Slavko Vinčić ends his career after the World Cup final

A week after the World Cup final in the USA, Slavko Vinčić officially ended his historic refereeing career at the top of the world. As the first Slovenian referee, the Maribor native officiated the final of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, confirming his status as one of the greatest referees in history. As the crowning glory of his farewell season, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) declared him the best referee of the World Cup, and in Italy he received the prestigious Giulio Campanati Award.

Slavko Vinčić, born on 25 November 1979, comes from Maribor and has been on the list of international referees since 2010. At the 2012 European Championship, he worked as additional AR and, along with the Slovenian team, reached the quarter-final between Greece and Germany. In 2013, he refereed at the final tournament of the U-17 Euro in Slovakia and reached the semi-finals, and in 2015, he refereed in the knock-out stages of European competitions for the first time, with the Europa League round of 16 match Guingamp - Dynamo Kyiv. At Euro 2016, he served again as additional AR for the Slovenian team led by Damir Skomina, and in the final round of the Champions League group stage in 2016, he made his debut in the elite club competition with the match Manchester City - Celtic. Since then, he has been regularly refereeing Champions League matches, and at the end of 2019, he was included in the elite group of European referees. He refereed at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, 2019 UEFA U-21 Euro in Poland, 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, Euro 2020 (including the quarter-final Belgium - Italy), 2022 Europa League final Eintracht Frankfurt - Glasgow Rangers, 2022 World Cup in Qatar, 2023 Nations League semi-final Spain - Italy, 2024 Champions League final Borussia Dortmund - Real Madrid, Euro 2024 (including the semi-final Spain - France), 2025 Nations League semi-final Germany - Portugal, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and finally the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.

Source: NZS

UEFA Referee Talent and Mentor 2026-2027

Men (9): Antoni Bandic (BIH, 1990), Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL, 1991), Patrik Kolaric (CRO, 1995), Samuel Barrott (ENG, 1992), Florian Badstübner (GER, 1991), Igor Stojchevski (MKD, 1989), Ishmael Barbara (MLT, 1993), Milan Milanovic (SRB, 1993), Oleksiy Derevinskyi (UKR, 1989).

Women (4): Kirsty Dowle (ENG, 1991), Lotta Vuorio (FIN, 1996), Franziska Wildfeuer (GER, 1993), Rasa Grigone (LTU, 1991).

UEFA Referee Coaches: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL), Silvia Spinelli (ITA), Matteo Trefoloni (ITA), Terje Hauge (NOR), Cuneyt Cakir (TUR)

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2026

Morocco, 17 October - 7 November 2026

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

Referee: Oh Hyeon-Jeong KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Park Mi-Suk KOR
Assistant Referee 2: Lee Soo-Bin KOR

Referee: Lara Lee AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Ramina Tsoi KGZ
Assistant Referee 2: Nuannid Donjangreed THA

CAF
Referee: Ghada Mehat ALG
Assistant Referee 1: Asma Ouahab ALG
Assistant Referee 2: Sakina Hamidou NIG

Referee: Josphine Wanjiru KEN
Assistant Referee 1: Nancy Kasitu ZAM
Assistant Referee 2: Tabara Mbodji SEN

Referee: Shahenda Saad EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Queency Victoire MRI
Assistant Referee 2: Houda Afine TUN

CONCACAF
Referee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Melissa Snedden CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Stephanie Yee Sing JAM

Referee: Deily Gomez CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Iris Vail GUA
Assistant Referee 2: Kindria Aguero CRC

Referee: Karen Hernandez MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Mayra Mora MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Karla Flores MEX

Referee: Natalie Simon USA
Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak USA
Assistant Referee 2: Tiffini Turpin USA

Referee: Vimarest Diaz DOM
Assistant Referee 1: Santa Medina DOM
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Nicholas TRI

CONMEBOL
Referee: Adriana Alvarez ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Carla Lopez ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Maria BevilacquaARG

Referee: Alejandra Quisbert BOL
Assistant Referee 1: Elizabeth Blanco BOL
Assistant Referee 2: Maria Cabezas BOL

Referee: Paula Fernandez COL
Assistant Referee 1: Nataly Arteaga COL
Assistant Referee 2: Carolina Vicuna COL

UEFA
Referee: Caroline Lanssens BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Stasa Spur SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Schmid SUI

Referee: Fabienne Michel GER
Assistant Referee 1: Amina Gutschi AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Anne Uersfeld GER

Referee: Michalina Diakow POL
Assistant Referee 1: Ivona Pejic CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Marilena Nan ROU

Referee: Miriama Bockova SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Anita Vad HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Tilde Hedberg SWE

Orsato replaced Rocchi as new Serie A referee designator

Daniele Orsato has officially been appointed as the new referee designator for Serie A and Serie B for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, the AIA have confirmed. Orsato is the replacement for Gianluca Rocchi, who suspended himself back in April after he was placed under investigation for his alleged involvement in sporting fraud and amidst allegations that he had influenced certain VAR decisions. Dino Tommasi has been serving as the interim refereeing chief in the three months since then.

Orsato, 50, is a retired referee who took charge of 290 Serie A matches across his officiating career. His most high-profile match came in the 2020 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. He also took charge of the 2024 Champions League semi-final second leg between PSG and Borussia Dortmund, and the 2022 World Cup semi-final between Argentina and Croatia. Orsato took charge of his final Serie A match, between Atalanta and Fiorentina, on June 2, 2024.He served as the AIA (Italian refereeing association) commissioner for the development of refereeing talent from January 2025 and as the referee designator of Serie C for the 2025-26 season. Nicola Rizzoli and Daniele Doveri were among the alternative options to Orsato for the role of Serie A and Serie B referee designator. Doveri, 48, will instead continue to referee for another season. Nicola Ayroldi will serve as the referee designator for Serie C.

Daniele Orsato has set out the approach he wants from his officials as he prepares for his first season as Serie A and Serie B refereeing designator, promising a clear distinction between genuine fouls and incidental contact.According to Corriere dello Sport, the former referee outlined his thinking to Rai Radio 1. “We’ll train to punish fouls, not contact in play,” Orsato said, laying down the guiding principle for the campaign ahead.These are intense days, we’re trying to study the individual profile of every referee. We’re looking for clear guidelines for the young officials, we’ll work on the athletic side and return to being technically strong.” The new designator also touched on two long-running debates in Italian football: the awarding of soft penalties, or ‘rigorini’, and diving. “We’ll follow the rules and work on our mistakes to get as few wrong as possible, the good faith and commitment of my lads will be total,” he said. On simulation, he promised vigilance: “We’ll monitor everything. This is an aspect that is on the decline.” Orsato singled out Maurizio Mariani, the only Italian official at the World Cup, as a benchmark. “He put in three very good performances at the World Cup, he’ll be our guide on the pitch and an example for the younger ones,” he said. Asked about the officiating at the tournament, he was complimentary, praising Slavko Vincic’s display in the final, while sidestepping the Balogun controversy entirely: “I didn’t take an interest in that subject. These are situations bigger than me.” His remarks flesh out the new era of Italian officiating that will also see VAR used to review wrongly awarded corners and second yellow cards next season, a UEFA-inspired shift Orsato has been charged with implementing.

Source: Football Italia

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2026

Poland, 5 - 27 September 2026

AFC
Referee: Asaka Koizumi JPN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Riiohlang Dhar IND
Assistant Referee 2: Amal Badhafari UAE

Referee: Casey Reibelt AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Emma Kocbek AUS
Assistant Referee 2: Madelaine Allum AUS

Referee: Kim Yu-Jeong KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Heba Saadieh PLE
Assistant Referee 2: Supawan Hinthong THA

Video Match Official
Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA

CAF
Referee: Shamirah Nabadda UGA
Assistant Referee 1: Fanta Kone MLI
Assistant Referee 1: Fides Bangurambona BDI

Referee: Twanyanyukwa Antsino NAM
Assistant Referee 1: Diana Chikotesha ZAM
Assistant Referee 2: Carine Atemzambong CMR

Video Match Officials
1. Letticia Viana SWZ
2. Maria Rivet MRI
3. Salima Mukansanga RWA

CONCACAF
Referee: Alyssa Pennington USA
Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen USA
Assistant Referee 2: Jassett Kerr-Wilson JAM

Referee: Lizzet Garcia MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Aranza Quero MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Jessica Morales MEX

Referee: Marianela Araya CRC
Assistant Referee 1: Shirley Perello HON
Assistant Referee 2: Lourdes Noriega HON

Referee: Myriam Marcotte CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Gabrielle Lemieux CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Mijensa Rensch SUR

Video Match Officials
1. Diana Perez MEX
2. Ismael Cornejo SLV

CONMEBOL
Referee: Anahi Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 1: Daiana Fernandez URU
Assistant Referee 2: Sofia Sarzay URU

Referee: Charly Straub BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Fernanda Antunes BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Anne Gomes BRA

Referee: Dione Rissios CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Leslie Vasquez CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Yomara Salazar CHI

Referee: Milagros Arruela PER
Assistant Referee 1: Vera Yupanqui PER
Assistant Referee 2: Mariana Aquino PER

Video Match Officials
1. Maria Daza COL
2. Stefani Escobar VEN
3. Susana Corella ECU
4. Rodrigo Carvajal CHI

UEFA
Referee: Alina Pesu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Constantinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Heini Hyvoenen FIN

Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Irina Pozdejeva LTU

Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Stefania Signorelli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Emily Carney ENG

Referee: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iragartze Fernandez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Andreia Sousa POR

Referee: Silvia Gasperotti ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giulia Tempestilli ITA 

Assistant Referee 2: Svitlana Grushko UKR

Video Match Officials
1. Angelos Evangelou GRE
2. Catarina Ferreira POR
3. Eszter Urban HUN
4. Jelena Jovanovic-Dzajic SRB

World Cup referee Anthony Taylor retires: “Intense pressure and constant scrutiny”

Referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement with immediate effect, highlighting the impact of the "intense" pressure of the role. Taylor, 47, enjoyed a 20-year career spanning 831 matches, with his final game being Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the World Cup last 16 on 6 July. A prison officer before becoming a professional referee, he was first added to the Football League list at the start of the 2006-07 season. Promotion to the Premier League followed in 2010, where he took charge of 432 top-flight matches and officiated every major domestic cup final. In total, he officiated 668 matches in the professional game in England.

"Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant," Taylor said. "The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career." The Wythenshawe-born referee, who had been on FIFA's list of officials for 14 years, was also selected for the 2022 World Cup, and the Euros in 2020 and 2024. In total, he officiated 163 international matches. Taylor was shortlisted to referee the 2022 World Cup final but was discounted because of political tensions between England and finalists Argentina. Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer at Pro Ref, said: "Anthony has been a fantastic servant to the game over many years, both domestically and on the international stage. He has been repeatedly trusted to officiate in the biggest games. We thank him for his immense contribution to the game and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career."

Taylor refereed the 2015 EFL Cup final, with Chelsea beating Tottenham Hotspur 2–0. In 2020, he became the first referee since 1901 to take charge of two FA Cup finals when Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1. Taylor previously took charge of the 2017 FA Cup final, also a 2-1 win for Arsenal against Chelsea. He also refereed the Community Shield in 2015 and the 2018 Championship play-off final. Taylor received praise for the way he handled the Euro 2020 game between Denmark and Finland, which had to be halted when Christian Eriksen collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. He has also been appointed to several high-profile UEFA matches, including the 2020 Super Cup final, with Bayern Munich beating Sevilla 2-1, the 2021 Nations League final, in which France beat Spain 2-1, and the 2023 Europa League final which saw Sevilla beat Roma on penalties. Taylor faced a great deal of abuse after the Europa League final but was firmly backed by UEFA referees' chief Roberto Rosetti. Roma boss Jose Mourinho called Taylor a "disgrace" twice in a post-match news conference before confronting him in a car park - an incident the Portuguese was given a four-match ban for. Taylor was then shouted at by angry fans as he walked though Budapest Airport with his family. In October 2025, Taylor spoke to BBC Sport about the impact of that night and the events that followed. "That's the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse," Taylor said. "Not only because I was travelling with family members at the time, but it also highlights the impact of people's behaviour on others. Even in a match like that, where there were actually no major mistakes in the game." Taylor, who also took charge of games at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022 and 2025, hinted in last October's interview that his career could be coming to an end. "I'm 47 next week, so that's quite old for somebody to be operating at this level, running around after people a lot younger than you," Taylor said. "It's much more of a challenge now to maintain the levels of fitness and to rest and recover." His retirement creates a gap at the top of refereeing in the English game.

Source: BBC

Collina's World Cup: "Technology doesn't kill emotions; it doubles them. The Spider cam? I'll explain..."

The Head of FIFA referees: "Vincic is very good; he reacted to the final appointment just like I did in 2002... We invest millions in technology, hoping it will be 'thrown away', meaning the referee has done well. But it was absurd that fans were watching replays while the match officials weren't."

Pierluigi Collina, the referee. "He's the best in history," say the French from France Football, the Ballon d'Or organisers. He has officiated the most important matches, featuring the strongest players, and finals of all kinds: the Olympics, Champions League, World Cups. Today he is the head of FIFA referees, and 24 years after his Germany-Brazil match, he found himself on the other side, as the person responsible for delivering the best news a colleague will ever receive in their career: "You will referee the World Cup final".

Spain v Argentina, Slavko Vincic to referee. "He's had a very good journey. I'm happy for him, as I am for the others who were here; making a choice wasn't easy". What was it like to announce the referee for a World Cup final for the third time? "Every time I get goosebumps. I know what these men and women have done for years, sacrificing so much, including their families. I expected Vincic's emotion; it was the same I experienced myself".

The World Cup saw several innovations: let's start with the eight seconds allowed to goalkeepers before restarting play? "In certain leagues, they held onto it for more than twenty seconds, an eternity. Referees didn't blow the whistle because the 'penalty' – an indirect free-kick inside the box – was disproportionate to the 'offence'. So, we gave them more time, eight seconds, and they know that if they exceed it, a corner will be awarded. The same applies to throw-ins and goal kicks. There have been few infringements, which demonstrates the positive impact of this introduction, making the game more fluid and enjoyable".

It was the most technological World Cup ever. "Technology was introduced to resolve a paradoxical situation. In the stadium, over 80,000 spectators had the chance to see in real-time what had happened on the pitch, but the only person who couldn't was the one who had to make the decisions... There were two paths: either we created an Amish community inside the stadium where technology was banned, or we gave the same opportunity to the referees. We invest millions, hoping, however, that they will be 'thrown away': that would mean the referees have done a good job and haven't needed it".

How much has the referee's role changed? "From the 90s to today, football has changed. Players are different; the game is played at a much higher speed. And throughout all this, technology has played an important role, including for referees. I remember the Brazil-Germany final; when I asked the local Japanese staff if they could give me VHS tapes with videos of the two teams, they looked at me strangely. Today, there's FIFA AI Pro, developed with Lenovo, which can provide useful information for preparation".

The spider-cam incident in Norway v England was discussed. "It's incredible that people can't be convinced that a ball didn't touch any cable... A graph was shown where, when the ball is touched by a player or an object, a peak is visible. In that case, a flat graph was seen from the moment the goalkeeper released the ball until the other player controlled it. There was only a slight wave, related to the air. The same applied to the ball's rotations, and the camera also remained stable. There are technological tools that allow you to clarify certain things".

And in Portugal v Croatia? "Here too, the graph was clear. There's a peak when it touches the Croatian attacker's head, then a flat line, and another peak when it touches the Portuguese defender's back. Since the system doesn't detect contact with hair, the peak is determined by contact with the head".

Some say technology 'kills' emotion. "That's historically inaccurate. For offside, there's a few seconds' wait for confirmation, but the player celebrates when they score. And if the goal is confirmed, there's a second celebration; if it's disallowed, the opposing team celebrates. I find it much fairer that emotion is based on a correct decision, rather than an incident destined to be debated for weeks or decades. Even today, sixty years later, people still question whether, in England's goal in the 1966 final, the ball truly crossed the line..."

Source: Gazzetta

Dankert surpassed Irrati as the top FIFA Video Match Official

German referee Bastian Dankert has built an outstanding international career as a Video Match Official. He had been involved in numerous major tournaments, including the FIFA World Cups in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, and the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Over time, he has accumulated the highest number of VAR appointments in major FIFA and UEFA finals:

UEFA Euro 2020 Final

UEFA Conference League 2022 Final

UEFA Europa League 2023 Final

UEFA Super Cup 2024 Final

UEFA Europa League 2025 Final

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final

UEFA Champions League 2026 Final

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

When VAR was introduced at the highest level, Italian Massimiliano Irrati was widely considered the top Video Match Official in the world. His most important appointments include:

FIFA World Cup 2018 Final

UEFA Champions League 2020 Final

FIFA World Cup 2022 Semi-final

UEFA Champions League 2022 Final (AVAR)

UEFA Champions League 2024 Final (SVAR)

FIFA investigating on-pitch brawl after World Cup final

Argentina will face an investigation into the ugly scenes at the end of the World Cup final, FIFA has confirmed. FIFA's disciplinary committee has appointed a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor to assess what happened after the final whistle at MetLife stadium. Any player or coach involved in the fracas could face suspension, while the Argentine Football Association (AFA) may also be fined.

Following their 1-0 defeat on Sunday, members of the Argentina team and backroom staff were involved in altercations with Spain players as they began to celebrate their World Cup success. Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada and assistant coach Roberto Ayala all appeared to be involved. It was initially reported by FIFA that Paredes had been sent off by referee Slavko Vincic after he pushed Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat. Paredes' red card was removed from the record shortly afterwards and FIFA has confirmed to BBC Sport that no disciplinary action was taken at the time. Argentina had already had one player dismissed, with Enzo Fernandez receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. FIFA had already begun the process of potential disciplinary action against Argentina after their players held a banner in support of their country's claims to the Falkland Islands following the 2-1 semi-final win against England. As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, a few Argentina players - including Lionel Messi - slumped to the turf. Others stood there motionless as Spain's players raced across the pitch in jubilation. Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates. As the Manchester City midfielder went past Molina, the Argentina defender appeared to punch Rodri on the arm or stomach. This was the fuse which ignited the trouble. Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner. Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involved too, jabbing Garcia in the throat. Unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene, only to be forced to the ground by Almada. Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard's face. Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo.

FIFA's disciplinary committee has a number of options open to it. By appointing a disciplinary and ethics prosecutor, FIFA will look in more detail at offences rather than just potential violent conduct. There is a greater chance of stronger punishment if players or the national association is charged and found guilty. Article 13 of the disciplinary code covers offensive behaviour and the principles of fair play. The actions of the players and staff could be judged as "violating the basic rules of decent conduct" and "behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or FIFA into disrepute". The disciplinary and ethics prosecutor will take into account "both aggravating and mitigating circumstances", and it has the power to enforce a ban globally. FIFA used this clause to charge then-Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales after kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain's Women's World Cup final win against England. Rubiales was banned from all football-related activities for three years in 2023 and lost an appeal to get it overturned. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was suspended from all football-related activity for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. It meant the Liverpool player missed the first nine games of the Premier League season. It is unlikely that Almada, Ayala, Molina and Paredes will face bans as long as this.

The AFA, however, has faced issues with the behaviour of its players in recent years. Argentina faced charges related to "offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play" and "misconduct of players and officials" following the 2022 World Cup final. The South Americans beat France on penalties but were criticised for the way they celebrated. Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a lewd gesture with his Goalkeeper of the Tournament trophy, before being filmed in the dressing room mocking France star Kylian Mbappe. Argentina were fined £18,300 and no action was taken against any player involved. But Martinez was banned for two games in 2024 for 'offensive behaviour' in World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia. Martinez repeated his infamous celebration using a replica Copa America trophy following a 3-0 win over Chile. Four days later, he hit a camera with his gloves as a cameraman approached him on the pitch after a 2-1 defeat by Colombia. Following Argentina's 2024 Copa America win, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez was forced to apologise for a video he posted. The French Football Federation said the song was a "racist and discriminatory" chant. At this World Cup, the AFA is already facing a probable fine for the banner held up after the England game. Their players celebrated while holding a cloth which read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine". In 2014, the AFA was fined £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia. It is possible that FIFA could issue bans to the players who were holding it: Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso and Lisandro Martínez.

Source: BBC

FIFA World Cup Final 2026: Vinčić (SVN)

Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić will take charge of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday 19 July, describing the opportunity as an “incredible honour”. The 46-year-old from Maribor, Slovenia, was informed of his appointment by Pierluigi Collina, FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee and said he was taken aback by the news. “So, first of all, a shock. Then happiness. I was shaking, so it’s an incredible honour to get the (FIFA) World Cup final,” he said. “It’s something that… it’s only a dream for a referee, for a young referee when they start. I’m very proud, very proud of myself, my team. “The appointment makes Vinčić the 23rd person in history to referee a FIFA World Cup final, and the first from Slovenia. “First of all, it’s very difficult to put everything into words, but I’m very proud to represent my country, Slovenia, in the biggest sporting event in the world,” he said. “So, yeah, I’m very proud. My team is very proud, and we will do our best.”

Vinčić is an experienced referee who has taken charge of a number of top games in European and international football. He officiated at UEFA EURO 2020 and then took charge of the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers FC. Two years later he officiated in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid and took charge of games at UEFA EURO 2024, including the semi-final between France and Spain. Last year he refereed games at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the United States. This is the Slovenian’s second FIFA World Cup – he took charge of two games during FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. So far in this tournament, Vinčić has officiated Brazil v. Morocco and Jordan v. Algeria in the group stage and Mexico v. Ecuador in the Round of 32. Vinčić was quick to share the credit for his achievement with the officiating team around him, in particular his assistant referees Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič. “Refereeing is all about teamwork. Without them, without Tomaž and Andraž, this is not possible,” he said. “I’m really happy that I have had them throughout my career, throughout our careers. We are really good friends, a good team, and thanks to them.” Vinčić said his preparation would follow the same rigorous pattern that has carried him through the tournament. “Preparation will not change much. We will analyse again the teams, even though we have been following them for these last 40-plus days,” he explained. “So, we will analyse the teams. We will stay focused, try to be mentally fresh, physically fresh, and we will do our best so that we will not be a topic after the match.”

Collina said the major factor behind the appointment to the final was performance throughout the tournament. “It’s… a long process. There are many pieces of the puzzle, but they have had to be combined all together to get the picture of the final referee, and it’s something that goes (on) through the competition,” he said. “Of course, the performances are [what] matter the most. Of course, the matches they refereed before, also the fact that his team is not playing (in) this competition, but mainly performances. At the end of the day, it’s what really matters.” Collina said it was always a special feeling to announce the appointment. “Well, what you have just seen is one of the most emotional moments in the competition, when we announce the match officials appointed for the two finals, for the bronze final and the gold final, and of course it’s emotional for the referees, but it is very emotional also for me,” he said. “This is the third time I [have done] it in a FIFA World Cup and, again, I always feel the goosebumps when I do that.” (Source: FIFA)

19 July 2026
Spain – Argentina
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Reserve AR: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
VAR: Bastian Dankert GER
AVAR: Nicolas Gallo COL
SVAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT
SBVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
SBAVAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Match for Third Place

18 July 2026

France – England
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN
Fourth Official: Jalal Jayed MAR
Reserve AR: Zakaria Brinsi MAR
VAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
AVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SVAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
SBVAR: Juan Soto VEN
SBAVAR: Juan Lara CHI

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semi-final 2

15 July 2026

England – Argentina
Referee: Ismail Elfath USA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA
Fourth Official: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Reserve AR: Daniele Bindoni ITA
VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
AVAR: Juan Lara CHI
SVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
SBVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SBAVAR: Joe Dickerson USA

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semi-final 1

14 July 2026

France – Spain
Referee: Ivan Barton SLV (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV
Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi SWE
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
AVAR: Dennis Higler NED
SVAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
SBVAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
SBAVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO

Dutch VAR Dieperink dies weeks after being dropped from FIFA World Cup

Dutch football referee Rob Dieperink has died weeks after he was dropped from officiating at the World Cup following a police investigation in the UK. Dieperink had been selected to be a video assistant referee (VAR) official at this summer's tournament but was removed from FIFA's list of World Cup officials in May. The 38-year-old was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in April following a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, but the case was dropped because of a lack of evidence. Dieperink was the VAR for Crystal Palace's 3-0 Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg win over Fiorentina on 9 April. A Metropolitan Police statement said: "On Thursday, 9 April, officers responded to a report of a sexual assault against a teenage boy, which occurred at an address on Wellesley Road, Croydon. A man in his 30s was subsequently arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. "Officers completed a thorough investigation and reviewed all available evidence, including gathering CCTV and examining digital devices. Following these enquiries, they concluded that the evidential threshold had not been met. No further action will be taken."

Dieperink had refereed in the Eredivisie since 2017 for a total of 284 matches across his career. He was a VAR at Euro 2024 and an assistant VAR for the 2024 Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen. After he was dropped from the World Cup, Dieperink said he had been "wrongly accused" in an interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, external. "It saddens me greatly that I have been wrongly accused," he said. "From the beginning, I have fully cooperated in the police investigation and also immediately gave full openness to FIFA, UEFA and the KNVB. I am grateful for the support I have received from the KNVB and the way in which they have dealt with this case. It is a pity that FIFA has decided not to appoint me for the World Cup anymore, of course I am disappointed about that."

The Netherlands' football association, the KNVB, said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by Dieperink's death. His cause of death has not been disclosed. "With Rob, we lose a highly valued referee, but above all a kind and dedicated colleague," the KNVB said in a statement. “Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and everyone who held him dear. We wish them much strength and support in processing this great loss."

FIFA, football's global governing body, said it learned of the news with "great sadness". "On behalf of the entire football community, we extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends and the Dutch Football Association. May he rest in peace," it said.

Source: BBC

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Second Referee Release

Match officials retained

AFC
Referee: Alireza Faghani AUS (photo)

Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis AUS
Assistant Referee 2: James Lindsay AUS

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh JOR
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Kalaf JOR
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al-Roalle JOR

Video Match Official
Khamis Al-Marri QAT

CAF
Referee: Pierre Atcho GAB
Assistant Referee 1: Boris Ditsoga GAB
Assistant Referee 2: Amos Abeigne GAB

Referee: Jalal Jayed MAR
Assistant Referee 1: Mostafa Akarkad MAR
Assistant Referee 2: Zakaria Brinsi MAR

CONCACAF
Referee: Ivan Barton SLV
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV
Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA

Referee: Ismail Elfath USA
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA

Video Match Officials
1. Guillermo Pacheco MEX
2. Tatiana Guzman NCA
3. Joe Dickerson USA
4. Armando Villarreal USA

CONMEBOL
Referee: Wilton Sampaio BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Boschilia BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires BRA

Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN

Video Match Officials
1. Juan Lara CHI
2. Nicolas Gallo COL
3. Leodan Gonzalez URU
4. Juan Soto VEN

UEFA
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA

Referee: Espen Eskas NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin NOR

Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL

Referee: Joao Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR

Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN

Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE

Video Match Officials
1. Ivan Bebek CRO
2. Bastian Dankert GER
3. Marco Di Bello ITA
4. Dennis Higler NED
5. Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
6. Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP

Match officials released after Quarter-finals

 
AFC
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim QAT
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri QAT
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh QAT

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Tsapenko UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Timur Gaynullin UZB

Video Match Officials
1. Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA
2. Mohammed Obaid UAE

CAF
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari ALG
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Zerhouni ALG

Referee: Amin Omar EGY
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud El-Regal EGY
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam EGY

Referee: Dahane Beida MTN
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Dos Santos ANG
Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Noupue CMR

Video Match Official
Mahmoud Ashour EGY

CONCACAF
Referee: Drew Fischer CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Barwegen CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa CAN

Referee: Said Martinez HON
Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez HON
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez HON

Referee: Cesar Ramos MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra MEX

Referee: Tori Penso USA
Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt USA

CONMEBOL
Referee: Yael Falcon ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Maximiliano Del Yesso ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Facundo Rodriguez ARG

Referee: Facundo Tello ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Bellati ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade ARG

Referee: Ramon Abatti BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Alves BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Danilo Manis BRA

Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Rocha CHI

Referee: Juan Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar PAR

Referee: Gustavo Tejera URU
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Barreiro URU
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Taran URU

Referee: Dario Herrera ARG
Assistant Referee: Cristian Navarro ARG

Referee: Raphael Claus BRA
Assistant Referee: Rodrigo Figueiredo BRA

Video Match Officials
1. Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
2. Antonio Garcia URU

UEFA
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG

Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG

Referee: Francois Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA

Referee: Clement Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA

Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER

Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED

Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi RO

Referee: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sanchez Rojo ESP

Video Match Officials
1. Bram Van Driessche BEL
2. Jarred Gillett ENG
3. Jerôme Brisard FRA

UEFA U-19 Euro Final 2026: Barrott (ENG)

11 July 2026

Spain – Germany
Referee: Samuel Barrott ENG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Wade Smith ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Jeffrey NIR
Fourth Official: Bence Csonka HUN
Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED

UEFA Women’s U-19 Euro Final 2026: Bočkova (SVK)

10 July 2026

Germany – Spain
Referee: Miriama Bočková SVK (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandra Mostowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Vasilia Tsiklitari GRE
Fourth Official: Deborah Bianchi ITA
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damkova CZE

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (Matches 99-100)

11 July 2026

Norway – England
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pagès FRA
Fourth Official: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Reserve AR: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
VAR: Jerome Brisard FRA
AVAR: Armando Villarreal USA
SVAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
SBVAR: Mohammed Obaid UAE
SBAVAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA

Argentina – Switzerland
Referee: João Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: Drew Fischer CAN
Reserve AR: Michael Barwegen CAN
VAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
AVAR: Juan Lara CHI
SVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
SBVAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
SBAVAR: Willy Delajod FRA

Collina: "We are not influenced by anyone"

The Round of 16 ties have now concluded, and we are 96 matches into the FIFA World Cup. What is your overall assessment?

Let’s start by saying that we have now played 50% more matches than at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and there are still eight more huge games to be played. Overall, we are happy. However, with such a high number of matches played in a relatively short period of time, it is normal that some things do not go as expected. When that happens, they are ready to work even harder to ensure they are fully prepared for the next match. Of course, constructive discussion about decisions will always be part of football, but unfounded allegations have no place in our sport. Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials. When this happens, it may provoke reactions that lead to threats against them and their families. This is not right. Equally, nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone, not even by the FIFA President [Gianni Infantino]. He has always shown his full support for FIFA Team One while trusting us to work with complete independence. Match officials make honest decisions and, just like players and coaches, they always try to do their best.

Are there any specific areas of focus for you?

Usually, during a competition, we prefer not to focus on specific incidents. However, as we recently clarified what match officials would be looking for when attacking players try to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from moving and being able to defend the goal, we also wanted to clarify another topic that has generated debate.

After every goal is scored, the VAR checks the attacking possession phase (APP). If a foul is identified in the build-up and is deemed to have had an impact on the goal, the VAR will recommend an on-field review. There is no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal. An example of this came in the Argentina v Egypt game where Egypt No. 19 Marwan Attia clearly treads on the foot of Argentina No. 6 Lisandro Martínez. We believe that a foul is a foul. Regardless of whether the foul appears 'obvious', if the referee did not see it on the field of play, the VAR can intervene.

Equally, if no foul is identified in the build-up to a goal, the VAR will advise the referee accordingly. Stepping on an opponent's foot is a foul, whereas a defender who touches the ball first and then makes normal football contact has not committed a foul. Again, an example of this came at the end of the same game. The referee and the VAR deemed it normal football contact between Egypt No. 10 Mohamed Salah and Argentina No. 10 Julián Alvarez. Of course, there will always be an element of subjectivity in some decisions, but we are happy with how this principle has been applied throughout the tournament.

Source: FIFA

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (Match 98)

10 July 2026

Spain – Belgium
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Ramon Abatti BRA
Reserve AR: Rafael Alves BRA
VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG
AVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO
SVAR: Joe Dickerson USA
SBVAR: Mahmoud Ashour EGY
SBAVAR: Antonio Garcia URU

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (Match 97)

9 July 2026

France – Morocco
Referee: Facundo Tello ARG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade ARG
Fourth Official: Dario Herrera ARG
Reserve AR: Cristian Navarro ARG
VAR: Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
AVAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU
SVAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
SBVAR: Abdullah Al-Shehri KSA
SBAVAR: Mohammed Obaid UAE

FIFA World Cup 2026 – First Referee Release

Match officials released after Round of 16

AFC
Referee: Ma Ning CHN (photo)
Assistant Referee: Zhou Fei CHN

Referee: Yusuke Araki JPN

Assistant Referee: Jun Mihara JPN

Referee: Khalid Al-Turais KSA
Assistant Referee: Mohammed Al-Abakry KSA

Referee: Omar Al-Ali UAE
Assistant Referee: Mohamed Al-Hammadi UAE

Video Match Officials: Shaun Evans AUS, Fu Ming CHN

CAF
Referee: Abongile Tom RSA
Assistant Referee: Zakhele Siwela RSA

Video Match Official: Hamza El-Fariq MAR

CONCACAF
Referee: Juan Calderon CRC
Assistant Referee: Juan Mora CRC

Referee: Oshane Nation JAM
Assistant Referee: Caleb Wales TRI

Referee: Katia Garcia MEX
Assistant Referee: Sandra Ramirez MEX

Video Match Official: Erick Miranda MEX

CONMEBOL
Referee: Andres Rojas COL
Assistant Referee: Alexander Guzman COL

Referee: Kevin Ortega PER
Assistant Referee: Michael Orue PER

Video Match Official: Rodolpho Toski BRA

OFC
Referee: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Assistant Referee: Isaac Trevis NZL

UEFA
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee: Stephane De Almeida SUI

Video Match Official: Fedayi San SUI

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 (Matches 89-96)

4 July 2026

Canada – Morocco

Referee: Michael Oliver ENG (photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG

Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG

Fourth Official: Danny Makkelie NED

Reserve AR: Hessel Steegstra NED

VAR: Jarred Gillett ENG

AVAR: Dennis Higler NED

SVAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL

Paraguay – France

Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev UZB

Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Tsapenko UZB

Assistant Referee 2: Timur Gaynullin UZB

Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim QAT

Reserve AR: Taleb Al-Marri QAT

VAR: Juan Lara CHI

AVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA

SVAR: Joe Dickerson USA

5 July 2026

Brazil – Norway

Referee: Ismail Elfath USA

Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker USA

Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins USA

Fourth Official: Said Martinez HON

Reserve AR: Walter Lopez HON

VAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA

AVAR: Leodan Gonzalez URU

SVAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP

Mexico – England

Referee: Alireza Faghani AUS

Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis AUS

Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay AUS

Fourth Official: Jalal Jayed MAR

Reserve AR: Zakaria Brinsi MAR

VAR: Nicolas Gallo COL

AVAR: Juan Lara CHI

SVAR: Juan Soto VEN

6 July 2026

Portugal – Spain

Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG

Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG

Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG

Fourth Official: Felix Zwayer GER

Reserve AR: Robert Kempter GER

VAR: Bastian Dankert GER

AVAR: Antonio Garcia URU

SVAR: Marco Di Bello ITA

USA – Belgium

Referee: Adham Makhadmeh JOR

Assistant Referee 1: Mohanmmad Al-Kalaf JOR

Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Al-Roalle JOR

Fourth Official: Pierre Atcho GAB

Reserve AR: Boris Ditsoga GAB

VAR: Khamis Al-Marri QAT

AVAR: Nicolas Gallo COL

SVAR: Hernan Mastrangelo ARG

7 July 2026

Argentina – Egypt

Referee: François Letexier FRA

Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA

Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA

Fourth Official: Espen Eskas NOR

Reserve AR: Isaak Bashevkin NOR

VAR: Jerome Brisard FRA

AVAR: Willy Delajod FRA

SVAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL

Switzerland – Colombia

Referee: Ivan Barton SLV

Assistant Referee 1: David Moran SLV

Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Pupiro NCA

Fourth Official: Katia Garcia MEX

Reserve AR: Sandra Ramirez MEX

VAR: Guillermo Pacheco MEX

AVAR: Armando Villarreal USA

SVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO

FIFA suspended the red card issued to Balogun during Round of 32

USA striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in the co-host’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday at Seattle Stadium. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued an update on Sunday on the status of the 25-year-old New York-born attacker, who has three goals for the Stars & Stripes at these global finals. “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.” Balogun had been shown a red card in the 64th minute of the Round of 32 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which USA went on to win 2-0. (Source: FIFA)

ROYAL BELGIAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

The Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) is stunned by FIFA's decision that the suspended United States player, Balogun, should nevertheless be eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match scheduled for Monday, 6 June at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time). FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This article states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction. However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly states that a red card (dismissal) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case with every previous red card at this FIFA World Cup. Furthermore, irrespective of the above, the decision directly contradicts the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, specifically Article 10.5, which states: "If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed." The automatic nature of the suspension was also expressly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026. The rule is further reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting held before each match, as well as in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations. In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating member associations and to uphold the overall principles of fair play in our sport, both now and at future FIFA World Cups, the KBVB will continue to examine this matter thoroughly.

After learning through media reports of FIFA’s decision to lift the automatic suspension of player Balogun, the RBFA sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of the decision, an explanation of the process that had been followed, and setting out its position regarding the applicable regulations. As its only response, FIFA sent a letter to the RBFA stating that it considered this correspondence to constitute an appeal, that a judge had been appointed, and that the RBFA had only a few hours to complete that appeal. No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA. For an appeal to be admissible, FIFA’s own regulations state that the reasoned decision must first have been communicated to the appellant. While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible. All of this occurred while FIFA simultaneously refused to respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests. Furthermore, during the match coordination meeting, FIFA deliberately removed the section concerning the automatic suspension of players from its presentation. This topic had nonetheless been part of all such meetings before each of the previous four matches. The RBFA questioned FIFA, both orally and in writing, about the reasons for this change, yet once again received no response. To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter. It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match. Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole.

SWISS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

The decision in the Balogun case is incomprehensible to the Swiss Football Association (SFA), regardless of how it came about. Until now, the principle has been clear: any player sent off is automatically suspended for the next match. This rule applied equally to everyone and ensured both clarity and consistency. This decision raises questions and creates uncertainty, particularly regarding the authority of referees' decisions, especially when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is involved. The credibility of the competition depends on clear rules that are applied consistently..

UEFA

Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line. Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension. When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition. Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.

FIFA President

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance. FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected. Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold. I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree. What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”

FIFA Referees Committee

"FIFA recognizes Raphael Claus as one of the most outstanding professional referees in the world and a valuable member of the 'Team One' at the FIFA World Cup. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity". Pierluigi Collina, FIFA Refereeing Director and Chairman of the Referees Committee, stated: 'Raphael Claus is refereeing in his second FIFA World Cup, having participated with us in Qatar 2022. He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him as a reliable official.'"

CONMEBOL

The Referees' Committee of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) expresses its full appreciation for the career, professionalism, integrity, independence, and professional competence of South American referee Raphael Claus, qualities he has repeatedly demonstrated throughout his distinguished international refereeing career. Therefore, the Committee expresses its full and unreserved support for his work, reaffirming its confidence in his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to the service of world football.

UEFA U-19 Euro 2026

Wales, 28 June – 11 July 2026

Referees
1. Samuel Barrott ENG (photo)
2. Florian Badstübner GER
3. Bence Csonka HUN
4. Igor Stojčevski MKD
5. Joey Kooij NED
6. Joakim Sars SWE

Assistant Referees
1. Elşad Abdullayev AZE
2. Wade Smith ENG
3. Christian Gittelmann GER
4. Balázs Szert HUN
5. Aleksandar Gurkovski MKD
6. Murat Küçükerbir NED
7. Adam Jeffrey NIR
8. Simon Kristensson SWE

Fourth Officials
1. Marius Hansen NOR
2. Aaron Jones WAL

Referee Observers
1. Costas Kapitanis CYP
2. Alan Sant MLT
3. Nuno Castro POR 

4. Martin Hansson SWE