Armenian referees suspended for match fixing

Referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant Hovhannes Avagyan, who oversaw a UEFA Europa League match last month between FC Inter Turku and Vikingur, have been suspended. UEFA took note of the decision of the Executive Committee of the Football Federation of Armenia (HFF) with regard to the referee and assistant referee who officiated at the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round match between FC Inter Turku and Vikingur on 11 July 2013.

In a hearing at the HFF, referee Andranik Arsenyan and assistant referee Hovhannes Avagyan admitted having tried to manipulate the outcome of the second-leg game, which ended 1-0 in favour of Vikingur. The UEFA betting fraud detection system (BFDS) – which monitors over 32,000 matches across Europe, including all first-division and UEFA competition games – had detected suspicious betting patterns around this fixture, and this prompted the start of an investigation by UEFA to which the HFF contributed closely. UEFA is pleased with the excellent cooperation of the HFF, the local authorities and the betting operators during the investigation process. The chairman of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has decided to suspend with immediate effect, and for any football-related activities, both match officials. At the same time, a disciplinary proceeding has been opened in accordance with Article 12 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations (integrity of matches and competitions, and match-fixing). The case will be dealt with by the Control and Disciplinary Body on Thursday 22 August at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. According to reports, a wager of 300,000 was placed with Betfair indicating that both teams would score in the match, which initially triggered suspicions. Then, when the match actually started, two dubious penalty kicks were called by the referee, one after another, for each team. Despite the two penalties, hosts Inter Turku missed their penalty kick and the match ended 0-1 to Víkingur.

Source: UEFA/101greatgoals.com

UEFA Champions League – Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg)

6-7 August 2013

Grasshoppers – Olympique Lyon
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Devis Cebrian (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Jon Nunez Fernandez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Horst Brummeier (AUT)

Maccabi Tel Aviv – FC Basel
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Frederic Haquette (FRA)
Fourth Official: Wilfried Bien (FRA)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Antonov (MDA)

FK Partizan – Ludogorets Razgrad
Referee: Alan Kelly (IRL)
Assistant Referee 1: Damien MacGraith (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Allen Lynch (IRL)
Fourth Official: Neil Doyle (IRL)
Referee Observer: Ioannis Tsachilidis (GRE)

Steaua Bucuresti – Dinamo Tbilisi
Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 1: Sigurdur Torleifsson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 2: Birkir Sigurdarson (ISL)
Fourth Official: Gunnar Jonsson (ISL)
Referee Observer: Michel Piraux (BEL)

Maribor – Apoel
Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dzmitry Zhuk (BLR)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrei Hetsikau (BLR)
Fourth Official: Dzianis Shcharbakou (BLR)
Referee Observer: Fritz Stuchlik (AUT)

KS Skenderbeu – Shakhter Karagandy
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Balko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomas Somolani (SVK)
Fourth Official: Richard Trutz (SVK)
Referee Observer: Ryszard Wojcik (POL)

Fenerbahce – FC Salzburg
Referee: Pawel Gil (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Piotr Sadczuk (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcin Borkowski (POL)
Fourth Official: Robert Malek (POL)
Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel (GER)

Legia Warszawa – Molde FK
Referee: Alexandru Tudor (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Nica (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurel Onita (ROU)
Fourth Official: Ovidiu Hategan (ROU)
Referee Observer: Drazenko Kovacic (CRO)

IF Elfsborg – Celtic FC
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Nikolai Golubev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Viacheslav Semenov (RUS)
Fourth Official: Aleksei Eskov (RUS)
Referee Observer: Gunter Benko (AUT)

FH – Austria Wien
Referee: Stanislav Todorov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 1: Veselin Dobriyanov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 2: Georgi Slavov (BUL)
Fourth Official: Georgi Yordanov (BUL)
Referee Observer: Paul Allaerts (BEL)

Victoria Plzen – Nomme Kalju
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Wittberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Mehmet Culum (SWE)
Fourth Official: Markus Strombergsson (SWE)
Referee Observer: John Ward (IRL)

FC Sheriff – GNK Dinamo
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Angelo Boonman (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Bas Van Dongen (NED)
Fourth Official: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci (ALB)

Zenit St. Petersburg – FC Nordsjaelland
Referee: Serge Gumienny (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Kristof Meers (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Frank Bleyen (BEL)
Fourth Official: Alexandre Boucaut (BEL)
Referee Observer: Dusan Krchnak (SVK)

Metalist Kharkiv – PAOK Salonic
Referee: Florian Meyer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Holger Henschel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Christoph Bornhorst (GER)
Fourth Official: Peter Sippel (GER)
Referee Observer: Milovan Nikolic (SVN)

Zulte Waregem – PSV Eindhoven
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Markus Hacker (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Florian Steuer (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Referee Observer: Marc Batta (FRA)

CONCACAF Champions League – Group Stage (Matchday 1)

6 August 2013
LA Firpo – Tijuana
Referee: Henry Bejarano (CRC, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Warner Castro (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: Osvaldo Luna (CRC)
Fourth Official: Walter Quesada (CRC)
Referee Observer: Donald Campos (NCA)

Toluca – Caledonia
Referee: John Pitti (PAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Williamson (PAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Rey Mendoza (PAN)
Fourth Official: Roberto Moreno (PAN)
Referee Observer: Neftali Recinos (SLV)

7 August 2013
Montreal Impact – San Jose Earthquakes
Referee: Javier Santos (PUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jairo Morales (PUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ainsley Rochard (TRI)
Fourth Official: Neal Brizan (TRI)
Referee Observer: Francisco Ramirez (MEX)

Sporting San Miguelito – America
Referee: Oscar Reyna (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Hermenerito Leal (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Ronaldo De la Cruz (GUA)
Fourth Official: Walter Lopez (GUA)
Referee Observer: Efrain Rodriguez (CRC)

Real Esteli – Sporting Kansas City
Referee: Jafeth Perea (PAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Gabriel Victoria (PAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Baines (PAN)
Fourth Official: Luis Rodriguez (PAN)
Referee Observer: Carlos Pastrana (HON)

8 August 2013
Valencia – Herediano
Referee: William Anderson (PUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zumba (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: William Torres (SLV)
Fourth Official: Elmer Bonilla (SLV)
Referee Observer: Amilcar Burgos (HON)

Isidro Metapan – Cartagines
Referee: Juan Guzman (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Charles Morgante (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Manikowski (USA)
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo (USA)
Referee Observer: John Nielsen (CAN)

Arabe Unido – W Connection
Referee: Sandy Vasquez (DOM)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Fourth Official: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Referee Observer: Ronald Gutierrez (CRC)

Copa Sudamericana – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

6 August 2013
Atletico Nacional – Inti Gas
Referee: Juan Soto (VEN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Lopez (VEN)
Fourth Official: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Referee Observer: Otalvaro Polanco (COL)

River Plate – Blooming
Referee: Pablo Diaz (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Ivan Nunez (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Fourth Official: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
Referee Observer: Jorge Nieves (URU)

Melgar – Deportivo Pasto
Referee: Omar Ponce (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Herrera (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Vera (ECU)
Fourth Official: Diego Haro (PER)
Referee Observer: Manuel Yupanqui (PER)

Deportivo Lara – Liga de Loja
Referee: Wilson Lamouroux (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Humberto Clavijo (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian de la Cruz (COL)
Fourth Official: Jose Argote (VEN)
Referee Observer: Adrian Gomez (VEN)

Universidad de Chile – Real Potosi
Referee: Enrique Caceres (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dario Gaona (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Fourth Official: Carlos Ulloa (CHI)
Referee Observer: Pablo Pozo (CHI)

7 August 2013
The Strongest – Nacional
Referee: Fernando Falce (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mauricio Espinosa (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcelo Costa (URU)
Fourth Official: Johnny Cuellar (BOL)
Referee Observer: Marcelo Ortube (BOL)

Juan Aurich – Itagui
Referee: Patricio Polic (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Sergio Roman (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Maturana (CHI)
Fourth Official: Miguel Santivanez (PER)
Referee Observer: Alfredo Velarde (PER)

Emelec – Sport Huancayo
Referee: Oscar Maldonado (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wilson Arellano (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Edwin Paredes (BOL)
Fourth Official: Carlos Vera (ECU)
Referee Observer: Rogger Zambrano (ECU)

Cerro Porteno – Universidad Catolica
Referee: Saul Laverni (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Ernesto Uziga (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
Fourth Official: Julio Quintana (PAR)
Referee Observer: Ubaldo Aquino (PAR)

La Equidad – Trujillanos
Referee: Victor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Johnny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Cesar Escano (PER)
Fourth Official: Luis Sanchez (COL)
Referee Observer: Oscar Ruiz (COL)

Colo Colo – El Tanque
Referee: Raul Orosco (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Efrain Castro (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Arol Valda (BOL)
Fourth Official: Eduardo Gamboa (CHI)
Referee Observer: Guido Aros (CHI)

8 August 2013
Oriente Petrolero – Guarani
Referee: Roddy Zambrano (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Alvarado (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Edwin Bravo (ECU)
Fourth Official: Gery Vargas (BOL)
Referee Observer: Victor Balderrama (BOL)

Penarol – Cobreloa
Referee: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Nunez (ARG)
Fourth Official: Pablo Diaz (ARG)
Referee Observer: Ernesto Filippi (URU)

Deportivo Anzoategui – Independiente Valle
Referee: Adrian Velez (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wilmar Navarro (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Rivas (COL)
Fourth Official: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
Referee Observer: Adrian Gomez (VEN)

Libertad – Wanderers
Referee: Sandro Ricci (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Emerson De Carvalho (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Rocha (BRA)
Fourth Official: Ulises Mereles (PAR)
Referee Observer: Manuel Bernal (PAR)

Barcelona – Minero de Guyana
Referee: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Raul Orellana (CHI)
Fourth Official: Carlos Orbe (ECU)
Referee Observer: Jose Carpio (ECU)

CAF Confederation Cup – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

3-4 August 2013

Stade Malien – Rangers
Referee: Daniel Bennett (RSA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Siwela (RSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Marwa Range (KEN)
Fourth Official: Kulasande Qongo (RSA)

TP Mazembe – FUS Rabat
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (MLI)
Assistant Referee 1: Balla Diarra (MLI)
Assistant Referee 2: Fousseyni Traore (MLI)
Fourth Official: Ousmane Sibide (MLI)

Etoile du Sahel – St. Georges
Referee: Omweno Davies (KEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Sabtia (KEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Tony Kidiya (KEN)
Fourth Official: Moses Osabo (KEN)

CA Bizertin – ES Setif
Referee: Ali Lemghaifry (MTN)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdoulaziz Sall (MTN)
Assistant Referee 2: Oumar Niang (MTN)
Fourth Official: Mohamed Hamada (MTN)

CAF Champions League – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

3-4 August 2013

El Ahly – Orlando Pirates
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (ALG, photo)
Assistant Referee : Brahim Meknous (ALG)
Assistant Referee : Mahmond Bitam (ALG)
Fourth Official: Mohamed Bichari (ALG)

Sewe Sport – Recreativo Do Libolo
Referee: Bouchaib El Ahrach (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mimoun Bekkali (MAR)
Assistant referee 2: Abdelaziz El Mehraji (MAR)
Fourth Official: Mabrouk Mounir (MAR)

Esperance Tunis – Coton Sport
Referee: Gehad Grisha (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: Hassan Sherif (EGY)
Assistant Referee 2: Ado El Sadat (EGY)
Fourth Official: Omar Fahim (EGY)

Leopards – Zamalek
Referee: Nampiandraza Hamada (MAD)
Assistant Referee 1: Jean Djaonirina (MAD)
Assistant Referee 2: Basile Rambeloson (MAD)
Fourth Official: Seth Jaounona (MAD)

Blom: "My world collapsed”

On 3 September 2011, there were no additional assistant referees, as they are today in UEFA matches. Otherwise, the career of Kevin Blom would have probably been different. The referee wrongly awarded a penalty kick in the final of the Euro qualifier Scotland - Czech Republic, when Jan Rezek dove in the opposing penalty area. "He simulated a foul. He knowingly played false. If you do that in the pub, you get a punch in the nose. I was terribly fooled. Upon seeing the television pictures, my world collapsed at that time", says Blom in AD Sportwereld.

Blom (39) got the whole Scottish nation over him, because the score 2-2 brought Czech Republic to Euro 2012, while Scotland stayed home. “I’ve been feeling down for a long time. It eventually took more than a year. But I had to go on. When you referee a match you need to clear your head", confesses Blom. He can still recall that weekend in Glasgow minute-by-minute in his mind. "Initially, it was the reactions so bad," he cites the dramatic weekend. "In the stadium, we got presents from the Scottish Football Association afterwards (pins, scarves). Only when we walked out, I saw crooked faces. And I got a text message from Mark Wotte, who works at the Scottish Football Association. "I have bad news", he wrote. "You got it all wrong. This was an unjust penalty". Moments later we were told that we were not going to eat in town, but it was wiser to stay at the hotel. In my hotel room I put the DVD of the match in my laptop and immediately fast forwarded to that particular moment. Then I saw that it was diving and fell to the ground". During dinner, Blom could not eat much and I could not sleep. I felt so bad. I also played football and tennis. I know what a sportsman thinks. This feels like a tough defeat. The next day, the airport was swarming with people. We had to wait an hour at customs, but it seemed to have been ten hours. The only thing I thought was that we had to get out of there as soon as possible. I will miss the European Championship? And what does this mean for my career?" On that last question, the referee got a painful response. Two days later, Pierluigi Collina, the referee boss of UEFA, phoned Blom. "He started like a coach. Asked me how I am doing. He said that he has also experienced this. It is very human. But then came the announcement that I would be replaced from my next Champions League match. I was also relegated from the Elite category and lost all my chances to go to Euro 2012. That was terrible! Compare it to a car accident that you have experienced. Then do you want to step right back into your car? I do not. The downward spiral had begun, even though I was confident that I would come back. It was a hard lesson”.

Blom says he has closed the subject now and he is still ambitious as a referee. He still wants to get the best appointments. “No strange things during last season. I got Europa League matches in Sweden and Moldova and immediately Ajax – AZ in Netherlands. It is now good again. I am excited and cannot wait for the start of the new season".

Source: Algemeen Dagblad

Referee Kulbakov ready for U19 final

Aleksei Kulbakov has been selected to referee the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final, the culmination of a rewarding two-week period for the Belarusian official. He is anticipating a "very important moment" in his career having been chosen to referee the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final between France and Serbia. Fully focused on Thursday's showpiece in Marijampole, the 33-year-old Belarusian expressed his gratitude at being selected to officiate in the encounter, with his pride shared among the refereeing team – assistants Dermot Broughton of the Republic of Ireland and Leif Eric Opland from Norway and German fourth official Felix Zwayer.

"To be part of the refereeing team along with Dermot, Eric and Felix is both a big honour and a pleasure," Kulbakov told UEFA.com. "It's a very important moment in our refereeing lives. Every referee here at the tournament formed a great group. We were from countries all over Europe but spoke only one language, the language of football." From their base in Kaunas, all of the match officials in Lithuania have received daily briefing sessions and fitness workouts which have formed part of an important learning process during the finals. "These past two weeks we have worked very professionally and in an in-depth manner while trying to improve ourselves as people and as referees," Kulbakov said. "We had really excellent physical and practical training with our coach while receiving highly informative analysis from our observers. We discussed a lot of situations with regard to reading the game. I can now take this information and these ideas back home with me and share them with my Belarusian refereeing colleagues." Agreeing that the standard of football has been particularly high, Kulbakov said that the players and the Lithuanian public had combined to create a unique sporting event played in a warm atmosphere. "Obviously the players here are all around 19 years old yet you can already see that many of them will be stars of the UEFA Champions League in the future," the referee explained. "We have also seen a lot of spectators here, even when Lithuania have not been playing, which goes to show the interest there has been in the tournament. This is a beautiful country where the people have been always willing to help us." Having studied closely a recording of the finalists' 1-1 Group B draw last week, Kulbakov said his team of officials are expecting a different type of match. "This is a final and, as such, is a special game," he said. "We watched the sides' previous game but realise the next one will not be the same. We just want to concentrate and be prepared for any eventuality that may arise".

Source: UEFA

UEFA U-19 Euro Final 2013: Kulbakov (BLR)

1 August 2013

France – Serbia
Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Dermot Broughton (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Leif Opland (NOR)
Fourth Official: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)

UEFA Europa League – Third Qualifying Round (First Leg)

1 August 2013

Swansea City – Malmo FF
Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni (ITA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Riccardo Bianchi (ITA)
Fourth Official: Carmine Russo (ITA)
Referee Observer: Zdravko Jokic (SRB)

AS Trencin – Astra Ploiesti
Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Thorsten Schiffner (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Sascha Stegemann (GER)
Fourth Official: Guido Winkmann (GER)
Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

FK Ventspils – Maccabi Haifa
Referee: Marco Borg (MLT)
Assistant Referee 1: William Debattista (MLT)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Vella (MLT)
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri (MLT)
Referee Observer: Miroslav Tulinger (CZE)

Dinamo Minsk – Trabzonspor
Referee: Rene Eisner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Witschnigg (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Richard Huebler (AUT)
Fourth Official: Manuel Schuettengruber (AUT)
Referee Observer: Cosimo Bolognino (ITA)

Petrolul Ploiesti – Vitesse
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Teodoro Sobrino (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Abraham Alvarez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Alejandro Hernandez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)

Aktobe – Breidablik
Referee: Libor Kovarik (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Krystof Mencl (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Patrik Filipek (CZE)
Fourth Official: Tomas Kocourek (CZE)
Referee Observer: Aleksei Spirin (RUS)

Jablonec – Stromsgodset
Referee: Leontios Trattou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Soteriou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 2: Aristides Christou (CYP)
Fourth Official: Thomas Mouskos (CYP)
Referee Observer: Brian Lawlor (WAL)

Qarabag FK – Gefle IF
Referee: Nicolas Rainville (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephan Luzi (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Djemel Zitouni (FRA)
Fourth Official: Sebastien Desiage (FRA)
Referee Observer: Kaj Natri (FIN)

FC Minsk – Saint Johnstone
Referee: Marcin Borski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafal Rostkowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Mucha (POL)
Fourth Official: Daniel Stefanski (POL)
Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine (NIR)

Chernomorets Odesa – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Kenn Hansen (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Rix (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: David Andersen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)
Referee Observer: Adrian Casha (MLT)

Randers FC – Rubin Kazan
Referee: Fernando Teixeira (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Victoriano Diaz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Torre (ESP)
Fourth Official: Juan Martinez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Dani Koren (ISR)

Zalgiris – Lech Poznan
Referee: Vlado Glodjovic (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Branko Pavlovic (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Dejan Potocan (SRB)
Fourth Official: Majo Vujovic (SRB)
Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan (ARM)

Slovan Liberec – FC Zurich
Referee: Liran Liany (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: David Biton (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Oren Borneshtain (ISR)
Fourth Official: Roy Reinshreiber (ISR)
Referee Observer: Jorn West Larsen (DEN)

Tromsoe – Differdange
Referee: Anar Salmanov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mubariz Hashimov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Rza Mammadov (AZE)
Fourth Official: Rahim Hasanov (AZE)
Referee Observer: Sergey Zuev (RUS)

HNK Rijeka – MSK Zilina
Referee: Marco Fritz (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Guido Kleve (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Referee Observer: Laszlo Vagner (HUN)

Vojvodina – Bursaspor
Referee: Steven McLean (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Derek Rose (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Alastair Mather (SCO)
Fourth Official: Paul Robertson (SCO)
Referee Observer: Jan Fasung (SVK)

BK Hacken – FC Thun
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mikko Alakare (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Marko Hanninen (FIN)
Fourth Official: Jari Jarvinen (FIN)
Referee Observer: Oguz Sarvan (TUR)

FK Kukesi – Metalurh Donetsk
Referee: Artyom Kuchin (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 1: Anatoli Hodin (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 2; Sergei Vassyutin (KAZ)
Fourth Official: Sergei Gorokhovodatski (KAZ)
Referee Observer: Christakis Skapoullis (CYP)

Botev Plovdiv – VfB Stuttgart
Referee: Lee Probert (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Child (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Scott Ledger (ENG)
Fourth Official: Michael Jones (ENG)
Referee Observer: Cornelius Bakker (NED)

Pandurii Targu Jiu – Hapoel Tel Aviv
Referee: Vitali Meshkov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksei Vorontsov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Maksim Gavrilin (RUS)
Fourth Official: Mikhail Vilkov (RUS)
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer (LUX)

AS Saint-Etienne – Milsami Orhei
Referee: Padraig Sutton (IRL)
Assistant Referee 1: Damien MacGraith (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Wayne McDonnell (IRL)
Fourth Official: Tomas Connolly (IRL)
Referee Observer: Costas Kapitanis (CYP)

Asteras Tripolis – Rapid Wien
Referee: Kevin Blom (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Langkamp (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Rob van de Ven (NED)
Fourth Official: Tom van Sichem (NED)

Skoda Xanthi – Standard Liege
Referee: Sascha Kever (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Raffael Zeder (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Vital Jobin (SUI)
Fourth Official: Pascal Erlachner (SUI)
Referee Observer: Rodger Gifford (WAL)

Siroki Brijeg – Udinese Calcio
Referee: Halis Ozkahya (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Cem Satman (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Kemal Yilmaz (TUR)
Fourth Official: Koray Gencerler (TUR)

Slask Wrocław – FC Brugge
Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bankes (ENG)
Fourth Official: Jonathan Moss (ENG)

Motherwell – Kuban Krasnodar
Referee: Alain Bieri (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Remy Zgraggen (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Zurbrugg (SUI)
Fourth Official: Patrick Graf (SUI)

Hajduk Split – Dila Gori
Referee: Eitan Shemeulevitch (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nissan Davidy (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Sharon Eyal (ISR)
Fourth Official: Guy Berger (ISR)
Referee Observer: Luciano Luci (ITA)

Estoril Praia – Hapoel Ramat Gan
Referee: Fredy Fautrel (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Eric Dansault (FRA)
Fourth Official: Bartolomeu Varela (FRA)
Referee Observer: Siegfried Kirschen (GER)

Sevilla FC – Mladost Podgorica
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Vukan (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Fourth Official: Dejan Balazic (SVN)
Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold (NOR)