2025-26 UEFA Europa League, Matchday 1. Second set of referee assignments, 25 September 2025.
Thursday 25 September 2025
18:45 CET - Villeneuve d'Ascq (Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre Mauroy)
LOSC LILLE (FRA) - SK BRANN (NOR)
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig NED
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Jannick van der Laan NED
Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tamás Bognár NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Paolo Valeri ITA
UEFA Delegate: Kris Bellon BEL
18:45 CET - Deventer (Stadion De Adelaarshorst)
GO AHEAD EAGLES (NED) - FC FCSB (ROU)
Referee: Kristo Tohver EST
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Kõiv EST
Assistant Referee 2: Sander Saga EST
Fourth Official: Kevin Kaivoja EST
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen FRO
UEFA Delegate: Marc Vouillamoz SUI
21:00 CET - Glasgow (Ibrox Stadium)
RANGERS FC (SCO) - KRC GENK (BEL)
Referee: Matej Jug SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SVN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Asmir Sagrković SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Sergejus Slyva LTU
UEFA Delegate: Carlos Filipe de Sá Lucas POR
21:00 CET - Salzburg (Red Bull Arena)
FC RED BULL SALZBURG (AUT) - FC PORTO (POR)
Referee: Vasílios Fotiás GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Andréas Meïndanás GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Michaíl Papadákis GRE
Fourth Official: Aléxandros Tsakalídis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Ángelos Evangélou GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís CYP
UEFA Delegate: Dušan Gelić SRB
21:00 CET - Birmingham (Villa Park)
ASTON VILLA FC (ENG) - BOLOGNA FC 1909 (ITA)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Ángel Nevado Rodríguez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera Montero ESP
Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Kýros Vassáras GRE
UEFA Delegate: Rodney Pisani MLT
21:00 CET - Budapest (Groupama Aréna)
FERENCVÁROSI TC (HUN) - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (CZE)
Referee: Sander van der Eijk NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rens Bluemink NED
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan de Groot NED
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal NED
Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Milorad Mažić SRB
UEFA Delegate: Karl Espen Eriksen NOR
21:00 CET - Bern (Stadion Wankdorf)
BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI) - PANATHINAÏKÓS AO (GRE)
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Iker de Francisco Grijalba ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Alfredo Rodríguez Moreno ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU
UEFA Delegate: Ronald Zimmermann GER
21:00 CET - Stuttgart (MHP Arena Stuttgart)
VFB STUTTGART 1893 (GER) - RC CELTA DE VIGO (ESP)
Referee: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Ross Macleod SCO
Fourth Official: Christopher Graham SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Clancy SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Domagoj Vučkov CRO
UEFA Delegate: Aleksandr Keplin KAZ
21:00 CET - Utrecht (Stadion Galgenwaard)
FC UTRECHT (NED) - OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRA)
Referee: Horațiu Mircea Feșnic ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Valentin Gabriel Avram ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Alexandru Cerei ROU
Fourth Official: Rareș George Vidican ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Momčilo Marković SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: John Ward IRL
UEFA Delegate: Tarik Shamel ENG
And the only Elite referee of this set gets an Italian team.
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise by Rosetti! :)
While the assignment can be a rather bad signal for Gil Manzano, no CL but EL, on the other hand one must consider once again the treatment of Italian teams by committee.
It's incredible to underline how long this situation is lasting.
As for the rest, the trend of yesterday assignments is confirmed.
Only Category 1, when possible sparing on the assignments, at moment the big focus by committee is only on Champions League.
@Chefren
DeleteJust to add some nuance: Bologna didn’t receive any special treatment from referees last year, so the appointment of an Elite official now is not necessarily because of the Italian side. In my view, Gil Manzano needed a UEL match after a below par performance, and this particular fixture simply fits his profile best – he is an excellent athlete, and with a Premier League club involved, remember that PL teams usually play at a higher tempo.
I also notice that data and predictive models are becoming increasingly important in referee assignments. For example, if the data suggests a match will have many high turnovers (high on FoP) that game requires a referee with strong running capacity. I suspect the referee committee is also using this type of analysis nowadays. There is much more to consider than just the nationality of the clubs involved.
Probably one of the biggest Europa league matches, so not sure if it's a bad appointment for Manzano.
DeleteI see a clear demotion, so far, for Gil Manzano, now he seems at level of Greenfeld. Considering 1st class I would say good observer for Van Der Ejik, and probably the less challenging match on the paper is for Thover
Delete@Anonymous I respect your opinion and I agree that there are many factors in making appointments. But believe me, I observed the work of the committee for years and I can come to a conclusion. Just to answer about Bologna on last season, the evident difference with today is that they are now in Europa League and so an Elite referee wouldn't be needed, while the previous season they were in Champions League, so games were treated in different way. Bologna hadn't any chance of making progress in that competition. Just to clarify more, committee is fully entitled to make such choices, but it is evident how they work in this aspect. Yes, Gil Manzano is a very good runner, but all Elite referees on paper could get English teams. I don't see an extreme need of assigning him to this game exactly for this reson. And he could have got all the other Europa League games instead of this one, I can't have doubts that it was a specific choice to send him in Birmingham only for the Italian team involved.
DeleteRemember that he already officiated Aston Villa at home against another Italian team, Juventus, some years ago.
So, there are patterns that repeat themselves over the years; some teams from certain countries are always treated the same way by the committee, without a doubt.
@Chefren: With all due respect, Anonymous is absolutely right. The "Elite referees when Italian teams are involved" issue is irrelevant: the issue of Gil Manzano's appointment depended solely on Gil Manzano. His last performance was not up to the standards of an Elite referee, and so he was IMO rightfully assigned to a Category 1 appointment, anyway on one of the most important matches of this round of the EL. The fact that Bologna is playing in that match is pure coincidence at all.
DeleteI believe we shouldn’t underestimate the innovative power of data, predictive models, and AI. Football clubs and scouts are already using them — and it will be no different for the RefCom when it comes to referee appointments.
DeleteNowadays, though, they’re also likely using models that can predict, based on team tactics, things like number of fouls, bookings, high turnovers, passes in the final third, the number of intense sprints, and so on. The higher these numbers, the more dynamic the match is expected to be. And with that data, they can better anticipate what type of referee the game will require.Take Gil Manzano at Euro 2024, for example: he was appointed to France vs Austria, an extremely dynamic match. That was no coincidence.
I also agree with Chefren that Italian clubs are often given preferential treatment, as Rosetti is keen to protect his reputation in Italy. But in the case of Villa vs Bologna, that bias will probably be less of an issue. On paper, it’s not exactly a top fixture. Gil Manzano being in the Europa League now is because his last match didn’t go well.
Did you think Tamas Bognar lately gained trust from the committee (especially after Women's Euro)?
ReplyDeleteOnly as VAR.
DeleteUEFA clearly needs more trusted VARs, right now only a handful are "appointable" to the biggest games
DeletePredictions CL MD2
ReplyDeleteKairat Almaty-Real Madrid: Chris Kavanagh ENG (Filipovic SRB)
Atalanta-Brugge: Espen Eskås NOR (Lannoy FRA)
Atletico-Frankfurt: Clément Turpin FRA (Irvine NIR)
Chelsea-Benfica: Szymon Marciniak POL (Svilokos CRO)
Bodo Glimt-Tottenham: Alejandro Hernández ESP (Deaconou ROU)
Internazionale-Slavia Praha: Daniel Siebert GER (Tutk EST)
Galatasaray-Liverpool: Danny Makkelie NED (Gonzalez Vazquez ESP)
Marseille-Ajax: Davide Massa ITA (Steinborn GER)
Pafos-Bayern Munich: Benoit Bastien FRA (Vagner HUN)
Union SG-Newcastle: Srdjan Jovanovic SRB (Rizzoli ITA)
Qarabag-Copenhagen: Tobias Stieler GER (Jareci ALB)
Arsenal-Olympiakos: Ivan Kruzliak SVK (Nobbs SUI)
Monaco-Manchester City: Georgi Kabakov BUL (Podeschi SMR)
Dortmund-Athletic: Serdar Gözübüyük NED (Ingvarsson SWE)
Napoli-Sporting: Mykola Balakin UKR (Hansson SWE)
Leverkusen-PSV: Giorgi Kruashvili GEO (Ceferin SVN)
Villarreal-Juventus: Urs Schnyder SUI (Johannesson SWE)
Barcelona-PSG: Slavko Vincic SVN (Messner AUT)
I don't actively monitor how often referee observers are assigned to the same official, but Stefan Meßner assessed Slavko Vincic at PSV - Juventus just this spring.
DeleteI’m predicting that one of the English referees is appointed in Barcelona. Considering that it is still early in the season (no need to send Marciniak or Vincic) and that the observer was released at a very late stage, I suspect the referee in question was active in Matchday 1.
DeleteIn this case, it should be Michael Oliver, because Stefan Meßner only assessed Anthony Taylor in September. But: Would you assign an observer to referees from the same country twice in a row?
DeleteMy predictions are relatively similar:
DeleteKairat Almaty-Real Madrid: Saggi (di Bello)
Atalanta-Brugge: Eskas (Higler)
Atletico-Frankfurt: Turpin (Brisard)
Chelsea-Benfica: Marciniak (Kwiatkowski)
Bodo Glimt-Tottenham: Bastien (Delajod)
Internazionale-Slavia Praha: Gözübüyük (van Boekel)
Galatasaray-Liverpool: Makkelie (Dieperink)
Marseille-Ajax: Kabakov (Draganov)
Pafos-Bayern Munich: Balakin (Cuadra)
Union SG-Newcastle: Osmers (Dingert)
Qarabag-Copenhagen: Stieler (Storks)
Arsenal-Olympiakos: Siebert (Dankert)
Monaco-Manchester City: Kruzliak (Ruperti)
Dortmund-Athletic: Schnyder (San)
Napoli-Sporting: Hernandez (Martinez)
Leverkusen-PSV: Massa (di Paolo)
Villarreal-Juventus: Meler (van Boekel)
Barcelona-PSG: Vincic (Borosak)
IMO not neccessary to already repeat referees. As you can see, Diego and I found 21 different referees, while excluding everyone with a CL or EL MD1 game and not including any debuts.
DeleteFor Barca-PSG, the options are indeed limited (because Marcinian probably is not possible after last year's SF). So if not Vincic, it might be Eskas, as someone suggested here already. Or maybe Massa? He comes from a quite successful last CL season (and could be sacrified, if things go wrong).
Repetitions of observers for referees are probably avoided, but I don't think, there is an issue, if it is a new season.
Repetitions of observers for referees from the same country really shouldn't be a problem. Why would it be?
Is it possible that someone from the first round will be nominated for the second? Like Nyberg, Peljto, Scharer, or Letexier?
DeleteShort report about foreign appointments last week
ReplyDeleteKSA
19/09 Al-Qadisiya vs Al-Khalij (Gishamer)
20/09 An-Nassr vs Ar-Riyadh (Schnyder)
25/09 Al-Hilal vs Al-Ukhdud (Lambrechts)
UAE
24/09 Al-Jazira vs Al-Wahda (Gözübüyük)
25/09 Shabab Al-Ahli vs Al-Ain (Zwayer)
25/09 Al-Wasl vs Ash-Sharjah (Meler)
GRE
21/09 Panathinaïkós vs Olymbiakós (Aytekin)
LVA
25/09 Rigas FS vs Riga FC (Kuźma)
About repeating observers: Kapitanis (CYP) observed Fotias (GRE) in Azerbaijan-Ukraine last month in Qualifiers, and he is going to observe him today in Salzburg-Porto… I based on that to put Jovanovic in USG-NEW with Rizzoli, the Italian observed him in his EL qualifying game so I think it's possible to repeat that again...
ReplyDeleteAnd that's right, Messner observed Vincic last season in PSV-Juventus (I didn't have it in mind) so I think so, Oliver is very likely here... Although Vincic is always an option and that topic can't matter...
Could such repeated observations be related to the fact that the referees in question may be members of the talents programme and their observers may be their mentors? 🤔
DeletePS
DeleteCyprus-Greek relation is indeed the interesting one...
Peter is probably right
DeleteOFR for a penalty in Glasgow. Not given due to a push on the defender
ReplyDeleteGood call from referee to overturn VAR's OFR
DeleteThis kind of decision is becoming very frequent, isn't it?
DeleteI can't remember many referees calling it in past.
Strictly based on protocol, it's also hard to discuss, because the expected outcome is always a big decision (otherwise, rather no intervention). However, in most of situations, when referees miss the handball for open arm while jumping, they miss very often also the action by attacker on defender before.
Jug explained the decision to captains before making the signal to audience, this was very good. Could have been a bit complicated to understand.
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DeleteOFR rejected by Jug for possible handball by Genk defender, after going to monitor then called both captains over to inform and then award a free kick to Genk for a push. Unfortunately unable to provide a clip but an interesting situation none the less.
ReplyDeleteVery clear red card to Rangers now, serious foul play.
ReplyDeleteFantastic red card decision by Jug
ReplyDeleteCorrect red card now given by Jug for SFP
ReplyDeleteCorrect 2YC by vd Eijk in Budapest, very clear LoR holding + SPA.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of SPA 10 minutes earlier was no card for Plzen's player, it was closer to the goal, than 2YC situatuon. By the way both YC was correct for Ferencváros player
DeleteIn my opinion the first YC was incorrect, clearly touches the ball
Delete@Daniel he touches the ball or what ? He used his hand...
DeleteAnd a missed RC in the 14th minute for Durosinmi (foul on Ötvös). VAR team also made a mistake there IMO.
DeleteCorrect OFR procedure, correct RC, great management of both episodes. Very good so far Jug
ReplyDeleteNow a correct penalty after OFR for a careless trip
ReplyDeletePenalty given to Genk after OFR review for trip in the box. A busy first half for Jug and Borosak
ReplyDeleteI’m curious about your thoughts with the PK in Glasgow: there’s no action by the defender, I see just a random trip. To me, play on would have been the right decision
ReplyDeleteReplays provided at half time by the tv coverage were minimal so I'm happy to change my opinion if better angles are shown but I think although one could class the contract as accidental there is contact from the Rangers defender during the running motion of the Genk attacker (foot to foot) and therefore it's a penalty but happy to change opinion should a better angle be seen by myself
DeleteA very soft penalty given to Genk, never should have been a VAR review for this
ReplyDeleteIt is the classic situation where defender is close to opponent but the contact is rather caused by a back movement of attacker's running leg, the defender is seen guilty of running too close, but he doesn't make the specific action to trip.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, seen as penalty today and also VAR stuff.
One could have own ideas about that.
As concept, it similar to the penalties given for contacts created by attacker, but at least, in this case, the contact created by attacker is unintentional and the defender can be accused of taking a risk with that proximity.
A clear foul would be defender putting his leg in attacker's path to make him fall down...
@Chefren:
DeleteYour opinion is correct.
Anyway in this specific situation the defender also tries with his arm to stop the attacker modifying the direction of the same attacker before the contact with the leg.
So you can’t really consider the contact like a casualty. Thus IMO the PK is right.
Very clear second YC by Dutch referee, LoR.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/760100
10 minutes earlier a same situation was no card for the other team...( This 2YC is correct)
DeleteThis one can be YC even without thinking to SPA, this can be argument, because too evident and unacceptable LoR (shirt pulled in that blatant way). I can't say more because didn't watch first YC, but this could be reason.
DeleteIt was LoR too ( pulled the shirt) and SPA too.
DeleteThe above mentioned mistake: https://streamable.com/w2j7yr
Delete58' Poor mistake by AR2 in Fotias team. Missed very clear offside, two attackers in evident offside. He was also seen quite worried about the decision. VAR intervened to report the offside.
ReplyDeleteVery clear offside missed by AR2 in Salzburg. VAR overturned the decision, which looked easy to spot live
ReplyDeleteJug
ReplyDeleteRed card: https://streambug.org/cv/0329c9
Penalty: https://streambug.org/cv/65f35c
Thanks Chefren for providing the clips, much appreciated. Penalty for me as previously stated.
DeleteClear penalty given by Gil Manzano. Close onside correctly given in build up.
ReplyDeleteGood call for simulation by Jug against Rangers #23
ReplyDeleteVery difficult to make a judgment about Jug. More than challenging game and some incident for sure very hard to spot live, but he wasn't faultless in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. I have no idea how I can put into words about his performance. Above average possibly? Elements of his performance which were exemplary and elements which were less so.
DeleteFor me he did mostly great. Some difficult decisions but never a big mistake. Genk captain and keeper also very positive with ingame communication (although the results of the (VAR-)decisions were mostly in their favor)
DeleteExcellent Walsh in Stuttgart, he was very respected and had full control while only dishing out 4 yellow cards in what was a fiery game.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear, at his best he is the best referee in Scotland and should be pushed for CL debut (unless my memory is going, I don't recall him in the CL) This performance should make a positive step towards it.
DeleteWalsh already made his CL debut last year, in Brest - Sturm Graz.
DeleteWould have been the only ref at U21 Euros to have CL GS/LS experience before, if it wasn't for Lukjancukas being called as a last-minute replacement due to Brooks' injury.
Yes, he was really good IMO. He had Sturm Graz-Brest in CL last season. But I’m sure another CL gane will come for him.
DeleteThanks for the clarification.
DeleteI really like how Walsh (SCO) handled his game and especially near the end with the GK/attacker.
ReplyDeleteFirst U20WC appointments:
ReplyDeleteCHINZL: Peljto (BIH)
JPNEGY: Herrera (ARG)
KORUKR: Herrera (CRC)
PARPAN: Sánchez Martínez (ESP)
Does Nick Walsh have a chance in becoming Scotlands next Elite referee?
ReplyDeleteYes
Delete