Referee assignments, March 2026 friendlies.
Wednesday 25 March 2026
13:00 CET - Astana (Astana Arena)KAZAKHSTAN - NAMIBIA
Referee: Viktar Shymusik BLR
Assistant Referee 1: Siarhei Kasavets BLR
Assistant Referee 2: Anton Gusev BLR
Fourth Official: Georgi Chekhovski KAZ
Thursday 26 March 2026
15:30 CET - Kigali (Kigali Pelé Stadium)
TANZANIA - LIECHTENSTEIN
Referee: Mohamed Diraneh Guedi DJI
Assistant Referee 1: Eleyeh Robleh Dirir DJI
Assistant Referee 2: Rachid Waiss Bouraleh DJI
Fourth Official: Saddam Houssein Mansour DJI
TANZANIA - LIECHTENSTEIN
Referee: Mohamed Diraneh Guedi DJI
Assistant Referee 1: Eleyeh Robleh Dirir DJI
Assistant Referee 2: Rachid Waiss Bouraleh DJI
Fourth Official: Saddam Houssein Mansour DJI
16:00 CET - Chișinău (Stadionul Zimbru)
MOLDOVA - LITHUANIA
Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM
Assistant Referee 1: Vanik Simonyan ARM
Assistant Referee 2: Sargis Hovhannisyan ARM
Fourth Official: Dumitru Muntean MDA
18:00 CET - Tbilisi (Mikheil Meskhis Stadioni)
GEORGIA - ISRAEL
Referee: Julian Weinberger AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Maximilian Kolbitsch AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Mattias Hartl AUT
Fourth Official: Bakari Bregadze GEO
18:00 CET - Nicosia (Stádio GSP)
CYPRUS - BELARUS
Referee: Miloš Milanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Milan Šutulović SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Slobodan Pavlović SRB
Fourth Official: Dimítris Solomoú CYP
21:00 CET - Boston (Gillette Stadium)
BRAZIL - FRANCE
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr. USA
Assistant Referee 1: Nick Uranga USA
Assistant Referee 2: Cory Richardson USA
Fourth Official: Armando Villareal USA
Video Assistant Referee: Tim Ford USA
Assistant Video Referee:
Friday 27 March 2026
00:30 CET - Orlando, USA (Camping World Stadium)
CROATIA - COLOMBIA
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez USA
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Da Silva USA
Assistant Referee 2: Meghan Mullen USA
Fourth Official: Victor Rivas USA
07:15 CET - Auckland (Eden Park)
NEW ZEALAND - FINLAND
Referee: Casey Reibelt AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Arvin Shanmuganathan AUS
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham AUS
Fourth Official: Jack Morgan AUS
09:30 CET - Jakarta, IDN (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium)
SOLOMON ISLANDS - BULGARIA
Referee: Naufal Adya Fairuski IDN
Assistant Referee 1: Fajar Furqon IDN
Assistant Referee 2: Gilang Ade Mizwar IDN
Fourth Official: Axel Febrian Sinaga IDN
Video Assistant Referee: Thoriq Munir Alkatiri IDN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Akbar Jamaluddin IDN
14:00 CET - Antalya, TUR (Corendon Airlines Park)
IR IRAN - NIGERIAReferee: Cihan Aydın TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Abdullah Bora Özkara TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Furkan Ürün TUR
Fourth Official: Yasin Kol TUR
16:00 CET - Sumqayıt (Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt Şəhər Stadionu)
AZERBAIJAN - SAINT LUCIA
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Levan Varamishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgi Elikashvili GEO
Fourth Official: Koba Revazashvili GEO
17:00 CET - Kigali, RWA (Amahoro Stadium)
KENYA - ESTONIA
Referee: Georges Gatogato BDIAssistant Referee 1: Emery Niyongabo BDI
Assistant Referee 2: Rénovat Bizumuremyi BDI
Fourth Official: Rodrigue Bigirimana BDI
17:30 CET - Krasnodar (Ozon Arena)
RUSSIA - NICARAGUA
Referee: Abdurashid Xudoyberganov UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Sanjar Shoyusupov UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Akmal G'iyosov UZB
Fourth Official: Artyom Chistyakov RUS
18:00 CET - Vienna (Ernst-Happel-Stadion)
AUSTRIA - GHANA
Referee: Muhammad Khalid Al-Huwaish KSA
Assistant Referee 1: Khalaf Zaid Al-Shammari KSA
Assistant Referee 2: Yasir Abdullah Al-Sultan KSA
Fourth Official: Shukri Hussain Al-Hanfush KSAVideo Assistant Referee: Sultan Sanat Al-Harbi KSA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Dakhil KSA
18:00 CET - Podgorica (Gradski Stadion)
MONTENEGRO - ANDORRA
Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Ilir Tartaraj ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Marjus Qose ALB
Fourth Official: Nikola Dabanović MNE
18:00 CET - Antalya, TUR (Mardan Spor Kompleksi)
JORDAN - COSTA RICA
Referee: Kadir Sağlam TURAssistant Referee 1: Murat Tuğberk Curbay TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Gökhan Barcın TUR
Fourth Official: Batuhan Kolak TUR
20:00 CET - Piraeus (Stadio Geórgios Karaïskákis)
GREECE - PARAGUAY
Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giovanni Baccini ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA
Fourth Official: Fotios Polychronis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rosario Abisso ITA
20:30 CET - Genoa, ITA (Stadio Luigi Ferraris)
ALGERIA - GUATEMALA
Referee: Andrea Colombo ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Davide Imperiale ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Khaled Bahri ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
20:45 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
NETHERLANDS - NORWAY
Referee: Lawrence Visser BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Ruben Wyns BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Thibaud Nijssen BEL
Fourth Official: Lothar D'hondt BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Jan Boterberg BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Simon Bourdeaud'hui BEL
20:45 CET - Basel (St. Jakob-Park)
SWITZERLAND - GERMANY
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Thomas Bramall ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Paul Howard ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood ENG
20:45 CET - London (Wembley Stadium)
ENGLAND - URUGUAY
Referee: Sven Jablonski GER
Assistant Referee 1: Eduard Beitinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann GER
Fourth Official: Benjamin Brand GER
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Katrin Rafalski GER
21:00 CET - Vila-real (Estadio de la Cerámica)
SPAIN - SERBIA
Referee: Luís Miguel Branco Godinho POR
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Miguel Martins Teixeira POR
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Ricardo Duarte Brás POR
Fourth Official: Hélder Miguel de Azevedo Malheiro POR
21:15 CET - Madrid, ESP (Riyadh Air Metropolitano)
MOROCCO - ECUADOR
Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Eliana Fernández González ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Alfredo Rodríguez Moreno ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Guzmán Mansilla ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Jesús Trujillo Suárez ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pablo González Fuertes ESP
Saturday 28 March 2026
12:00 CET - Astana, KAZ (Astana Arena)
NAMIBIA - COMOROS
Referee: Arman Esmūratov KAZ
Assistant Referee 1: Sergei Kalatşov KAZ
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksei Dolgih KAZ
Fourth Official: Sanjar Ysqaqov KAZ
15:00 CET - Serravalle (San Marino Stadium)
SAN MARINO - FAROE ISLANDS
Referee: Kyriákos Athanasíou CYP
Assistant Referee 1: Níkos Englézou CYP
Assistant Referee 2: Kyriákos Sokrátous CYP
Fourth Official: Andrea Righi SMR
15:00 CET - Milton Keynes, ENG (Stadium MK)
KOREA REPUBLIC - IVORY COAST
Referee: Ian McNabb NIR
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Donaldson NIR
Assistant Referee 2: Georgios Argyropoulos NIR
Fourth Official: Robert Hennessy IRL
15:00 CET - Antalya, TUR (Mardan Spor Kompleksi)
KYRGYZSTAN - MADAGASCAR
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official:
17:00 CET - Saint-Denis, FRA (Stade de France)
SENEGAL - PERU
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official:
18:00 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
HUNGARY - SLOVENIA
Referee: Rohit Saggi NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Anders Olav Dale NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Jørgen Rønning Valstadsve NOR
Fourth Official: Karoline Marie Jensen NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes NOR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Svein Tore Sinnes NOR
18:00 CET - Toronto (BMO Field)
CANADA - ICELAND
Referee: Jon Freemon USA
Assistant Referee 1: Jeremy Kieso USA
Assistant Referee 2: Ryan Graves USA
Fourth Official: Jesús Rafael López Valle MEX
18:00 CET - Glasgow (Hampden Park)
SCOTLAND - JAPAN
Referee: Shaun Evans AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Meimarakis AUS
Assistant Referee 2: Kearney Robinson AUS
Fourth Official: Daniel Elder AUS
Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Danaskos AUS
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brad Wright AUS
20:30 CET - Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
USA - BELGIUM
Referee: Esteban Daniel Ostojich Vega URU
Assistant Referee 1: Horacio José Ferreiro Bruguera URU
Assistant Referee 2: Pablo Andrés Llarena Peleteiro URU
Fourth Official: Alberto Javier Feres Marino URU
Video Assistant Referee: Tatiana Auxiliadora Guzmán Alguera NCA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamín Pineda Ávila CRC
Sunday 29 March 2026
03:00 CET - Mexico City (Estadio Banorte)
MEXICO - PORTUGAL
Referee: Walter Alexander López Castellanos GUA
Assistant Referee 1: Keytzel Raúl Corrales Mojica NCA
Assistant Referee 2: Helpys Raymundo Feliz Cuevas DOM
Fourth Official: Bryan Amed López Castellanos GUA
15:00 CET - Kaunas (Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas)
LITHUANIA - GEORGIA
Referee: Vitālijs Spasjonņikovs LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Raimonds Tatriks LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonņikovs LVA
Fourth Official: Rasa Grigonė LTU
16:00 CET - Yerevan (Vazgen Sargsyan anvan Hanrapetakan Marzadasht)
ARMENIA - BELARUS
Referee: Dumitru Muntean MDA
Assistant Referee 1: Vlad Lifciu MDA
Assistant Referee 2: Vadim Vicol MDA
Fourth Official: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM
18:00 CET - Kigali, RWA (Kigali Pelé Stadium)
ARUBA - LIECHTENSTEIN
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda RWA
Assistant Referee 1: Dieudonné Mutuyimana RWA
Assistant Referee 2: Didier Ishimwe RWA
Fourth Official: Aline Umutoni RWA
20:00 CET - Lens, FRA (Stade Bollaert-Delelis)
MOROCCO - PARAGUAY
Referee: Eric Wattelier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Abdelatif Kherradji FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Hamid Guenaoui FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillaume Paradis FRA
21:00 CET - Landover, USA (Northwest Stadium)
COLOMBIA - FRANCE
Referee: Victor Manuel Rivas USA
Assistant Referee 1: Christopher Cortez-Elliott USA
Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal USA
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez USA
Monday 30 March 2026
05:00 CET - Auckland, NZL (Eden Park)
CABO VERDE - FINLAND
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley NZL
Assistant Referee 1: Isaac Trevis NZL
Assistant Referee 2: Allys Clipsham NZL
Fourth Official: Cory Mills NZL
Video Assistant Referee: ?
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: ?
15:00 CET - Jakarta (Gelora Bung Karno Stadium)
INDONESIA - BULGARIA
Referee: Muhammad Nazmi bin Nasaruddin MAS
Assistant Referee 1: Mu'azi Zainal Abidin MAS
Assistant Referee 2: Farhan bin Abdul Aziz MAS
Fourth Official: Judi Nurcahaya IDN
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:
17:00 CET - Sumqayıt (Mehdi Hüseynzadə adına Sumqayıt şəhər stadionu)
AZERBAIJAN - SIERRA LEONE
Referee: Asker Najafaliyev UZBAssistant Referee 1: Baxtiyorxo'ja Shavkatov UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Islom Azimov UZB
Fourth Official: Ahrol Risqullayev UZB
18:00 CET - Nicosia (Stádio GSP)
CYPRUS - MOLDOVA
Referee: Marian Alexandru Barbu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: George Florin Neacșu ROU
Fourth Official: Panagiótis Chatzigeorgíou CYP
19:30 CET - Kigali (Amahoro Stadium)
RWANDA - ESTONIA
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official:
20:45 CET - Stuttgart (MHP Arena Stuttgart)
GERMANY - GHANA
Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Bennett ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ross Macleod SCO
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Matthew Donohue ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sian Massey-Ellis ENG
Tuesday 31 March 2026
11:00 CET - Antalya, TUR (Arslan Zeki Demirci Spor Kompleksi)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA - MADAGASCAR
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official:
14:00 CET - Astana (Astana Arena)
KAZAKHSTAN - COMOROS
Referee: Ishmael Barbara MLT
Assistant Referee 1: James Muscat MLT
Assistant Referee 2: Duncan Spencer MLT
Fourth Official: Danil Gorda KAZ
15:00 CET - Antalya, TUR (Corendon Airlines Park)
COSTA RICA - IR IRAN
Referee: Cihan Aydın TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Murat Tuğberk Curbay TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Mehmet Emin Tuğral TUR
Fourth Official: Ayberk Demirbaş TUR
18:00 CET - Oslo (Ullevaal Stadion)
NORWAY - SWITZERLAND
Referee: Jasper Vergoote BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Martijn Tiesters BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Geerolf BEL
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ella De Vries BEL
18:00 CET - Podgorica (Gradski stadion Podgorica)
MONTENEGRO - SLOVENIA
Referee: Duje Strukan CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Luka Pajić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Starčević CRO
Fourth Official: Nikola Dabanović MNE
18:00 CET - Serravalle (San Marino Stadium)
SAN MARINO - ANDORRA
Referee: Kyriákos Athanasíou CYP
Assistant Referee 1: Níkos Englézou CYP
Assistant Referee 2: Kyriákos Sokrátous CYP
Fourth Official: Alessandro Vandi ITA
18:00 CET - Bačka Topola (TSC Arena)
SERBIA - SAUDI ARABIA
Referee: Balázs Berke HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Vencel Tóth HUN
Assistant Referee 2: Péter Kóbor HUN
Fourth Official: Predrag Janjuš SRB
18:30 CET - Toronto, CAN (BMO Field)
HAITI - ICELAND
Referee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Gérard-Kader Lebuis CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Twayne Anderson CAN
Fourth Official: Mathieu Souaré CAN
19:00 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
HUNGARY - GREECE
Referee: Florian Badstübner GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Sven Waschitzki-Günther GER
Fourth Official: Florian Exner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Markus Sinn GER
19:00 CET - Saint Petersburg (Gazprom Arena)
RUSSIA - MALI
Referee: Rustam Lutfullin UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Sanjar Shoyusupov UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Akmal G'iyosov UZB
Fourth Official: Aleksey Sukhoy RUS
19:30 CET - Antalya, TUR (Mardan Spor Kompleksi)
JORDAN - NIGERIA
Referee: Atilla Karaoğlan TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Ceyhun Sesigüzel TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Gökhan Barcın TUR
Fourth Official: Batuhan Kolak TUR
20:00 CET - Lens, FRA (Stade Bollaert-Delelis)
MOROCCO - PARAGUAY
Referee: Éric Wattelier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Abdelatif Kherradji FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Hamid Guenaoui FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillaume Paradis FRA
20:00 CET - Leganés, ESP (Ontime Butarque)
PERU - HONDURAS
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Álvarez Fernández ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iván Massó Granado ESP
Fourth Official: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias ESP
20:30 CET - Liverpool, ENG (Hill Dickinson Stadium)
IVORY COAST - SCOTLAND
Referee: Daniel Elder AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Brad Wright AUS
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Meimarakis AUS
Fourth Official: Tim Danaskos AUS
Video Assistant Referee: Shaun Evans AUS
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kearney Robinson AUS
20:45 CET - Eindhoven (Philips Stadion)
NETHERLANDS - ECUADOR
Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
Assistant Referee 1: Christof Günsch GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann GER
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen GER
Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Winter GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Frederick Assmuth GER
20:45 CET - London (Wembley Stadium)
ENGLAND - JAPAN
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Steven McLean SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Clancy SCO
20:45 CET - Vienna (Ernst-Happel-Stadion)
AUSTRIA - KOREA REPUBLIC
Referee: Sander van der Eijk NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rens Bluemink NED
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan de Groot NED
Fourth Official: Alex Bos NED
Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Edwin van de Graaf NED
20:45 CET - Valencia, ESP (Estadi Ciutat de València)
UKRAINE - ALBANIA
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Alfredo Rodríguez Moreno ESP
Fourth Official: Iosu Galech ApezteguiWa ESP
20:45 CET - Dublin (Aviva Stadium)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - NORTH MACEDONIA
Referee: Iwan Arwel Griffith WAL
Assistant Referee 1: Johnathon Bryant WAL
Assistant Referee 2: Harry Hendricks WAL
Fourth Official: James Robert Robinson NIR
20:45 CET - Bratislava (Národný futbalový štadión)
SLOVAKIA - ROMANIA
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Nádvorník CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Váňa CZE
Fourth Official: Lukáš Dzivjak SVK
20:45 CET - Cardiff (Cardiff City Stadium)
WALES - NORTHERN IRELAND
Referee: Robert Hennessy IRL
Assistant Referee 1: Emmett Dynan IRL
Assistant Referee 2: Darragh Keegan IRL
Fourth Official: Ryan Kenny WAL
21:00 CET - Cornellà de Llobregat (RCDE Stadium)
SPAIN - EGYPT
Referee: Georgi Kabakov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Margaritov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Venev BUL
Fourth Official: Radoslav Gidzhenov BUL
21:30 CET - Turin, ITA (Allianz Stadium)
ALGERIA - URUGUAY
Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giuseppe Perrotti ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Wednesday 1 April 2026
02:00 CET - Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
USA - PORTUGAL
Referee:Sven Jablonski GER
Assistant Referee 1: Eduard Beitinger GER
Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal GER
Fourth Official: Harm Osmers GERVideo Assistant Referee: Benjamín Pineda Ávila CRC
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Roy Yazid Monge Acuña CRC
03:00 CET - Orlando, USA (Camping World Stadium)
BRAZIL - CROATIA
Referee: Armando Villarreal USA
Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Graves USA
Assistant Referee 2: Kali Smith USA
Fourth Official: Victor Manuel Rivas USA
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Radchuk USA
04:00 CET - Chicago, USA (Soldier Field)
MEXICO - BELGIUM
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza USA
Assistant Referee 1: Cory Richardson USA
Assistant Referee 2: Nick Uranga USA
Fourth Official: Ricardo Montero Araya CRC
Video Assistant Referee: José Carlos Rivero USA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lukasz Szpala USA
I have a question, who appoints the match officials for the international friendlies
ReplyDeleteI could well be wrong but it is my understanding that the home country asks a countries association either for a specific referee or for the association to pick someone then the association choose the rest of the team. I may well be we wrong though
DeleteOk thanks I appreciate your comment
DeleteVery interesting to see Benjamin Brand as a fourth official. But maybe thats on of the first changes to FIFA Referee
ReplyDeleteBrand already has a very good reputation as VAR, cause he did that during a long time where he was injured. Since he is back on the pitch, his refereeing was really good, he even showed more self confidence and is a promising candidate for much more in future, with an interesting style between communicator and law enforcing without much compromise.
DeleteI'm really curious to see the refere of Brazil vs France. Really top match.
ReplyDeleteLikely to be top US ref I'd guess, maybe Mexican?
ReplyDeleteBRASIL - FRANCE
ReplyDeleteReferee: Guido Gonzales Jr. USA
Assistant Referee 1: Nick Uranga USA
Assistant Referee 2: Cory Richardson USA
Fourth Official: Armando Villareal USA
Video Assistant Referee: Tim Ford USA
Assistant Video Referee:
Brasil x França em Foxborough: Referees : Guido Gonzalez ( referee) , assistants Nick Uranga and Cory Richardson. 4th referee:Armando Villareal . VAR : Tim Ford . All Referees from USA .
ReplyDelete27/03/2026 - Friendly Match
ReplyDeleteAlgeria - Guatemala
Referee: Colombo
Assistant Referees: Imperiale - Bahri
Fourth Official: Marcenaro
Anyone know who is the referee for Morocco vs Ecuador? I presume a Spaniard since it's played in Madrid.
ReplyDeleteSince these games are usually friendlies and not very demanding, I would bet on Soto Grado to referee. Unless Gil Manzano, Hdz Hdz or Sanchez Martínez are among those chosen, given that they were not appointed for this week's World Cup play-offs.
ReplyDelete53 minutes in and this is such a weak performance from the American referee in BRA-FRA. No authority, terrible at managing dissent and interacting with players. Foul detection is poor with a missed DOGSO correctly upgraded by VAR. This would be the equivalent of a UEFA category 2 refereeing the CL final, looks very out of his depth.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteFrom Austria's "teletext" I was finally able to take the referee lineup for our national team's match against Ghana today: With Mohammed Al Hoaish from Saudi Arabia, a somewhat big surprise, since such friendly matches are usually officiated by referees from the respective continental association of the hosting team.
ReplyDeleteGood morning everyone.
ReplyDeleteIs there any information about Team One for Scotland-Japan in Glasgow?
Thanks in advance!
Australian refereeing team I believe.
DeleteWho can be the referee?
DeleteAustralia v Cameroon was
ReplyDeleteRef Rob Jones (first game since February)
AR1 Neil Davies
AR2 Wade Smith
FO Andy Madley
Looks like Jablonski has shown Ugarte two yellows but no red...
ReplyDeleteHe looks lost. No authoritty
DeleteThat's wrang!
DeleteAlso Araujo could and probably should have been sent off for his tackle on Foden. I wonder if match status, just a friendly, was a factor in Jablonski and VAR being so lenient...
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame because Jablonski has been so good in UCL this season, but he looked out of his depth tonight. Even aside from the missed incidents and strange 2YC situation, there is a difference between letting the game flow and just not refereeing the match, and it was in the second category for a lot of it which ended up making the match a lot harder for himself than it needed to be.
ReplyDeleteThat's wrong!
DeleteSo the first YC was for Gimenez. Fine. But then why were the TV apparently told by the officials that it was rescinded, then they changed that. Some info has been wrongly published, and hopefully the comms would be far better in an official game
ReplyDeleteIts looks a mess
DeleteThe first yellow card (70th minute) goes to number 2, who ran wildly gesturing towards the referee and not to number 5 (normal foul).
DeleteUgarte got only one yellow card in minute 86.
ReplyDeleteWhy were TV told that it was rescinded then?
DeleteThe tackle on Foden merited a red card .Appalling refereeing by Jablonski .He should be demoted because of his consistently poor performances this season.
ReplyDeleteAgree about Araujo situation in minute 49. Clear red card. Jablonski is super lenient referee and this is normal for him, awful to see.
ReplyDeleteAnd incident in minute 71 when he shows yellow card to Gimenez is also poorly managed, he showed the card from 10 meters in direction to both players. I am not 100 % sure if this card was really for Gimenez and not Duarte as he has card in his hand before Gimenez said a word.
Even with your hating you should at least respect the facts properly...
DeleteThat's completely wrong. In the 71st minute, Gimenez didn't receive a yellow card, but rather the captain (No. 2) for excessive gesturing and dissent. The incident with Aurajo in the 49th minute looked like a clear ball play in the actual play; let's be honest about that! The goal was only visible in slow motion.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not goal but play the Ball and foul
DeleteGimenez was Nr. 2. Yellow Card right.
DeleteAfter a series of good, convincing matches, the bad match for Jablonski was drawing ever closer. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't just a bad match, but a terribly bad match with much food for thought.
ReplyDeleteI see it differently. The challenge between Araujo and Foden (50th minute) looked like a clear game of ball in reality. We have to be honest about that. The foul is only visible in slow motion. In the 70th minute, Uruguay's number 2 rightly received a yellow card for unsportsmanlike dissent and gestures, and not number 5 (for a normal foul)! He received his only caution in the 81st minute.
DeletePlaying ball, not Foul! Problem Translation.
DeleteJablonski is a good referee who lets a lot of play go, which is good for the game. However, he mustn't overdo it; that would be detrimental to his future career.
DeleteDid you see the foul immediately? I didn't, only in slow motion. VAR could have helped here. But since it was initially clear that the ball had been hit, VAR probably didn't intervene.
DeleteI agree the SFP was difficult to see live - this type of situation is what VAR is for. And I'm glad to hear it was not actually a missed 2YC. Still, the bigger concern for me was the lack of personality while being so lenient on foul/disciplinary threshold, which said to the players "here is a referee who is not interested in the game, so we can do what we like".
DeleteI didn't notice any lack of personality in the referee.
DeleteFair enough - everyone reads people differently :)
DeleteI really missed his "normal" style and had the feeling that Jablonski struggled adapting himself to a "friendly",, match which turned out to be anything but friendly. He will learn from that.
DeleteEngland - Uruguay can’t be a friendly match. Never. And unbelievable amateur lack of management by german crew…
DeleteNo, I only saw it in slow motion, but overall I get the impression that he sometimes overdoes it, even in the Bundesliga.
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch the game yesterday, but well, it was definitely a nightmare for Jablonski in the friendly England - Uruguay, incredible to see the extremely low level of the performance shown by the German, if compared to his very good path in UEFA. But it's clear, watching some clips, that for some reasons he had absolutely not interest at all in refereeing this game. It was a totally different referee from the one we know. Standing still, uninterested in assessing challenges and just playing on following all incidents!
ReplyDeletePlease find below clips.
50' Missed at least YC for reckless challenge
https://streambug.org/cv/82e143
The German referee didn't realize at all what had happened.
70' First YC to Uruguay
https://streambug.org/cv/7b3338
To me it was clearly given for the foul, too short time for thinking that he issued it for another reason. So in case, I think they changed it after with mistaken identity (hidden process) by VAR.
81' YC to Uruguay
https://streambug.org/cv/6e4b20
This is clearly given to the involved player, so they had to change the one before...
81' Possible foul before 1-0
https://streambug.org/cv/dd8103
Sorry but it's hard to accept, referee standing still at the edge of penalty area, watching everything under his eyes but just doing nothing.. it's incredible, he was not in this game at all.
Ok, you don't want to whistle foul but at least stop play, warn players, do something...
90' Penalty after OFR
https://streambug.org/cv/9430e0
Not easy to see, but well, given how he had officiated until that moment, even more impossiblee...
One of the worst performance in recent times one can remember, leaving everything to the fate. I'm sure he didn't want officiate this game for some reasons, otherwise no explanations.. very sorry, because after an excellent path, this is a big stop for him.
Imagine such a performance in an "official" UEFA game, but yes, I repeat again, he would have approached differently, and that's the problem for me.
Agree Chefren. Awful performance by Jablonski, Storks and Brand here. No words.
DeleteBrand should have had the Araujo SFP as the fourth. To me, that's the real scandal. I really feel like a lot of European fourths think of themselves as observers, rather than active referees. The challenge was difficult-to-impossible to see for Jablonski live because of both how it happened AND (more importantly) the angle he had. But Brand was right there looking at it. How can he not tell Jablonski? He didn't even tell him it was a foul! That's inexcusable.
ReplyDeleteYou can also place blame on Storks. I think he should intervene there. Unfortunately, we know the bar for SFP via VAR is high AND (perversely) referees seem to have an even higher bar in a friendly. So that blame can only go so far.
But Brand? I'm sorry, that's unacceptable.
Guys,
ReplyDeleteI've never done this before today but I'd like to thank all of you (and especially Chefren, Mikael W, Anonymous and Euro Soccer Ref) for the content of this blog.
Even for me who am a bit older (or perhaps especially because of that!) as AIA Ref Observer, there's always more to learn from your posts, which demonstrate in-depth analysis, great professionalism, and balanced judgment.
And sometimes, there's even a touch of irony and sarcasm that makes it all more interesting…
Thank you! We may have different views but respect is the most important!
DeleteThink Chefren is 99 % close to true here about Ugarte situation yesterday.
ReplyDeleteVery little chance the yellow card was for Gimenez as he is captain and he start to talk and gesticulate after Jablonski have card in his left hand. But they use this to save them . All in all one of worst referee performance lately from team Jablonski,Brand,Storks.
I can understand it is friendly games but awful to see yesterday performance from Munuera Montero, Chiffi,Jablonski. Super lenient ,no protection for players, no protection for fair play as they tolerate everything without yellow cards.
The yellow card in the 70th minute was shown to Uruguay's number 2, not number 5. This is clearly visible. After the routine foul, number 2 walked towards the referee gesturing wildly, and he was immediately shown the yellow card.
DeleteAfter all the confusion surrounding Jablonski’s yellow card: The first yellow card was clearly shown for unsportsmanlike conduct. Nr.2, Gimenez. He had just whistled for a foul, and the captain Gimenez approached him in a very aggressive manner. That’s a clear yellow card.This is perfectly visible in the TV REPLAYS. Now it is clear. Approx. 15 mins later YC for Urgate.
ReplyDeleteKOR-CIV: McNabb, Donaldson, Argyropoulos (NIR), Hennessy (IRL)
ReplyDeleteScotland v Japan
ReplyDeleteReferee : Shaun Evans (AUS)
Assistants : Andrew Meimarakis (AUS) and Kearney Robinson (AUS)
VAR : Tim Danaskos (AUS)
AVAR : Brad Wright (AUS)
This seems a very surprising appointment. Why would FIFA fly an Australian crew all the way to the UK for a friendly match?
DeleteReferee exchanges Scotland - Australia, a few months ago Donald Robertson went to officiate in Ocenia for a torunament between national teams
DeleteSénégal - Pérou : referee is Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
ReplyDeleteCAN-ISL: Freemon, Kieso, Graves (all USA), Lopez Valle (MEX)
ReplyDeleteTwo penalties and a red card here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9IRrStkE2Q
DeletePen at 4:46
Pen at 5:57
VC red at 6:45 (Graves helps give it)
I think both pens have to be given because it is daft defending by Iceland in both cases. But the second one, in particular, is helped by an attacker going down easily.
VC red is spot-on.
Kosova - Turkey : Michael oliver
ReplyDeletefourth official : Christopher Kavanagh
Clément Turpin reported as referee for Bosnia - Italy, as expected.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow for the confirmation by UEFA.
Who is USA vs BEL referee please?
ReplyDeleteEsteban Ostojich
DeleteOstojich, Ferreiro, Llarena, Feres Marino (all URU) - Guzman (NCA), Pineda (CRC)
Delete17:00 CET - Saint-Denis, FRA (Stade de France)
ReplyDeleteSENEGAL - PERU
Referee: Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger (FRA)
Fourth Official: Thomas Léonard (FRA)
VAR : Nicolas Rainville
DeleteAVAR: Benoît Millot
Crazy kit clash in this USA/Belgium game
ReplyDeleteThat was crazy, impossible to watch more than 5 minutes, that's what happened when you're only confronting the front of the shirt to choose which jersey will be wore.
DeleteThe white and red kit could provide problems in more cases, because many national teams have red and white as their two options.
DeleteJust the next game against Portugal will show, whether they learned from it.
Sunday 29 March 2026
ReplyDelete20:00 CET - Lens, FRA (Stade Bollaert-Delelis)
MOROCCO - PARAGUAY
Referee: Eric Wattelier (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu (FRA)
Fourth Official: Abdelatif Kherradji (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Hamid Guenaoui (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillaume Paradis (FRA)
The assistant referees are part of the usual team alongside referee Benoît Bastien (FRA), which suggests that he will once again be the fourth official (alongside Turpin?).
Udapte : Match on Tuesday 31 March, sorry
DeleteIn USA - Belgium friendly, there has been a VAR who will work at WC.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange because at least for field referees, it's asked not to officiate friendlies involving teams that will be at WC... Maybe this is not valid for VAR.
Rather unusual having a Scottish AR with Attwell
ReplyDeleteCOL-FRA: Rivas, Cortez-Elliott, Mariscal, Vazquez (all USA)
ReplyDeleteBoth teams wearing red socks in COL-FRA, are there usually always this many kit clashes during friendlies?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteTue, 31 March, 20:45
ENGLAND - JAPAN
Referee: Nick Walsh Sco
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor Sco
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane Sco
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson Sco
Video Assistant Referee: Steven McLean Sco
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Clancy Sco
I don’t know why Scottish assistant referee Ross McLeod has been appointed with Atwell??
DeleteIn regards to Attwell working with Scottish AR. Guessing PGMOL didn't want any of Taylor and Kavanagh's AR's to have 2 games during the international break. So no other FIFA AR available since Smith/Davies in Australia and Robathan isn't fit.
ReplyDeleteUSA - Portugal : Jablonski - Beitinger, Schaal - Osmers (GER)
ReplyDeleteAfter having officiated at Wemley, he will be in USA?
DeleteIndeed, confirmed by DFB.
DeleteAlgeria - Uruguay
ReplyDeleteReferee: Pairetto
Assistant Referee 1: Peretti
Assistant Referee 2: Perrotti
Fourth Official: Sozza
More info about Jablonski: The appointment had already been announced on March 20, 2026, before the match at Wembley. It was announced in a press release from the Portuguese Football Federation. Please find the link to the source below.
ReplyDeleteSource: https://www.fpf.pt/Portals/0/JOGOS%20MEXICO%20E%20EUA.pdf
(p. 9)
According to that source, Guzman is the VAR. But she is now appointed to a WC play-off, which makes it impossible. And somehow confirms, there was a late change on IRQ-BOL...
DeleteAnd in general quite unusual to have a UEFA referee in a friendly outside of Europe.
DeleteI think, that's a rarer occurence, than a referee doing two games in one international window.
The German TV commentator pointed out UEFA's humour to send the VAR from the much discussed EURO quarterfinal, when the German team returns to Stuttgart for the first time. :)
ReplyDeleteBrasil x Croácia : referee: Armando Villareal ; assistanr 1: Ryan Graves …..assistant 2: Kali Smith…..4*referee: Victor Rivas…… VAR : Michael Radchuck
ReplyDeleteThe MLS referees are really bad in important matches like France vs Brazil. And now we have another one for Brazil vs Croatia.
ReplyDeleteIvory Coast - Scotland
ReplyDeleteReferee: Daniel Elder
Assistant Referee 1: Brad Wright
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Meimarakis
4th Official: Tim Danaskos
VAR: Shaun Evans
AVAR:Kearney Robinson
A team of both male and female Scottish officials had matches in Australia in a previous window so I'm assuming this an agreement between the Scottish and Australian FAs
DeleteThat would make sense to me. Will be watching both Walsh and Elder so good to see different referees.
DeleteHaiti - Iceland
ReplyDeleteReferee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren
Assistant Referee 1: Gérard-Kader Lebuis
Assistant Referee 2: Twayne Anderson
Fourth Official: Mathieu Souaré
Canadian officiating team
DeleteJordan - Nigeria
ReplyDeleteReferee: Atilla Karaoglan
Assistant Referee 1: Ceyhun Sesiguzel
Assistant Referee 2: Gökhan Barcin
Fourth Official: Batuhan Kolak
All officials from Turkey
An early red card for the Netherlands
ReplyDeleteDosgo bot YC here more logica? No VAR stuff ofc
DeleteNow also correct penalty for Ecuador
A very straightforward half for Elder, only 6 fouls in the whole half and quite frankly you could have got someone out of the crowd to referee and they wouldn't have had any issues. Not exactly a test of this referees abilities.
ReplyDeleteAt only 33, Daniel Elder certainly has room for growth. Second half he was acceptable without being outstanding. Consistent with his foul detection and no sanctions where some could have been applied. A decent level of fitness and positioning was at times reactive rather than proactive. Overall a decent night's work
DeleteNo issues to report with Walsh in London, good solid first half, fitness and positioning terrific and both AR's contributing well. Competitive game so a good test for the new Elite
ReplyDeleteA competent and steady performance from Walsh in London. Reliable and consistent with full control and acceptance from players. I do have to say, I think his fitness and positioning is on par with the top elites, very small in stature but an impressive sprint with proactive positioning to assist him. A good night's work for the team.
Delete+1
DeleteWalsh had good game, superb and extraordinary performance ,he deserves to be an elite referee
+1
DeleteI would like to learn, what is original roots of Swiss Referee Alessandro Dudic?
ReplyDeleteHis mother is from Spain, his father is from Serbia.
DeleteThank you. Yesterday he was the ref for Croatia - Turkey U21 game and he issued 3 Red Cards against Turkey. First one can be questionable, second one 100% RC, third one cameras couldn't catch. I just wondered because of his surname.
DeleteOT
ReplyDelete115’ Facundo Tello injured during Congo-Jamaica.
In tears, he left the field.
Darío Herrera with the last 5 minutes of the game.
DeleteWishing Tello a soon recovery.
In some of friendly matches,we could see how American refs struggle with their style when handling some fiery teams.
ReplyDeleteWe saw that pattern with Colombia and Brazil.
Not enough concistency and being sometimes influenced by their protests and not punishing them enough.
Also,we had Strukan who was not so good in Montenegro vs Slovenia.
I get it,friendly, but missed clear elbow before opponets goal which resulted in bloody face for victim,criterium and cards were all over the place.
We also had Jablonski and his performance in England vs Uruguay,so all and all when people,pundits or ex players claim refs have become lazier and are depending so much on VAR;I tend to agree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li9Xng4oPVA
ReplyDeleteRef cam from Attwell's game