CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2025 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

8-10 April 2025

Independiente – Boston River
Referee: Bruno Arleu BRA (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Danilo Manis BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Alex Ang BRA
Fourth Official: Rafael Klein BRA
VAR: Wagner Reway BRA
AVAR: Rodrigo D’Alonso BRA
Referee Assessor: Ricardo Casas ARG
VAR Supervisor: Claudio Rios CHI

Caracas – Cienciano
Referee: Jose Ortiz COL
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Ortiz COL
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Padilla COL
Fourth Official: Paula Fernandez COL
VAR: Leonard Mosquera COL
AVAR: Maria Daza COL
Referee Assessor: Luis Sanchez VEN
VAR Supervisor: Juan Lugones BOL

Gremio – Atletico Grau
Referee: Gery Vargas BOL
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Tapia BOL
Assistant Referee 2: William Medina BOL
Fourth Official: Javier Revollo BOL
VAR: Wilfredo Campos BOL
AVAR: Jorge Justiniano BOL
Referee Assessor: Ricardo Marques BRA
VAR Supervisor: Jorge Mercado PAR

Godoy Cruz – Sportivo Luqueno
Referee: Augusto Aragon ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Ricardo Baren ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Danny Avila ECU
Fourth Official: Yerson Zambrano ECU
VAR: Luis Quiroz ECU
AVAR: Monica Amboya ECU
Referee Assessor: Sergio Viola ARG
VAR Supervisor: Barbra Bastias CHI

America de Cali – Corinthians
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN
Fourth Official: Rafael Torres VEN
VAR: Juan Soto VEN
AVAR: Carlos Lopez VEN
Referee Assessor: Sebastian Restrepo COL
VAR Supervisor: Oscar Viera PAR

Vasco da Gama – Academia Puerto Cabello
Referee: Bryan Loayza ECU
Assistant Referee 1: Edison Vazquez ECU
Assistant Referee 2: Mauricio Lozada ECU
Fourth Official: Alex Cajas ECU
VAR: Gabriel Gonzalez ECU
AVAR: Jefferson Macias ECU
Referee Assessor: Regildenia Moura BRA
VAR Supervisor: Wilson Lamouroux COL

Palestino – Union Santa Fe
Referee: Carlos Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldivar PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Nadia Weiler PAR
Fourth Official: Derlis Benitez PAR
VAR: Fernando Lopez PAR
AVAR: Julio Aranda PAR
Referee Assessor: Oscar Maldonado BOL
VAR Supervisor: Oswaldo Segura ECU

Huracan – Racing
Referee: Francisco Gilabert CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Sandoval CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Poblete CHI
Fourth Official: Edwin Ordonez PER
VAR: Jose Mendez PAR
AVAR: Jose Villagra PAR
Referee Assessor: Sabrina Lois ARG
VAR Supervisor: Myriam Melgarejo PAR

Union Espanola – Once Caldas
Referee: Leandro Rey ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Pablo Gonzalez ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gisella Trucco ARG
Fourth Official: Sebastian Zunino ARG
VAR: Hector Paletta ARG
AVAR: Laura Fortunato ARG
Referee Assessor: Jorge Jaimes PER
VAR Supervisor: Emerson de Carvalho BRA

Lanus – Melgar
Referee: Mathias de Armas URU
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran URU
Assistant Referee 2: Hector Bergalo URU
Fourth Official: Andres Matonte URU
VAR: Diego Dunajec URU
AVAR: Jonathan Fuentes URU
Referee Assessor: Ricardo Casas ARG
VAR Supervisor: Cynthia Franco PAR

Cruzeiro – Mushuc Runa
Referee: Mario Diaz de Vivar PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Canete PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Britos PAR
Fourth Official: Juan Benitez PAR
VAR: Ulises Mereles PAR
AVAR: Jose Cuevas PAR
Referee Assessor: Roberto Perassi BRA
VAR Supervisor: Victor Martinez PAR

Defensa y Justicia – Vitoria
Referee: Augusto Menendez PER
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Orue PER
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Castillo PER
Fourth Official: Elizabeth Tintaya PER
VAR: Milagros Arruela PER
AVAR: Mariana Aquino PER
Referee Assessor: Jose Carpio ECU
VAR Supervisor: Cynthia Franco PAR

Fluminense – GV San Jose
Referee: Roberto Perez PER
Assistant Referee 1: Jesus Sanchez PER
Assistant Referee 2: Enrique Pinto PER
Fourth Official: Daniel Ureta PER
VAR: Gabriel Gonzalez ECU
AVAR: Jefferson Macias ECU
Referee Assessor: Rodrigo Joja BRA
VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo PER

Guarani – Nacional Potosi
Referee: Fernando Vejar CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Retamal CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Serrano CHI
Fourth Official: Piero Maza CHI
VAR: Juan Lara CHI
AVAR: Edson Cisternas CHI
Referee Assessor: Myriam Melgarejo PAR
VAR Supervisor: Juan Cardellino URU

Atletico Mineiro – Deportes Iquique
Referee: Juan Benitez PAR
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Canete PAR
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Britos PAR
Fourth Official: Mario Diaz de Vivar PAR
VAR: Ulises Mereles PAR
AVAR: Jose Cuevas PAR
Referee Assessor: Roberto Perassi BRA
VAR Supervisor: Victor Martinez PER

Universidad Catolica – Cerro Largo
Referee: Michael Espinoza PER
Assistant Referee 1: Coty Carrera PER
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Jaimes PER
Fourth Official: Joel Alarcon PER
VAR: Diego Haro PER
AVAR: Alejandro Villanueva PER
Referee Assessor: Jose Lara ECU
VAR Supervisor: Henry Gambetta PER

UEFA Women's Nations League 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 4)

8 April 2025

Norway – France
Referee: Katalin Kulcsár HUN (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Anita Vad HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Judit Gavalla-Kulcsár HUN
Fourth Official: Réka Molnár HUN
Referee Observer: Martin Hanssson SWE

Spain – Portugal
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Camille Soriano FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Élodie Coppola FRA
Fourth Official: Emeline Rochebilière FRA
Referee Observer: Martin Atkinson ENG

Israel – Bulgaria
Referee: Sara Telek AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Amina Gutschi AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Thieme AUT
Fourth Official: Lena Hirtl AUT
Referee Observer: Carina Vitulano ITA

Kosovo – North Macedonia
Referee: Jurgita Mačikunytė LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Guostė Jonikaitė LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Deimantė Bikutė LTU
Fourth Official: Ugnė Šmitaitė LTU
Referee Observer: Nicolae Grigorescu ROU

Kazakhstan – Armenia
Referee: Sabina Bolić CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Gordana Katušić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Maja Brozović CRO
Fourth Official: Jelena Pejković CRO
Referee Observer: Ingrid Jonsson SWE

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Poland
Referee: Deborah Bianchi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giulia Tempestilli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Nidaa Hader ITA
Fourth Official: Nicole Puntel ITA
Referee Observer: Sofia Karagiorgi CYP

Croatia – Albania
Referee: Maria Marotta ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Veronica Martinelli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessia Cerrato ITA
Fourth Official: Denise Perenzoni ITA
Referee Observer: Hilda McDermott IRL

Moldova – Slovakia
Referee: Aleksandra Česen SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Staša Špur SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Mediha Durič SVN
Fourth Official: Tjaša Misja SVN
Referee Observer: Pernilla Larsson SWE

Finland – Hungary
Referee: Angelika Söder GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jasmin Matysiak GER
Assistant Referee 2: Marina Bachmann GER
Fourth Official: Miriam Schwermer GER
Referee Observer: Blaženka Logarušić CRO

Czechia – Ukraine
Referee: Minka Vekkeli FIN
Assistant Referee 1: Heini Hyvönen FIN
Assistant Referee 2: Alisa Levälampi FIN
Fourth Official: Satu Miettunen FIN
Referee Observer: Sandra Renon FRA

Liechtenstein – Luxembourg
Referee: Anastasiya Romanyuk UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Maryna Striletsʹka UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Iryna Chayka UKR
Fourth Official: Lyudmyla Telbukh UKR
Referee Observer: Marta Atzori ITA

Germany – Scotland
Referee: Jana Adámková CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Lucie Ratajová CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Tereza Hessová CZE
Fourth Official: Natálie Čampišová CZE
Referee Observer: Teodora Albon ROU

Denmark – Italy
Referee: Ivana Martinčić CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Maja Petravić CRO
Fourth Official: Mateo Erceg CRO
Referee Observer: Miroslava Migalová SVK

Turkey – Slovenia
Referee: Fabienne Michel GER
Assistant Referee 1: Anne Uersfeld GER
Assistant Referee 2: Silke Fritz GER
Fourth Official: Naemi Breier GER
Referee Observer: Dagmar Damková CZE

Faroe Islands – Gibraltar
Referee: Teresa Oliveira POR
Assistant Referee 1: Cátia Tavares POR
Assistant Referee 2: Cristiana Costa POR
Fourth Official: Ana Afonso POR
Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU

Montenegro – Azerbaijan
Referee: Marta Casado AND
Assistant Referee 1: Ainhoa Fernández AND
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Pinilla AND
Fourth Official: Antoine Chiaramonti AND
Referee Observer: Rhona Coombes IRL

Austria – Netherlands
Referee: Ewa Augustyn POL
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandra Ulanowska POL
Fourth Official: Anna Adamska POL
Referee Observer: Silvia Spinelli ITA

Iceland – Switzerland
Referee: Frida Klarlund DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Fie Bruun DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Katrine Stensholm DEN
Fourth Official: Frederikke Sokjaer DEN
Referee Observer: Carolina De Boeck BEL

Sweden – Wales
Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iragartze Fernández Esesúmaga ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Rocío Puente Pino ESP
Fourth Official: Elisabeth Calvo Valentín ESP
Referee Observer: Katarzyna Wierzbowska POL

Malta – Georgia
Referee: Cansu Tiryaki TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Arzu Görgün TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Ayşenur Karakoç TUR
Fourth Official: Asen Albayrak TUR
Referee Observer: Jelena Banjeglav-Rankov SRB

Northern Ireland – Romania
Referee: Shona Shukrula NED
Assistant Referee 1: Clothilde Brassart FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bérangère Jourdain FRA
Fourth Official: Manon Plandsoen NED
Referee Observer: Esther Azzopardi MLT

Andorra – Cyprus
Referee: Araksya Saribekyan ARM
Assistant Referee 1: Kristine Grigoryan ARM
Assistant Referee 2: Liana Yagmuryan ARM
Fourth Official: Yura Mahtesyan ARM
Referee Observer: Paloma Quintero Siles ESP

Belgium – England
Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Francesca Di Monte ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Tiziana Trasciatti ITA
Fourth Official: Martina Molinaro ITA
Referee Observer: Anri Saarivainio FIN

Ireland – Greece
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Göttlinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Simone Jakob GER
Fourth Official: Davina Lutz GER
Referee Observer: Kirsi Heikkinen FIN

Belarus – Serbia
Referee: Henrikke Nervik NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Monica Lokkeberg NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Line Nymoen NOR
Fourth Official: Emilie Torkelsen NOR
Referee Observer: Petra Pavlíková SVK

Rennie: "I was a Premier League referee, but now I'm learning to walk again"

Uriah Rennie became a familiar face to millions of football fans after becoming the Premier League's first black referee. Once described as the "fittest" match official in global football and a martial arts expert, he is now learning to walk again after a rare condition left him paralysed from the waist down. After spending five months in hospital, the 65-year-old has spoken to BBC News about rehabilitation, his fighting spirit and a brand new role. Rennie, who officiated more than 300 top-flight fixtures between 1997 and 2008, was on a birthday trip to Turkey last year when he was hit with a sudden striking pain in his back. "I thought I had just slept funny on a sun lounger, I was hoping to go paragliding but because of my backache I couldn't go," he says. "By the end of the holiday I couldn't sleep a wink from the pain, and by the time I got home I could barely walk."

Rennie made history in 1997 when he officiated a match between Derby County and Wimbledon, becoming the top division's first black referee. Tall in stature and a kick-boxing and aikido expert, protesting players rapidly discovered he was more than comfortable standing his ground during arguments. A magistrate in Sheffield since 1996, he has campaigned for issues such as improving equality and inclusion in sport, supporting mental health and tackling deprivation. Rennie was on the verge of starting a new role as Sheffield Hallam University chancellor when he was admitted to Northern General Hospital in October. "I spent a month laid on my back and another four months sitting in bed," he says. "They kept me in hospital until February, they found a nodule pushing on my spine and it was a rare neurological condition so it's not something they can operate on. I have had to learn to move all over again, I'm retraining my legs. It was strange - I went from running around the city to in essence being in traction for such a long time. I didn't have any previous back problems but quite suddenly I wasn't able to move and was in a spinal unit."

Discussing his current movement, he says: "I can move my feet and I can stand with a frame attached to my wheelchair but I need to work on my glutes." He jokingly shows the wheelchair scuffs on the skirting boards around his home, with physiotherapy currently taking up much of his day. "I rock around in my chair doing my exercises, I'm a very good, compliant patient," he laughs. "It has been frustrating but family and friends have been invaluable, the hospital was absolutely superb and the university has been exceptional." He officially starts as university chancellor in May, a position he has been determined to take up despite his recent experiences. "I emphasised I wanted to make a difference to Sheffield and to communities here," he says. "I carried on working with community sports teams while in hospital, directing them from my bed." He studied for an MBA at the university during his refereeing career and received an honorary doctorate in 2023 for his work with sport and local communities. "I'm aiming to be the best I can physically," he says. "No one has told me I won't walk again, but even if someone did say that I want to be able to say I did everything I could to try."

Rennie, who moved from Jamaica to the UK as a young child and grew up in the Wybourn area of the city, says being the first black referee was about "creating a legacy to enable other people to stand on your shoulders". Discussing his latest challenge, he says the spinal cord compression has given him a new outlook on life. "Lots of people are in wheelchairs, but it doesn't define them," he says. "It has made me resilient and forceful and I will never give up - I'm not on my own, there is a village helping me." He concludes: "I recognise how brittle things are in life now. "I don't know if I am going to walk fully, but I know what I need to do to try and you must never give up hope."

Source: BBC

UEFA Women's Nations League 2025/26 – Group Stage (Matchday 3)

4 April 2025

Scotland – Germany
Referee: Tess Olofsson SWE (photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Almira Spahic SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Ida Kellström SWE
Fourth Official: Eva Svärdsudd SWE
Referee Observer: Carolina De Boeck BEL

Portugal – Spain
Referee: Iuliana Demetrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihaela Țepușă ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Roxana Ivanov ROU
Fourth Official: Madalina Gherghi ROU
Referee Observer: Petra Pavlíková SVK

England – Belgium
Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernández González ESP
Fourth Official: María Planes Terol ESP
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT

Armenia – Luxembourg
Referee: Melissa Burgin ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Emily Carney ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Isabel Chaplin ENG
Fourth Official: Phoebe Cross ENG
Referee Observer: Antonía Kókotou GRE

North Macedonia – Latvia
Referee: Hanna Laajanen SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Emelie Elfstrand SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Tilde Larsson SWE
Fourth Official: Selma Griberg SWE
Referee Observer: Aušra Kancė LTU

Greece – Ireland
Referee: Jelena Pejković CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Maja Petravić CRO
Fourth Official: Sabina Bolić CRO
Referee Observer: Bente Skogvang NOR

Albania – Croatia
Referee: Alexandra Collin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Clothilde Brassart FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Nabila Zaouak FRA
Fourth Official: Élisa Daupeux FRA
Referee Observer: Marta Atzori ITA

Slovenia – Turkey
Referee: Victoria Beyer FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Jennifer Maubacq FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bérangère Jourdain FRA
Fourth Official: Romy Fournier FRA
Referee Observer: Kirsi Heikkinen FIN

Finland – Belarus
Referee: Emanuela Rusta ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Mirjeta Salla ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Edjena Kaphiu ALB
Fourth Official: Kejsi Tafili ALB
Referee Observer: Aneliya Sinabova BUL

Georgia – Malta
Referee: Elvira Nurmustafina KAZ
Assistant Referee 1: Nargis Magau KAZ
Assistant Referee 2: Dinara Ydyrysova KAZ
Fourth Official: Tatiana Sorokopudova KAZ
Referee Observer: Graziella Pirriatore ITA

Liechtenstein – Kazakhstan
Referee: Mariia Glekova ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Mai Moalem ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Kamla Nassar ISR
Fourth Official: Sapir Berman ISR
Referee Observer: Teodora Albon ROU

Lithuania – Azerbaijan
Referee: Marina Zechner AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Biljana Iskin AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Thieme AUT
Fourth Official: Lena Hirtl AUT
Referee Observer: Miroslava Migaľová SVK

Iceland – Norway
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giulia Tempestilli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefania Signorelli ITA
Fourth Official: Martina Molinaro ITA
Referee Observer: Elke Günthner GER

Poland – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Referee: Katalin Sipos HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Judit Gavalla-Kulcsár HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Nikolett Bizderi HUN
Fourth Official: Fanni Kovács HUN
Referee Observer: Silvia Spinelli ITA

Romania – Northern Ireland
Referee: Sandra Bastos POR
Assistant Referee 1: Sandrine Santos POR
Assistant Referee 2: Jenni Paavolainen FIN
Fourth Official: Minka Vekkeli FIN
Referee Observer: Paloma Quintero Siles ESP

Ukraine – Czechia
Referee: Ainara Acevedo Dudley ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Matilde Esteves-García ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Mariona Peralta Geis ESP
Fourth Official: Ylenia Sánchez Miguel ESP
Referee Observer: Jelena Banjeglav-Rankov SRB

Faroe Islands – Moldova
Referee: Lovisa Johansson SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Jilan Taher SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Laura Rapp SWE
Fourth Official: Cecilia Ekwall SWE
Referee Observer: Rhona Coombes IRL

Cyprus – Andorra
Referee: Eszter Urbán HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Noémi Hegedűs-Baráth HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Laura Szabó HUN
Fourth Official: Réka Bognár HUN
Referee Observer: Sjoukje de Jong NED

Estonia – Bulgaria
Referee: Stacey Pearson ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Nicoleta Bria ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Anastasiya Voloshchuk ENG
Fourth Official: Stacey Fullicks ENG
Referee Observer: Nelli Stepanyan ARM

Sweden – Italy
Referee: Alina Peșu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Constantinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Marilena Nan ROU
Fourth Official: Roxana Timiș ROU
Referee Observer: Hilda McDermott IRL

Gibraltar – Slovakia
Referee: Kristina Georgieva BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Pavleta Rashkova BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Dorieta Valeva BUL
Fourth Official: Hristiyana Guteva BUL
Referee Observer: Rachel Shkuri ISR

Netherlands – Austria
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Linda Schmid SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Dos Santos SUI
Fourth Official: Laura Mauricio SUI
Referee Observer: Blaženka Logarušić CRO

Switzerland – France
Referee: Catarina Campos POR
Assistant Referee 1: Vanessa Gomes POR
Assistant Referee 2: Ana Silva POR
Fourth Official: Maria Andrada POR
Referee Observer: Katarzyna Wierzbowska POL

Hungary – Serbia
Referee: Caroline Lanssens BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Maria Étienne BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Mélissa Lejear BEL
Fourth Official: Klass Clerkx BEL
Referee Observer: Carina Vitulano ITA

Wales – Denmark
Referee: Michalina Diakow POL
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandra Mostowska POL
Fourth Official: Anna Adamska POL
Referee Observer: Ingrid Jonsson SWE

Referee karate kicks coach in Peru

This is the incredible moment a referee KO’s a furious member of a losing team’s coaching staff with a karate kick to the face during a Peruvian league match. Luis Alegre let rip with his right boot as the man invaded the pitch and ran towards him with the apparent intention of assaulting him with a plastic bottle in his hand. He connected with his rival’s head, putting him on the ground and sparking the intervention of the police. Things then took a turn for the worse as the referee and his assistants were surrounded by angry players looking for revenge.

The drama occurred in the 82nd minute of Sport Huaquilla’s Copa Peru match against Magdalena CEDEC in Ancash north of the of the Peruvian capital Lima. TV footage showed it happened after referee Alegre brought out a red card after one of his assistants appeared to point towards someone from the Magdalena bench. The video showed the ballsy ref was no martial arts beginner - with his right boot connecting full-on with the jaw of the unnamed individual who rushed at him and went to hit him with his plastic water bottle.

Remarkably, referee Luis Alegre managed to keep hold of the red card he was brandishing in his left hand despite his rapid reaction to the assault he was about to become a victim of. The assistant nearest the action ran towards the pair before the karate kick in an apparent attempt to protect his colleague, ended up trying to calm tempers elsewhere on the pitch as the situation threatened to derail.

The man on the receiving end of the referee’s martial arts technique got up moments after being felled looking dazed. And perhaps, thankfully for his own safety, was persuaded not to react by one of his own team's players who put his arms around him and moved him away. Match commentators responded by saying, when it was already too late: “Calm down lads, calm down” before adding as police intervened: “This sort of thing can’t happen.” The game was suspended after the incident.

Source: The Sun

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025

The UEFA Referees Committee has appointed 12 referees, as well as the assistant referees, video match officials and support match officials, who will take charge of the 31 matches at UEFA Women's EURO 2025, which will take place in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July 2025. In addition, as part of the ongoing co-operation between UEFA and the South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL, a referee from Brazil, Edina Alves, together with two assistants, will join the European group of referees for the final tournament. Refereeing teams at each match will consist of a referee, two assistant referees, and a fourth official. A team of two video match officials will be active at each game and operate throughout the tournament from UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The preparation of the officials for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 will include a course for all match officials, which will take place at UEFA shortly ahead of the tournament. UEFA's managing director for refereeing, Roberto Rosetti, said: "As we prepare for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 in Switzerland, we are extremely pleased to see the continuous growth of our top female referees, reflecting the remarkable development of women's football as a whole. As always for a EURO, the best and most consistent referees have been selected. Notably, all of them have passed the same fitness test we conduct for the elite men's referees. We have full confidence in them and their assistants, as well as the video officials, to show their quality at the final tournament". (Source: UEFA)

Referees

1. Ivana Martinčić (CRO, 1985, photo)

2. Frida Klarlund (DEN, 1989)

3. Stephanie Frappart (FRA, 1983)

4. Katalin Kulcsar (HUN, 1984)

5. Maria Ferrieri Caputi (ITA, 1990)

6. Silvia Gasperotti (ITA, 1993)

7. Catarina Campos (POR, 1985)

8. Iuliana Demetrescu (ROU, 1990)

9. Alina Peşu (ROU, 1989)

10. Marta Huerta de Aza (ESP, 1990)

11. Tess Olofsson (SWE, 1988)

12. Désirée Grundbacher (SUI, 1983)

Assistant Referees

1. Ainhoa Fernandez AND

2. Amina Gutschi AUT

3. Sanja Rodjak-Karšić CRO

4. Fie Bruun DEN

5. Emily Carney ENG

6. Heini Hyvönen FIN

7. Camille Soriano FRA

8. Anita Vad HUN

9. Francesca Di Monte ITA

10. Irina Pozdejeva LTU

11. Franca Overtoom NED

12. Monica Lokkeberg NOR

13. Paulina Baranowska POL

14. Andreia Sousa POR

15. Vanessa Gomes POR

16. Daniela Constantinescu ROU

17. Mihaela Țepușă ROU

18. Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez ESP

19. Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP

20. Staša Špur SVN

21. Almira Spahić SWE

22. Susanne Küng SUI

23. Linda Schmid SUI

24. Svitlana Grushko UKR

CONMEBOL Referee Exchange

Referee: Edina Alves (BRA, 1980)

Assistant Referee 1: Neuza Back BRA

Assistant Referee 2: Fabrini Bevilaqua BRA

Support Referees

1. Hristiana Guteva (BUL, 1990)

2. Shona Shukrula (NED, 1991)

3. Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP, 1996)

Video Match Officials

1. Jarred Gillett ENG

2. Sian Massey-Ellis ENG

3. Willy Delajod FRA

4. Christian Dingert GER

5. Katrin Rafalski GER

6. Tamas Bognar HUN

7. Aleandro Di Paolo ITA

8. Dennis Higler NED

9. Tiago Martins POR

10. Cătălin Popa ROU

11. Momčilo Marković SRB

12. Jelena Cvetković SRB

13. Alen Borošak SVN

14. Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP

15. Judit Romano Garcia ESP

16. Fedayi San SUI

Referee Observers
1. Dagmar Damkova CZE
2. Marta Frias Acedo ESP
3. Antonia Kokotou GRE
4. Gyöngyi Gaal HUN
5. Rhona Coombes IRL

Father and son share special bond at OFC Elite Refereeing Seminar

Refereeing in football is often a solitary journey, but for Neeshil and Rakesh Varman, it has been a shared passion spanning decades. The father-son duo from Fiji attended the OFC/FIFA Elite Refereeing Seminar in Honiara, Solomon Islands, where they reflected on their unique journey in the sport.

For Neeshil, an OFC badge referee, this seminar was a milestone. “This seminar is quite a breakthrough for all of us elite referees. It’s been a long time since all the top referees from OFC, both male and female, have been brought together. This is my first time attending, thanks to Fiji Football Association and OFC,” Neeshil said. “I want to thank the OFC department for bringing us together. This experience has given us a deeper understanding of the expectations in modern football and what we need to work on to elevate our refereeing standards,” he added. His journey began when he was a teenager in year 8 at school, when he first stepped onto the pitch as a referee under the guidance of his father, Rakesh. A former FIFA referee, and now a FIFA Referee Instructor, Rakesh has been both mentor and coach to Neeshil throughout his career. “I wanted to play football, but my father said, ‘You can play, but also come and try refereeing.’ So, I started going to matches with him. Sometimes, I officiated games, and eventually, I became his assistant. When he retired in 2016, he took on the role of my assessor,” Neeshil recalled. Now, their roles have evolved. Rakesh is the Referee Development Officer (RDO) for the Cook Islands, while Neeshil is an elite referee in Fiji. Despite the distance, their bond remains strong, with constant communication over WhatsApp. “He always assesses and coaches me, helping me improve and navigate challenges. It’s never easy, but that’s how we grow as referees,” Neeshil said. 

Refereeing is no easy task, and Rakesh acknowledges the difficulties that come with the job. “We want referees to be as close to error-free as possible. When mistakes happen, we correct them immediately, whether on the field, at home, or during training sessions,” Rakesh explained. “A referee needs to have thick skin. People will always criticise decisions, but that’s part of the game.” For Neeshil, family support has been crucial. “My mum, my wife, my kids, and my friends always support me. They come to watch the games, even when the decisions we make aren’t popular. That’s the reality of football,” he said. Despite the pressures, Rakesh takes pride in his son’s progress. “I started as a FIFA referee, then became an RDO, and now I’m a FIFA instructor. It’s not an easy path; you have to keep learning, adapting to new technologies, modern refereeing concepts, and standards. But I love it, and I’m proud of Neeshil for carrying on the legacy,” Rakesh said. For him, the challenge extends beyond the football pitch. As a medical professional, balancing work, family, and refereeing is demanding. “Being a doctor, being on call for 12-hour shifts, and still making time for training and refereeing is tough. Refereeing is not just about officiating matches; it requires fitness, knowledge, and continuous learning,” he said. Despite the challenges, his goal remains clear: to become a FIFA referee. “I am grateful to Fiji Football and the referees’ committee for supporting my journey. I also thank OFC and its instructors for this invaluable seminar. Now, I know what I need to do to reach the next level,” Neeshil said. As Rakesh and Neeshil continue their refereeing journeys, their story stands as an inspiring testament to dedication, mentorship, and the enduring bond of family in football.

Source: OFC

UEFA Youth League 2024/2025 – Quarter-finals

1 April 2025

FC Salzburg – Olympiacos
Referee: Andrea Colombo ITA (photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Marco Ceccon ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Khaled Bahri ITA
Fourth Official: Arnes Talic AUT
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT

Trabzonspor – Inter Milano
Referee: Alessandro Dudic SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Pascal Hirzel SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Müller SUI
Fourth Official: Irfan Baş TUR
Referee Observer: Bariş Şimşek TUR

2 April 2025
VfB Stuttgart – FC Barcelona
Referee: Vasilios Fotias GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Meintanas GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Vasileios Nikolakakis GRE
Fourth Official: Felix Prigan GER
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer LUX

AZ Alkmaar – Manchester City
Referee: Ivana Martinčić CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Susann Küng SUI
Fourth Official: Wouter Wiersma NED
Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman NED

English referees rewarded financially

Refereeing in the Premier League is not only a demanding job on the pitch but also a highly rewarding one financially. According to the British newspaper The Times, the most experienced referees can earn an annual salary of £250,000 (€300,000), making them some of the best-paid officials in world football.

Referees' earnings in England largely depend on their experience and seniority. According to the report, the average salary for a referee in the English league ranges between £170,000 and £180,000 per year, while those with less experience earn between £72,000 and £148,000. Well-known referees such as Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver are among the highest-paid, earning up to £250,000 annually. Meanwhile, junior referees receive around £125,000 per year, which is still a significantly high amount compared to other leagues. In addition to their base salary, referees receive various financial incentives. They earn bonuses based on the number of matches officiated and their performance on the field, allowing them to substantially increase their earnings. Furthermore, those selected to officiate in competitions such as the Champions League or FIFA tournaments receive additional payments for their international participation. However, since 2023, English referees have been prohibited from officiating matches in other domestic leagues, such as the UAE Pro League or the Saudi Pro League, due to potential conflicts of interest. This measure has eliminated an additional source of income that some referees had previously taken advantage of. Although referees in England earn high salaries, in Spain, for example, the average annual salary of a referee is €265,000, excluding additional earnings from international matches. This figure highlights that refereeing in Europe's top leagues is not only a position of high responsibility but also a financially lucrative profession.

Source: BeInSports

CONMEBOL Women’s Futsal Copa America Final 2025: Montalvo (COL) & Martinez (PAR)

30 March 2025

Final
Brazil – Argentina
Referee 1: Yendis Montalvo (COL, photo)
Referee 2: Fany Martinez (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Nestor Valiente (PAR)

Match for Third Place
Colombia – Paraguay
Referee 1: Estefania Pinto (ARG)
Referee 2: Anelize Schultz (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Cesar Figueredo (URU)