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PGMOL appoints Dallas as Select Group Manager

PGMOL has announced the appointment of Hugh Dallas as Select Group Manager. Dallas is a vastly experienced figure in the world of refereeing and will bring over 40 years of knowledge and expertise to the role, having officiated, observed and developed match officials at the very highest levels of the game. He was awarded an MBE for services to football in 2003, and has held several influential positions since hanging up his whistle, including key roles with UEFA and other leading refereeing bodies worldwide. Most recently, Dallas served as an advisor to the Select Group since Spring 2024 where he has already had a positive impact on the training and development of match officials in the Premier League. Continuing his work with PGMOL, Dallas will be directly responsible for the general management of the Select Group, working closely with the team of coaches to deliver training, performance management and technical development. He will also be working closely with the Premier League and play a significant role in engaging with clubs as part of ongoing dialogue. Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer at PGMOL, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Hugh’s calibre and experience to the role of Select Group Manager. His track record speaks for itself and his deep knowledge of the game, combined with his understanding of the increasing demands faced by match officials at the elite level, makes him an invaluable addition to our team.”
Dallas began his refereeing career in 1982 and quickly rose through the ranks in Scotland. He oversaw some of the biggest domestic games, spending nine seasons officiating in the Scottish Premiership and taking charge of four Scottish FA Cup finals and four Scottish League Cup finals. His impressive on-field career also included recognition on the highest stage internationally as part of a decade as a FIFA official, with him being selected for the 1996 Olympic Games and two FIFA World Cups. Dallas was part of the team which took charge of the 2002 FIFA World Cup final, as well as being in the middle for the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup finals in 1999 and 2002 respectively.

Source: EPL

UEFA Youth League 2024/2025 – Round of 16

4-5 March 2025

FC Salzburg – Atletico de Madrid
Referee: Jakob Sundberg DEN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Victor Skytte DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Deniz Yurdakul DEN
Fourth Official: Daniel Pfister AUT
Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller AUT

Aston Villa – FC Barcelona
Referee: Ante Čulina CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Luka Pušić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Kolarević CRO
Fourth Official: Scott Tallis ENG
Referee Observer: Stephen Tanner ENG

Sporting CP – VfB Stuttgart
Referee: Joonas Jaanovits EST
Assistant Referee 1: Aron Härsing EST
Assistant Referee 2: Petteri Schultz EST
Fourth Official: Braima Sanha POR
Referee Observer: Joao Ferreira POR

TSG Hoffenheim – Manchester City
Referee: Jasper Vergoote BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Geerolf BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Martijn Tiesters BEL
Fourth Official: Tom Bauer GER
Referee Observer: Edgar Steinborn GER

Sturm Graz – Olympiakos
Referee: Mohammad Al-Emara FIN
Assistant Referee 1: Turkka Valjakka FIN
Assistant Referee 2: Juuso Mantere FIN
Fourth Official: Emil Ristoskov BUL
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT

Trabzonspor – Atalanta BC
Referee: Sander van der Eijk NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rens Bluemink NED
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan De Groot NED
Fourth Official: Irfan Baş TUR
Referee Observer: Bariş Şimşek TUR

Bayern Munchen – Inter Milano
Referee: Antoni Bandić BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Amir Kadić BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Josip Colić BIH
Fourth Official: Wolfgang Haslberger GER
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT

Real Madrid – AZ Alkmaar
Referee: Miloš Milanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Milan Pašajlić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Novak Novaković SRB
Fourth Official: Fernando Bueno Prieto ESP
Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP

Foster retires from refereeing to join English FA

Cheryl Foster has blown the final whistle on a refereeing career that has taken her to the pinnacle of the world game. “I think when you know, you know,” explained Foster when she sat down with FAW.cymru to discuss her decision. “Obviously it’s something that I’ve thought about for a while and I’ve gone through a number of emotions in deciding what I’m going to do next. But when it’s in your head and it’s in your heart that it’s the right decision, then I think it’s the right time.”
Foster, now 44, took up refereeing at the end of her own successful playing career in 2013, and quickly established herself on the circuit as a talented match official. Promoted to the FIFA international list in December 2015, Foster took charge of matches at the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – including the Third Place Match at the latter – in addition to her appointment as referee for the 2023 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final. Domestically, she was the first woman to referee in the JD Cymru Premier when she did so in 2018, while last year Foster was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Welsh Football. “The EURO finals were special,” she explained. “I say that because it was in England and you could really feel the support from people because we were so close to it. I genuinely didn’t think I was going to make the list, but I did and I did the semi-final. There’s a picture of me picking the ball out of the little Jeep that drove the ball onto the pitch and I had the biggest smile. To describe those feelings of doing major tournaments and a big final was incredible. Lots of really amazing memories, with lots of amazing people too. They’ve all got me to be at the highest level and I’ll always be grateful.”
As a player, Foster represented the Cymru national team as a striker and scored nine goals in 63 senior appearances between 1997 and 2011. She spent almost a decade at Liverpool before bringing that first chapter of her impressive football career to a close after a brief spell with Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2013. “It’s a very tough decision,” she added. “My footballing career has spanned a long time, both as a player and as a referee, and it’s quite difficult to think that I won’t be doing either of them ever again.” In fact, Foster’s new role means that she also calls time on her teaching career, and will take up a full-time position with The Football Association as Senior Manager of Refereeing Pathway, Progression and Development. “I’ve not retired, that’s a big word,” she emphasised. “The English FA have been really supportive in that they know how much Wales and the progression of referees in Wales means to me. So you will still see me around, supporting the JD Cymru Premier VAR project and on the sidelines watching and coaching. I’m really excited though and can’t wait to get started.”
The match between France and Norway in the UEFA Women’s Nations League in Toulouse last Friday night was Foster’s final appointment and was no doubt an emotional occasion for someone who clearly has a genuine passion for the game. As a former player herself, Foster was keen to promote the benefits and advantages that a playing career can bring to the refereeing world. “I’ve always said that having played really helped with my refereeing career,” she added. “I’ve also said give it a go, I just did the course just to see what it was like. The support within the refereeing community is incredible. It opens up so many doors and if you want to stay on the pitch, stay fit, stay active, stay part of the game, then why not just give it a go. l will also say that being a teacher has helped me when you’re dealing with 22 players, whether that’s male or female, regardless of the abilities and ages, you’re still having to control a game, control players, control emotions and feelings. So the combination of the two I think really helped.” There is no doubt that Foster’s impressive career achievements have inspired a number of men and women to follow her path and the legacy of her success will be in the progress and development of the next generation of Welsh match officials. “When I look back I’m really, really proud of what I’ve achieved in merely a short space of time,” she explained. “If that’s left a legacy then so be it. I look forward to watching TV and hearing about the next referee from Wales that we’ve developed and produced to go to a major tournament. If that’s because of what I did then I’m even prouder of what I’ve achieved.”

Source: FAW

CONMEBOL U-20 Libertadores 2025

Paraguay, 1-16 March 2025

Referee: Sebastian Zunino (ARG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Sebastian Raineri (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Daiana Milone (ARG)

Referee: Dilio Rodriguez (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Jesus Antelo (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: William Medina (BOL)

Referee: Rafael Klein (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Fabrini Bevilaqua (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alex Ang (BRA)

Referee: Fernando Vejar (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Sandoval (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Poblete (CHI)

Referee: Carlos Ortega (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Aguirre (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Padilla (COL)

Referee: Juan Andrade (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mauricio Lozada (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Aguiar (ECU)

Referee: Blas Romero (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Julio Aranda (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Nadia Weiler (PAR)

Referee: Augusto Menendez (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Castillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Jaimes (PER)

Referee: Alberto Feres (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Hector Bergalo (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Daiana Fernandez (URU)

Referee: Alejandro Velazquez (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Erizon Nieto (VEN) 
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Martinez (VEN)

UEFA Referee Exchange
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Alfredo Rodriguez Moreno (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sanchez Rojo (ESP)

Mexican referee Ortiz suspended 6 months for Messi autograph request

Mexican referee Marco Ortiz has been suspended from officiating in Concacaf competitions for six months after asking Lionel Messi for his autograph at the end of Inter Miami CF's Concacaf Champions Cup win over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City. After the final whistle, the referee approached Messi and seemed to ask for his jersey as a memento of the match. Although it was later clarified that Ortiz actually requested an autograph for a family member with special needs, the actions went against the code of conduct for Concacaf officials.
"Concacaf is aware of the interaction that occurred between referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava and player Lionel Messi immediately following the final whistle of last night's Concacaf Champions Cup match between Sporting Kansas City and Inter Miami CF," a Concacaf spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. "Upon investigation, Concacaf has learned that the referee approached the player to request an autograph for a family member with special needs. The referee's conduct does not align with the Confederation's Code of Conduct for match officials and existing processes for these types of requests. The referee has acknowledged his mistake, apologized for the incident, and accepted the disciplinary action Concacaf has applied." Sporting Kansas City added that the team informed Concacaf and MLS about the situation. Ortiz will continue to referee in Mexico's Liga MX while he serves the six months suspension, but will not be eligible for any World Cup Qualifiers, the Club World Cup or the Gold Cup. The same source told ESPN that should Ortiz reoffend, he will be suspended indefinitely.

Source: ESPN

UEFA Women's Nations League 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

25-26 February 2025

Scotland – Netherlands
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Camille Soriano FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Elodie Coppola FRA
Fourth Official: Alexandra Collin FRA
Referee Observer: Eleni Kyriou GRE

Armenia – Kazakhstan
Referee: Oxana Cruc MDA
Assistant Referee 1: Natalia Ceban MDA
Assistant Referee 2: Ana Ciobotaru MDA
Fourth Official: Igor Bosca MDA
Referee Observer: Nelly Viennot FRA

Kosovo – Latvia
Referee: Maika Vanderstichel FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Mélissa Rossignol FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Clothilde Brassard FRA
Fourth Official: Elisa Daupeux FRA
Referee Observer: Anja Kunick GER

Montenegro – Lithuania
Referee: Mzevinari Sharashanidze GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Sopo Tsulaia GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Sopiko Rizhamadze GEO
Fourth Official: Khatuna Maisuradze GEO
Referee Observer: Regina Belksma-Konink NED

Israel – Estonia
Referee: Briet Bragadóttir ISL
Assistant Referee 1: Michelle Portelli WAL
Assistant Referee 2: Laura Griffiths WAL
Fourth Official: Jóhann Jónsson ISL
Referee Observer: Paloma Quintero Siles ESP

Turkey – Greece
Referee: Miriama Bočková SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Miroslava Pastoreková SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Martina Ukropová SVK
Fourth Official: Zuzana Valentová SVK
Referee Observer: Snježana Fočić CRO

Romania – Poland
Referee: Fabienne Michel GER
Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Joos GER
Assistant Referee 2: Anne Uersfeld GER
Fourth Official: Karoline Wacker GER
Referee Observer: Antonia Kokotou GRE

Czechia – Albania
Referee: Kristina Georgieva BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Dorieta Valeva BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Liliya Dumbalakova BUL
Fourth Official: Lyubima Banova BUL
Referee Observer: Bente Skogvang NOR

Slovakia – Moldova
Referee: Jelena Medjedović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandra Kostić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Milošević SRB
Fourth Official: Jasmina Mickoska SRB
Referee Observer: Anri Saarivainio FIN

Norway – Switzerland
Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Judit Romano García ESP
Fourth Official: Beatriz Cuesta Arribas ESP
Referee Observer: Marta Atzori ITA

Serbia – Belarus
Referee: Olivia Tschon AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Amina Gutschi AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Biljana Iskin AUT
Fourth Official: Lena Hirtl AUT
Referee Observer: Claudine Brohet BEL

Ukraine – Croatia
Referee: Shona Shukrula NED
Assistant Referee 1: Franca Overtoom NED
Assistant Referee 2: Martina Boer NED
Fourth Official: Manon Plandsoen NED
Referee Observer: Ivana Vlaić BIH

Hungary – Finland
Referee: Hristiyana Guteva BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Irina Pozdejeva LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Pavleta Rashkova BUL
Fourth Official: Galiya Echeva BUL
Referee Observer: Emilia Wnuk POL

Slovenia – Ireland
Referee: Michalina Diakow POL
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandra Mostowska POL
Fourth Official: Katarzyna Lisiecka-Sęk POL
Referee Observer: Carolina De Boeck BEL

Cyprus – Georgia
Referee: Jelena Kumer CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Ivona Pejić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Gordana Katušić CRO
Fourth Official: Jelena Pejković CRO
Referee Observer: Carina Vitulano ITA

Germany – Austria
Referee: Ivana Martinčić CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Maja Petravić CRO
Fourth Official: Sabina Bolic CRO
Referee Observer: Sofia Karagiorgi CYP

Italy – Denmark
Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Eliana Fernández González ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Elena Pardos Mainer ESP
Fourth Official: Paola Cebollada López ESP
Referee Observer: Jenny Palmqvist SWE

Gibraltar – Faroe Islands
Referee: Melek Dakan TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Merve Turan TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Ayenur Karakoc TUR
Fourth Official: Cansu Tiryaki TUR
Referee Observer: Graziella Pirriatore ITA

Malta – Andorra
Referee: Teresa Oliveira POR
Assistant Referee 1: Sandrine Santos POR
Assistant Referee 2: Vikki Allan SCO
Fourth Official: Lauren Whitehead SCO
Referee Observer: Galina Doneva BUL

Luxembourg – Liechtenstein
Referee: Jeļena Jermolajeva LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Līga Didriķe LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Diana Vanaga LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs LVA
Referee Observer: Wendy Toms ENG

Northern Ireland – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Referee: Caroline Lanssens BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Margot Jacobs BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Lejear BEL
Fourth Official: Jana Van Laere BEL
Referee Observer: Ingird Jonsson SWE

Wales – Sweden
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Susann Küng SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Schmid SUI
Fourth Official: Laura Mauricio SUI
Referee Observer: Silvia Spinelli ITA

France – Iceland
Referee: Alina Peşu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Costantinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Catalina Nan ROU
Fourth Official: Ana Terteleac ROU
Referee Observer: Ana Minić SRB

Belgium – Portugal
Referee: Eleni Antoniou GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Georgia Komisopoulou GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Vasilia Tsiklitari GRE
Fourth Official: Anastasia Mylopoulou GRE
Referee Observer: Marta Frías Acedo ESP

England – Spain
Referee: Tess Olofsson SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Almira Spahić SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Monica Løkkeberg NOR
Fourth Official: Lovisa Johansson SWE
Referee Observer: Blaženka Logarušić CRO

Elisa's adventure with European top referees

How do referees prepare for life at the very top of European football? That's a question 23-year-old Elisa Daupeux can now answer after her experience at our winter course for elite match officials, which brings together Europe's best male and female referees to sharpen their minds and bodies for the second half of the campaign. Elisa is one of France's most promising young referees, recently stepping up to officiate in France's D1 Arkema Première Ligue, the country's top women's division, and is an assistant video assistant referee (AVAR) for men's Ligue 1 matches. However, coming face to face with some of your role models, who are at the peak of their profession, can be an altogether more daunting experience than taking the whistle in front of thousands of fans.
"I was very happy and also a little bit stressed because it's a new thing for me, but it was a wonderful experience," said Elisa, who has been refereeing matches since she was 13. "It's very professional but I was happy with the welcome and the kindness from people. It was good for me to meet the elite referees and participate with them on the technical topics, which was very interesting." Over the three-day course, Elisa discussed important technical details with her colleagues, which included her compatriots François Letexier and Stéphanie Frappart, as well as taking a fitness test that all officials must pass.
"It was a pleasure to have Elisa with us at the referee course in Athens," said Roberto Rosetti, UEFA managing director for refereeing. "She is very young and motivated and demonstrated a high level of knowledge of the laws of the game, as well as fitness. This is also testament to the great work the French Football Federation (FFF) are doing in fostering the next generation of female match officials."
With UEFA Women's EURO 2025 approaching, the course represented a significant milestone in the officials' preparations, with only a select few to be on duty in Switzerland in July. "The winter course was a big moment for getting ready for the Women's EURO," Rosetti said. "The refs are super motivated and have shown amazing improvement in their physical preparation in recent years. Top football needs athletes on the pitch and they have worked really hard. They also need to be role models for thousands of young female refs across Europe. As referees, only with obsessive dedication and focus on our goals can we finally be satisfied." Rosetti's rallying cry will be heard loud and clear, not least by Elisa, whose ambitions are clear: to get to the top. "I have a lot of work to do, to have good games in France, so it is step-by-step, but I was very happy to be here and meet all the professionals," she said. "It was a very good experience, there was a very nice welcome and it's very good for me to feel comfortable here."

Source: UEFA

CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 – Second Round (Second Leg)

25-27 February 2025

Boca Juniors – Alianza Lima
Referee: Piero Maza CHI (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Claudio Urrutia CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Serrano CHI
Fourth Official: Jose Cabero CHI
VAR: Juan Lara CHI
AVAR: Alejandro Molina CHI
Referee Assessor: Hector Baldassi ARG
VAR Supervisor: Emerson de Carvalho BRA

Santa Fe – Deportes Iquique
Referee: Derlis Lopez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Onieva PAR
Fourth Official: Blas Romero PAR
VAR: Fernando Lopez PAR
AVAR: Jose Cuevas PAR
Referee Assessor: Wilson Lamouroux COL
VAR Supervisor: Marcio Santiago BRA

Bahia – The Strongest
Referee: Carlos Betancur COL
Assistant Referee 1: John Gallego COL
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Roldan COL
Fourth Official: Diego Ulloa COL
VAR: Mauricio Perez COL
AVAR: Mary Blanco COL
Referee Assessor: Hilton Moutinho BRA
VAR Supervisor: Claudio Rios CHI

Nublense – Boston River
Referee: Leandro Rey ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Navarro ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gisela Trucco ARG
Fourth Official: Laura Fortunato ARG
VAR: German Delfino ARG
AVAR: Nicolas Lamolina ARG
Referee Assessor: Carlos Ulloa CHI
VAR Supervisor: Oscar Viera PAR

Barcelona – El Nacional
Referee: Esteban Ostojich URU
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran URU
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Soppi URU
Fourth Official: Jose Burgos URU
VAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
AVAR: Christian Ferreyra URU
Referee Assessor: Jose Espinel ECU
VAR Supervisor: Angel Sanchez ARG

Corinthians – Universidad Central
Referee: Wilmar Roldan COL
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Ortiz COL
Assistant Referee 2: David Fuentes COL
Fourth Official: Jose Ortiz COL
VAR: Keiner Jimenez COL
AVAR: Sebastian Vela COL
Referee Assessor: Ednilson Corona BRA
VAR Supervisor: Patricio Polic CHI

Cerro Porteno – Monagas
Referee: Flavio Souza BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Pires BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Guilherme Camilo BRA
Fourth Official: Rodrigo Pereira BRA
VAR: Rodolpho Toski BRA
AVAR: Pablo Gonçalves BRA
Referee Assessor: Myriam Melgarejo PAR
VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo PER

Melgar – Deportes Tolima
Referee: Carlos Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Canete PAR
Fourth Official: Jose Mendez PAR
VAR: Ulises Mereles PAR
AVAR: Eduardo Britos PAR
Referee Assessor: Jorge Jaimes PER 
VAR Supervisor: Roberto Silvera URU

Spanish FA clears referee Munuera following investigation

Spanish referee Jose Munuera Montero has been cleared of any wrongdoing after the country's football federation (RFEF) looked into a possible conflict of interest between his refereeing and a private sports consultancy company that he co-owns. The RFEF released a statement on Thursday that said no further action would be taken against the 41-year-old official, who has been under fire since showing Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham a red card for directing foul language at him during Saturday's 1-1 draw at Osasuna.
Munuera closed his Instagram account after receiving tens of thousands of comments, including insults and death threats following the game, with controversy mounting after newspapers Marca and AS reported that his company, Talentus Sports Speakers, had business connections with football institutions and professional clubs. This led to RFEF opening an investigation to analyse whether those activities were compatible with his refereeing. "Following the study, analysis and detailed verification of the commercial, corporate and accounting information, the economic activity of these companies and the degree of Munuera Montero's participation in them, the RFEF's Regulatory Compliance Department has concluded that there is no real or potential conflict in the business activities of the referee with his work as a First Division referee," RFEF said. "Consequently, and in accordance with the internal regulations on conflicts of interest and the RFEF's good practices, there is no reason whatsoever to justify the adoption of disciplinary measures against Mr. Munuera Montero."
Munuera denied any wrongdoing on Tuesday and said his company had not invoiced any sports entity since its creation and threatened legal action against media. "In recent months, the disproportionate attack on the refereeing collective has become evident, and on this latest occasion I have been the target," he said. The RFEF said on Monday referees were sickened by the abuse Montero has received since showing Bellingham a red card, with the situation reflecting the hate and verbal violence match officials endure. Bellingham was handed a two-match suspension despite saying in his defence that the referee had misunderstood him as he was talking to himself in English.

Source: Reuters

UEFA Women's Nations League 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 1)

21 February 2025

Netherlands – Germany
Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi ITA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Francesca Di Monte ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Veronica Martinelli ITA
Fourth Official: Deborah Bianchi ITA
Referee Observer: Hilda McDermott IRL

Portugal – England
Referee: Ivana Projkovska MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Ainhoa Fernández AND
Assistant Referee 2: Staša Špur SVN
Fourth Official: Marjan Dejanoski MKD
Referee Observer: Teodora Albon ROU

Poland – Northern Ireland
Referee: Emanuela Rusta ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Mirjeta Salla ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Edjena Kapxhiu ALB
Fourth Official: Eglantina Pjetrushaj ALB
Referee Observer: Ana Minić SRB

France – Norway
Referee: Cheryl Foster WAL
Assistant Referee 1: Emily Carney ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ceri Williams WAL
Fourth Official: Charlotte Carpenter WAL
Referee Observer: Ingrid Jonsson SWE

Armenia – Liechtenstein
Referee: Tjaša Misja SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Sladjana Jovičić SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Helena Buh SVN
Fourth Official: Vanja Janković SVN
Referee Observer: Olga Tanschi MDA

Azerbaijan – Montenegro
Referee: Tatyana Sorokopudova KAZ
Assistant Referee 1: Nargis Magau KAZ
Assistant Referee 2: Dinara Idrisova KAZ
Fourth Official: Elvira Nurmustafina KAZ
Referee Observer: Katarzyna Wierzbowska POL

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Romania
Referee: Catarina Campos POR
Assistant Referee 1: Andreia Sousa POR
Assistant Referee 2: Sandrine Santos POR
Fourth Official: Teresa Oliveira POR
Referee Observer: Miroslava Migalová SVK

Bulgaria – Israel
Referee: Milica Milovanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandra Kostić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Marijana Rajović SRB
Fourth Official: Mima Stanković SRB
Referee Observer: Carina Vitulano ITA

North Macedonia – Kosovo
Referee: Emilie Torkelsen NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Monica Lökkeberg NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Line Nymoen NOR
Fourth Official: Henrikke Nervik NOR
Referee Observer: Cristina Babadac ROU

Moldova – Gibraltar
Referee: Sofiya Prychyna UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Maryna Striletska UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Oleksandra Vdovina UKR
Fourth Official: Anastasiya Romanyuk UKR
Referee Observer: Sharon Sluyts BEL

Greece – Slovenia
Referee: Nanna Andersen DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Sidsel Rasmussen DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Anna Schmidt DEN
Fourth Official: Julie Thomsen DEN
Referee Observer: Carolina De Boeck BEL

Georgia – Andorra
Referee: Ugne Šmitaite LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Guoste Jonikaite LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Ieva Ramanauskiene LTU
Fourth Official: Jurgita Mačikunyte LTU
Referee Observer: Jelena Banjeglav-Rankov SRB

Austria – Scotland
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Tiziana Trasciatti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Svitlana Grushko UKR
Fourth Official: Maria Marotta ITA
Referee Observer: Gyöngyi Gaál HUN

Serbia – Finland
Referee: Michaela Pachtová CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Zuzana Špindlerová CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Tereza Holakovská CZE
Fourth Official: Katka Hrušková CZE
Referee Observer: Svetlana Patras MDA

Albania – Ukraine
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Anne Uersfeld GER
Assistant Referee 2: Jessica Bergmann GER
Fourth Official: Miriam Schwermer GER
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damková CZE

Cyprus – Malta
Referee: Emily Heaslip ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Sophie Dennington ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Isabel Chaplin ENG
Fourth Official: Kirsty Dowle ENG
Referee Observer: Elke Günther GER

Italy – Wales
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Anita Vad HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Amina Gutschi AUT
Fourth Official: Olivia Tschon AUT
Referee Observer: Snježana Fočić CRO

Spain – Belgium
Referee: Frida Klarlund DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Fie Bruun DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Katrine Stensholm DEN
Fourth Official: Frederikke Søkjær DEN
Referee Observer: Anelia Sinabova BUL

Switzerland – Iceland
Referee: Jana Adámková CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Lucie Ratajová CZE
Fourth Official: Natálie Čampišová CZE
Referee Observer: Pernilla Larsson SWE

Croatia – Czechia
Referee: Abigail Byrne ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Nicoleta Bria ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Anastasiya Voloshchuk ENG
Fourth Official: Stacey Pearson ENG
Referee Observer: Antonia Kokotou GRE

Slovakia – Faroe Islands
Referee: Anastasia Mylopoulou GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Maria Desi GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Zoi Papadopoulou GRE
Fourth Official: Eleni Antoniou GRE
Referee Observer: Blaženka Logarušić CRO

Denmark – Sweden
Referee: Riem Hussein GER
Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Göttlinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Jasmin Matysiak GER
Fourth Official: Angelika Soeder GER
Referee Observer: Rhona Coombes IRL

Luxembourg – Kazakhstan
Referee: Rita Vehapi KOS
Assistant Referee 1: Lumturije Muhadri KOS
Assistant Referee 2: Fitore Govori KOS
Fourth Official: Festina Koxha KOS
Referee Observer: Knarik Grigoryan ARM

Belarus – Hungary
Referee: Sandra Bastos POR
Assistant Referee 1: Vanessa Gomes POR
Assistant Referee 2: Cátia Tavares POR
Fourth Official: Cristina Amaral POR
Referee Observer: Christine Frai GER

Ireland – Turkey
Referee: Réka Molnar HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Noemi Hegedus-Barath HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Nikolett Bizderi HUN
Fourth Official: Eszter Urban HUN
Referee Observer: Irina Mîrț ROU

FIFA Lists 2025 Changes

Argentina
Referees
Out: Pablo Echavarria (M, 1982), Fernando Espinoza (M, 1983), Andres Merlos (M, 1981)
In: Luis Lobo (M, 1984, photo), Carlos Gariano (M, 1986), Sebastian Martinez (M, 1990), Luciana Sanchez (F)

Assistant Referees
Out: Ezequiel Brailovsky (M, 1979)
In: Juan Mamani (M, 1991), Maria Bevilacqua (F)

Video Match Officials
Out: Mauro Vigliano (M, 1975)

Futsal
In: Facundo Falvo (M), Fausto Vigano (M)

Australia
Assistant Referees
Out: Ryan Gallagher (M)
In: Arvin Shanmuganathan (M)

Futsal
Out: Ryan Shepheard (M)
In: Dion Bradley (M)

Austria
Referees
Out: Harald Lechner (M, 1982)
In: Jakob Semler (M, 1991), Sara Telek (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Alexander Borucki (M), Mattias Hartl (M), Lara Anderson (F)

Belarus
Referees
Out: Aleksei Kulbakov (M, 1979)
In: Anton Lashuk (M, 1992)

Belgium
Referees
Out: Jonathan Lardot (M, 1984)
In: Simon Bourdeaud'hui (M, 1996)

Assistant Referees
In: Michele Seeldrayers (M)

Futsal
Out: Stefan Vrijens (M, 1980), Yasin Alageyik (M, 1985)
In: Amine El Hilali (M), Stijn Lehembre (M)

Brazil
Referees
In: Matheus Delgado (M, 1998)

Assistant Referees
In: Victor Imazu (M. 1986), Gizeli Casaril (F, 1986)

Video Match Officials
In: Marco Ferreira (M)

Futsal
In: Eric Bonifacio (M)

Canada
Futsal
Out: Chris Grabas (M, 1982)

Chile
Referees
In: Diego Flores (M), Katherine Fuentes (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Wladimir Munoz (M), Carlos Venegas (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Nicolas Millas (M), Mathias Riquelme (M)

Futsal
In: Jean Araya (M), Marcelo Wilson (M)

Colombia
Referees
In: Jose Ortiz (M), Diego Ulloa (M), Carolina Reales (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Laura Loaiza (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Luis Picon (M)

Futsal
In: Jackeline Santacruz (F)

Costa Rica
Referees
In: Pablo Camacho (M), Bryan Cruz (M), Roger Vindas (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Felix Quesada (M), Luis Granados (M), Jeriel Valverde (M), Danny Sojo (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Steven Madrigal (M), Marianela Araya (F), Jesus Montero (M), Yasith Monge (M), Anthony Bravo (M)

Futsal
In: Marco Azofeifa (M), Andy Leon (M), Yeraldin Araya (F), Kimberly Valverde (F)

Croatia
Referees
Out: Fran Jovic (M, 1984)
In: Mateo Erceg (M, 1996)

Czechia
Referees
Out: Jan Petrik (M, 1992)
In: Karel Rouček (M, 1996)

England
Referees
Out: Craig Pawson (M, 1979), Rebecca Welch (F, 1983)
In: Samuel Barrott (M, 1993), Melissa Burgin (F, 1985)

Assistant Referees
Out: Harry Lennard (M, 1983), Natalie Aspinall (F, 1981), Sian Massey-Ellis (F, 1985), Lisa Rashid (F, 1987)
In: Daniel Robathan (M, 1988), Isabel Chaplin (F, 2001), Grace Lowe (F, 1998), Anastasiya Voloshchuk (F, 1996)

Video Match Officials
Out: David Coote (M, 1982)

Futsal
Out: Marc Birkett (M, 1978)
In: Jordan Griffiths (M, 1991)

France
Referees
Out: Ruddy Buquet (M, 1977), Pierre Gaillouste (M, 1989)
In: Romain Lissorgue (M, 1991), Mathieu Vernice (M, 1993)

Assistant Referees
Out: Mikael Berchebru (M, 1984), Manuela Nicolosi (F, 1980)
In: Brice Parinet Le Tellier (M, 1988), Nabila Zaouak (F, 1997)

Futsal
Out: Cedric Pelissier (M, 1976)
In: Adrien Crumois (M, 1996), Bryan Francois (M, 1997)

Beach Soccer
In: Benoit Chandelier (M)

Germany
Referees
Out: Bastian Dankert (M, 1980), Christian Dingert (M, 1980)
In: Florian Badstübner (M, 1991), Matthias Jöllenbeck (M, 1987)

Assistant Referees
In: Christof Gunsch (M, 1986), Sven Waschitzki (M, 1987), Jessica Bergmann (F, 1994)

Futsal
Out: Christian Gundler (M, 1986)
In: Sven Schreiber (M, 1996)

Greece
Referees
Out: Aristotelis Diamantopoulos (M, 1983), Evangelos Manouchos (M, 1989)
In: Alexandros Tsakalidis (M, 1993)

Assistant Referees
In: Angelos Kolliakos (M), Michalis Papadakis (M)

Guatemala
Referees
In: Alvaro Alvarado (M), Diego Ojer (M), Dilia Bradley (F), Genesis De Leon (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Julio Perez (M), Cesar Yaxcal (M), Elena Alvarez (F), Dalis Barrios (F), Astrid Yax (F)

Futsal
In: Roberto Cux (M), Mynor Quintana (M), Andrea Davila (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Cristian Barrios (M), Freddy Vasquez (M), Wendy Lara (F)

Hungary
Referees
Out: Istvan Vad (M, 1979)
In: Marton Rusz (M, 1994)

Futsal
Out: Gabor Kovacs (M, 1978)
In: David Juhasz (M)

Italy
Referees
Out: Marco Di Bello (M, 1981), Daniele Orsato (M, 1975)
In: Matteo Marcenaro (M, 1992), Matteo Marchetti (M, 1989)

Assistant Referees
Out: Alessandro Giallatini (M, 1975)
In: Giuseppe Perrotti (M, 1989)

Video Match Officials
Out: Massimiliano Irrati (M, 1979)
In: Rosario Abisso (M, 1985), Federico La Pena (M, 1983), Daniele Paterna (M, 1987)

Beach Soccer
In: Giorgio Piraccini (M), Elena Bomba (F)

Mexico
Referees
Out: Fernando Guerrero (M, 1981)
In: Ismael Lopez (M, 1994), Jesus Lopez (M, 1991), Erika Gonzalez (F, 1995)

Assistant Referees
In: Maria Juarez (F, 1997)

Video Match Officials
In: Jorge Camacho (M, 1993)

Netherlands
Assistant Referees
In: Stefan de Groot (M, 1993)

Video Match Officials
In: Richard Martens (M, 1985)

Beach Soccer
In: Marc Henny (M)

New Zealand
Referees
In: Cory Mills (M), Sarah Jones (F, 1990), Beth Rattray (F),

Assistant Referees
In: Allys Clipsham (F), Heloise Welch (F)

Futsal
Out: Antony Riley (M, 1985)

Norway
Referees
Out: Sivert Amland (M, 1993), Kai-Erik Steen (M, 1985)
In: Marius Grotta (M, 1992), Daniel Higraff (M, 1992)

Paraguay
Referees
In: Derlis Benitez (M, 2000), David Ojeda (M, 1989)

Assistant Referees
In: Esteban Testta (M), Claudia Delvalle (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Jose Recalde (M)

Peru
Referees
In: Jordi Espinoza (M), Daniel Ureta (M), Flor Carazas (F)

Futsal
In: Jorge Penafiel (M), Julio Quiroz (M), Joisse Calero (F), Mercedes Guzman (F), Ingrid Rodriguez (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Andree Merino (M), Junior Rivera (M), Jonathan Torres (M)

Poland
Referees
Out: Bartosz Frankowski (M, 1986), Daniel Stefanski (M, 1977), Monika Mularczyk (F, 1980)
In: Patryk Gryckiewicz (M, 1995), Wojciech Myc (M, 1989), Anna Adamska (F, 1993)

Assistant Referees
In: Adam Karasewicz (M, 1989), Nicola Stoklosa (F)

Video Match Officials
Out: Tomasz Musial (M, 1981)

Portugal
Referees
Out: Artur Soares Dias (M, 1979), Silvia Domingos (F, 1982)
In: Joao Gonçalves (M, 1991), Sara Alves (F, 1990)

Assistant Referees
In: Andre Dias (M), Cristiana Costa (F), Raquel Pinho (F)

Futsal
Out: Eduardo Coelho (M, 1979)
In: Pedro Costa (M, 1984), Rita Ferraz (F, 1997)

Romania
Referees
Out: Ovidiu Hategan (M, 1980), Marcel Bîrsan (M, 1982)
In: Szabolcs Kovacs (M, 1988), Rares Vidican (M, 1988)

Assistant Referees
Out: Sebastian Gheorghe (M, 1976), Petruta Iugulescu (F, 1979)
In: Marius Badea (M, 1986), Diana Florea (F), Andreea Șusca (F)

Video Match Officials
Out: Istvan Kovacs (M, 1984)
In: Sorin Costreie (M, 1989)

Beach Soccer
Out: Ionel Boharu Predescu (M)
In: Laurențiu Pentek (M)

Russia
Referees
Out: Vladislav Bezborodov (M, 1973)
In: Sergey Cheban (M, 1990)

Assistant Referees
In: Varantso Petrosyan (M, 1988)

Futsal
Out: Vladimir Kadykov (M, 1984), Grigori Zelentsov (M, 1983)
In: Evgeny Sergeev (M)

Scotland
Referees
Out: William Collum (M, 1979), David Munro (M, 1980)
In: Ross Hardie (M, 1990), Abbie Hendry (F)

Slovakia
Referees
In: Boris Marhefka (M, 1987)

Assistant Referees
Out: Tomaš Straka (M, 1987)
In: Tobiaš Pacak (M, 1999), Alexandra Vargova (F, 2001)

Spain
Referees
Out: Zulema Gonzalez Gonzalez (F, 1992)
In: Elisabeth Calvo Valentin (F, 1997)

Assistant Referees
Out: Pau Cebrian Devis (M, 1979)
In: Carlos Alvarez Fernandez (M, 1990)

Video Match Officials
In: Judit Romano Garcia (F, 1982)

Futsal
In: Diego Martinez Garcia (M, 1992)

Sweden
Referees
Out: Andreas Ekberg (M, 1985)
In: Oscar Johnson (M, 1993), Hanna Laajanen (F, 1986)

Switzerland
Referees
Out: Fedayi San (M, 1982)
In: Sven Wolfensberger (M, 1989)

Assistant Referees
In: Claudio Dos Santos (M), Bastien Lengacher (M), Nicolas Müller (M), Melissa Dos Santos (F), Melanie Mazenauer (F)

Futsal
Out: Marco Rothenfluh (M)
In: Emilie Aubry (F), Emanuele Karbala (F)

Turkey
Referees
Out: Abdulkadir Bitigen (M, 1984), Bahattin Şimşek (M, 1988), Gamze Durmus (F, 1994), Melis Ozcigdem (F, 1982)
In: Oguzhan Çakir (M, 1999), Mehmet Türkmen (M, 1992), Asen Albayrak (F, 1997), Hatice Aydin (F, 1999)

Assistant Referees
In: Bersan Duran (M), Anil Usta (M), Esra Arikboga (F), Ayşenur Karakoç (F)

Futsal
Out: Ozan Soycan (M)
In: Ayberg Oz (M)

Ukraine
Referees
Out: Vitaliy Romanov (M, 1980)
In: Klym Zabroda (M, 1991), Liudmyla Telbukh (F, 1988)

Assistant Referees
In: Oleksiy Mironov (M), Vitaliy Skoblia (M)

UAE
Referees
Out: Mohammed Abdulla (M, 1978)
In: Rawdha Al-Mansoori (F)

Uruguay
Referees
In: Hernan Heras (M, 1990)

Assistant Referees
In: Matias Muniz (M, 1991)

Video Match Official
In: Diego Dunajec (M, 1987)

Futsal
In: Franco Mieres (M), Paula Lopez (F)

USA
Referees
In: Guido Gonzales (M, 1982)

Video Match Officials
In: Joseph Dickerson (M, 1988), Ekaterina Koroleva (F, 1987)

Venezuela
Referees
In: Rony Cueva (M), Yeferzon Miranda (M), Ana Mendez (F), Leinny Rodriguez (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Paolo Garcia (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Reyes Soto (M), Marco Suarez (M)

Futsal
In: Kevin Guzman (M), Dayandry Duarte (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Abraan Yanez (M)

Wales
Referees
Out: Robert Jenkins (M, 1989)
In: Aaron Jones (M, 1990)

UEFA Europa Conference League 2024/25 – KO Stage, Play-Offs (Second Leg)

20 February 2025

Real Betis – KAA Gent
Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak POL (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Karasewicz POL
Fourth Official: Marcin Kochanek POL
VAR: Piotr Lasyk POL
AVAR: Pawel Pskit POL
Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson SWE

Olimpija Ljubljana – Borac Banja Luka
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas LTU
Fourth Official: Mindaugas Jackus LTU
VAR: Donatas Šimenas LTU
AVAR: Orestas Abramavicius LTU
Referee Observer: Alan Mario Sant MLT

Pafos – Omonia
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Brice Le Tellier FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
VAR: Jérémie Pignard FRA
AVAR: Nicolas Rainville FRA
Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai HUN

FC Heidenheim – FC Copenhagen
Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE
Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE
Assistant Referee 2: Srdjan Jovanovic MNE
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE
VAR: Clay Ruperti NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Shmuel Shteif ISR

Jagiellonia Bialystok – Backa Topola
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig NED
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal NED
VAR: Jeroen Manschot NED
AVAR: Richard Martens NED
Referee Observer: Drago Kos SVN

Apoel – Celje
Referee: John Beaton SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie SCO
Fourth Official: Calum Scott SCO
VAR: Andrew Dallas SCO
AVAR: Kevin Clancy SCO
Referee Observer: Gylfi Orrason ISL

Panathinaikos – Vikingur
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: Dejan Balažič SVN
VAR: Asmir Sagrković SVN
AVAR: Denis Šabanagić SVN
Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH

Shamrock Rovers – FK Molde
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis GRE
Fourth Official: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
VAR: Athanasios Tzilos GRE
AVAR: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE

UEFA Europa League 2024/2025 – KO Stage, Play-Offs (Second Leg)

20 February 2025

AS Roma – FC Porto
Referee: François Letexier FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Mathieu Vernice FRA
VAR: Willy Delajod FRA
AVAR: Benoît Millot FRA
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX

Bodo Glimt – FC Twente
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Perez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
VAR: Cesar Soto Grado ESP
AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM

Galatasaray – AZ Alkmaar
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott ENG
VAR: Darren England ENG
AVAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST

FCSB – PAOK
Referee: Matej Jug SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antič SVN
VAR: Dragoslav Perič SVN
AVAR: Roberto Ponis SVN
Referee Observer: Marián Ružbarský SV

Viktoria Plzen – Ferencvarosi TC
Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pages FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Erwan Finjean FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
VAR: Bastien Dechepy FRA
AVAR: Eric Wattellier FRA
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR

AFC Ajax – Union St. Gilloise
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
VAR: Peter Bankes ENG
AVAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER

Real Sociedad – FC Midtjylland
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük NED
Assistant Referee 1: Erwin Zeinstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Patrick Inia NED
Fourth Official: Joey Kooij NED
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Pol van Boekel NED
Referee Observer: Emil Bozinovski MKD

Anderlecht – Fenerbahce
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI
Fourth Official: Luca Cibelli SUI
VAR: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
AVAR: Lionel Tschudi SUI
Referee Observer: Matteo Trefoloni ITA

UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 – KO Stage, Play-Offs (Second Leg)

18 February 2025 
AC Milan – Feyenoord
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Wojciech Myc POL
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Christian Dingert GER
Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU

Atalanta BC – Club Brugge
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Alen Borošak SVN
Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB

Bayern Munchen – Celtic FC
Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
VAR: Willy Delajod FRA
AVAR: Benoît Millot FRA
Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP

SL Benfica – AS Monaco
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte SWE
VAR: Rob Dieperink NED
AVAR: Dennis Higler NED
Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER

19 February 2025
Borussia Dortmund – Sporting CP
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG

Paris St. Germain – Stade Brestois
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
VAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
AVAR: Peter Bankes ENG
Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE

Real Madrid – Manchester City
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA

PSV Eindhoven – Juventus FC
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
VAR: Alen Borošak SVN
AVAR: Bastian Dankert GER
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT

Concacaf Refereeing Winter Seminar

The 2025 Concacaf Refereeing Winter Seminar took place from January 27 to 31 in San Jose, Costa Rica, gathering 173 participants from various tiers of the Confederation’s Refereeing Development Pyramid. The event welcomed Elite and Tier 1 Referees, Assistant Referees (ARs), and Video Match Officials (VMOs) as they geared up for significant upcoming competitions, such as the Concacaf Champions Cup, Nations League Finals, Gold Cup Play-In, and W Champions Cup Finals. A major focus of the seminar was on monitoring and maintaining fitness levels. Both male and female Elite and Tier 1 referees and ARs successfully completed the FIFA Category 1 Men's Fitness Test, which ensured their eligibility for high-level appointments. "The Concacaf Refereeing Winter Seminar is a vital platform for preparing our Elite and Tier 1 match officials for success in 2025, as it ensures they receive the necessary support, tools, and training to officiate at the highest level,” said Concacaf Director of Refereeing Nicola Rizzoli.
The Winter Seminar also included a dedicated program for Concacaf's First Year FIFA Referee Seminar participants, who received vital insights on refereeing standards and the key areas of emphasis for the upcoming season. This introduction laid a solid groundwork for their inaugural year officiating international football in the region. "With a 15% increase in FIFA referees within our confederation for 2025 (compared to 2024) - the largest increase in the world - it is crucial that we provide our First-Year FIFA Referees with an introduction to the expectations and guidelines for officiating at the international level. Their seminar was designed to ensure a smooth transition into their new roles, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in Concacaf’s rapidly evolving international competitions,” added Rizzoli. The seminar also proved invaluable for the Concacaf Referee & Instructor Academy. It allowed aspiring referees and instructors to immerse themselves in a top-notch learning environment while training beside some of Concacaf’s leading officials. “Concacaf Referee and Instructor members received invaluable exposure, allowing them to train alongside and learn from the region’s top referees and instructors, as they take another step forward in Concacaf’s refereeing development efforts,” concluded Rizzoli. The seminar's education was delivered through a mix of theoretical and practical training sessions. Classroom sessions emphasized consistency in decision-making, promoting the uniform application of the Laws of the Game across all competitions. Practical field training involved thorough fitness evaluations and small-group exercises designed to simulate real-match scenarios, reflecting modern football's physical and mental challenges. By combining structured education with high-level training, the seminar reinforced Concacaf's commitment to continuously developing elite referees, ensuring they are fully prepared to officiate at the game's highest levels.

Source: Concacaf

CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 – Second Round (First Leg)

18-20 February 2025

Deportes Iquique – Independiente Santa Fe
Referee: Roberto Perez PER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Leonar Soto PER
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Castillo PER
Fourth Official: Jordi Espinoza PER
VAR: Diego Haro PER
AVAR: Edwin Ordonez PER
Referee Assessor: Christian Schiemann CHI
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Avila ECU

The Strongest – Bahia
Referee: Guillermo Guerrero ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Lescano ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Andres Tola ECU
Fourth Official: Robert Cabrera ECU
VAR: Franklin Congo ECU
AVAR: Roddy Zambrano ECU
Referee Assessor: Jorge Antequera BOL
VAR Supervisor: Henry Gambetta PER

Alianza Lima – Boca Juniors
Referee: Esteban Ostojich URU
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran URU
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Soppi URU
Fourth Official: Alberto Feres URU
VAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
AVAR: Christian Ferreyra URU
Referee Assessor: Cesar Mongrut PER
VAR Supervisor: Claudio Rios CHI

Boston River – Nublense
Referee: Ivo Mendez BOL
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Tapia BOL
Assistant Referee 2: Ruben Flores BOL
Fourth Official: Christian Aleman BOL
VAR: Wilfredo Campos BOL
AVAR: Jorge Justiniano BOL
Referee Assessor: Miguel Nievas URU
VAR Supervisor: Giulliano Bozzano BRA

El Nacional – Barcelona
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Poblete CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Marcia Castillo CHI
Fourth Official: Dione Rissios CHI
VAR: Miguel Araos CHI
AVAR: Alan Sandoval CHI
Referee Assessor: Juan Corozo ECU
VAR Supervisor: Sabrina Lois ARG

Universidad Central – Corinthians
Referee: Gustavo Tejera URU
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Barreiro URU
Assistant Referee 2: Andres Nievas URU
Fourth Official: Nadia Fuques URU
VAR: Antonio Garcia URU
AVAR: Richard Trinidad URU
Referee Assessor: Jose Lara ECU
VAR Supervisor: Sergio Viola ARG

Monagas – Cerro Porteno
Referee: Dario Herrera ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade ARG
Fourth Official: Nazareno Arasa ARG
VAR: Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
AVAR: Jorge Balino ARG
Referee Assessor: Jose Carpio ECU
VAR Supervisor: Juan Restrepo COL

Deportes Tolima – Melgar
Referee: Ramon Abatti BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Neuza Back BRA
Fourth Official: Rodrigo Pereira BRA
VAR: Wagner Reway BRA
AVAR: Rodrigo Guarizo BRA
Referee Assessor: Luzmila Gonzalez COL 
VAR Supervisor: Pericles Cortez BRA

Farina’s referee shirt donated to Italian Football Museum: "His path has left its mark"

The collection of the Football Museum is enriched with a new precious item: the shirt worn by the late referee Stefano Farina. A uniform that increases even more the value of section dedicated to match officials by the Coverciano museum, which already boast the jerseys of the three Italian who have refereed FIFA World Cup finals – Gonella in 1978, Collina in 2002 and Rizzoli in 2014 – in addition to that of an icon of refereeing such as Concetto Lo Bello and to the one worn by the current refereeing designator, Gianluca Rocchi, during his Europa League final.
“Stefano Farina – stressed the federal president, Gabriele Gravina – was an excellent referee, but above all he was a man of great moral principles who made him become a point of reference within the AIA. He wore the referee shirt with passion and respect for others and towards the game of football, which he loved deeply”. Gravina wanted to remember Farina with a message that the president of the Football Museum Foundation, Matteo Marani, read to those present shortly before receiving from his son, Nello Farina, the uniform worn by the ‘Principe’ – as he was nicknamed – in Serie A in the 2007/2008 season. “His experience and contribution will not be forgotten; more than a promise, it is a commitment, along with the contribution of all those who shared its deep values” was one of the most heartfelt passages written by the federal president, while the emotion transpired on the faces of his son Nello, his wife Emilia and Alessandro, son of Emilia who Stefano himself grew up. “I say this without rhetoric: Stefano was one of those people whom the AIA is missing” highlighted the president of the AIA, Antonio Zappi, present for the occasion together with his deputy, Francesco Massini, and the head of CAN, Gianluca Rocchi. “His path, first as a referee and then as a manager – continued Zappi – has really left its mark. The referees of the current generation have somehow all been formed by Stefano.”
Stefano Farina, referee of the Section of Novi Ligure since December 1979, debuted in Serie A in January 1995, refereeing a total of 236 games in the top-flight and 117 in Serie B. He was also a FIFA referee since 2001. He refereed two finals of the Italian Super Cup and the 2006 European Super Cup. After ending his referee career, Farina became UEFA observer, and a representative of the active referees and responsible for CAN B, CAN PRO and CAN D. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 54. His jersey donated to the Football Museum is the one worn during his last season (2007/2008) as a referee in Serie A.

Source: AIA

Seneme out: significant changes in Brazilian refereeing

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced the dismissal of Wilson Seneme, who faced challenges in his mission to make the game more dynamic as he had aimed. Under his leadership, matches continued to experience interference from referees and VAR. From now on, an International Expert Advisory Committee will evaluate the decisions made by referees in the Brazilian Championship and the Brazilian Cup.
The CBF Referees Committee will be managed by a multidisciplinary technical team, coordinated by manager Rodrigo Cintra and will have other names, such as Luiz Flávio de Oliveira, Marcelo Van Gasse, Fabrício Vilarinho, Luiz Carlos Bezerra, Eveliny Almeida and Emerson Filipino Coelho.
The International Expert Advisory Committee is formed by Italian Nicola Rizzoli, who refereed the final of the 2014 World Cup, Argentina’s Nestor Pitana, referee of the 2018 World Cup final, and Brazilian Sandro Ricci, who worked at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, also with a long experience worldwide. The International Expert Advisory Committee will be in contact with the Referees Committee analyzing controversial decisions, those that raise doubts, and, when analyzing them, the three members of the Committee will have voting power in order to direct decisions of the Referees Committee. The aim is to improve national refereeing and reduce the number of misguided decisions in football games. When creating the Advisory Committee of International Experts to interact with the Arbitration Commission, the CBF became the first national association to adopt this methodology in the world. Other news announced by the CBF relate to the creation of the National School of Refereeing and the elaboration of a national ranking of referees, initiatives that will already be in force this semester, with the intention of standardizing the sector.

Source: CBF

Will penalties change forever?

FIFA, through its influential former referee Pierluigi Collina, is proposing a significant alteration to the execution of penalty kicks. Collina, currently the chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, suggests a “single-attempt” rule, similar to penalty shootouts, eliminating the possibility of rebounds. This proposal, discussed in an interview with Repubblica, aims to address the perceived imbalance between the advantage held by penalty takers and goalkeepers.
Collina highlights the statistical disparity between penalty kicks and goalkeepers, noting that around 75% of penalties result in goals. He also points to the potential for rebounds, giving the attacking team a second chance. His proposed solution directly aims to reduce the high success rate of penalties, creating a more even contest between the attacker and goalkeeper. The proposed change would mean either a goal is scored or play restarts with a goal kick. The “single-attempt” rule would eliminate the pre-penalty buildup, characterized by players gathering around the penalty area, which Collina likened to “horses at the starting gate.” This aspect of his proposal focuses on streamlining the penalty process and reducing potential distractions and theatrics. The proposal suggests a desire to create a more focused, less dramatic situation that gives the goalkeeper a fair chance.
In a recent interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Collina recalled that he delayed the end of the 2002 men’s final, in which Brazil beat Germany 2-0, to ensure he left the field with the match ball in his possession. “I have a collection that could make a football museum jealous,” the 65-year-old Bologna native told La Repubblica (translated quotes via Football Italia). “I have the ball from the 2002 World Cup final: that day, I blew the final whistle, I think, 13 or 14 seconds late, insignificant for the result, just to make sure the ball was in my hands, so I could take it home with me. During the award ceremony, before receiving my medal, someone from the organization told me, ‘Pierluigi, if you give me the ball, I’ll hold on to it for you.' I replied: ‘Not a chance, the ball stays with me.’ In the photos of the ceremony, I’m always holding that ball.”
During his nearly two-decade officiating career, Collina became one of the most instantly recognizable referees in world soccer, thanks chiefly to a severe form of alopecia that left him completely bald in his mid-20s. And in his interview with La Repubblica, Collina said Italian refereeing chiefs attempted to end his career over his alopecia. “They tried to make me stop refereeing because I had lost all my hair‚” he said. “When I suffered from alopecia totalis at 24, I lost all my body hair within two weeks. I was only able to continue because I was ‘pretty good’. The refereeing authorities suspended me for three months. Then they tested me: they sent me to officiate a match in Latina, a heated stadium, to see how people would react to me. I will always be grateful to that crowd: that day, they couldn’t have cared less about having a bald referee.”

First American two-time World Cup referee Socha passes away

The first U.S. referee participating in a World Cup was Henry Landauer at Mexico in 1970. But David Socha was the first American to referee a World Cup match, whistling one match each in 1982 and 1986. He was also selected for the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games.
Socha was born in the Indian Orchard section of Ludlow, Mass., and played for Portuguese clubs and in the German-American league. He also played hockey, and then served in the Navy, assigned to the USS Croaker submarine. Socha then began refereeing soccer for $5 a game, like prospective referees do today. Socha rose to the top of the pyramid, giving him exclusive, behind-the-scenes insight into the world game. Socha was the fourth official in the Mexico-Germany quarter-final game in Monterrey on June 22, 1986, the result a surprising scoreless tie after 120 minutes, the Germans winning on penalty kicks. But the events of that day were not surprising to Socha. "I got quite a tongue-lashing from [Franz] Beckenbauer. He wanted to know why I wasn't out there in the middle of the field instead of on the side," Socha, 67, said from his Ludlow home. "You should have seen the fouls in that game, it was a blood bath. That was when they still had aluminum studs, and you could rake a guy's leg with those things." Socha had worked dozens of matches in Central America, including the first meeting of El Salvador and Honduras in San Salvador 11 years after a match had triggered the Soccer War between the countries. He was familiar with just about every trick. Some players used files to sharpen their metal cleats and put Vaseline on them to deceive officials. Socha made certain the fourth official carried a towel to wipe off cleats before allowing a substitute. As soon as players saw the towel, they would switch back to regulation cleats. If Diego Maradona were playing, Socha would simply meet with him before kick-off and issue a general warning, then make certain Maradona knew the referee was not bluffing. "I was in the stands that day," Socha said of Maradona's handball goal in Argentina's 2-0 win over England in the 1986 World Cup, the day after the Mexico-Germany match. "You never saw that referee again. But the question also has to be asked: 'Where was the linesman?'" Two of the most crucial games in the 1986 World Cup were conducted by comparatively limited referees -- one from Colombia, the other from Tunisia -- and both resulted in major controversies. "Every referee picked by FIFA is not the best in the world," Socha said. "They all have weaknesses. They have weaknesses in the way they call the game. They lack fitness, or knowledge of the game, a lot has to do with where they are on the field. It is a lot like having a mouse running along the inside of a wall. You can hear where the mouse is going. And teams know this. I am going back now, but [former Manchester United manager] Matt Busby used to say that a certain referee was worth a goal a game because they knew where he was going to be on free kicks and what he couldn't see. There are certain referees in certain games for a reason. There are certain games where they don't want a hard-nosed referee because if something happens, he is going to call it."
Socha had a way of convincing one and all he was not bluffing, an overpowering and uninhibited personality that brought him respect and success as a referee, but likely cost him advancement at home. After the 1986 World Cup, Socha essentially was blacklisted by the U.S. Soccer Federation, never refereeing another game or being involved in training programs. Socha consulted with former FIFA president Joao Havelange when the U.S. was bidding for the 1986 World Cup, but knew the country had no chance of attracting the event. Havelange was especially disturbed that soccer had failed to make an impact during the 1984 Olympics, despite having attracted more spectators than the combined total of every other event and seemed resolved to planning for a triumphant return. But that would have to wait until 1994. Again, Socha twice met with Havelange in the '94 run-up, both times in the presence of journalists, but was given no role by World Cup organizers or the U.S. federation. Socha was reinstated formally when Hank Steinbrecher became general secretary. "Steinbrecher sent me a letter, but nobody did anything after that," Socha said. "Maybe I knew too much. I worked 150 international matches, two FIFA All-Star matches. I worked five qualifying matches for Spain, I was doing all the matches in Central America - and those games were wars - so I must have done something right. A few years ago, [Michel] Platini came through and was staying at a hotel in Connecticut and sent a card to my house to say hello. Beckenbauer, [Johan] Neeskens, [Wim] Risjbergen, [Johan] Cruyff. Knowing I have their respect means more than anything." 

Source: ESPN

Osses leaves Mexican Referees Committee for Costa Rica

The Mexican Referees Committee is facing an unexpected shake-up with the resignation of Enrique Osses, who served as an instructor within the organization led by Armando Archundia. The former Chilean referee has decided to step down from his role within the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) and, according to reports, will take on the presidency of the Referees Committee in the Costa Rican Football Federation. Despite the criticism Osses had received in recent months due to the lack of preparation of some referees in Liga MX, his departure is not related to that issue. Instead, his decision is driven by a professional opportunity in Costa Rica, where he would be offered a higher-ranking role. The news was confirmed by journalist Paco Arredondo from TUDN, who reported that Osses announced his resignation during a recent refereeing seminar.
Now, the big question is what direction the Mexican Referees Committee will take. With Osses's departure, Armando Archundia is left without a key instructor in the structure, which could lead to changes within the organization. The FMF will have to decide whether to appoint a new person in his place or leave the technical area without a direct leader. Among the possible candidates to fill Osses's vacancy are controversial and critical figures of the Mexican refereeing system. Names like former referees Felipe Ramos Rizo, Francisco Chacón, and Marco Rodríguez are mentioned, who at different times have pointed out deficiencies in national refereeing. The recently retired Fernando Guerrero also emerges as a potential candidate, who could bring his recent on-field experience. With a vast international refereeing career, Enrique Osses leaves a legacy in Liga MX. His work in implementing VAR and training referees marked his tenure in Mexico, although his management was also a topic of debate. Now, his challenge will be to bring his knowledge and experience to Costa Rican refereeing, while in Mexico, a new chapter opens with questions about the future of the Referees Committee.

Source: MSN