List of selected officials for 2026 UEFA Under 17 EURO Championship, to be played in Estonia.
Estonia, 25 May - 7 June 2026
Referees:
Florian Lata ALB
Konstandínos Fellás CYP
Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Oğuzhan Çakır TUR
Asker Najafaliyev UZB
Thomas Gary Owen WAL
Assistant Referees:
Mario Shazivari ALB
Iraklís Komodrómos CYP
Michaíl Papadákis GRE
Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Nikola Borović SRB
Furkan Ürün TUR
Ruslan Serazitdinov UZB
Lewiss Ross Edwards WAL
Fourth Officials:
Márton Rúsz HUN
Vlatko Ilioski MKD
_____________________
Matchday 1
Monday 25 May 2026
Group A
13:30 CET - Rakvere linnastaadion, Rakvere
CROATIA - BELGIUM
Referee: Florian Lata ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Mario Shazivari ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Nikola Borović SRB
Fourth Official: Márton Rúsz HUN
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Davids Isakovs LVA
Group A
19:00 CET - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
ESTONIA - SPAIN
Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Ruslan Serazitdinov UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Furkan Ürün TUR
Fourth Official: Oğuzhan Çakır TUR
UEFA Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili GEO
UEFA Delegate: Edgar Manukyan ARM
Tuesday 26 May 2026
Group B
13:30 CET - Kalevi Keskstaadion, Tallinn
ITALY - FRANCE
Referee: Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Michaíl Papadákis GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vlatko Ilioski MKD
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Edgar Manukyan ARM
Group B
18:00 CET - Kadrioru staadion, Tallinn
MONTENEGRO - DENMARK
Referee: Konstandínos Fellás CYP
Assistant Referee 1: Iraklís Komodrómos CYP
Assistant Referee 2: Lewiss Ross Edwards WAL
Fourth Official: Thomas Gary Owen WAL
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE
UEFA Delegate: Davids Isakovs LVA
Matchday 2
Thursday 28 May 2026
Group A
13:30 CET - Rakvere linnastaadion, Rakvere
BELGIUM - SPAIN
Referee: Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Michaíl Papadákis GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vlatko Ilioski MKD
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate:
Group A
18:00 CET - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn
ESTONIA - CROATIA
Referee: Oguzhan Çakir TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Furkan Ürün TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Furkan Ürün TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Mario Shazivari ALB
Fourth Official: Florian Lata ALB
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate:
Friday 29 May 2026
Group B
13:30 CET - Kalevi Keskstaadion, Tallinn
MONTENEGRO - ITALY
Referee: Thomas Gary Owen WAL
Assistant Referee 1: Lewiss Ross Edwards WAL
Assistant Referee 2: Nikola Borović SRB
Fourth Official: Márton Rúsz HUN
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate:
Group B
18:00 CET - Kadrioru staadion, Tallinn
FRANCE - DENMARK
Referee: Asker Nadjafaliev UZBAssistant Referee 1: Ruslan Serazitdinov UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Iraklís Komodrómos CYP
Fourth Official: Konstandínos Fellás CYP
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate:
I can report that, according to the Austrian Football Association ÖFB, Stefan Meßner will be there as an observer.
ReplyDeleteDo any one watch caf cl
ReplyDeleteThere is possible pelanty in 25 min to asfar var didn't interfere and artan make signal dive
31 min messed handball but it was holding before no var intervention artan ask for play on
ReplyDelete33 min clear pelanty artan ask for play on
ReplyDeleteVar call for ofr
ReplyDeletePelanty after ofr the same incident in 26 min
ReplyDeleteCaf choosing artan for this final shows how caf miss meange
Many incidents in first half final caf cl second leg
ReplyDeleteNow with 1 1 it's look it will be easy for artan in the second half
I don't like Artan. He is not in the game. Poor movement on the pitch, he is far from the action. Penalty not awarded in the 34th minute, missed yellow card in the 45+8 minute for recklessness.
ReplyDeletePro are you joking or maybe you are AS Far fun.
DeleteThere is incident in 9 min for possible red card
DeleteSecond ofr for clear pelanty
ReplyDeleteOmar Artan has made all the key expected decisions so far including two penalty kicks
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for many CAF referees because they can’t truly be themselves. Today proved it. Both penalty decisions were clear and easy on-field calls, yet it felt like Omar Artan was advised before the match not to make big decisions by himself.
DeletePolitics around teams and appointments also make things harder. Before almost every big match, one side is already complaining about the referee or asking for a change something we rarely see at this level in Europe.
In CAF, it sometimes feels like they only care about getting the final decision right, no matter how it comes, instead of trusting referees to manage games independently and confidently.
Best case scenario for the referees, the losing team is the one that received the two penalties, while the winning team can celebrate without any major controversy around the officiating.
DeleteFrom a CAF perspective, this is probably exactly the type of outcome they expected from Omar Artan’s performance correct key decisions, no major backlash, and the focus staying on the football rather than the refereeing.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't find a better source, but here some arranged clips.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the referee from Somalia with a rather very poor performance, according to what we can see, and many troubles with "pelanties".
Minutes like described above:
26'
https://streambug.org/cv/1f7500
31'
https://streambug.org/cv/4784e8
34'
https://streambug.org/cv/517790
45'+9
https://streambug.org/cv/424a1a
75'
https://streambug.org/cv/895395
For sure not an officiating at WC level.
WC will have som many VAR intervetions it will be unbelievable. Be prepared for huge controversies and countries claiming scandals.
DeleteWhat about this incident from Brazil?
ReplyDeletehttps://streamff.com/v/12ae8102
Very strange human that player.
DeleteAfter a 24 year career, the first ever Women to reach men’s category 1 in Scotland, Lorraine Watson has retired. She was the first ever Scottish female Elite referee.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why UEFA is only appointing referees from Southeast Europe for this tournament... with the exception of the Uzbek the Welshmen and the Lithuanian assistant. Surely you would want a bit more flexibility, it seems to me... a Scandinavian and a Central European would make the appointments easier, or am I thinking too logically? This would prevent an Albanian with a Serbian assistant from having to referee a Croatia-Belgium match; that is roughly the same as a Swede with a Norwegian assistant having to referee, for example, Finland-Greece. A little bit more neutrality would be appropriate!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that as well, but I tend to believe it is more of a coincidence. When I think of the U19 Euros, last year already in the group stage, the Bosnian Antoni Bandic refereed Montenegro, the Belgian Lothar D'hondt the Netherlands, and the Irish Rob Hennessy England. I don't get the impression that UEFA still places much importance on geographical aspects like 'former Yugoslavia,' 'Benelux countries,' or 'British Isles.'
DeleteOT, This question is part of diploma thesis research for master´s degree in sport science:
ReplyDeleteHow do you guys deal with match you made a mistake/totally fuck it? Do you go running? Do you get yourself drunk? Do you go fishing?
I would be very pleased if you could answear
none off those, mostly in the evening i when i'm back to normal routine i review the situation for myself, and also find what i can do better the next time, i referee for 17 years now, and still discover things that i can do better, thats the fun of refereeing
DeleteAléxandros Tsakalídis in Italy - France.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all let's say that with the limited number of cameras and a broadcaster that was not exactly perfect, it is very difficult to be sure about certain situations, nevertheless, an attempt can still be made to analyze them.
In my opinion, the match was not really challenging, however, the referee didn't have a clean performance.
11'
Unknown what the referee decided. Not reported by UEFA in that minute. Possible ghost goal, ball out before during corner execution, foul on keeper. Not clear gesture.
https://streambug.org/cv/2f3b1c
13' Off the ball free kick
https://streambug.org/cv/c4f937
14' YC for SPA, mandatory
https://streambug.org/cv/59fe52
22' Possible YC reckless
https://streambug.org/cv/7293a8
29' YC SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/34aa8f
30' Play On, possible foul and YC
https://streambug.org/cv/7b7ae5
36' Possible YC for reckless, charging
https://streambug.org/cv/b94e20
52' Play On - Possible foul and YC
https://streambug.org/cv/44947d
55' Goal, possible offside, impossible to say
https://streambug.org/cv/b7eaf4
60' YC reckless, mandatory
https://streambug.org/cv/22397f
62' Play On, Possible YC reckless
https://streambug.org/cv/188138
67' PAI Handball - impossible to make any assessment, then indirect free kick inside the box for unsporting behavior by keeper
https://streambug.org/cv/9424e1
It was an opponent to kick the ball, but I think that the Greek referee assessed an unsporting behavior, keeper was expected to use hands before and not in that situation after the pressing by attacker, it was like a new action. However here most of referees wouldn't have whistled. Rather sophisticated decision.
82' Disallowed goal for handball, once again, hard to say but probably correct decision
https://streambug.org/cv/72ed19
Apart from the possible offside, decisions under the spotlights are: 11' (goal?), 67' (possible penalty before) and 82'' (disallowed goal).
It was also reported about a very strict fourth official with players having to enter or leave the pitch.
About the technical performance: rather lenient, cards when strictly mandatory, some situations in which he could have whistled, but he played on. Short whistles, the Greek looked to be unobtrusive.
Last remark, with modern football full of cameras, angles, and replay, that's absolutely a different world. It's sure that observers at stadium can't go so deep in assessing a performance, such tournaments in my opinion are just used as training to teach referees, but without detailed technical analyses, it's simply impossible to do them!
It's so sad UEFA have decided to go this way. In the past there was much more focus on those tournaments. It's difficult to explain because you can easily make it a big product for broadcasters (16 teams, good stadiums, VAR, etc.) and earn good money for selling it but instead the level of organization of those youth tournaments (even U21!) drastically decreased.
DeleteAlso, in the past they were used as a very important step in many referees' careers and now it's more or less random...
I agree with you. Gradually, with the appointment of Roberto Rosetti , over the years the lower base has increasingly remained just the base, while the top level, the elite, has become even more confined into itself. The selection processes for referees, which obviously begin from the category they are placed in when they become international referees, have turned more into preferential tracks than a real step-by-step pathway, in other words, there is greater discretion in the choices being made by committee.
DeleteAt the same time, however, and I think this also connects with other aspects we have analyzed in the past on this blog, referees belonging to lower categories, such as Category 2, are now regularly assigned a larger number of matches, but matches that are handled almost exclusively by them, unlike in the past when there was greater rotation and selection.
As for the development of referees who may eventually aim for the highest level, a lot now depends on the Talent & Mentor project, which of course specifically selects certain referees, as well as on the decisions made by the domestic federations. However, a more detailed on-field observation, for example during these Under-17 and Under-19 European Championships, has become almost nonexistent, compared to past. These tournaments are now used mainly to give opportunities, as you said, to referees from certain federations in some cases. Of course, there can always be the isolated case of someone who then gets a major career, but it feels as they have completely abandoned the idea of a long-term development pathway in favor of greater flexibility (to say it in polite words). Many years ago, and even when Rosetti had already arrived, at least in the early period, things were absolutely not like this.
All the more remarkable that UEFA nominates comparatively important observers for this tournament, which has become relatively unimportant from a referee's perspective. Personally, I also do not think it is a good development that the commission always nominates itself for the finals in the European Cup instead of allowing other prominent observers such a career. I have already pointed out that I cannot understand why only men observe men's games. Given the amount of running involved, female referees might probably be somewhat disadvantaged, but as observers, achieving equality should be considerably easier. So far, however, this attempt has not even been made in early stages such as the qualification for the Conference League.
Delete"a lot now depends on the Talent & Mentor project, which of course specifically selects certain referees, as well as on the decisions made by the domestic federations"
DeleteExactly. We can clearly see that the referees pointed by domestic federations as their stars are extremely pushed internationally and only need to perform decently to get a promotion (Jablonski, Alberola Rojas, Van der Eijk, etc.) while their countrymen has almost no chance to achieve more even if they perform better in UEFA competitions (Schlager, Muñiz Ruiz, Nagtegaal for example).
While in the past only the performances in UEFA competitions were taken into account, it seems UEFA shifted the responsibility onto domestic federations to select their new top-UEFA-level referees and then it's only up to those referees to not have a nightmare in order to achieve it.
The same applies for Badstübner who is participating in the Talent & Mentor project at the moment. He is heavily pushed by Kircher in Germany and it seems that it has an influence on UEFA as he already officiated two ECL group stage matches in his first year as a FIFA referee. He is certainly a promising talent and his physical condition is impressive but I doubt that his path so far is justified in relation to other good referees.
DeleteOT
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxVBc7GKiEQ
Interview of Ihar Shumilau, new FIFA referee from Belarus, YouTube automatic subtitles are available. Among other things, he spokes about his experience and the process of becoming FIFA referee, VAR project in Belarus that should be launched this year (Belarus is probably one of the few countries that don't have VAR yet) and his training and preparation for the games.
Vassaras and Kuipers observers in semifinals, very likely the Dutch (he observed Turkish referee today) will be the observer for the final.
ReplyDeleteDid u watch Çakır?
DeleteNo, I'm sorry.
DeleteFlorian Lata with the final. Tom Owen is FO. Kuipers the observer
ReplyDeleteTwo crucial incidents for Albanian referee in second half.
ReplyDelete74' Simulation
https://streambug.org/cv/12b1e4
88' Penalty for handball
https://streambug.org/cv/e4aec1
Both good decisions by Lata. Well done.
DeleteVery convincing performance all around from Lata. Really well done! Good balance between stopping & letting play continue
Delete