2025-26 UEFA Europa League, Matchday 6, 11 December 2025.
Thursday 11 December 2025
18:45 CET - Zagreb (Stadion Maksimir)
GNK DINAMO (CRO) - REAL BETIS BALOMPIÉ (ESP)
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Davit Akhvlediani GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Davit Gabisonia GEO
Fourth Official: Bakari Bregadze GEO
Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Davit Akhvlediani GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Davit Gabisonia GEO
Fourth Official: Bakari Bregadze GEO
Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström FIN
18:45 CET - Budapest (Groupama Aréna)
FERENCVÁROSI TC (HUN) - RANGERS FC (SCO)
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Tryfon Petropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Iordanis Aptosoglou GR
Fourth Official: Fotios Polychronis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Angelos Evangelou GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU
UEFA Delegate: Vito Di Gioia ITA
18:45 CET - Bern (Stadion Wankdorf)
BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI) - LOSC LILLE (FRA)
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: Clay Ruperti NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Richard Martens NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER
UEFA Delegate: Daniel Rommedahl DEN
18:45 CET - Herning (MCH Arena)
FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) - KRC GENK (BEL)
Referee: Vassilis Fotias GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Meintanas GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Michail Papadakis GRE
Fourth Official: Alexandros Tsakalidis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller AUT
UEFA Delegate: Mark Heap ENG
18:45 CET - Razgrad (Huvepharma Arena)
PFK LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL) - PAOK (GRE)
Referee:Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Valentin Avram ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Alexandru Cerei ROU
Fourth Official: Rareș George Vidican ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adrian Costreie ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Vladimir Petrov UKR
UEFA Delegate: Rotem Kamer ISR
18:45 CET - Graz (Merkur Arena)
SK STURM GRAZ (AUT) - FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB)
Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Karasewicz POL
Fourth Official: Marcin Kochanek POL
Video Assistant Referee: Piotr Lasyk POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Kornel Paszkiewicz POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Sars FRA
UEFA Delegate: Andrew Ambler ENG
18:45 CET - Nice (Allianz Riviera)
OGC NICE (FRA) - SC BRAGA (POR)
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Levan Varamishvili GEOAssistant Referee 2: Giorgi Elikashvili GEO
Fourth Official: Koba Revazashvili GEO
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Scilla Gennaro ITA
18:45 CET - Stuttgart (MHPArena Stuttgart)
VFB STUTTGART (GER) - MK MAKKABI TEL AVIV (ISR)
Referee: Marian Barbu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Adrian Vornicu ROU
Fourth Official: Florin Andrei ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Referee 2: Adrian Vornicu ROU
Fourth Official: Florin Andrei ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Petteri Kari FIN
UEFA Delegate: Jovan Šurbatović SRB
18:45 CET - Utrecht (Stadion Galgenwaard)
FC UTRECHT (NED) - NOTTINGHAM FOREST FC (ENG)
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigovic BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Nerijus Dunauskas LTU
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed DEN
21:00 CET - Porto (Estádio do Dragão)
FC PORTO (POR) - MALMÖ FF (SWE)
Referee: Rohit Saggi NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Morten Jensen NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Anders Olav Dale NOR
Fourth Official: Sigurd Kringstad NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: René H.J. Temmink NED
UEFA Delegate: Jürgen Igelspacher GER
21:00 CET - Décines-Charpieu (Groupama Stadium)
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRA) - GO AHEAD EAGLES (NED)
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Arber Zalla ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Rejdi Avdo ALB
Fourth Official: Olsion Yzeiraj ALB
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Anna Bordyuhova UKR
21:00 CET - Glasgow (Celtic Park)
CELTIC FC (SCO) - AS ROMA (ITA)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Roland Kovacs ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Johansen DEN
UEFA Delegate: Tomáš Bárta CZE
21:00 CET - Basel (St. Jakob-Park)
FC BASEL 1893 (SUI) - ASTON VILLA FC (ENG)
Referee: Umut Meler TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Abdullah Özkara TUR
Fourth Official: Cihan Aydın TUR
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Fabbri ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Onur Özütoprak TUR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Onur Özütoprak TUR
UEFA Referee Observer: Knut Kircher GER
UEFA Delegate: Peadar Ryan IRL
21:00 CET - Freiburg im Breisgau (Europa-Park Stadion)
SC FREIBURG (GER) - FC SALZBURG (AUT)
Referee: Elchin Masiyev AZE
Assistant Referee 1: Elshad Abdullayev AZE
Assistant Referee 2: Parvin Talibov AZE
Fourth Official: Aliyar Aghayev AZE
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Juan Antonio Fernández Marín ESP
UEFA Delegate: Aldi Topçiu ALB
21:00 CET - Bucharest (Arena Națională)
FC FCSB (ROU) - FEYENOORD ROTTERDAM (NED)
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Referee 1:Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash UKR
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Viktor Kopiievskyi UKR
UEFA Referee Observer: Mehmet Murat Ilgaz TUR
UEFA Delegate: Mark Blackbourne ENG
21:00 CET - Vigo (Abanca Balaídos)
RC CELTA DE VIGO (ESP) - BOLOGNA FC 1909 (ITA)
Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Alexandru Mihai Voda ROU
Fourth Official: Cristian Moldoveanu ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Darren England ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcel Birsan ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Dimitar Meckarovski MKD
UEFA Delegate: Filips Dhondt BEL
21:00 CET - Athens (Olymbiakó Athlitikó Kéntro Athinón "Spýros Loúis")
PANATHINAÏKÓS AO (GRE) - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (CZE)
Referee: António Nobre POR
Assistant Referee 1: Nelson Pereira POR
Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Martins POR
Fourth Official: Fabio Verissimo POR
Video Assistant Referee: André Narciso POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fábio Oliveira Melo POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Marcin Szulc POL
UEFA Delegate: Milan Janković BIH
21:00 CET - Bergen (Brann Stadion)
SK BRANN (NOR) - FENERBAHÇE (TUR)
Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Valentin Evrard FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marc Bollengier FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić SRB
UEFA Delegate: Mark Evans WAL
Oh, this is interesting! Kovacs, after missing MD5 in the Champions League, has now been appointed to a Europa League match (of course involving an Italian club). Clearly, the committee wasn’t pleased with something, because we haven’t seen Kovacs in the EL group stage for years.
ReplyDeleteIrfan Peljto finally! I hope this is his comeback and that he’ll be appointed in the Champions League for the January fixtures. Meler is also back. Quite an interesting set of decisions by Rosetti regarding the elite referees for this round.
But is this really a demotion? Celtic vs. Roma is, on the face of it, a tougher match than some Champions League fixtures.
DeleteIt is interesting, though, that they specifically opted for Kovacs. With three German officials active in the UCL, they could just as well have gone for Siebert, who has only recently returned from injury.
And Kovacs, of course, is a Champions League final referee — just like Vincic, whom we never see in the Europa League. Has something happened in Kovacs’ recent European matches?
One more thing to add: the treatment of Peljto strikes me as particularly harsh. Just one Champions League match so far. Probably because of the handball decision in Real–Marseille? Apparently Higler has also been sanctioned for it. That’s new. In previous seasons, it was usually only the referee or the VAR who got thrown under the bus.
I repeat: the rejection of referees is anything but consistent, and when the passport says Italian, Slovenian or French, completely different standards always seem to apply. I feel sorry for the Bosnian.
I believe it's because the game is very big and crucial for Roma and so they sent Kovacs, not in Europa League for technical reasons, but exactly for that! Definitely nothing new. It's very incredible to observe once again what about the Italian teams, I will never stop to write that, but Rosetti seems allowed to continue in this way :)
DeleteThat’s true… and I think Kovács will normally work back-to-back MD7 + MD8 in the Champions League, in decisive games. His neutral passport and lack of other Romanians at the highest level allow that. There will be plenty of options.
DeleteMD7 and 8 Napoli and Juventus in CL if they are still fighting for qualification :)
DeleteIt’s possible, and I absolutely agree regarding the appointments for matches involving Italian clubs. It’s becoming exhausting!
DeleteAs for Peljto, we’ve already discussed this here, and I’ve mentioned many times that the treatment Rosetti gave him is, to say the least, unfair. On the other hand, referees like Mariani (and others with similar or identical passports), no matter what they do, will continue to receive regular appointments.
I don't know what does mean neutral passport, is there a referee doesn't neutral the game he is officiating and prefer one team over another
ReplyDeleteBy a “neutral” passport, we mean that a Kovacs isn’t restricted by Romanian or Hungarian teams in the Champions League. So Kovács is the ideal neutral man for a Referee Committee :) They can fit him in anywhere in the final rounds. Even more because Petrescu didn’t referee any Champions League games.
DeleteYes because there is no any Romanian team in champions league and there is one in Europe league
DeleteI hope it goes well for them and they get back to where they deserve. (Meler and Peljito)
ReplyDeleteYes, the way Peljto has been treated is harsh. On MD1, the Bosnian apparently made a mistake in UEFA’s eyes—one the VAR did not correct. Peljto then goes to officiate at the U-20 World Cup and missed MD2 and MD3 as a result. After that, he seemingly had to “serve” some sort of punishment in Rosetti’s eyes on MD4 and MD5. After which he returned in Europa League MD6, in a rather low-profile match, with all due respect. In total, Peljto has now missed five rounds of UCL. It’s all quite remarkable. Especially when e.g. Rosetti compensated his compatriot Mariani with European matches when he didn’t get any Serie A appointments.
ReplyDeleteBut for a referee like Peljto, those international matches are financially meaningful too. One thing is clear: a mistake that affects the course of a game can put a referee on the bench. Yet those who make major errors that are corrected by VAR are allowed to keep officiating in the Champions League (see Zwayer, Mariani). And even Turpin, who had three OFRs in an opening match, still ended up getting a quarterfinal—remember? :-)
There is four Romanian referee in this round it seems strange for country is not a footballing powerhouse
ReplyDeleteAgreed. There should be at least eight referees from Portugese powerhouse.
DeleteI am not speaking for Portuguese, I only pointed out that romania is not a footballing powerhouse and every one knows this 😁
DeleteEveryone also knows that Portugal is the strongest refereeing powerhouse, producing at least 100 gigawatts per season.
DeleteI don't care what comes out of Portugal because i am not speaking on behalf of the Portuguese referee
DeleteYou don't care about Portugese referees? You are a funny man :)
DeleteHonestly, without downplaying everything Rosetti has done so far, I truly hope and I can’t wait for the moment when a new UEFA president is elected, which would likely mean that Rosetti will also be replaced as head of the committee. This is all becoming so boring, and a change is necessary. Referees don’t follow the same criteria; some are “punished,” while others continue to receive regular appointments regardless of their mistakes. The same referees are constantly appointed, and what I find most unfair is that referees are not appointed based on form and assessments, but on some other standards. Some referees consistently make mistakes that VAR corrects, yet they go unpunished. Seven years at the top is enough it's time for a change, and I can’t wait for that moment.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, we simply don’t know whether a new UEFA president and a new Referee Officer will make life any fairer or better for referees. We all thought Blatter was bad, and that his successor couldn’t possibly do worse… yet Infantino’s ego has turned out to be even bigger. And let’s not kid ourselves: football and politics are deeply intertwined. I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Moreover, the spectacle comes first. Preferably 11 vs. 11. UEFA would rather have a smoothly managed match with one VAR overturn than a match without any overturns in which the referee becomes the main talking point in the aftermath. Possibly with an official complain by one of the teams.
DeleteI think we can all imagine Peljto spotting what he believes is a clear handball in real time and making that call in a split second. The margins are razor-thin. Football is a sport where so many decisions fall into a grey area. Not everything is black and white. HOWEVER: a key decision in that grey area, made in the 90th minute and determining the final score, will always become the main talking point. And what, realistically, can a referee do about that? And when it comes to such crucial decisions, what exactly happens afterwards in those back rooms in Nyon — and why is it that an Italian, French or Slovenian referee can get away with it, while for example a Bosnian cannot?