Webb: Balogun World Cup red card saga fuels referee distrust

Howard Webb, the head of Premier League referees, has said he was "troubled" by Folarin Balogun's overturned red card during the World Cup as it fuelled perceptions among supporters that decisions are either "correct or corrupt." United States forward Balogun triggered an automatic suspension by being sent off for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic during a 2-0 round-of-32 win for Mauricio Pochettino's team. But the 25-year-old's one-game suspension was unexpectedly lifted, enabling him to play in the round of 16 tie against Belgium, after FIFA announced that the ban had been suspended for the period of one year. U.S. President Donald Trump subsequently admitted to speaking to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for Balogun's ban to be overturned, prompting widespread anger within the football world, including Belgium coach Rudi Garcia saying he initially thought the decision was an April Fools' Day joke.

Webb, who refereed the 2010 Men's World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands in South Africa, said that the Balogun saga has damaged trust between the game and supporters. "I was really troubled by it [decision to overturn Balogun's suspension]," Webb told reporters. "I don't know the ins and outs of the process, only what happened in the end. Where I was troubled by it was that we live in a world now which is different to the one that I occupied as a ref in that the decisions that are taken were previously viewed as correct or incorrect based on your judgment. Far too often now, decisions are viewed as correct or corrupt by people who want to type all over social media. They try to draw inferences around decisions, around the scene, but they don't agree with the motivation behind that decision, which is born out of no facts, no evidence. But when you get that type of situation, it opens up space for people to think, 'Aha, you see this sort of things happening all the time behind the scenes.' It's really not like that in my experience, in my professional experience. But the fact that that sort of [political] influence can be had, is just really not reflective of the game that I know." Webb, who worked as manager for MLS between 2017-2022, said that he "understands" why Balogun was shown a red card against Bosnia and was left bemused by FIFA's decision to lift the Monaco forward's suspension. "The facts that we know, what do we know? We know for sure that the red card was shown," Webb said. "You can form an opinion about the validity of the red card, and I understand why it was given. We know that there was pressure placed by a politician onto FIFA because that was admitted. And we know that the suspension was taken away for that particular tournament and suspended through a process which seemingly didn't exist before the World Cup that started. The officials do their job on the field. You referee the game in the 90 minutes to the best of your ability, with your VAR, to the best of your ability. Then what happens, happens afterwards."

Source: ESPN

Ligue 1 referee Kherradji sentenced to six-month suspended prison term for domestic violence

A Ligue 1 referee for the past two years, Abdelatif Kherradji was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term for domestic violence, with the conviction not being entered into his criminal record - a crucial detail for his future career, according to his legal counsel.

The Criminal Court of Nîmes has delivered its verdict: Abdelatif Kherradji (40) - a Ligue 1 referee for the past two years - was sentenced this Wednesday morning to a six-month suspended prison term following his trial on August 7 for domestic violence; the sentence includes a three-year ban on contacting the victim and a requirement to complete a domestic violence awareness program. However, this sentence will not be recorded on his criminal record. The public prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence. The referee's former partner accused him of grabbing her by the neck on the evening of March 13 and then assaulting her to prevent her from leaving their home. Two months later, Kherradji allegedly grabbed her by the shoulder before pinning her against a wall. He had firmly defended himself against these accusations. Testifying in criminal court, he maintained that she was the one who had struck him - punching and kicking him - and that he had merely acted in self-defense, never physically abusing her. Abdelatif Kherradji’s profession was a recurring theme throughout the hearing, and it remains a focal point following the verdict. "This is a victory following a courageous battle waged by the plaintiff," said Olivier Morice, one of the victim's lawyers, speaking by phone. "I cannot imagine for a moment that football authorities would allow a Ligue 1 referee to continue officiating after being convicted of domestic violence."

Abdelatif Kherradji had met with his superiors the week before his trial to explain his situation; they must now decide on potential disciplinary action. Eric Borghini, one of his lawyers, expressed optimism: "It’s a good decision for us," he explained. "The court delivered a fair verdict. It amounts to a symbolic sentence, with no provisional enforcement and no entry on his criminal record. The prosecutor had sought an eighteen-month suspended prison sentence with provisional enforcement, which was excessive given the facts of the case. For its part, the civil party had demanded a €10,000 interim payment and a court-ordered expert assessment to maximize the compensation," Borghini continued. "They were awarded none of that. Most importantly, when delivering the verdict, the presiding judge stated publicly in court that the ruling excluded any entry on the criminal record so that the judgment would have no professional repercussions for Mr. Kherradji. I immediately forwarded this decision to Mr. Kherradji’s superiors," Borghini concluded. "If Abdelatif faces no sanctions from the Federation, we will not appeal. We just hope to receive the written decision relatively quickly, as we only have ten days to decide." The case has been referred to the Criminal Court of Nîmes for the determination of damages on 19 March 2027.

Source: L'equipe

Artan invited to UEFA Referee Course

A few days after officiating the UEFA Super Cup, CAF Referee of the Year Omar Artan has received a further invitation from UEFA. Artan continues to climb the ranks on the international stage. Having previously been denied entry to the United States to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Somali referee is now winning UEFA’s trust.

After officiating the UEFA Super Cup on 12 August between Paris Saint Germain and Aston Villa, UEFA has invited Omar Artan to take part in the 2026 UEFA Men’s Summer Course, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 31 August to 2 September 2026. In addition to this invitation, UEFA is also reported to have expressed its wish to see Omar Artan referee football matches in Europe. UEFA is reported to have officially informed the Confederation of African Football and the Somali Football Federation of Omar Artan’s invitation.

Source: Daily Sports

Premier League to offer enhanced referee and VAR communications

The Premier League and Pro Ref is opening up more communications from the on-field referees and video assistant referees (VARs) in-game this season – to give supporters further insight into how and why decisions are made. Alongside the professional referees’ body, the Premier League will also continue to lobby football’s lawmakers IFAB to allow more communications from the Match Officials to be broadcast in-game. While this continues, there are opportunities to provide more information in-game via existing and new communications channels – through messaging on the Premier League Match Centre X account – which will also now be available on the Premier League website and app – and Ref Cam.

Direct officials’ wording from Premier League Match Centre

This season, communications from Premier League Match Centre will include direct quotes from the on-field officials and from VAR, in selected incidents where this can be helpful to clarify the rationale behind a decision. This can include the “referee’s call” as described on-field, and the VAR’s direct explanation for why they do not intervene or why they recommended an on-field review. This is in addition to the existing clarifications posted by PL Match Centre, which go alongside in-stadium referee announcements and messaging on the big screens in-stadium. The posts for each incident will be published on the Premier League Match Centre page on X – and now, on the Premier League website and Premier League app via a dedicated page updated for each match round.

In-game audio from the Ref Cam

Ref Cam offers a unique perspective from the referee’s view during Premier League matches. Last season, we saw in-game video clips being used in select incidents and next season, this will be expanded to include audio clips. This will only be used in games using Ref Cam – which is approximately 1-2 games per match round – and only for selected incidents. This will not include live or in-game audio from the VAR, in line with the restrictions defined by IFAB.

Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel

From the 2026/27 season – the Premier League will publish the results of its Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel weekly, on its website and app – for full transparency around the evaluation of the decisions made by Match Officials. The KMI Panel, introduced during the 2022/23 Premier League season, is an independent body tasked with reviewing key decisions as part of the evaluation of match officials’ performance. The primary purpose of the KMI Panel is to assess critical Premier League match incidents, such as penalties, red cards, offside decisions, and other situations that fall under the referee's jurisdiction. Each decision by Match Officials is adjudged to be correct or incorrect in the opinion of the panel, made up of three former players or coaches, alongside a representative from each of the Premier League and Pro Ref.

Match Officials Mic’d Up

Howard Webb, Pro Ref’s Chief Refereeing Officer, will continue to front the regular “Match Officials Mic’d Up” programme – available via Premier League broadcast partners. The show allows the release of the full on-field and VAR audio around selected incidents, alongside Howard’s analysis, to provide further rationale and bring supporters closer to the decisions made in the Premier League.

Source: Premier League

Vincic to Messi: “Control Paredes!”

Slavko Vincic arguably had the best view of the World Cup final. And now, in newly released footage, viewers can see snippets of what unfolded in a fraught match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium on July 19 from the Slovenian referee’s perspective. Whether it was asking Lionel Messi to “control” team-mate Leandro Paredes, who had already received a yellow card, his view of Ferran Torres’ match-winning strike for Spain, or twice being told he did a “great job” by U.S. President Donald Trump during the medal ceremony, Vincic was never too far away from the action.

The footage begins in the tunnel ahead of kick-off and shows Messi embracing several Spanish players, including Marc Cucurella and Rodri, before a brief handshake and introduction to the match officials. Amusingly, anything said during the coin toss with team captains Rodri and Messi was drowned out by David Guetta’s Titanium blaring through the MetLife sound system. But once the footage cuts to the action, it immediately shows Vincic in conversation with Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, ultimately warning Mac Allister “for you, last one” in reference to a challenge made by the Liverpool player. Vincic is then perfectly placed to watch Messi receive the ball in a tight space and knock it past Rodri with his left foot before he is pulled back by Spain’s captain to win a free kick. Up next on the montage is Lamine Yamal, the Spanish star who was once bathed by Messi. He is hacked down by Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez in an effort to stop a counter-attack. Martinez is then shown a yellow card. In a sign of how he sought to control the match, Vincic says: “Lionel, I see it”, after Messi is held back and turns towards the Slovenian, prompting the 39-year-old to turn back around without confronting the official. The most pertinent piece of advice from Vicnic, however, comes when he tells Messi, who is unsurprisingly heavily featured in the near-five-minute video, to keep Paredes on a tighter leash. The Argentinian defensive midfielder was brought on at half-time and booked just six minutes later. “Messi, control Paredes,” Vincic says. “I don’t want to… he has yellow. Control please. Always, always.” Paredes heeded Messi’s advice by avoiding a second yellow card during the match, only to then lose his cool at full time when he appeared to grab Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat before throwing Gavi, another Spaniard, to the ground. On July 29, FIFA announced that Paredes is being investigated for three counts of assault. The brawl is not shown in the ref’s-eye-view World Cup final footage.

The use of a referee body camera during the men’s World Cup followed on from its success during the Club World Cup in 2025, although in the summer FIFA utilised a “stabilisation algorithm”, which they said was developed in conjunction with Lenovo, one of their many commercial partners. World football’s governing body described it as a “lightweight video device securely worn on the official’s head” that captures their point of view during matches, as well as recording and transmitting “high-definition video and audio in real time”. This can then be integrated live into the broadcast or used for post-match reviews, although, as per FIFA’s official website, there are rules around when it can be used. “For routine, non-controversial moments before, during or after a match, the video and audio can generally be shared with viewers without restrictions,” FIFA’s information on the technology reads. “In potentially sensitive situations, such as in the event of confrontations, serious fouls or injuries, an approval process needs to be followed before the material can be shared.”

In scenes similar to how the video started, only with the background music not being quite so intrusive, Rodri and Messi are back in front of Vincic for a coin toss before extra time begins. Quickly afterwards, viewers are treated to a glimpse of Torres’ winner from the perspective of Vincic, who is standing just outside of the penalty area as the 26-year-old strikes his 106th-minute effort into the roof of the net from close range. As Vincic completes a 360-degree turn, the contrast of emotions he picks up in doing so paints a picture of uncontained joy and ultimate despair. One by one, the Argentina players fall to the floor, while Spain run jubilantly to the corner flag. After the Slovenian blows for full time, and once the ensuing melee is over, the video shows him in conversation with Spain’s Dani Olmo, telling the forward that “they were so difficult, so difficult”, prompting Olmo to tell him “you did great”. Vincic then reveals to Olmo that it is his “last match” as a referee - he announced his retirement on July 27 - to which the Spaniard responds by saying “congratulations on an amazing career.” “I really appreciate you a lot,” Olmo adds. All that is left for Vincic to do is to walk to the trophy podium, passing through a tunnel of Spanish players on his way, to be greeted by Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, with Trump standing alongside him. And as Vincic takes a step towards Trump, the U.S. President twice says “great job” and proceeds to put a medal around the referee’s neck. He then shakes hands with Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, and Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, before the video ends.

Source: The Athletic

UEFA Europa Conference League 2026/27 – Play-offs (First Leg)

20 August 2026

Atalanta BC – Hapoel Tel Aviv
Referee: Javier Alberola Rojas ESP (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Alfredo Rodríguez Moreno ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Álvarez Fernández ESP
Fourth Official: Víctor García Verdura ESP
VAR: César Soto Grado ESP
AVAR: Jorge Figueroa Vázquez ESP
Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB

Lincoln Red Imps – Larne
Referee: Kristo Tohver EST
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Kõiv EST
Assistant Referee 2: Sander Saga EST
Fourth Official: Kevin Kaivoja EST
VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
AVAR: Marko Liiva EST
Referee Observer: Edgar Steinborn GER

Inter Turku – FC Copenhagen
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Davit Akhvlediani GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Davit Gabisonia GEO
Fourth Official: Bakari Bregadze GEO
VAR: Peter Bankes ENG
AVAR: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
Referee Observer: Edward Foley IRL

Tromso – Brighton & Hove
Referee: Edgars Maļcevs LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Mārtiņš Svipsts LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Deniss Ševčenko LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs LVA
VAR: Kristaps Ratnieks LVA
AVAR: Piotr Lasyk POL
Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen FRO

Midtjylland – Rijeka
Referee: Balázs Berke HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Vencel Tóth HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Balázs Szert HUN
Fourth Official: Bence Csonka HUN
VAR: Tamás Bognár HUN
AVAR: Eszter Urbán HUN
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA

Nordsjaelland – St. Gallen
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Matěj Vlček CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Kamil Hájek CZE
Fourth Official: Ondřej Pechanec CZE
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Tomáš Kocourek CZE
Referee Observer: Lucílio Batista POR

KI Klaksvik – Riga
Referee: Samuel Barrott ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Nunn ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Wade Smith ENG
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam ENG
VAR: Darren England ENG
AVAR: James Bell ENG
Referee Observer:

PAOK – Brann
Referee: António Nobre POR
Assistant Referee 1: Nélson Pereira POR
Assistant Referee 2: Francisco Pereira POR
Fourth Official: Sérgio Guelho POR
VAR: Fábio Melo POR
AVAR: Bruno Esteves POR
Referee Observer: Mika Peltola FIN

Vikingur Reykjavik – Borac
Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Ridiger Çokaj ALB
Fourth Official: Florian Lata ALB
VAR: Jeroen Manschot NED
AVAR: Olsion Yzeiraj ALB
Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR

Drita – Inter Escaldes
Referee: Robert Hennessy IRL
Assistant Referee 1: Emmett Dynan IRL
Assistant Referee 2: Fintan Butler IRL
Fourth Official: Kevin O’Sullivan IRL
VAR: André Narciso POR
AVAR: Ana Ribeiro POR
Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP

Gornik Zabrze – AS Monaco
Referee: Martin Matoša SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandar Kasapovič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
VAR: Matej Jug SVN
AVAR: Alen Borošak SVN
Referee Observer: William Collum SCO

Twente – Qarabag
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Rejdi Avdo ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Mario Shazivari ALB
Fourth Official: Emanuela Rusta ALB
VAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
AVAR: Albert Doda ALB
Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU

Sion – Ajax
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mehmet Culum SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Fredrik Klyver SWE
Fourth Official: Granit Maqedonci SWE
VAR: Paweł Malec POL
AVAR: Bartosz Frankowski POL
Referee Observer: Ichko Lozev BUL

Motherwell – Freiburg
Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Cosmin Bojan ROU
Fourth Official: Andrei Chivulete ROU
VAR: Ovidiu Hațegan ROU
AVAR: Cristina Trandafir ROU
Referee Observer: Sascha Amhof SUI

Panathinaikos – Hradec Kralove
Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Alexis Auger FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Éric Wattellier FRA
VAR: Jérémie Pignard FRA
AVAR: Hamid Guenaoui FRA
Referee Observer: Petteri Kari FIN

Gent – Hibernian
Referee: Paweł Raczkowski POL
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Patryk Gryckiewicz POL
VAR: Paweł Pskit POL
AVAR: Piotr Urban POL
Referee Observer: Gunnar Jónsson ISL

Lugano – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Referee: Miloš Milanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Milan Pašajlić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Svetozar Živin SRB
Fourth Official: Pavle Ilić SRB
VAR: Aleksandar Živković SRB
AVAR: Dejan Trifković SRB
Referee Observer: Stefan Johannesson SWE

Heart of Midlothian – Rapid Wien
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vilius Paulauskas LTU
VAR: Ángelos Evangélou GRE
AVAR: Donatas Šimėnas LTU
Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson SWE

Rangers – Jablonec
Referee: Marian Barbu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mircea Grigoriu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Imre Bucsi ROU
Fourth Official: George Găman ROU
VAR: Cătălin Popa ROU
AVAR: Marcel Bîrsan ROU
Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez ESP

Shamrock Rovers – Kups Kuopio
Referee: Morten Krogh DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Victor Skytte DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Bramsen DEN
Fourth Official: Jacob Karlsen DEN
VAR: Jakob Kehlet DEN
AVAR: Sandi Putros DEN
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT

Hajduk Split – Rakow Czestochowa
Referee: Michal Očenáš SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Jekkel SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Tobiáš Pacák SVK
Fourth Official: Matej Choreň SVK
VAR: Tiago Martins POR
AVAR: Martin Dohál SVK
Referee Observer: Goran Mihaljević MNE

Dinamo City – Pafos
Referee: Lawrence Visser BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Ruben Wyns BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Michele Seeldraeyers BEL
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme BEL
VAR: Jan Boterberg BEL
AVAR: Wesli De Cremer BEL
Referee Observer: Kenneth Clark SCO

Braga – Austria Wien
Referee: Ishmael Barbara MLT
Assistant Referee 1: James Muscat MLT
Assistant Referee 2: Duncan Spencer MLT
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic MLT
VAR: Jonas Hansen DEN
AVAR: Michael Tykgaard DEN
Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI

Getafe – Partizan
Referee: Andris Treimanis LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjoņņikovs LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs LVA
VAR: Luca Pairetto ITA
AVAR: Vitālijs Spasjoņņikovs LVA
Referee Observer: João Ferreira POR

UEFA Europa League 2026/2027 – Play-Offs (First Leg)

20 August 2026

OFI Crete – CSKA Sofia
Referee: Srdjan Jovanović SRB (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Uroš Stojković SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Miloš Simović SRB
Fourth Official: Novak Simović SRB
VAR: Momčilo Marković SRB
AVAR: Jelena Cvetković SRB
Referee Observer: Martin Atkinson ENG

Jagiellonia Bialystok – Iberia Tbilisi
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iker de Francisco Grijalba ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iván Massó Granado ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Quintero González ESP
VAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
AVAR: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST

Qairat – Anderlecht
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG
AVAR: Matthew Donohue ENG
Referee Observer: Alan Mario Sant MLT

Mjallby – Salzburg
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash UKR
Fourth Official: Dmytro Panchyshyn UKR
VAR: Clay Ruperti NED
AVAR: Denys Shurman UKR
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR

Trabzonspor – Ferencvaros
Referee: Igor Pajač CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Bojan Zobenica CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Mihalj CRO
Fourth Official: Mateo Erceg CRO
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE

Universitatea Craiova – Ararat Armenia
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson SCO
VAR: Andrew Dallas SCO
AVAR: Steven McLean SCO
Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA

Egnatia – Lillestrom
Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Valentin Évrard FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
VAR: Mathieu Vernice FRA
AVAR: Benoît Millot FRA
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi SMR

Lech Poznan – Thun
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner AUT
Fourth Official: Walter Altmann AUT
VAR: Alan Kijas AUT
AVAR: Josef Spurny AUT
Referee Observer:

Besiktas – Kauno Zalgiris
Referee: Tobias Stieler GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Weickenmeier GER
Fourth Official: Robin Braun GER
VAR: Sören Storks GER
AVAR: Benjamin Cortus GER
Referee Observer: Gylfi Orrason ISL

Saint Truidense – Omonia Nicosia
Referee: Georgi Kabakov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Margaritov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Venev BUL
Fourth Official: Dimitar Dimitrov BUL
VAR: Dragomir Draganov BUL
AVAR: Nikola Popov BUL
Referee Observer: Drago Kos SVN

Crvena Zvezda – Viktoria Plzen
Referee: Espen Eskas NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Alf Rossland NOR
Fourth Official: Sigurd Kringstad NOR
VAR: Bram Van Driessche BEL
AVAR: Bert Put BEL
Referee Observer: Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP

Benfica – Aarhus
Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giuseppe Perrotti ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
VAR: Michael Fabbri ITA
AVAR: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Referee Observer: Marián Ružbarský SVK

UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 – Play-offs (First Leg)

18 August 2026

Fenerbahçe – Olympique Lyonnais
Referee: Sven Jablonski GER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduard Beitinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann GER 
Fourth Official: Tobias Reichel GER
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Pascal Müller GER
Referee Observer: Michael Riley ENG

Levski Sofia – AEK Athens
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck SWE
VAR: Dennis Higler NED
AVAR: Erwin Blank NED
Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman NED

Dinamo Zagreb – Viking FK
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük NED 

 Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Inia NED
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig NED
Fourth Official: Joey Kooij NED
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Richard Martens NED
Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI

19 August 2026
Celtic – LASK
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI
Fourth Official: Anojen Kanagasingam SUI
VAR: Fedayi San SUI
AVAR: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA

Slovan Bratislava – Celje
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Nikolai Kimmeyer GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
VAR: Robert Schröder GER
AVAR: Johann Pfeifer GER
Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel FRA

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Sabah FC
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA
AVAR: Valerio Marini ITA
Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold NOR

NEC Nijmegen – Bodo Glimt
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
VAR: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
AVAR: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP
Referee Observer: Vítor Melo Pereira POR

CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Final 2026: El-Maghrabi (EGY)

16 August 2026

Final
Cameroon – Malawi
Referee: Shahenda El-Maghrabi EGY (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Queency Victoire MRI
Assistant Referee 2: Houda Afine TUN
Fourth Official: Vincentia Amedome TOG
Reserve AR: Nafissatou Yekini BEN
VAR: Dorsaf Ganouati TUN
AVAR: Zakaria Bouchtaoui MAR
SVAR: Leticia Viana SWZ
Referee Assessor: Fatou Gaye SEN

Match for Third Place
Morocco – Algeria
Referee: Josephine Wanjiku KEN
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Tabara Mbodji SEN
Fourth Official: Aline Etong CMR
Reserve AR: Nancy Kasitu ZAM
VAR: Maria Rivet MRI
AVAR: Lumbizai Musawa ZAM
SVAR: Brighton Chimene ZIM

Marciniak: “I would give a yellow card on a video test, but this is World Cup!”

Referee Szymon Marciniak analyzed the Messi incident in the World Cup group stage match Argentina - Algeria: “If you watch the situation calmly and analyse it properly, at normal speed, that situation lasts a fraction of a second. Messi fouls the opponent with his knee, the Algerian wants to roll over in front of him, and Messi has to put his foot somewhere, he touches his calf, realises it, and immediately lifts that leg. He simply touched him while falling, zero pressure. The Algerian looks at him, approaches and offers his hand. The whole thing lasts maybe seven or eight seconds. I’m just waiting, because it’s clear that VAR has to check it. Then I listen to these pseudo-experts… Marciniak this, Marciniak that, he didn’t give VAR a chance to check, and so on. Gentlemen, we have been using VAR since 2018. Every day we get information from Collina. Even if there’s no pressure, it’s better to check. If necessary, they’ll call me over to the monitor. And there were three VMOs there. It wasn’t three Poles – there was a Pole, I don’t remember the third one now, but there were two other guys as well. And for every one of them it was a very straightforward situation.

Of course, when you look at the picture… remember, a photo is just a still image. When you look at it in normal speed, people would probably be happy if they just looked at the picture and gave a yellow card. And technically, if you asked me, on a video test I would also give a yellow card, no problem at all. But the World Cup is the World Cup! You only know at the end of the match whether you did the right thing. If it turned out that this situation meant that afterwards I had another foul, and then another one, and I ended up giving five or six yellow cards in the match… then I would have chosen the wrong tactic, I would have assessed it wrongly. But there wasn’t a single card in that match. I don’t know whether those experts, who are evaluating all these things, also noticed that or not.”

Source: Kanal Sportowy

Rosetti launched UEFA Clear Line: “It's football, not PlayStation!”

UEFA referees' chief Roberto Rosetti says some video assistant referee reviews "were not connected with football" after meeting with leaders from the top European leagues last month. Rosetti was speaking as he launched Clear Line, an external first-of-its-kind portal for fans which tries to lay out when a VAR should, and should not, intervene. The lead referee officers from England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy met with Rosetti and David Elleray, the IFAB's technical director, to try to find a more uniform approach to decisions. "We realise that everywhere now there is not any satisfaction about how VAR is impacting football," Rosetti said. "So, we want to avoid microscopic situations. The context is super important. It's football, not PlayStation. We need to be very, very careful. The referee must referee the match. It's something important for football, for clear situations and clear mistakes." Rosetti conceded that trying to find a consistent approach across all leagues, which tend to have their own interpretations of some offences, would be difficult. On Clear Line, UEFA has uploaded many video examples of handball situations to explain what is considered an offence. "The idea is to be more consistent in the application of the laws," Rosetti said. "The perception about handball in England is different. Football is not perfect, and sometimes we will continue to have similar situations interpreted in different ways. But at least we are working together." With VAR, too, the Champions League and the Premier League are worlds apart. In the 2025-26 campaign, the Premier League had the lowest intervention rate in Europe at 0.29 per game, while the Champions League was 0.47 per game. Rosetti said that there were "too many reviews" and more interventions were affecting player behaviour, with attempts to play for or earn video decisions. "We wanted to come back to the origin of VAR," Rosetti said, referencing incidents like Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup. "We are not happy any more about this kind of use of VAR. We want to try to come back a little bit, and to put again the referees at the centre." Rosetti said that the time being taken over VAR reviews was a particular concern, with lengthy reviews featuring multiple TV replays being less acceptable to supporters. Any check longer than 90 seconds, Rosetti says, risks "losing credibility". A new collective protocol was agreed whereby, when at the monitor, a referee would be shown a freeze-frame for point of contact, followed by half-speed, and then full speed for the intensity of the challenge. "We like referees with personality, taking decisions on the pitch, and VAR intervening only for clear and obvious situations," the Italian said. "So clear images without too many replays. It is something that for us is very important. We were seeing that some on-field reviews were not connected with football. It's about normal speed, context. It's about football."

Rosetti described Clear Line as "a guide for all the people of football" and not for officials. It goes through each area the VAR covers - penalties, red card, attacking offences, factual decisions and mistaken identity - in great detail with video examples. "We started to think how we could help everyone to understand VAR better," he said. "It's a library, a structure, a document where we explain when [and] how VAR will intervene. This is not a web page for referees. This is the space that we would like you to go to after a Champions League match to check how an incident compares with this library. It's for the clubs, for the players, for the fans."

Source: BBC

CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 – Semi-finals

12 August 2026

Morocco – Cameroon
Referee: Vincentia Amedome TOG (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Nafissatou Yekini TOG
Assistant Referee 2: Sakina Hamidou NIG
Fourth Official: Shamirah Nabadda UGA
Reserve AR: Diana Chikotesha ZAM
VAR: Maria Rivet MRI
AVAR: Lumbizai Musawa ZAM
SVAR: Abdalaziz Yasir SDN

Algeria – Malawi
Referee: Eunice Akintoye NIG
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong CMR
Assistant Referee 2: Mireille Kanjinga COD
Fourth Official: Josephine Wanjiku KEN
Reserve AR: Alice Umutesi RWA
VAR: Salima Mukansanga RWA
AVAR: Issa Sy SEN 

SVAR: Peter Waweru KEN

AFC finalised roadmap for Asian Cup 2027 match officials

The road towards the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 for the Continent’s elite match officials was charted during the 4th AFC Referees Committee Meeting. Led virtually by Chairperson Hany Taleb Al-Raeesi, the meeting locked in key preparation milestones to ensure the Continent's refereeing standards match the magnitude of the upcoming 19th edition. This will begin with the announcement of the selected match officials in September 2026, based on stringent criteria that includes continuous assessment of their performances from 2023 to 2026, fitness levels, medical clearance and psychological aspects, to determine their suitability for one of three roles: Referee, Assistant Referee and Video Match Official. Thereafter, preparations will ramp up with the AFC Asian Cup Referees Seminar in November 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Preparatory Course that takes place in the week preceding the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 on January 7.

The continued excellence of AFC match officials on the global stage was also highlighted, in particular the various milestones that were set during the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup 2026. The appointment of a 25-strong Asian cast was a record number in tournament history, with Alireza Faghani becoming the first Asian referee to be appointed to four consecutive FIFA World Cups and Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Shehri - serving as a VMO - becoming the first-ever appointment of an AFC Referee Academy graduate at the global showpiece, while Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh served as fourth official in the final match, alongside compatriot Mohammad Alkalaf and Qatar’s Khamis Al Marri, who were appointed as Reserve Assistant Referee and Support VAR, respectively. The World Cup crew was among the match officials who performed their duties across a total of 10 AFC competitions, seven FIFA competitions and two UEFA competitions over the past year.

The Committee also hailed the pivotal role of the groundbreaking AFC Referee Academy, which has consistently driven the Confederation’s Vision and Mission of developing top-level match officials and providing crucial support to the AFC Member Associations (MAs). Since its launch in 2017, 45 MAs have participated in the Academy and the latest cohort—Batch 8—is due for enrolment this month, even as Batches 4 (class of 2022) and 5 (2023) look forward to their graduation in September. Meanwhile, the inaugural batch of futsal referees, who began their journey last year, have already completed four modules to date. It was noted that Academy graduates were entrusted with responsibilities at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026, AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026, FIFA Arab Cup 2025 and FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, while eight Academy graduates were appointed to the Knockout Stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League (1), AFC Champions League Two (2) and AFC Challenge League (5) for the 2025/26 campaign.

Source: AFC

Hugh Dallas appointed Pro Ref Director in England

Hugh Dallas will lead the newly-unified group officiating across the Premier League and Championship, overseeing the training, performance management and technical development of officials. He will also continue to work closely with stakeholders and play an important role in ongoing engagement with clubs. Dallas has made a significant contribution to the organisation since joining in 2024 and now he steps into this leadership role.

Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) is the body that oversees all Premier League, English Football League (EFL), WSL Football and Football Association (FA) competitions. Funded by the competitions it serves, Pro Ref works in collaboration with them to deliver a long-term match-officiating strategy, under the leadership of Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb and Chief Operating Officer Danielle Every. Increased funding from the Premier League, EFL, The FA and WSL Football as part of a new three-year agreement will build on the progress made through the Premier League-driven Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP). This has delivered enhanced coaching and performance support for match officials working in an environment focused on high performance. The ERDP - due to enter its fifth year of significant funding - has enabled Pro Ref to put a more modern and dynamic pathway in place, which will continue to provide opportunities to those who are ready to officiate across the various levels of the professional game. That funding will also see further investment in supporting and accelerating the next generation of talent with an emphasis on a revamped Development Group and the CORE X programme, as well as educating and providing a stronger understanding of officiating to Academy players. These initiatives will continue to complement The FA’s model across grassroots and semi-professional levels while strengthening the refereeing pathway both now and in the future. Signalling a new chapter for professional refereeing in England, the change from Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) to Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref) underpins this period of ongoing transformation for the organisation albeit with the same aim – to deliver the highest possible standards of refereeing in this country for the benefit of the game.

Source: Pro Ref

Concacaf Refereeing Seminar 2026

Concacaf continued its commitment to referee development with the 2026 Concacaf Refereeing Summer Seminar in collaboration with Leagues Cup, held July 27-29 in Dallas, Texas. The three-day seminar brought together the Confederation’s referees, assistant referees, video match officials, instructors, and refereeing staff to prepare for Leagues Cup and international competitions during the second half of the 2026 calendar.

Coordinated in partnership with Leagues Cup, the seminar provided match officials with technical education and practical training focused on promoting consistency in decision-making and reinforcing Concacaf refereeing best practices. The initiative reflects the Confederation’s continued investment in referee development and its commitment to maintaining high standards of officiating across the region and on the international stage. “Our success at the FIFA World Cup is not the finish line, but the foundation for what comes next,” said Nicola Rizzoli, Concacaf Director of Refereeing. “The Summer Seminar was a critical opportunity to continue that journey by educating our officials, promoting consistency, sharing best practices, and preparing them for the demands of Leagues Cup and the international competitions ahead.”

Led by Concacaf’s refereeing leadership and technical instructors, participants took part in a comprehensive program that included technical presentations, match incident analysis, video review sessions, VAR protocol and communication, practical field training, fitness evaluation, positioning and movement, and game management. The sessions combined classroom instruction with practical application, providing officials with the tools and preparation needed to consistently apply the Laws of the Game throughout Concacaf and international competitions. The 2026 edition brought together 127 participants, including: 111 match officials (43 referees, 47 assistant referees, 21 video match officials), 12 instructional staff and 4 Concacaf refereeing staff, representing 19 Member Associations from within Concacaf.

Source: Concacaf

UEFA Super Cup 2026: Artan (SOM)

Omar Artan will not forget the past 18 months in a hurry. In that short space of time, the 34-year-old has become the first Somali to oversee a Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Champions League final before he received the CAF Men’s Referee of the Year Award 2025 and subsequently earned selection to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He will now become the first non-European to take charge of the UEFA Super Cup. And the surprising thing, for those who have followed his rise, is that it is somehow not surprising at all. Of course, not everything has gone to plan. Artan was not permitted to enter the United States for the World Cup, and the disappointment in being unable to realise that aspiration – for now – is palpable. "It was a very tough period," he admits. "A lot of people have sympathy for me, because when someone has been working a lot of years and is supposed to do something, and then can’t do it, it’s very challenging. I really appreciate the support I received throughout the world, though; I’m so grateful."

Artan is used to overcoming obstacles. His father died tragically young and he was brought up apart from his mother, so when he began his refereeing journey, he was ploughing his own furrow. He started early, a minor playing injury cementing his hope of becoming an official. From informal, small-sided neighbourhood games to organised school fixtures; before he knew it, he was refereeing in the Somali league. "I was lucky, but I have worked very hard to be here and I’m really proud," he said. "As you can imagine, I grew up in a difficult situation, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing my dreams." There has been help along the way. Artan is keen to credit CAF for their support and recognition, stressing that "without them this would not have been possible." Added to FIFA’s international list of match officials in 2018, he then became the first Somali to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2024. He has continued to break new ground ever since, and in Salzburg he will do so again when he leads the teams out for the Super Cup. "This is a great honour for Omar Artan and for African referees," said Dr Patrice Motsepe, CAF president. "It’s an excellent example of football bringing together and uniting people."

As he has throughout his career, Artan is keen to make the most of it. "This will be my first match in Europe. Having adventures, making memories, and learning new things is always great," he said. "For me, it’s fantastic that CAF is working with UEFA, the best confederation in the world for referees. The standard in Europe is fantastic and the football they play is very, very good. I believe that CAF referees can learn a lot from UEFA, and UEFA referees can also learn a lot from CAF. It’s mutually beneficial. I’m honoured to be appointed for this huge match. I want to say a big thank you to UEFA, as well as to the CAF president and everybody at CAF." The decision to appoint Artan to officiate the Super Cup was made in the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed at the end of April between UEFA and CAF to encourage cooperation in many areas, including refereeing. Artan received news of his appointment at the start of June, not long after returning from the United States. "When we got this call it was, for me and my family, really a very, very happy moment," he said. "There’s a big Somali community in Europe and in Austria, and they are over the moon with me officiating a match like this." Artan has been staying sharp by refereeing league games in Somalia and also took charge of the Kuwaiti Premier League title decider at the end of June – that was, as you may guess, yet another first. He is determined to arrive for the Super Cup at the top of his game. "We, referees, go through a lot of preparation in terms of getting to know the teams," he explains. "I always watch the teams play. I like watching European football anyway but, regardless, I go through and do a lot of research on the teams, how they play, learn their behaviours, tactics and a lot of things like that." So does Artan have a message for aspiring referees, wherever they are? "I believe that if I can succeed, anyone can. You can do whatever you want to do. Don’t ever stop dreaming. If you want to be a referee, it’s the best thing that you can do. So go after it and do it, and don’t stop, regardless of what happens and irrespective of people preventing you from doing your job. Learn new things every day, refine your skills and, most importantly, be fair and consistent." (Source: UEFA)

12 August 2026

Paris St. Germain – Aston Villa

Referee: Omar Artan SOM

Assistant Referee 1: Liban Abdoulrazack DJI

Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Yiembe KEN

Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič SVN

VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA

AVAR: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP

Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED

FIFA AR Bashevkin: "From childhood hip surgeries to the World Cup"

After the recent 2026 World Cup, Isaak Bashevkin, who was AR2 in Eskas team, decided to retire and provided unknown details about his career via Instagram.

"From childhood hip surgeries and playing football with crutches in Ready, to the Champions League and the World Cup. Now the time has come to hang up the flag and put the football boots on the sidelines for the last time. After 22 years as a football referee – gradually moving up the divisions – and all the way to the world top in the last four years in a team with Espen and Jan Erik – I have decided to end my career. Right after an unforgettable World Cup, the greatest experience you can have as a football referee, it feels absolutely right to give up now. The 4 Calvé-Legg-Perthes hip surgeries I had as a child, and the oval hip sockets and the altered anatomy of the femurs, should not really be compatible with running-based sports. That I have managed to get this far and so high is a medical and physiological feat. That's what I'm most proud of - that I've proven that it's possible to referee football at the absolute highest international level with oval Perthes hips. There are no acute injuries here and now, but some gradually increasing minor aches and pains here and there that will continue to increase and could develop into chronic ailments if I keep pushing myself. I could probably be at Euro 2028 and World Cup 2030, but for the sake of both my body and the team's ability to continue delivering world-class performances, it's the right thing to do now. After several years of 130+ travel days a year, and now most recently 7 weeks away during the World Cup, it will be very nice to be able to be more present at home with my family and my 2.5-year-old daughter, after they have also been through tough times when dad has been traveling around the world a lot.

Thank you to the Norwegian Football Federation, UEFA and FIFA for the trust. Thank you to all referee colleagues for the solidarity. And the biggest thanks go to Espen and Jan Erik – for the solid refereeing we have delivered together over time – with finals in the U21 European Championship and the U17 World Cup, quarter-finals in the Champions League, bronze medal final in the Paris Olympics, and now the finals in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Thank you for the trips and experiences, thank you for the love, and thank you for letting me be part of this part of the journey. I have great faith in the team going forward, and I will be cheering you on in every single match! It has been an honor!"

UEFA Champions League 2026/27 – Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg)

11 August 2026

Qairat – Levski Sofia
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Max Burda GER
VAR: Christian Dingert GER
AVAR: Johann Pfeifer GER
Referee Observer: Vladimir Antonov MDA

Bodo Glimt – Union St. Gilloise
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
VAR: Andrew Dallas SCO
AVAR: Greg Aitken SCO
Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM

Sabah – Aarhus
Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Valentin Evrard FRA
Fourth Official: Eric Wattellier FRA
VAR: Bastien Dechepy FRA
AVAR: Nicolas Rainville FRA
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX

Kauno Zalgiris – Dinamo Zagreb
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA
Fourth Official: Livio Marinelli ITA
VAR: Daniele Doveri ITA
AVAR: Manuel Volpi ITA
Referee Observer: Volodymyr Petrov UKR

NEC Nijmegen – Olympiacos
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Zufferli ITA
VAR: Michael Fabbri ITA
AVAR: Davide Ghersini ITA
Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO

Crvena Zvezda – Hapoel Beer Sheva
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Oscar Johnson SWE
VAR: Pol van Boekel NED
AVAR: Richard Martens NED
Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP

Slovan Bratislava – Mjallby
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Wade Smith ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Blake Antrobus ENG
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam ENG
VAR: Michael Salisbury ENG
AVAR: Darren England ENG
Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA

Celje – Ararat
Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Valerio Colarossi ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
AVAR: Francesco Meraviglia ITA
Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili GEO

Sturn Graz – Fenerbahce
Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Marcos Cerdán Aguilar ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Quintero González ESP
VAR: César Soto Grado ESP
AVAR: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP
Referee Observer: Helmut Fleischer GER

Olympique Lyonnais – Sparta Praha
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Wojciech Myć POL
VAR: Piotr Lasyk POL
AVAR: Fedayi San SUI
Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen FRO

FIFA AR Sian Massey-Ellis retires to take up new FA senior manager role

Massey-Ellis is hanging up her flag after a remarkable career having successfully landed the position of Senior Manager - Women Referees, where she will be supporting and developing the growing pool of female officials, as well as continuing to inspire the next generation. Since reaching the Premier League in 2010, at the time only the second female to ever do so, Massey-Ellis has officiated on over 150 top-flight matches. Alongside this, she has a plethora of domestic milestones, including involvement in five Women's FA Cup final matches. In the men's game, notable appointments include becoming the first female assistant referee appointed to the FA Community Shield, the first female to be involved in the men's FA Cup final following her appointment as AVAR in 2021 and, in 2025, she was appointed as AVAR to the Carabao Cup final. Massey-Ellis' international achievements are equally exceptional. She was reserve assistant referee at the 2013 and 2017 UEFA Women's Champions League finals, before being appointed as assistant referee to the 2018 European showpiece. She has represented England at four UEFA Women's EURO tournaments, including an appointment to the final in 2013 and, most recently, two quarter-final appointments as AVAR in the 2025 instalment. Massey-Ellis was also selected for the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups and was appointed as video match official for the tournament's third place play-off game in 2023. Alongside these accolades in the women's game, she was also the first English woman to officiate a men's European fixture, serving as an assistant referee for a UEFA Europa League game in 2019. Off the pitch, and throughout her career, Massey-Ellis has been a huge champion for equality and driving positive change, receiving an MBE for her impact on football officiating and commitment to representation. She is recognised as an ambassador for women and girls entering into officiating and serves as a role model, having paved the way for, and inspired, many of the growing number of female officials now coming through the pathway.

Massey-Ellis said: “From standing beneath the Premier League sign before my very first match to officiating at FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships, Champions League finals and across domestic fixtures and competitions in England, football has taken me on a journey beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Every opportunity has been a privilege and one I have never taken for granted. Throughout my career, football has challenged me, tested my resilience and pushed me to become a better professional and person. While there have been unforgettable highs and difficult moments, what I will treasure most are the people and experiences that have defined my journey. I am incredibly grateful to Pro Ref, The FA, FIFA and UEFA for the opportunities they gave me, as well as every coach, mentor, colleague and match official I have had the privilege of working alongside. Above all, I owe an enormous debt of thanks to my family, whose unwavering support, sacrifices and belief made every achievement possible. Although I am stepping away from the touchline, I am not stepping away from football. If my journey has helped change perceptions, open doors or inspire even one young person to believe they belong in the game, then I will consider that one of my greatest achievements. I'm excited by the opportunity to help support, develop and inspire the next generation of match officials, giving something back to a sport that has done so much for me. As I prepare for one final walk onto the pitch, I leave with nothing but gratitude. It has been the greatest honour to serve the game I love and represent English officiating. To the young girl who simply loved refereeing and dreamed of reaching the very top - we did it. Thank you, football."

Source: The FA

Concacaf U-20 Championship Final 2026: Carrasco (DOM)

9 August 2026

Mexico – USA

Referee: Adonis Carrasco DOM (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Bare DOM
Assistant Referee 2: William Chow CRC
Fourth Official: Nikolai Nyron TRI
Reserve AR: Aczel Perez GUA
VAR: Tatiana Guzman NCA
AVAR: Benjamin Pineda CRC

Korean FA allegedly provided sexual entertainment to foreign referees

A 2016 document compiled by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism titled Investigation Findings on Misconduct by Staff of the Korea Football Association states that over the one‑year period from March 2011 to March 2012, the Korea Football Association arranged inappropriate sexual hospitality on seven separate occasions for foreign referees assigned to national team fixtures. The matches included qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics, as well as international friend

On the night of 29 February 2012, the 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifier between South Korea and Kuwait took place at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Yet in the early hours of that same day, 500,000 won was charged to the Korea Football Association’s corporate credit card at a massage parlour in Yeoksam‑dong, Gangnam‑gu, Seoul. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded the payment covered sexual hospitality for the two of the referees working the Korea-Kuwait match. Person A from the association’s Referees Department, who processed the payment for sexual services, testified: “The massage fee included payment for sexual favours.” He added: “The foreign referees made the requests first, at the airport or at their accommodation, and we provided the hospitality accordingly.”

On 22 September of the same year, Person A also paid 760,000 won at a massage business in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Only two‑and‑a‑half hours earlier, the national side had finished its final London 2012 Olympic qualifier against Oman at the Changwon Football Centre. The ministry judged this sum likewise covered sexual hospitality for the four referees of that match.

At 20:34 on 14 March 2012, 198,000 won was charged to the corporate card at a Chinese‑style massage shop in Yeoksam‑dong, Gangnam‑gu, Seoul. The ministry pointed out this was for sexual hospitality provided to one match supervisor. His role was to monitor whether referees receive improper favours; yet payment for entertainment was made for this supervisor mid‑match.

Drawing on statements from multiple Referee Department officials, credit card transaction records and explanatory submissions from the association, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism concluded that these instances of sexual hospitality had indeed occurred. In response, the Korea Football Association stated: “This incident dates back 15 years. Our document retention period is only five years, so we cannot give an accurate account of every circumstance. While we cannot rule out that regrettable events may have taken place 15 years ago, we have now drawn up and abide by stricter internal‑management guidelines to meet high public expectations.” (Source: JTBC)

On 25 March 2011, South Korea’s national team played a friendly match against Honduras at Seoul World Cup Stadium. It was the first warm‑up game after team key players Park Ji‑sung and Lee Young‑pyo retired from the national squad. Around 1 a.m., roughly 19 hours before kick‑off, Person A of the Korea Football Association made a payment of 750,000 won at a massage parlour in Yeoksam‑dong. The payment covered expenses for the three referees officiating the match.

Four referees for the friendly match against Serbia on 3 June 2011 and three referees for the game against Poland on 7 October 2011 also received sexual hospitality in the same manner. All these transactions took place in the early‑morning hours at the very same massage parlour. This improper practice persisted even for matches held in provincial cities. On 27 March 2011, an Olympic team friendly match between South Korea and China was held in Ulsan. Approximately three hours after the final whistle, 510,000 won was paid at a massage parlour in Samsan‑dong, Nam‑gu, Ulsan, to cover sexual hospitality for three referees.

From March 2011 to March 2012, over roughly one-year, sexual hospitality occurred during three World Cup and Olympic qualifiers as well as four friendly matches. A total of 20 match officials are confirmed to have received such favours. Providing sexual hospitality to referees had become an established practice. A former Korea Football Association official in charge of referee‑related affairs stated: “We did it to keep the referees happy.” [Person B / Former senior official, KFA Referees’ Department]: “They (the referees) brought it up themselves by saying ‘We have just taken a long‑haul flight, and our bodies are worn out.’ Anyway, our goal was to keep the referees in a good mood…”. The specific identities of the referees who received sexual hospitality have not been verified. (Source: JTBC)

The Japan FA has officially opened an investigation into four Japanese referees tied to these matches (including Yuichi Nishimura, who was the head referee for the heavily scrutinized February 2012 World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait). The JFA intends to publicly release the results of their investigation, a move that is drawing significant scrutiny because Ryuji Sato currently serves as a senior manager overseeing J. League referees for the organization.

Major Tournament Qualifiers (3 matches)

21 September 2011 (London 2012 Olympic Qualifier)

Korea – Oman (2-0 win in Changwon)

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 1: Abduhamidullo Rasulov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 2: Bakhadyr Kochkarov (KGZ)

Fourth Official: Vladislav Tseytlin (UZB)

29 February 2012 (FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier)

Korea – Kuwait (2-0 win in Seoul)

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Toshiyuki Nagi (JPN)

Fourth Official: Hiroyoshi Takayama (JPN)

14 March 2012 (London 2012 Olympic Qualifier)

Korea – Qatar (0-0 draw in Seoul)

Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB)

Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Ilyasov (UZB)

Assistant Referee 2: Mamur Saidkasimov (UZB)

Fourth Official: Vladislav Tseytlin (UZB)

International Friendlies (4 matches)

25 March 2011

Korea – Honduras (4-0 win in Seoul)

Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Tomokazu Tajiri (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Shinya Iribe (JPN)

Fourth Official: Lee Min-Hu (KOR)

27 March 2011

Korea U23 – China U23 (1-0 win in Ulsan)

Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN)

Assistant Referee 1: Tomokazu Tajiri (JPN)

Assistant Referee 2: Shinya Iribe (JPN)

Fourth Official: Kim Sang-Woo (KOR)

3 June 2011

Korea – Serbia (2-1 win in Seoul)

Referee: Ali Al-Badwawi (UAE)

Assistant Referee 1: Mohammad Al-Jassim (UAE)

Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE)

Fourth Official: Kim Jong-Hyeok (KOR)

7 October 2011

Korea – Poland (2-2 draw in Seoul)

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)

Assistant Referee 1: Ebrahim Saleh (BHR)

Assistant Referee 2: Nawaf Moosa (BHR)

Fourth Official: Ali Abdulnabi (BHR)

CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026

Morocco, 26 July - 16 August 2026

Referees

1. Awa Ilboudo BFA
2. Aline Etong CMR
3. Innocentia Ntangti CMR
4. Shahenda El-Maghrabi EGY (photo)
5. Aissatou Kante GUI
6. Josephine Wanjiku KEN
7. Yacine Samassa MTN
8. Zouleikha Harmasse MAR
9. Zakia El-Grini MAR
10. Antsino Twanyanyukwa NAM
11. Eunice Akintoye NGA
12. Rachel Zihindula COD
13. Aline Umutoni RWA
14. Aminata Fullah SLE
15. Akhona Makalima RSA
16. Vincentia Amedome TOG
17. Shamirah Nabadda UGA

Assistant Referees
1. Asma Ouahab ALG
2. Nafissatou Yekini BEN
3. Fidès Bangurambona BDI
4. Carine Atezambong CMR
5. Victorine Ngarassoum CHA
6. Yara Atef EGY
7. Mmahawa Kourouma GUI
8. Elizabeth Njoroge KEN
9. Fanta Koné MLI
10. Mariem Chedad MTN
11. Queency Victoire MRI
12. Soukaina Hamdi MAR
13. Ihssane En-Nouajeli MAR
14. Sakina Hamidou NIG
15. Mireille Kanjinga COD
16. Elaeis Tomakwiza COD
17. Alice Umutesi RWA
18. Tabara Mbodj SEN
19. Maneo Tau RSA
20. Houda Afine TUN
21. Diana Chikotesha ZAM
22. Nancy Kasitu ZAM

Video Match Officials
1. Lahlou Benbraham ALG
2. Hossam Haggag EGY
3. Letticia Viana SWZ
4. Peter Waweru KEN
5. Eness Gumbo MWI
6. Maria Rivet MRI
7. Zakaria Bouchtaoui MAR
8. Sadou Brahamou NIG
9. Salima Mukansanga RWA
10. Issa Sy SEN
11. Abdalaziz Yasir SDN
12. Dorsaf Ganouati TUN
13. Lumbizai Musawa ZAM
14. Brighton Chimene ZIM