UEFA Champions League continues with the new format for the second season. Please find below the referee appointments for the first set of MD1 games, to be played on Tuesday 16 September 2025.
16 September 2025
18:45 CET - Eindhoven (Philips Stadion)
PSV EINDHOVEN (NED) - ROYALE UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (BEL)
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett AUS/ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Danilo Filacchione ITA
18:45 CET - Bilbao (Estadio de San Mamés)
ATHLETIC CLUB (ESP) - ARSENAL FC (ENG)
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Emmanuelle Puttaert BEL
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu)
REAL MADRID CF (ESP) - OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE (FRA)
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA
UEFA Delegate: Tobias Wolf GER
21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estádio do SL Benfica)
SL BENFICA (POR) - QARABAĞ FK (AZE)
Referee: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Jo De Weirdt BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny BEL
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Cüneyt Çakır TUR
UEFA Delegate: Patrick Dempsey IRL
21:00 CET - Turin (Allianz Stadium)
JUVENTUS (ITA) - BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER)
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO
UEFA Delegate: Colin MacDonald SCO
21:00 CET - London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) - VILLARREAL CF (ESP)
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Jacques Antenen SUI
Definitely a big one for Rumšas in Bilbao.
ReplyDeleteThe committee's observation about the Lithuanian has been very long in recent times. This can be maybe the final act bfore the possible promotion. Kuipers will have his say.
But we must add that after the famous Germany - Italy Under 21 at EURO, somebody inside the committee was not really pleased with the other Lithuanian, Lukjančukas. Unless he was not available for other reasons, he got only one game after that, a Conference League play off. Definitely not good: I have a feeling that Rosetti was angry for the situation right in the end of the game and the progress of the Lithuanian has been stopped. We will see his next games, but for sure it's time to take some decisions about referees from this country.
In Madrid, Peljto continues with his very good path as Elite referee.
Big trust in Dutch VARs in recent times, appointed for very crucial and important games in all competitions, I would say Higler has reached the level of van Boekel in that regard, in terms of consideration.
Very good analysis!
DeleteThis just confirms once again confirms that some mistakes are more expensive than others, as if mistakes against some national teams/teams are much more expensive. Of course it's nothing new it's always been that way.What is a bigger problem is the fact that the progress of certain referees is stopped/slowed down because of a one single mistake while the level of tolerance for the amount/severity of mistakes is significantly higher (mostly) for the referees from "stronger" countries
Just to add
DeleteMy comment refers primarily to the management of Lithuanian referees. After the U21 committee seem to have decided that it is Rumsas who will have the final test for the elite group, while the progress of his younger compatriot is now significantly different (longer)
Obrenovic i dont understand the appointment. Poor referee.
ReplyDeleteThe rest is logical.
And some big names as observers
He's Slovenian, like UEFA president Ceferin. No surprise :D
DeleteYawn.
DeleteYou can see that Obrenovič got a similar game to Rumšas, English - Spanish clash, very sonorous game but not a real big match.
ReplyDeleteNo committee member, at least on paper, for the Slovenian, but of course his performance will be scrutinized.
These are the candidates for promotion to Elite, Sozza will follow in another game, I'm sure.
The rest of appointments are normal / expected with the classic focus on Italian teams by Rosetti and a big name to Juventus.
Lambrechts in Lisbon reasonable choice as well.
Yess but Sozza does it well (Hol-Pol) and other matches. There is some development i can see.
DeleteObrenovic not, a lot of mistakes.
What do you think about vd Eijk? Also a match? He leads the final of under 21
The Dutch referee should be planned for his Europa League league stage debut. I think maybe already on MD1. And then, we will see.
DeleteWe expect uefa to give the chance for the talent referee like antonio nobre, ricardo de burgos, luis godinho because they deserve and better from a lot of referees
ReplyDeleteAntonio Nobre mi?O gerçekten çok kötü bir hakem
ReplyDeleteAma Antonio Nobre, İngilizce testinde senden daha iyi puan alıyor!
DeleteOlabilir Peter,ingilizce bilmeden de iyi hakem olunabiliyor
DeleteI'm curious with Salisbury, still trusted to get a game in UCL after what happened in EPL (2x times huge controversies surrounding him), why not try to trust Gillett as main VAR or Bankes if they're not interested anymore with Attwell.
ReplyDeleteWhat was his other controversy? (apart from Chelsea vs Fulham)
DeleteI'm curious to see if Makkelie and Gözübüyük get a match tomorrow. Unfortunately, I have to report on Makkelie's shocking performance during NEC-PSV yesterday. Several inexplicable mistakes and a lack of focus. I expect Serdar Gözübüyük to referee PSV-Ajax next weekend. He's currently clearly the Dutch number one.
ReplyDeleteAs for UEFA competitions - I think Makkelie is still in a better position but it's not excluded that will change in the future. As for the Dutch championship, I would agree that in the last couple of seasons, Serdar has taken over the primacy. Although he still has points to improve, Gözübüyük is making progress, while Makkelie seems to have stagnated for some time.
DeleteMakkelie's performance was poor yesterday. Clearly not focussed enough. I think Lindhout may be in charge of PSV-Ajax this time.
DeleteRumsas on pole position once again, Lambrechts after long period of no elite referees from Belgium, this time they get a chance? Possibly because they also have Van Driessche as new trusted VAR.
ReplyDeleteObrenovic surely will be elite not to long.
The rest Kavanagh, Petrescu, Sylwestrzak, Walsh, Minakovic, and Kabakov for potential promotion in winter? Maybe too early for some names. What do you think?