2026/27 UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round (First Legs) - Referee Appointments

Third qualifying round of 2026-27 UEFA Champions League, referee assignments (first legs). 

Following Slavko Vinčić's retirement, Rade Obrenović takes over as Slovenia's top UEFA referee

Tuesday 4 August 2026

18:00 CET
Sölvesborg (Strandvallen)
MJÄLLBY (SWE) vs. SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK)
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: Duncan Nicolson SCO
UEFA Referee Observer: Terje Hauge NOR
UEFA Delegate: Patrizia Friese GER

18:00 CET
Yerevan (Republican Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan)
ARARAT-ARMENIA (ARM) vs. CELJE (SVN)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Ján Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kráľovič SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Anojen Kanagasingam SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Edgar Steinborn GER
UEFA Delegate: Avi Levi ISR

19:30 CET
Sofia (Georgi Asparuhov Stadium)
LEVSKI SOFIA (BUL) vs. QAİRAT (KAZ)
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kęstutis Bartuškevičius LTU
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Tamar Chichinadze GEO

19:30 CET
Szombathely, HUN (Haladás Sportkomplexum)
HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA (ISR) vs. CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Javier Martínez Nicolás ESP
Fourth Official: Francisco Javier Hernández Maeso ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Atkinson ENG
UEFA Delegate: Olzhas Abrayev KAZ

20:00 CET
Zagreb (Stadion Maksimir)
DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO) vs. KAUNO ŽALGIRIS (LTU)
Referee: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Jo De Weirdt BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny BEL
Fourth Official: Lothar D’Hondt BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski POL
UEFA Delegate: Rodney Pisani MLT

20:00 CET
Piraeus (Geórgios Karaïskákis Stadium)
OLYMPIAKÓS (GRE) vs. NEC NIJMEGEN (NED)
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Juan José López Mir ESP
Fourth Official: Víctor García Verdura ESP
Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB
UEFA Delegate: Georges Lüchinger LIE

20:00 CET
Ostend (Batimond Solar Park)
UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (BEL) vs. BODØ/GLIMT (NOR)
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH
Assistant 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: Tihomir Pejin CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO
UEFA Delegate: Maksims Krivuņecs LVA

20:00 CET
Prague (epet Arena)
SPARTA PRAHA (CZE) vs. OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRA)
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük NED
Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Inia NED
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig NED
Fourth Official: Martijn Vos NED
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Vítor Manuel de Melo Pereira POR
UEFA Delegate: Armen Minasyan ARM

Wednesday 5 August 2026

18:30 CET
Randers (Cepheus Park Randers)
AARHUS (DEN) vs. SABAH (AZE)
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandar Kasapovič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: Martin Matoša SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Matej Jug SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR
UEFA Delegate: Anton Fagan SCO

20:00 CET
Istanbul (Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi)
FENERBAHÇE (TUR) vs. STURM GRAZ (AUT)
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Ian Hussin ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI
UEFA Delegate: István Huszár HUN