2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League, referee appointments for MD2.
18:45 CET - Kraków, POL (Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana w Krakowie)
FK SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR) - LEGIA WARSZAWA (POL)
Referee: Gustavo Fernandes Correia POR
Assistant Referee 1: André Filipe Nogueira Dias POR
Assistant Referee 2: Tiago José Pereira da Costa POR
Fourth Official: Cláudio Filipe Ruivo Pereira POR
Video Assistant Referee: André Filipe Domingues da Silva Narciso POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bruno Alexandre da Silva Esteves POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Igor Pristovnik CRO
UEFA Delegate: Irakli Nakaidze GEO
18:45 CET - Vienna (Allianz Stadion)
SK RAPID WIEN (AUT) - ACF FIORENTINA (ITA)
Referee: Yigal Frid ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Rostislav Talis ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Tuval Rahamim Koltunoff ISR
Fourth Official: Nael Odeh ISR
Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Bar Natan ISR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Eli Hakmon ISR
UEFA Referee Observer: Aleksandar Stavrev MKD
UEFA Delegate: Artur Azaryan ARM
18:45 CET - Strasbourg (Stade de la Meinau)
RC STRASBOURG ALSACE (FRA) - JAGIELLONIA BIAŁYSTOK (POL)
Referee: Dario Bel CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Ivan Janić CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Kristijan Novosel CRO
Fourth Official: Duje Strukan CRO
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: William Collum SCO
UEFA Delegate: Zgjim Sojeva KOS
18:45 CET - Rijeka (Stadion HNK Rijeka)
HNK RIJEKA (CRO) - AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE)
Referee: Robert Jones ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies ENG
Fourth Official: Anthony Harrington ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Matthew Donohue ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Hannes Kaasik EST
UEFA Delegate: Oljas Abraev KAZ
18:45 CET - Athens (OPAP Arena)
AEK (GRE) - ABERDEEN FC (SCO)
Referee: Jasper Vergoote BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Michele Seeldraeyers BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Martijn Tiesters BEL
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Jan Boterberg BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ella De Vries BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Cüneyt Çakır TUR
UEFA Delegate: Rudolf Řepka CZE
18:45 CET - Pristina (Stadiumi “Fadil Vokrri”)
FC DRITA (KOS) - AS OMÓNIA LEFKOSÍAS (CYP)
Referee: Robert Harvey IRL
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Clarke IRL
Assistant Referee 2: Wayne McDonnell IRL
Fourth Official: Paul McLaughlin IRL
Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Clancy SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ryan Lee SCO
UEFA Referee Observer: Yevhen Aranovsʹkyy UKR
UEFA Delegate: Damir Stipković CRO
18:45 CET - Reykjavík (Laugardalsvöllur)
BREIÐABLIK (ISL) - KUPS KUOPIO (FIN)
Referee: Sandi Dhia Jirjis Putros DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Deniz Yurdakul DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Beck Bramsen DEN
Fourth Official: Aydin Uslu DEN
Video Assistant Referee: Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen DEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michael Tykgaard DEN
UEFA Referee Observer: Ferenc Székely HUN
UEFA Delegate: David Moran IRL
18:45 CET - Skopje (Nacionalna arena “Todor Proeski”)
KF SHKËNDIJA (MKD) - SHELBOURNE FC (IRL)
Referee: Stefan Ebner AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Steinacher AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Höfler AUT
Fourth Official: Julian Weinberger AUT
Video Assistant Referee: Alan Kijas AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Josef Spurny AUT
UEFA Referee Observer: Michaíl Argyroú CYP
UEFA Delegate: Emin Cəfərov AZE
18:45 CET - Gothenburg (Gamla Ullevi)
BK HÄCKEN (SWE) - RAYO VALLECANO DE MADRID (ESP)
Referee: Antoni Bandić BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Amir Kadić BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Nebojša Žugić BIH
Fourth Official: Nihad Ljajić BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mateo Musa BIH
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Filips Dhondt BEL
18:45 CET - Alkmaar (AFAS Stadion)
AZ ALKMAAR (NED) - ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK)
Referee: Tobias Stieler GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Borsch GER
Fourth Official: Matthias Jöllenbeck GER
Video Assistant Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Cortus GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Chrístos Nikolaḯdis CYP
UEFA Delegate: Paul Tompkins ENG
21:00 CET - London (Selhurst Park)
CRYSTAL PALACE FC (ENG) - AEK LÁRNAKAS (CYP)
Referee: Damian Kos POL
Assistant Referee 1: Bartosz Heinig POL
Assistant Referee 2: Marek Arys POL
Fourth Official: Damian Sylwestrzak POL
Video Assistant Referee: Piotr Lasyk POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Paweł Malec POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Ruud Bossen NED
UEFA Delegate: Rainer Koch GER
21:00 CET - Dublin (Tallaght Stadium)
SHAMROCK ROVERS FC (IRL) - NK CELJE (SVN)
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Nádvorník CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Paták CZE
Fourth Official: Ondřej Pechanec CZE
Video Assistant Referee: Tomáš Kocourek CZE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Miroslav Zelinka CZE
UEFA Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez ESP
UEFA Delegate: Michael O’Brien ENG
21:00 CET - Mainz (Mewa Arena)
1. FSV MAINZ 05 (GER) - HŠK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH)
Referee: James Robert Robinson NIR
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Nethery NIR
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Jeffrey NIR
Fourth Official: Ben McMaster NIR
Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Edwin van de Graaf NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Goran Mihaljević MNE
UEFA Delegate: Jeroen Roest NED
21:00 CET - Gibraltar (Europa Point Stadium)
LINCOLN RED IMPS FC (GIB) - KKS LECH POZNAŃ (POL)
Referee: Chrysovalándis Theoulí CYP
Assistant Referee 1: Mários Kalogírou CYP
Assistant Referee 2: Pávlos Georgíou CYP
Fourth Official: Konstandínos Fellás CYP
Video Assistant Referee: Dimítris Solomoú CYP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rovértos Kósta CYP
UEFA Referee Observer: Ladislav Gádoši SVK
UEFA Delegate: Ronald Zimmermann GER
21:00 CET - Olomouc (Andrův stadion)
SK SIGMA OLOMOUC (CZE) - RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL)
Referee: Pavle Ilić SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Nikola Đorović SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Svetozar Živin SRB
Fourth Official: Pavle Tomić SRB
Video Assistant Referee: Aleksandar Živković SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lazar Lukić SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: Barış Şimşek TUR
UEFA Delegate: Alpaslan Kavas TUR
21:00 CET - Samsun (Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadyumu)
SAMSUNSPOR (TUR) - FK DYNAMO KYIV (UKR)
Referee: Ívar Orri Kristjánsson ISL
Assistant Referee 1: Birkir Sigurðarson ISL
Assistant Referee 2: Gylfi Már Sigurðsson ISL
Fourth Official: Vilhjálmur Alvar Þórarinsson ISL
Video Assistant Referee: Manuel Schüttengruber AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alexander Harkam AUT
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicolae Grigorescu ROU
UEFA Delegate: Davit Datunashvili GEO
21:00 CET - Craiova (Stadionul “Ion Oblemenco”)
UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA (ROU) - NOA FA (ARM)
Referee: Gal Leibovitz ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Dor Medina ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Yossi Babayoff ISR
Fourth Official: Dekel Zino ISR
Video Assistant Referee: Eitan Shmuelevitz ISR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Shalom Ben Avraham ISR
UEFA Referee Observer: Simon Lee Evans WAL
UEFA Delegate: Lambriní Dimitríou GRE
21:00 CET - Ta’ Qali (National Stadium)
ĦAMRUN SPARTANS FC (MLT) - FC LAUSANNE-SPORT (SUI)
Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM
Assistant Referee 1: Mesrop Ghazaryan ARM
Assistant Referee 2: Atom Sevgulyan ARM
Fourth Official: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan ARM
Video Assistant Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan ARM
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Yura Mahtesyan ARM
UEFA Referee Observer: Alieh Čykun BLR
UEFA Delegate: Octavian Goga ROU
Interesting that the match FK SHAKHTAR DONETSK - LEGIA WARSZAWA is being held in Krakow. It is understandable that Ukraine cannot play at home for well-known reasons, and also that it often turns to neighboring Poland. However, when the opponent is a Polish team, the "neutral venue" essentially becomes an away game. In my opinion, other options could have been found here.
ReplyDeleteShakhtar signed an agreement for the Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana w Krakowie being their home location for all the 2025/26 UEFA season's games already on 13 July. Therefore, no changes were possible.
DeleteHarsh demotion for Stieler; Conference league in a non sonorous match. I feel that committee is very severe with the german
ReplyDeleteI can't understand it, too. He was severely punished after that RC for DOGSO to Atalanta some seasons ago, even though the decision was at least acceptable if not simply correct. Last season, it looked like RefCom is trying with Stieler instead of Siebert, one could have even thought that Stieler will be the German no2. But then Siebert started to get better (and better) assignments and Stieler is again treated like a first category official. Difficult to find logic here.
DeleteNext Belgian try with Jasper Vergoote, who is in the new UEFA Talent group (something like that) and who is under review of Cakir. See what UEFA finds about him, lacking any "political" support in the EUFA referee scene around Mr. Roberto Rosetti.
ReplyDeleteVergoote (33) brings a more natural authority to the game compared to Erik Lambrechts (41). Given his age, he has a potentially great path forward. But indeed, it is and always will be a political affair too ...
DeleteInteresting to see 2 games involving Scottish VARs (champions league and conference league) but no Scottish referees appointed in the middle
ReplyDeleteRemarkable; All the four German refs active this week, involving a Dutch team.
ReplyDeleteI believe that is Rob Jones league debut in a European competition. Always thought Mr Harringtons first name was actually Tony because that's what his name is on the premier league site.
ReplyDeleteI believe that is Rob Jones league debut in a European competition. Always thought Mr Harringtons first name was actually Tony because that's what his name is on the premier league site.
ReplyDeleteHe did Leverkusen-Molde in Europa League (I believe was 2023/24 season) and he did idk if 2/3 Conference games previously as well.
DeleteAZ Alkmaar- Slovan Braislava 18:45
ReplyDeleteAnyone aware of what's going on in Rijeka?
ReplyDeleteImpossible to continue, heavy rain.
DeleteThanks
DeleteAZ-Slovan Bratislava
ReplyDeleteIt looks like VAR is not working due huge rain, also comms have problem at Alkmaar
45+4' Penalty given to AZ after just little hand contact after VAR
ReplyDeleteIMO missed 2YC for RAY8 by Bandic just before HT.
ReplyDeleteChallenging ending for him with plenty bookings and penalty given after OFR.
DeleteHard end of the game for the Bosnian referee.
DeleteI watched from the OFR: commentator reported that Bandic had whistled simulation against attacker? How it is possible in a handball scenario? Maybe he had assessed another foul?
Correct intervention by Borošak, then lost control before penalty with players fighting (we don't see red card for such reasons anymore in modern football... in these situations both teams in all games can always do what they want...).
It was a high boot into the ankle of the attacking player.
DeleteVery difficult to see in real time, hence the initial sanction for simulation, but certainly supportable upon watching the replay.
AZ-Slovan Bartislava
ReplyDelete87' Slo player sent off for VC strike to head/face, RC given live without VAR
Very, very good Bel in Strasbourg
ReplyDeleteAnyone watching the Mainz game and can confirm what the RC was for.
ReplyDeleteIt was SFP, correct decision by the Northern Irish referee. Wild tackle, studs in the calf with full force.
DeleteThank you
DeleteExcellent RC (37’) by James Robinson for a nasty SFP after Zrinski’s Savic planted his studs in opponent’s knee. In replays a clear RC, but we’ve seen these challenges missed on field frequently. Good spot without VAR’s help.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/31fcf8
DeleteNow a penalty awarded to Mainz overturned after OFR. Robinson saw a tackle bringing down the attacker, but ball was played as well. Unfortunate, but he shows a strong performance overall. Disciplinary sanctioning spot on, predictable foul selection and in full control (in his Conference League GS debut?)
DeleteI believe it is.
DeleteI must say excellent he was lucky to have the best angle of view, I say lucky not to undermine his abilities, but because sometimes you really have to be lucky to spot certain SFP.
DeleteAlso, it seems a rare recent case of a referee asking for respecting the captains protocol, something maybe a bit forgotten. Curious to see the annulled penalty...
Here it is:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/24cfd7
Thank you, agree with VAR intervention, the touch on ball is decisive and clear before contact with opponent, but not easy for referee to spot that live, indeed.
DeleteMatch stopped again at HT being able to complete the first half in Rijeka vs Sparta. Terrible pitch condition
ReplyDeleteCorrect intervention by VAR to overturn a penalty decision for Mainz
ReplyDeleteAny info the match in Rijeka will continue today or postponed?
ReplyDeleteMatch abandoned
DeleteToday at 16:00 CET they play the 2nd half
DeletePlease watch the last 10 minutes and the added time Häcken-Vallecano, how many are talking to the referee? Penalty is given for handball!!?? Leadership from ref?
ReplyDeletePenalty was given for a foul challenge, not a handball.
DeleteStrong and secure performance at Shkendija - Shelbourne of Ebner in his second appearance in a League Phase - showed again that he can make his week, will be interesting to follow up his next appointments and especially his future observers - this will show us soon, weather they trust him larger missions.
ReplyDeleteHow do you see the development of Berka (CZE) and his performance yesterday?
Stefan Ebner seems to be a better referee internationally than in the domestic league, where he stands in front of the monitor at least once in almost every game because he hasn't seen something. Nevertheless, he is constantly in action, which is actually unfair to other referees who are much less prone to mistakes.
DeleteHis interventions as VAR also repeatedly lead to discussions.
In addition, he apparently has good contacts with many clubs, coaches, and players in Austria—which is unacceptable for a referee.
I don't think he will have a great career, as he still has a long way to go compared to his colleagues from other countries.
In any case, he is currently more highly regarded internationally than Petru Ciochirca, who now only works as a VAR at international level.
I really follow the Austrian competitions and can‘t share your opinion. Ebner has a good season in Austria so far, refereeing for example quite challenging games in Salzburg (against Sturm Graz and Altach) very well. I don‘t know his quote of VAR interventions, but in my opinion it is in an average to other referees on his level. It‘s his style of refereeing to communicate in an open and cooperative way with players and officials of the club, in my opinion it‘s no really negative, every referee has to find his own way.
DeleteNevertheless I think - beside Ebner, who did, without any doubt, good UEFA-performances - that overall the Austrian top referees made a good step internationally in the last years; Gishamer and Weinberger were appointed to interesting games in UEL, let‘s see what the future brings to them and if the big target of Kassai to bring a Austrian referee back to CL will be reached.
Because you named Ciochirca, he is still FIFA Referee and not only VAR.
Since you just mentioned Stefan Ebner: If I have researched correctly, he has not yet officiated a Viennese derby. As the number 3 of our country (at least internationally, it seems), I expect that he will make his debut soon.
DeleteI see barely any progress in Austrian refereeing: Although Sebastian Gishamer was recently observed by Vladimir Sajn (I don't know his mark), I do not like his consistently aggressive gaze and do not see him as a future Elite referee. Other referees seem more in focus for upcoming tournaments.
And Christian-Petru Ciochirca seems to have actually disappeared quite a bit from the international scene: He has not been used in European Cup matches so far, I hardly notice him as a VAR either, and even in the U21 qualification, only Jakob Semler was used so far in his first international year.
My impression is that UEFA is currently focusing on Sebastian Gishamer, Stefan Ebner and Jakob Semler for potential promotions. The other referees are probably cemented in their categories, although, for example, Walter Altmann enjoys great respect in Austria.
If fully agree with all your analysis Peter. As Gishamer got a good feedback from Sajn, it can be a (last?) chance for him. But I follow your opinion, that he is not the type of a future Elite Referee. Tbh for me Weinberger could have made his way due to his qualities, but I don‘t know if he is now maybe already to old to make a bigger career.
DeleteAustrian refereeing lost many years, I hope that they can close the gap to other countries soon in order to get some progress at international level.
The 6 English officials staying in Croatia for an extra day has caused massive changes to the PL appointments this weekend, mainly on VAR. https://ratetheref.createaforum.com/select-group-premier-league/fri-24th-sun-26th-oct-2025/
ReplyDelete