30 September 2025
18:45 CET - Bergamo (Stadio di Bergamo)
ATALANTA BC (ITA) - CLUB BRUGGE (BEL)
Referee: Espen Eskås NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Rohit Saggi NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Rohit Saggi NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA
UEFA Delegate: Jenni Kennedy ENG
18:45 CET - Almaty (Almaty Ortalyk Stadion)
QAİRAT FK (KAZ) - REAL MADRID CF (ESP) Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giuseppe Perrotti ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giuseppe Perrotti ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB
UEFA Delegate: Loukas Siotropos GRE
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - SK SLAVIA PRAHA (CZE)
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett AUS
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett AUS
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI
21:00 CET - London (Stamford Bridge)
CHELSEA FC (ENG) - SL BENFICA (POR)
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Siedel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Sascha Stegemann GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Siedel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Sascha Stegemann GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO
UEFA Delegate: Lennart Vestervall SWE
21:00 CET - Bodø (Aspmyra)
FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström FIN
21:00 CET - Marseille (Vélodrome)
OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE (FRA) - AFC AJAX (NED)
Referee: Anhony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: John Brooks ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: John Brooks ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Edgar Steinborn GER
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias CZE
21:00 CET - Istanbul (RAMS Park)
GALATASARAY SK (TUR) - LIVERPOOL FC (ENG)
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mathieu Vernice FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez ESPAssistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mathieu Vernice FRA
UEFA Delegate: Milovan Đukanović MNE
21:00 CET - Limassol (Alphamega Stadium)
PAFOS FC (CYP) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vilius Paulauskas LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: László Vagner HUN
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vilius Paulauskas LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: László Vagner HUN
UEFA Delegate: Camelia Nicolae ROU
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Metropolitano)
CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID (ESP) - EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraz Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraz Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR
UEFA Delegate: Giel Kirkels NED
Personally I think that it is a well deserved appointment for Siebert, he was excellent in DEN-SCO just a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteSiebert last game in europe was Fenerbahce-Benfica (UCL playoff ) now He will referee Benfica again. Hmmm
ReplyDeleteProbably could have been managed better.
Deletethat time, Mourinho was Fenerbahce coach, now he is Benfica coach :) This is another detail 😁
DeleteChevren how do you interprate absence of any Portugal or Netherlands referees in champions league at least until now at the same we see some referees appointed two consecutive matches
ReplyDeleteAbout Portugal, Pinheiro is out because in Chile for U20 World Cup. After him, there aren't at moment options if not a debut for Godinho, as we discussed, and I think this could happen, but generally, the situation of the country is not that good, despite of being one of the most important European federation.
DeleteNetherlands: at this point we will surely have a Dutch referee on Wednesday, or maybe boh, the confirmation should be that van Boekel is AVAR in Vincic game on Tuesday, so expected to work as main VAR on Wednesday. We will know tomorrow, possible that both Makkelie and Gozubuyuk will appear.
Mr chevren do you want to say luis godinho, antonio nobre , or Portugal generally has not referee that have the capacity to handle champions league match at the same time Lithuania have this or Slovenia or any country
DeleteAnd other countries like Lithuania, Slovakia ، slovenia, Poland has presence !!!!
ReplyDeleteHow we can believe countries like Norway, Slovakia, slovenia, Poland, Lithuania have better referees than Portugal or Spain
ReplyDeleteLast night i watch luis godinho handle sporting and estrol and Wednesday freiburg vs basel I think he is one best referees now in Europe how we don't see in champions league
ReplyDeleteThe issue in your arguments is assuming that a comparison between certain countries is mandatory, that it has to be that way. In reality, the matter is much more complex in terms of refereeing. There can also be moments or periods when, for some circumstances, referees from a certain country reach a higher level compared to others. Now, this doesn't exclude the fact that referees from countries like Slovenia and Poland can produce outstanding referees, unlike other nations, such as Portugal, where, and I agree here, a very strong refereeing school should be developed. However, this does not always happen. Still, you can't put them on the same level, in the sense that there is still room for a referee from Portugal, just as there is room for a referee from Slovenia or Poland, and it is exactly y the job of the European head of refereeing to bring everything together.
DeleteOne can criticize Rosetti's working methodology, but in this regard, you can't reduce the discussion to such a simplistic consideration. Every aspect must be evaluated, and it must be understood that you cannot reason exclusively in terms of countries and their refereeing representation. At a certain point, other factors come into play. Moreover, the perspective must be holistic. Right now, we are talking about the second matchday of the Champions League, and what you see here doesn't apply as universal criterion Perhaps in a few months’ round, you will see more Portuguese and Dutch referees and fewer from other nations. I would invite people to analyze all components before drawing conclusions. It is not a discussion that should be approached in the way you are doing it. And, of course, evaluations are always subjective, you can say you appreciated the Portuguese referee in a particular match, and that could true, but we are not the ones to choose or make all the necessary evaluations. This is my point of view, trying to explain as clearly as possible how it should work, while everyone remains free to have their own opinions.
Mr chevren with all due respect for you I felt there is favouritism for some country it is not from the quality
DeleteMr chevren I felt some think is wrong why is give not given the Portugal referees like what is given italy referees or Slovenia referees now Lithuania have two referees in champions league and have not any referee until now !!!
ReplyDeleteI think that if you are already mentioning countries like Portugal, which have not been considered in the current season yet (as Chefren correctly clarified, some of them are currently participating in FIFA tournaments), you could also have noticed that Austria has so far been completely left out as well (Champions League + Europa League + Conference League + even Youth League). I assume that we might see some of them this week, but concrete conclusions can only be drawn after several matchdays. However, limiting it to Portugal and the Netherlands is a bit too narrow. From my point of view, I can say that Austria has not had a referee in the Champions League for a very long time, nor have they been assigned the most attractive matches in the Europa and Conference Leagues. When I read the evaluations of their performances in this forum, however, I get the impression that this is (unfortunately) understandable.
DeleteAfter Barbu on Friday, yesterday it was Goga Kikacheishvili's turn to referee in Kuwait. I must say, UEFA has a real star in its midst with this young Georgian referee, who handled the game in an excellent and very impressive manner - with a lesser official, I'm without doubt that the match would have finished in a big mess. Kikacheishvili had impressed me a lot by the way he refereed some games under UEFA auspices, but the level of difficulty in this Kuwaiti tie was much higher.
ReplyDeleteThe only area of contention comes from this handball incident below; the VAR was also Georgian, Giorgi Avazashvili:
https://www.streambug.io/cv/f51290
Meanwhile, Florian Badstubner refereed for the second time in Saudi Arabia this season, and gave a red card which he stuck to after VAR intervention (by Robert Schroder):
https://streambug.org/cv/2248a1
Aware that these games are very niche affairs, and that it doesn't make sense to write exhaustively about all of them on Law5 (besides really remarkable incidents, like in Barbu's game), I decided to make this blog page which I'll update with the appointments and then perhaps some clips/reports on the matches that I can watch or report on. Feel free to comment with anything I've missed or that is worth discussing!
Deletehttps://mikaelreferee.blogspot.com/p/dispatches.html
Siebert with Benfica and Mourinho,Chelsea and their run of matches where they get plenty cards.
ReplyDeleteCould be challenging for him.
Dear Abdiaziz,
ReplyDeleteTake it easy. We read the name of a Portuguese AVAR [Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins], so in my view, it is possible that we will see a Portuguese referee on Wednesday. If Kavanagh can be assigned, then e.g. Nobre likely can too. Early in the season, Rosetti aims to keep all associations satisfied; they all get representation, and quality does not take precedence.
Other names for Wednesday are probably Marciniak [Kwiatkowski], another Italian [Di Paolo], a Spaniard [Carlos DCG], and Gözübüyük [Van Boekel].
Di Paolo probably is in Kazakhstan and not in Nyon, but I agree on the rest. Maybe we can add Storks (for Stieler?) instead.
DeleteStieler is a good bet.
DeleteA second Italian is not impossible with Rosetti in charge (2nd game for Guida already!). It always seems Rosetti desperately has to tick off the Italian quota — see Massa, who somehow managed 6/8 group-stage games last season. The most of all referees.
Good news for Lukjančukas, after the arguments we introduced on the blog. He will be back in Champions League with big team away but expected win.
ReplyDeleteAbout Vincic, it's important to underline that Borosak is back as VAR, after a rather difficult period. This game is not a very top clash, but a good one between Spain and Germany, so maybe ideal for recovering in terms of performance from Nyon's VAR room (German VAR was not possible).
Turpin: here committee made an appointment based on the atmosphere, rather than on the level of the game. While Turkish side showed a very low level of football, they are very attentive with referees' decisions, and at home Rosetti doesn't want to take any risk. But only looking at teams, a different choice would have been made.
Taylor with a second appearance in Marseille: again, I really don't understand how some people can think he can get Spanish and/or Italian teams, it's impossible and so this one seems a very good one involving French and Dutch side. I would even describe it as a game close to the maximum level that the experienced English can reach at moment in the European top clubs competition.
Kruzliak, liked by Rosetti despite of many unconvincing performances, but still, the merit of the Italian head of refereeing is to have awakened the Slovakian from his lethargic moment years ago and now I assume it would be a pity to abandon him. There are a few arguments based on that, but still he is very far away from Elite full level. Here Bodo makes everything in terms of choice, Norwegian team used for the scope of appointing the referee from Slovakia.
Kavanagh in San Siro, not an Elite referee for Italian team, finally, but yes, the game speaks for itself. Still one should be very worried, it seems Brooks had this very long break for the injury and now again apart from Taylor and Oliver there aren't options for a development (Kavanagh can't reach more than that for me).
Siebert in London: very good game, at moment the level of Portuguese teams seems to be not the same as years ago, but still a nice clash for the German who is in a positive moment.
Eskås will referee the famous Atalanta - Club Brugge, after the mistake by Meler. Very importantr signal for him, big trust, Atalanta should have many hopes on this game, and it wil be a very open one.
Dankert is sent as VAR and that's not a case, strong name to avoid controversy (still, on paper...). To be watched!
Last but not least, Guida with a second game as well: one could have expected Massa (maybe he will appear on Wednesday?) but after the serious mistake in his last UEFA game (missed red card), it's possible a change. Here we must wait tomorrow to understand more, if better game for Massa than Guida, no argument, while on the contrary, what I think could be right. At first glance, one should only say no need to see Guida again so early for a second game. About the game itself, as I discussed days ago, even Category 1 was possible, but it depended on how committee would have read the match, you should add the enthusiasm from Kazakhstan fans and it will be surely a historic game, even tough maybe without real
concerns for the officials.
About Wednesday games: we see Marciniak VAR as AVAR, so the Polish could be in charge on Wednesday, while Van Boekel should mean either Gozuyubuk or Makkelie, possible we will see both with another VAR. Still no Dutch so far, and one is mandatory for next set of assignments.
Carlos Del Cerro appointed as well and I think it could be Gil Manzano with a second assignment or Hernandez Hernandez in charge (but very negative opinions about the referee from Canary Islands so far...).
Maybe also Lambrechts in charge, with Belgian VAR on Tuesday.
We'll see.
OT:
ReplyDeleteSassuolo vs Udinese
39'
2nd penalty whistled by Perenzoni was overturned by VAR decision.
IMO controversial to say the least,VAR should have made that call supportable.
https://streambug.org/cv/2b1ccc
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/538c53
Not the best day for Perenzoni, with two removed penalties in first half. In the first case, after a detailed analysis, it turned out that Sassuolo defender played ball slightly before and then contact by attacker. Second case: more controversial, one could say that with that action, the player took a risk, the VAR assessed it as fair action on the ball, but it's not a clear one because also contact with opponent. In my opinion that's not an universal NO PENALTY, indeed, but you can understand the argument by VAR. It's always about grey areas.. and how you see a situation. In particular, in the second case the announcement doesn't add anything for us, when this would be more needed than other situations, Perenzoni just said: "the player didn't commit any foul, so removed penalty...".
Chefren,I read your comment about the Galatasaray-Liverpool match.I'm aware that Galatasaray isn't currently playing football at a European level.But I think Galatasaray holds a historicial significance for Europians.I think Rosetti is aware of this as well.When we look at Galatasaray's other European matches,you'll see that they are mostly refeered by elite referees.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the reputation of Turkish team, absolutely, but it is not anymore the famous Galatasaray we knew from the past, nevertheless Elite referees are mostly assigned at home for the potential very challenging atmosphere.
DeleteChefren,I just read on the forum.Were the referees for the Champions Leaguse 1 st and 2nd week matches appointed together?This is true?
DeleteThey appoint elite referees to all the games played by Turkish teams at home. Last year, Turpin refereed
DeleteFenerbahçe-United game in
Europa League.
I noticed that several appointments for this set were made before Matchday 1 (MD1) was played. Unsurprisingly, these were all referees who weren’t active during MD1.
ReplyDelete*For example, Marseille–Ajax was only assigned after MD1, since Taylor was already officiating during MD1.
For Wednesday, four matches had their observers announced early (before MD1): Union–Newcastle, Qarabag–Copenhagen, Napoli–Sporting, and Dortmund–Athletic. These are likely the games given to referees who haven’t yet officiated.
Barcelona–PSG, on the other hand, was assigned late. Could it be Michael Oliver? That would make him the third English referee this round — is that even likely?
As far as I'm familiar with the functioning of the ref committee appointments for matchday 1 and 2 always go together.
DeleteMD1 and MD2 are normale appointed as one set. However, we have already noted some duplicate appearances (Taylor, Guida). Additionally, Lukjančukas officiated last week. This could explain the delay in some cases. I also anticipate that tomorrow’s list will include some names we already saw during MD1.
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteIncredible level in Premier League, once again.
How on earth you can support YC in the Brentford - Manchester United holding, leading to the penalty? Shocking, red card for DOGSO 100% clear with attacker easily playing ball just in front of keeper (perfect pass). That's incredible for me, that's the ABC of refereeing, there should be a reason why we see only Taylor and Oliver but nobody else.
The live TV commentators were unhappy VAR took so long when the referee had clearly made the right decision. I completely agree with you, the VAR was so fixated that he wasn't in control of the ball and that it was in front of him by a small distance that he completely ignored that was only because of the pull. A clear Dogso missed
DeleteAgree,clear pulling,no attempt to play the ball and clear RC
DeleteRosetti and Co need to improve their appointments, already multiple double appointments, Gillet twice with Inter, Salisbury twice with Ajax.
ReplyDeleteWill we see Meler nominated for any role on Wednesday? If his motivation is high, perhaps he'll be selected for a match.
ReplyDeleteNo.
DeleteHis next appointment is in the Europa League on Thursday.
SK Sturm Graz vs Rangers in Austria.
OT:
ReplyDeleteAgain controversial decision with handball and PL.
Aston Villa and Fulham,25th minute,Cadh clearly makes his body bigger and stops the ball with his arm.
Not intentional but still,penalty imo.
Also Madley could face challenging match cause both teams are up to the task in terms of tackles.
DeleteI think the handball is okay, I'd expect that to be left onfield whether given or not. Arm behind back is seldom punished in England, especially when diving like that the expectation is it's natural for the arm to be away from body. Elsewhere in Europe, however, I'm sure a VAR would be expected to get involved. But I'm happy with no penalty
Delete(Also, as a side note, Madley was the VAR in yesterday's match at Brentford, that decided to not to get involved with the Dosgo mentioned above)
DeleteOT:
ReplyDeleteChelsea vs Brighton was also a challenging match for Hooper.
9 yellows,1 RC that was OFR and plenty fights and dirty fouls that could have resulted in more RC's.
Very interesting VAR intervention in Newcastle, penalty revoked after OFR from Gillet
ReplyDeleteI think a very good intervention. He got the ball first, and everything that followed was reasonable, certainly nothing reckless.
Delete34' Goal completely fine, Gabriel falls to the floor instead of trying to defend. No foul.
Then immediately after kick off from that goal, Gabriel lucky that no one spotted his hand in the face of Woltemade on field. A YC would be justifiable for that, but negliable force so nothing more.
Gillett also did well to ensure a towel wasn't used to dry the ball before an Arsenal throw in. He's seemed fairly alert, in a game that seems like it could heat up any moment
Penalty not whistled to newcastle in the end.. very chaotic.. I think it was a mistake by Gillett
DeleteOT: Also very interesting VAR intervention in Koeln vs Stuttgart. Goalkeeper hits striker but he easily plays on, then Var intervention with penalty what nobody expected
ReplyDelete