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner AUT
Fourth Official: Alexander Harkam AUT
VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Referee Observer: Stávros Tritsónis GRE

LOSC Lille – GNK Dinamo
Referee: John Beaton SCO
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Ross MacLeod SCO
Fourth Official: David Dickinson SCO
VAR: Kevin Clancy SCO
AVAR: Steven McLean SCO
Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange ITA

Aston Villa – Young Boys
Referee: Georgi Kabakov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Margaritov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Venev BUL
Fourth Official: Georgi Stoyanov BUL
VAR: Dragomir Draganov BUL
AVAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge NOR

Fenerbahce – Ferencvarosi TC
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iker de Francisco Grijalba ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Asier Pérez de Mendiola ESP
Fourth Official: Adrián Cordero Vega ESP
VAR: César Soto Grado ESP
AVAR: Daniel Trujillo Suárez ESP
Referee Observer: Edgar Steinborn GER

PAOK – Brann
Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
Assistant Referee 1: Christof Günsch GER
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
VAR: Pascal Müller GER
AVAR: Benjamin Cortus GER
Referee Observer: Nuno Castro POR

Viktoria Plzen – SC Freiburg
Referee: Morten Krogh DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Rasmussen DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Bramsen DEN
Fourth Official: Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen DEN
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Sandi Putros DEN
Referee Observer: Lucílio Batista POR

PFK Ludogorets – Celta de Vigo
Referee: Balázs Berke HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Vencel Tóth HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Péter Kóbor HUN
Fourth Official: Bence Csonka HUN
VAR: Tamás Bognár HUN
AVAR: Ferenc Karakó HUN
Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís CYP

Rangers FC – SC Braga
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig NED
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Robin Hensgens NED
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Referee Observer: Carlos Clos Gómez ESP

Real Betis – FC Utrecht
Referee: Nenad Minaković SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Nikola Borović SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Boško Božović SRB
Fourth Official: Milan Mitić SRB
VAR: Momčilo Marković SRB
AVAR: Aleksandar Živković SRB
Referee Observer: Michael Riley ENG

Crvena Zvezda – FCSB
Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Alexis Auger FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Drouet FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
VAR: Bastien Dechepy FRA
AVAR: Éric Wattellier FRA
Referee Observer: Edward Foley IRL

Maccabi Tel Aviv – Olympique Lyonnais
Referee: Kristo Tohver EST
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Koiv EST
Assistant Referee 2: Sander Saga EST
Fourth Official: Kevin Kaivoja EST
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Marko Liiva EST
Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili GEO

Nottingham Forest – Malmo FF
Referee: Harm Osmers GER
Assistant Referee 1: Dominik Schaal GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann GER
Fourth Official: Florian Exner GER
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Benjamin Brand GER
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX

Bologna FC – Red Bull Salzburg
Referee: Igor Pajač CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Bojan Zobenica CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Mihalj CRO
Fourth Official: Zdenko Lovrić CRO
VAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
AVAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez ESP

Panathinaikos – Sturm Graz
Referee: Simone Sozza ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Davide Imperiale ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Khaled Bahri ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Zufferli ITA
VAR: Valerio Marini ITA
AVAR: Daniele Doveri ITA
Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski POL

Go Ahead Eagles – VfB Stuttgart
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mehmet Culum SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Fredrik Klyver SWE
Fourth Official: Joakim Östling SWE
VAR: Pawel Malec POL
AVAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović CRO

KRC Genk – FC Basel
Referee: Orel Grinfeld ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Roi Hasan ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Matityahu Yakobov ISR
Fourth Official: Gal Leibovitz ISR
VAR: Daniel Natan ISR
AVAR: Eitan Shmuelevitz ISR
Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM

UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

25 November 2025

AFC Ajax – SL Benfica

Referee: Sven Jablonski GER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduard Beitinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp GER
Fourth Official: Tobias Reichel GER
VAR: Robert Schröder GER
AVAR: Sören Storks GER
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti ITA

Galatasaray – Union St. Gilloise
Referee: José Sánchez Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Inigo Prieto López ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO

Manchester City – Bayer Leverkusen
Referee: João Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: João Gonçalves POR
VAR: Tiago Martins POR
AVAR: Willy Delajod FRA
Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA

Chelsea FC – FC Barcelona
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Video Benjamin Brand GER
Referee Observer: Gylfi Orrason ISL

Borussia Dortmund – Villarreal CF
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Stefano Alassio ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA
Fourth Official: Rosario Abisso ITA
VAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
AVAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
Referee Observer: Ichko Lozev BUL

SSC Napoli – Qarabag FK
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Wojciech Myć POL
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA

Slavia Praha – Athletic Club
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
VAR: Clay Ruperti NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE

Bodo Glimt – Juventus FC
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout NED
VAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT

Olympique de Marseille – Newcastle United
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marchetti ITA
VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
AVAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH

26 November 2025
FC Copenhagen – Qairat FK
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson SCO
VAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
AVAR: Robert Schröder GER
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti ITA

Pafos FC – AS Monaco
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Ján Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Lukáš Dzivjak SVK
VAR: Michael Fabbri ITA
AVAR: Luca Pairetto ITA
Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman NED

Paris St. Germain – Tottenham Hotspurs
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
VAR: Sören Storks GER
AVAR: Christian Dingert GER
Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI

Liverpool FC – PSV Eindhoven
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: José Munuera Montero ESP
VAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
AVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA

Arsenal FC – Bayern Munchen
Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI

Atletico de Madrid – Inter Milano
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
VAR: Willy Delajod FRA
AVAR: Tiago Martins POR
Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN

Eintracht Frankfurt – Atalanta BC
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Thomas Bramall ENG
VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
AVAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP

Sporting CP – Club Brugge
Referee: Tobias Stieler GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Borsch GER
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen GER
VAR: Benjamin Brand GER
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG

Olympiacos – Real Madrid
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
VAR: Andrew Dallas SCO
AVAR: Peter Bankes ENG
Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA

FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 – Group Stage (Matches 13-18)

26 November 2025

New Zealand – Tanzania
Referee 1: Monica Czudzinowicz POL (photo)
Referee 2: Noelia Gutierrez Munoz ESP
Third Official: Marijana Oresic CRO
Fourth Official: Martina Piccolo ITA
Timekeeper: Kimberly Valverde CRC

Portugal – Japan
Referee 1: Tayana Moreno VEN
Referee 2: Anelize Schulz BRA
Third Official: Krystin Pahia USA
Fourth Official: Yeraldin Araya CRC
Timekeeper: Maria Pinto ARG

Panama – Iran
Referee 1: Florentina Kallaba KOS
Referee 2: Alice Vevedova CZE
Third Official: Maria Caceres PAR
Fourth Official: Yendis Montalvo COL
Timekeeper: Filipa Prata POR

Brazil – Italy
Referee 1: Mariia Myslovska UKR
Referee 2: Oriana Zambrano VEN
Third Official: Gelareh Nazemi IRN
Fourth Official: Zari Fathi IRN
Timekeeper: Reem Al-Bishi KSA

27 November 2025
Poland – Morocco
Referee 1: Valeria Palma CHI
Referee 2: Maria Caceres PAR
Third Official: Yendis Montalvo COL
Fourth Official: Tayana Moreno VEN
Timekeeper: Noelia Gutierrez Munoz ESP

Argentina – Philippines
Referee 1: Krystin Pahia USA
Referee 2: Kimberly Valverde CRC
Third Official: Yeraldin Araya CRC
Fourth Official: Filipa Prata POR 

Timekeeper: Oriana Zambrano VEN

AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

24-26 November 2025

Al Duhail – Al Ittihad
Referee: Alireza Faghani AUS (photo)

Al Ahli – Sharjah
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev UZB

Nasaf – Tractor
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin MAS

Shabab Al Ahli – Al Gharafa
Referee: Muhammad Bin Jahari SIN

Al Wahda – Al Sadd
Referee: Ryo Tanimoto JPN

Al Hilal – Al Shorta
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi OMA

Melbourne City – Johor Darul Tazim
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi UAE

Gangwon FC – Machida Zelvia
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais KSA

Shanghai Port – FC Seoul
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish KSA

Chengdu Rongcheng – Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Referee: Abdulla Al-Marri QAT

Ulsan HD – Buriram United
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali KUW

Shanghai Shenhua – Vissel Kobe
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok KOR

FIFA Arab Cup 2025 – Qualification Stage

25 November 2025

Mauritania – Kuwait
Referee: Ma Ning CHN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Zhou Fei CHN
Assistant Referee 2: Zhang Cheng CHN
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Isaac Trevis NZL
VAR: Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA
AVAR: Fedayi San SUI

Syria – South Sudan
Referee: Amin Omar EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam EGY
Fourth Official: Ahmed Al Kaf OMA
Reserve AR: Abu Al Amri OMA
VAR: Lahlou Benbraham ALG
AVAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri RSA

Palestine – Libya
Referee: Mario Escobar GUA
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj GUA
Fourth Official: Juan Benitez PAR
Reserve AR: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Antonio Garcia URU

26 November 2025
Oman – Somalia
Referee: Juan Calderon CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora CRC
Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta CRC
Fourth Official: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Reserve AR: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
VAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC
AVAR: Fedayi San SUI

Bahrain – Djibouti
Referee: Juan Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Fourth Official: Pierre Atcho GAB
Reserve AR: Boris Ditsoga GAB
VAR: Allen Chapman USA
AVAR: Jarred Gillett ENG

Sudan – Lebanon
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim QAT
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri QAT
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh QAT
Fourth Official: Ahmed Al Kaf OMA
Reserve AR: Rashid Al Ghaithi OMA
VAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT
AVAR: Jumpei Iida JPN

Comoros – Yemen
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Urrutia CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Retamal CHI
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi SWE
VAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA
AVAR: Antonio Garcia URU

CONMEBOL Libertadores Final 2025: Herrera (ARG)

29 November 2025

Palmeiras – Flamengo
Referee: Dario Herrera ARG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Navarro ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Savorani ARG
Fourth Official: Maximiliano Ramirez ARG
VAR: Hector Paletta ARG
AVAR 1: Santiago Fernandez URU
AVAR 2: Jorge Balino ARG
AVAR 3: Cristian Ferreyra URU
Referee Assessor: Christian Schiemann CHI

VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo PER

UEFA Youth League 2025/2026 – Domestic Champions Path, Round 3 (First Leg)

25 November 2025

Legia Warszawa – PAOK Salonic
Referee: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Davit Chigogidze GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Boris Jvania GEO
Fourth Official: Piotr Urban POL
Referee Observer: Nerijus Dunauskas LTU

26 November 2025
Crvena Zvezda – MSK Zilina
Referee: Ishmael Barbara MLT
Assistant Referee 1: James Muscat MLT
Assistant Referee 2: Duncan Spencer MLT
Fourth Official: Stefan Jeknić SRB
Referee Observer: Nenad Djokić SRB

Dynamo Kyiv – Hibernian FC
Referee: Helgi Jónasson ISL
Assistant Referee 1: Egill Gudlaugsson ISL
Assistant Referee 2: Kristján Ólafs ISL
Fourth Official: Jacek Małyszek POL
Referee Observer: Marcin Szulc POL

Aston Villa – AZ Alkmaar
Referee: Peter Královič SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Milan Štrbo SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Matej Zemko SVK
Fourth Official: Richard Watkins ENG
Referee Observer: Mark Whitby WAL

FC Porto – Real Betis
Referee: Stefan Ebner AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Johannes Stögerer AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Mario Diesenberger AUT
Fourth Official: Diogo Araújo POR

FCSB – Puskas Akademia
Referee: Vlatko Ilioski MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Dejanoski MKD
Assistant Referee 2: Ile Mišeski MKD
Fourth Official: Vlad Băban ROU
Referee Observer: Augustus Constantin ROU

Maccabi Haifa – FC Nantes
Referee: Chrístos Vergétis GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Andréas Fotópoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Konstantínos Stáikos GRE
Referee Observer: Zoltán Szarka HUN

HJK Helsinki – KRC Genk
Referee: James Robinson NIR
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jeffrey NIR
Assistant Referee 2: Brian Wilson NIR
Fourth Official: Joona Kontinen FIN
Referee Observer: Mika Peltola FIN

FC Koln – FC Midtjylland
Referee: Roman Jitari MDA
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Oală MDA
Assistant Referee 2: Sergiu Bogdan MDA
Fourth Official: Patrick Schwengers GER
Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER

5 December 2025
Dynamo Minsk – Dinamo Tbilisi
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official: Irakli Kherkhadze GEO
Referee Observer:

UEFA Youth League 2025/2026 – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

25 November 2025

AFC Ajax – SL Benfica
Referee: Lothar D’Hondt BEL (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Romain Devillers BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Nico Claes BEL
Fourth Official: Alex Bos NED
Referee Observer: René Temmink NED

Galatasaray – Union St. Gilloise
Referee: Ante Čulina CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Dario Kolarević CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Anto Marić CRO
Fourth Official: Oguzhan Gökçen TUR
Referee Observer: Muhittin Boşat TUR

Bodo Glimt – Juventus FC
Referee: Artem Gasparyan ARM
Assistant Referee 1: Mesrop Ghazaryan ARM
Assistant Referee 2: Sargis Hovhannisyan ARM
Fourth Official: Anders Bodding NOR
Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB

Slavia Praha – Athletic Club
Referee: Florian Lata ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Erind Burgu ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Gjoka ALB
Fourth Official: Jakub Wulkan CZE
Referee Observer: Michal Beneš CZE

Chelsea FC – FC Barcelona
Referee: Jakob Semler AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Amar Rekik AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Philipp Duschek AUT
Fourth Official: James Durkin ENG
Referee Observer: Lutz-Michael Fröhlich GER

SSC Napoli – Qarabag FK
Referee: Dominik Stary CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Lukáš Slavíček CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Josef Šůma CZE
Fourth Official: Luca Massimi ITA
Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA

Olympique de Marseille – Newcastle United
Referee: Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Vasílios Nikolakákis GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Athanásios Kóllias GRE
Fourth Official: Faouzi Benchabane FRA
Referee Observer: Christopher Lautier MLT

Manchester City – Bayer Leverkusen
Referee: Mathieu Vernice FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Florian Gonçalves FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Steven Torregrossa FRA
Fourth Official: John Baines ENG
Referee Observer: Kevin Parry WAL

Borussia Dortmund – Villarreal CF
Referee: Rares Vidican ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Ioan Corb ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Cristian Ilinca ROU
Fourth Official: Lukas Benen GER
Referee Observer: Stefan Johannesson SWE

26 November 2025
Pafos FC – AS Monaco
Referee: Aaron Jones WAL
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Beckett WAL
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Roberts WAL
Fourth Official: Nikólas Liotatís CYP
Referee Observer: Chrístos Nikolaidis CYP

FC Copenhagen – Qairat FK
Referee: Marius Hansen NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Erland Hareland NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Henrik Sunde NOR
Fourth Official: Svend Kristensen DEN
Referee Observer: Mattias Gestranius FIN

Arsenal FC – Bayern Munchen
Referee: Damian Kos POL
Assistant Referee 1: Bartosz Heinig POL
Assistant Referee 2: Artur Zakrzewski POL
Fourth Official: Stephen Parkinson ENG
Referee Observer: Neale Barry ENG

Sporting CP – Club Brugge
Referee: Pavle Ilić SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Petar Radić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Nemanja Todorović SRB
Fourth Official: Flávio Lima POR
Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG

Paris St. Germain – Tottenham Hotspurs
Referee: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Mattia Politi ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Mattia Regattieri ITA
Fourth Official: Aurélien Petit FRA
Referee Observer: Alain Sars FRA

Liverpool FC – PSV Eindhoven
Referee: Menélaos Antoníou CYP
Assistant Referee 1: Giórgos Pooutídis CYP
Assistant Referee 2: Sávvas Evangelídis CYP
Fourth Official: Scott Jackson ENG
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA

Atletico de Madrid – Inter Milano
Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Marius Badea ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Adrian Vornicu ROU
Fourth Official: Álvaro Rodríguez Recio ESP
Referee Observer: Radek Príhoda CZE

Eintracht Frankfurt – Atalanta BC
Referee: Gal Levi ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Hur ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Abdallah Azem ISR
Fourth Official: Felix Prigan GER
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR

Olympiacos – Real Madrid
Referee: Marc Nagtegaal NED
Assistant Referee 1: Dyon Fikkert NED
Assistant Referee 2: Murat Kücükerbir NED
Fourth Official: Geórgios Kókkinos GRE
Referee Observer: Michaíl Koukoulákis GRE