UEFA Champions League league is back with Matchday 7. Here the referees assignments for the first set of games, to be played on 20 January 2026.
Tuesday 20 January 2026
16:30 CET - Astana (Astana Arena)
QAİRAT FK (KAZ) - CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Paweł Pskit POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Juan Antonio Fernández Marín ESP
UEFA Delegate: Alojzije Šupraha CRO
18:45 CET - Bodø (Aspmyra Stadion)
FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Referee: Sven Jablonski GER
Assistant Referee 1: Eduard Beitinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Kempter GER
Fourth Official: Tobias Reichel GER
Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina ITA
UEFA Delegate: Stijn Hutsebaut BEL
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu)
REAL MADRID CF (ESP) - AS MONACO FC (FRA)
Referee: Espen Andreas Eskås NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Skjeseth Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Sigurd Smehus Kringstad NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER
UEFA Delegate: Peadar Ryan IRL
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio San Siro)
FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO (ITA) - ARSENAL FC (ENG)
Referee: João Pedro da Silva Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Miguel Alves de Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano António Gomes Maia POR
Fourth Official: João António Ferreira Gonçalves POR
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Cüneyt Çakır TUR
UEFA Delegate: Pat Duffy IRL
21:00 CET - Vila-real (Estadi de la Cerámica)
VILLARREAL CF (ESP) - AFC AJAX (NED)
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Thomas Grimm SUI
21:00 CET - London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) - BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Kristoffer Karlsson SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ángelos Evangélou GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA
UEFA Delegate: Maksims Krivuņecs LVA
21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estádio José Alvalade)
SPORTING CP (POR) - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (FRA)
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett AUS/ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Mehmet Murat Ilgaz TUR
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias CZE
21:00 CET - Piraeus (Stádio Geórgios Karaïskákis)
OLYMBIAKÓS SFP (GRE) - BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER)
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marchetti ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Kenneth William Clark SCO
UEFA Delegate: Peter Palenčík SVK
21:00 CET - Copenhagen (Parken)
FC KØBENHAVN (DEN) - SSC NAPOLI (ITA)
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIHAssistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Matej Jug SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Rainer Koch GER
First set of appointments with the new categories, and this is certainly visible, even if some elements are continuing a path already started before the break. Rumsas will be back in Astana after Kazakhstan–Belgium in November; for Walsh, a match in Spain, a clash at the very bottom of the table, a warm-up for the young Scottish referee. Similar matches for the two mentioned, committee still allowing them to make experience before something bigger (but there is a clear difference in their careers if we want to compare them, the Lithuanian would be already available for something more). Jablonski follows, he will officiate in Bodø, where Manchester City is involved, making it a more media-exposed appointment than the previous two.
ReplyDeleteTo follow, Peljto makes his return to the top club competition in a second-tier match; the feeling is that he has to restart and that they were really quite shocked by his performance in the famous Real match (perhaps even a bit too harsh?). For Eskas, Real Madrid at home: a delicate match, given that Monaco could also have a say and they are not too far from the Spaniards in the standings.
Mariani goes to Greece for what is a mid-table match; some ambition for the Germans, but it is certainly a conservative appointment aimed at not exposing the referee. It should also be noted that after achieving a lot before the winter break, he did poorly in that famous PSG match. We will see, I believe Guida should also be appointed in a Wednesday match.
We continue with Taylor in Lisbon for PSG match, certainly an interesting one: with a Portuguese win, everything can happen. Nyberg returns after Arab competitions and will referee a solid Tottenham–Borussia Dortmund, two teams level on points and maybe ready to make a jump ahead, an excellent appointment for this reason.
I close the analysis with Pinheiro, I have no difficulty in admitting that I appreciate very little him, but he is instead loved by Rosetti: he is given one of the most prestigious matches of the round, even if we can say that with Arsenal already certainly qualified and Inter on a very good way, it is a match more for prestige than for real relevance to the final outcomes (although Rosetti is of course concerned to make a good impression in such a game, but in some contexts it's easier for him).
Given the history of referee appointments for Italian clubs and the current situation of Copenhagen and Napoli (23rd and 24th in the standings), I would say that Peljto has been assigned one of the toughest matches of this round, where potentially one of the two teams could be eliminated from the competition.
DeleteI read Pinheiro's appointment as as observation for WC selection. With the upcoming WC selection meeting for UEFA referees, the observation of Cakir(FIFA instructor) on Pinheiro is meaningfull, I guess.
DeleteReferee observers:
ReplyDeleteQAİRAT FK (KAZ) - CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)
Juan Antonio Fernandez Marin ESP
FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Domenico Messina ITA
FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Herbert Fandel GER
FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO (ITA) - ARSENAL FC (ENG)
Cüneyt Çakır TUR
VILLARREAL CF (ESP) - AFC AJAX (NED)
Martin Hansson SWE
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) - BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER)
Gianluca Rocchi ITA
SPORTING CP (POR) - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (FRA)
Mehmet Ilgaz TUR
OLYMBIAKÓS SFP (GRE) - BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER)
Kenneth William Clark SCO
FC KØBENHAVN (DEN) - SSC NAPOLI (ITA)
Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP
Herbert Fandel observing Sven Jablonski?
DeleteIt is a mistake, he wrote twice City game, Fandel is in Madrid with Eskas.
DeleteSorry, exactly as Chefren wrote.
DeleteI believe this is historic. I certainly can't recall any elite referee ever officiating four Champions League group stage matches in a row, especially as a Champions League debutant, or am I mistaken? Sven Jablonski seems to enjoy a very high standing and level of trust with the UEFA Referee Committee.
DeleteOvidiu Alin Hategan officiated group stage matches on matchdays 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the 2021/22 season, followed by a first leg in the round of 16 – thus five consecutive Champions League matches. Sven Jablonski's run might also benefit from the fact that the Bundesliga had already restarted in Germany – otherwise, he might have been assigned a match on matchday 8. For a long time, it was standard practice to officiate a maximum of three matches in the Champions League group stage: on matchday 1 or 2, matchday 3 or 4, and matchday 5 or 6, which already ruled out three consecutive matches.
DeleteThat's correct. But Hategan wasn't a Champions League debutant like Jablonski. For a debutant, it's historic.
DeleteI think FCK vs Napoli is the most important match of the round, both teams on 7 points fighting for top-24. I would have preferred more stable ref than Peljto but anyway good luck to him
ReplyDeleteI would say that Eskas will be refereeing this game at the Bernabeu as a trial by fire: Real Madrid is not in good form and Monaco is only 9th in the French league.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by Taylor in Lisbon. Even though he played inconsistently in Brugge vs Barcelona, the committee still believes in him (when in fact I believe more in Oliver) as the number 1 English referee.
Oliver is clearly the number 1 English referee based on the appointments and the performances.
DeleteWith Rumsas, Jablonski and Walsh lined up for the first few games.
ReplyDeleteThen we should also have Lambrechts, Kanavagh and Obrenovic making their elite debuts on Wednesday.
It is not necessarily the case that all these referees need to be assigned in this round, some of them may instead appear directly in MD8 the following week. This can also help in finding the best possible matches for them, across a larger number of games.
DeleteI find AVAR Angelos Evangelou interesting. Isn't he on the list of prospective candidates for the 2026 World Cup, along with some other surprising names like Manuel Schüttengruber?
ReplyDeleteYes, he is on the list of preselected VAR for WC, but differently from the Austrian you mentioned, the Greek has already a certain experience in this role in Champions League games, having started to be appointed when Sidiropoulos was still assigned to CL.
DeleteBtw, besides Dallas observing a match where his son is working as AVAR, it's also lowkey interesting to see Juan Antonio Fernández Marín observing Rumsas in Kairat - Brugge, as he used to be the head of refereeing in Kazakhstan between 2021 and 2023 :D
ReplyDeleteCorrect RC from Jablonski for two YC's in a short space of time. For me so far he has been excellent.
ReplyDeleteAlso AR 2 Kempter with a good game so far. Two offside goals immediately spotted.
DeleteBrilliant Jablonski so far. The two Yellow‘s for Rodri were spot on.
ReplyDelete@Swiss_reffan: You are absolutely right. A perfect Y/R by Jablonski + an outstanding performance overall. Zero complaints and a very calm Guardiola. I am impressed by how consistently he operates and the level of acceptance he has. For me, he is the biggest discovery UEFA has produced in recent years — after Letexier! He will have a great future. Still 25 minutes to play. What a performance. Hopefully it continues like this.
DeleteVery good game by the German in Norway, and not an easy one that we could have expected. Manchester City suffering an incredible defeat at moment. Correct sending off for second YC.
ReplyDeletehttps://streamff.com/v/9a9d31d5
In addition, two correctly disallowed goals without VAR help.
So far he has for sure shown he deserved the promotion.
One can say in a definitely shorter period of time if compared to other referees who were tested by far more (in some cases, even in an endless way) but well, one must be honest, his answer in terms of performance was very positive to far.
What I can add is that German referees seem to have (we can also take Siebert as example of that) less pressure while they have to take very crucial decisions and in normal conditions, they are more prone to that than referees from the very well-known country, that's in my opinion also because Bundesliga has its rules. They take it simple, it's not the same in Spain, Italy...
Completely agree Chefren. Great match by Jablonski. Strict and brave with two good YC for City captain in few minutes. Well done also by AR1 with two good spots on two cancelled goals for offside. Well done german crew !
DeleteI agree, excellent match by Jablonski. However, considering Manchester City's poor run of form and the particular conditions of Bodo's pitch, I don't think the English team's defeat is so unexpected
DeleteExcellent comment above, make it easy. Two teams, one ball, foul = blow the whistle!
DeleteThe two goals was cancelled after flag up by AR2. In Bodo the main camera is positioned not in the main tribune but in the opposite one.
DeleteVery good game by Jablonski. Only missed a YC for a Man City player at 78‘.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent performance from Jablonski and team in Norway. A worthy performance to stamp his new Elite status. Excellent teamwork, full control and well respected. Bravo to all.
ReplyDeleteJablonski very good!!
DeleteJablonski was well-received by everyone involved. The respectful interaction between the referee and the players was a welcome change from the Africa Cup of Nations.
ReplyDeleteThat's why several analysts here who saw Jablonski in Bundesliga before in recent years were so optimistic about his future. Very strong body language/ natural authority, good positioning and fitness, brilliant communication skills, Jablonski seems to have some very special "aura" around himself. Only minimal inconsistencies in his foul detection sometimes. Brave, very smart "reading" of his matches and transparently (for the teams) adapting his style to the character of the match. Fearless, consequent, very highly respected by the players!
Delete20' Very long VAR check by Higler, no intervention in the end. Looks like ball struck leg then arm, and arm didn't go towards the ball. Not entirely sure why it took a VAR at this level so long. Correct outcome in the end.
ReplyDelete(OT: The non RC in the Manchester derby mentioned twice on this blog, Webb happy with YC)
OFR for Nyberg for possible red card
ReplyDeleteExcessive force? Clear and obvious error? I'm not so sure. Showing that still as the first image is abysmal though, gives a completely unfair picture of the challenge. The foot is almost left there and the force comes from the Spurs player running into it
DeleteI don't believe that's a clear error. Yes obviously the point of contact is high on the shin. The intensity of the challenge is very low though. I think the on field decision should have been respected
DeleteFrom one Swede to another: Nyberg sent off Svensson from BVB.
DeleteNot sure about that red given to Dortmund. Funny it comes days after the Dalot tackle in the derby
ReplyDeleteOFR for Taylor for foul in APP of PSG Goal. Should have been spotted live as he stood pretty close by. Around minute 32‘
ReplyDeleteOFR in Lisbon. Goal disallowed for foul in the build up. A good intervention IMO
ReplyDeleteCompletely disagree by Taylor OFR. Never a clear and obvious error first. Second, that’s clearly the portuguese player who put his leg in unatural movement towards defendor sprint. Never a defensive foul. Mistake here.
ReplyDeleteWell done by AR2 on RMs second goal
ReplyDeleteRed card for Copenhagen, OFR Peljto
ReplyDeleteOFR in Sporting - PSG to disallow a goal:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamff.com/v/b18c4046
This kind of VAR intervention is reported as the worst possible in serie A, when a refere is invited to rewatch such a contact, before a goal scored, it's always controversial. Here you can say Taylor was in control, close to action.
Better video: https://streambug.org/cv/e56d78
DeleteWhere is the clear and obvious error? Are the same referees who let the game flow in the Premier League every weekend calling for this?
DeleteIn my opinion, after rewatching carefully the incident, I must agree with some comments above: movement by Sporting player, opening a leg that went into opponent's path and then contact. So, a contact rather caused by the Sporting player, to me never a clear and obvious mistake, even if we forget about the fact that officials are indeed from England (would be even more surprising for this reason). I think UEFA will assess as wrong this call by the AUS/ENG VAR.
DeleteI fully agree
DeleteThe VAR interventions in London and Copenhagen were similar, but the intensity in London is by far low and all is made just about the point of contact. Nevertheless, if this is the strictness now introduced by UEFA, it's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteVideo from Nyberg game: https://streamff.com/v/1ceae389
Will look for Copenhagen as well, in that case you have also the argument "ball before".
Copenhagen - Napoli: https://streambug.org/cv/62efe8
DeleteClear red in FCK vs Napoli, in Spurs vs Dortmund I would have preferred yc
DeleteDie hard BVB-fan here but I'll try to be objective... It's called Video AR, not Single Frame AR. The frame looks like clear red. But watching the whole sequence, this should never be a red. Svensson clearly aims for the ball and plays it. Opponent then stomps his leg into Svenssons path who has no chance to avoid the contact at that point. That's unfortunate but no serious foul play.
DeleteAgree
DeleteMy final assessments is that in Copenhagen you can say clear red card, but still not 100% in London, unless a very strict approach, based only on "point of contact" and nothing else.
DeleteThe player plays the ball and, in the follow-up action, there is contact with the opponent. The contact is very slight, as the player bends his knee and makes contact with the opponent’s leg, which is in the air therefore, there is no significant risk of injury. In my opinion, VAR should confirm the yellow card issued to the white-shirted player; however, if the referee had decided to issue a red card, VAR should also confirm that decision in this case.
DeleteThe referee is close to the play....
ReplyDeleteCorrect PK given by Peljto in Copenhagen.
ReplyDeletePenalty call by Peljto: https://streamin.me/v/6f9f6029
ReplyDeleteclear penalty, good decision
Deletehttps://theifab.com/news/ifab-annual-business-meeting-supports-further-measures-to-improve-match-flow-and/
ReplyDeleteComments???
Good luck with "enforcing a ten-second time limit for players leaving the field when being substituted" and "applying the countdown principle to throw-ins and goal kicks".
Delete"Match officials should be permitted to review red cards resulting from factually incorrect second yellow cards" - what about mandatory 2YCs not given???
“as well as cases in which the wrong team is penalised for an offence resulting in a red or yellow card” that’s a can of worms right there. Also disappointing that they aren’t going to do any more trials or discussion on changes relating to player behavior. Does anyone remember them proposing a trial on “a stricter application of the laws of the game” that was never heard about again? This would have been several years ago.
DeleteGood overall by Pinheiro in Milan
ReplyDelete2-1 for Sporting and two decisions involved Taylor in bad mood. Wrong VAR and screen analysis prior to 0-1 cancelled and completely wrong foul whistled against Doué who did NOTHING and is sanctionned instead of corner for PSG. Not very convincing…
ReplyDeleteRumšas with an easy game in frosty Astana. Several expected play-on calls in penalty areas. 18QAİ should've been cautioned after two careless-reckless challenges in 43' and 45', though. The Lithuanian seemed to be in a very good mood after his promotion, smiling and keeping friendly approach. Moreover, nice to see active work from fourth official.
ReplyDeleteKvaratskhelia should have received 2 bookings in 2 separate incidents.
ReplyDeleteFirst for shoving Suarez and then for blatant and agressive dissent.
Lenient Taylor in that situations.
Bad foul by Suarez and YC ok but PSG georgian player had to be yellowcarded too. No reaction by Taylor at all. Just after, new foul on attacker very angry not seen and only free kick because of reaction. YC for dissent to Khvaratskelia and…Luis Enrique for dissent too. Catastrophic foul detection on last minutes by english referee and erratic management. I was not Taylor fan. I m not it at all again…
ReplyDeleteTaylor, always being Taylor. Surprising absolutely no one. The games he referees will never be free of controversy.
ReplyDeleteLast free kick in Copenhagen was another possible red card for home-team, a foul targeted on opponent, player aware he couldn't get ball, he deliberately kicked the opponent. A classic incident showing us the difference with the past in refereeing: without all modern guidelines and criteria, it would have been easy to send off a player for that, now you must take everything into account and the fact that the challenge is exclusively oriented to opponent, withou any aim on the ball is not enough to issue a red card.
ReplyDeletePeljto: missed the red card live in fist half, good / expected call with penalty, great PLAY ON and body language about 94:30 reading perfectly the moment of the game and the intentions of the player (exaggerating a contact), but overall not 100% faultless. How crucial for committee will be the missed red card in terms of final assesment for him?
If it were Mariani, Pinheiro, or the like, it probably wouldn’t be a problem, because it’s Peljto anything like this can be expected.
DeleteNo Chefren, poor performance by Pinheiro: at this level, you cannot be allowed to miss a red card in first half and have another strong evaluation on missing a red card also at 95:00. No difference between past and present way of refereeing: if a player deliberately kick an opponent you must go out of field ! Full stop!
DeleteMoreover several different technical and disciplinary decisions on simular incidents.
Of course, not Pinheiro. But Pejito.
DeleteVideo on the second possible red card for the kick?
DeleteA very quiet match from Walsh, with only a few fouls. Two good YC aftee advantage. This result means a very experienced referee is needed for Ajax-Olympiakos. It's going to be a match with 2 teams who can qualify.
ReplyDeleteGood game by Eskas in Madrid. Not the hardest game, but the YC for holding two minutes after the public warning set things straigt. No trouble after that.
ReplyDeleteThe mentioned foul in Peljto game:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/d87f4b
My opinion is more red than yellow, but no var intervention
DeleteI think this is up to the referee, VAR did not have the elements to change the decision because this is not a 100% red card
DeleteWith all my respect but the defender chases the attacker and kicks him from behind with violence and without any interest in the ball. IMO 100% RC without a doubt. YC? Clear mistake by both the referee and the VAR.
ReplyDelete