Thursday, 19 March 2026

Europa Conference League 2025/26 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (Second Legs)

2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League, referee appointments for Round of 16 (Second Legs).  



Thursday 19 March 2026

18:45 CET - Mainz (Mewa Arena)
1. FSV MAINZ 05 (GER)  - SK SIGMA OLOMOUC (CZE) - 1. FSV MAINZ 05 (GER) 
Referee: Andris Treimanis LVA
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis LVA
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasennikovs LVA
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs LVA
Video Assistant Referee: Kristaps Ratnieks LVA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Vitālijs Spasjoņņikovs LVA
UEFA Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić SRB
UEFA Delegate: Thomas Grimm SUI

18:45 CET - Sosnowiec (Zagłębiowski Park Sportowy)
RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL)  - ACF FIORENTINA ITA 
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Michal Beneš CZE
UEFA Delegate: Dane Jošt SVN

18:45 CET - Athens (OPAP Arena) 
AEK (GRE) - NK CELJE (SVN)
Referee: Simone Sozza ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Davide Imperiale ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Berti ITA 
Fourth Official: Giovanni Ayroldi ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri ITA 
UEFA Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai HUN 
UEFA Delegate: Michal Mertinyák SVK

18:45 CET - Larnaca (AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis)
AEK LÁRNAKAS (CYP) - CRYSTAL PALACE FC (ENG) 
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev AZE
Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov AZE
Assistant Referee 2: Akif Amirali AZE
Fourth Official: Elchin Masiyev AZE
Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicat Ismayilli AZE
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco 
UEFA Delegate: Paul Daniel Zaharia ROU

21:00 CET - Krakow, POL (Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana)
SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR) - KKS LECH POZNAŃ (POL)
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: Fredy Fautrel FRA
UEFA Delegate: Filips Dhondt BEL

21:00 CET - Prague (Stadion Letná)
AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE) - AZ ALKMAAR (NED) 
Referee: Srđan Jovanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Uroš Stojković SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Milan Mihajlović SRB
Fourth Official: Novak Simović SRB
Video Assistant Referee: Momčilo Marković SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jelena Cvetković SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller AUT
UEFA Delegate: Peadar Ryan IRL

21:00 CET - Madrid (Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas)
RAYO VALLECANO DE MADRID (ESP)  - SAMSUNSPOR (TUR) 
Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
Assistant Referee 1: Christof Günsch GER
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller GER
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen GER
Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:Pascal Müller GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU
UEFA Delegate: Jaroslav Doležal CZE

21:00 CET - Strasbourg (Stade de La Meinau)
RC STRASBOURG ALSACE (FRA)  - HNK RIJEKA (CRO)
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR 
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash UKR
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Denys Shurman UKR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dmytro Panchyshyn UKR
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Rainer Koch GER
at

31 comments:

  1. Cezorrr17 March 2026 at 11:34

    Balakin. In Strasbourg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Forlan18 March 2026 at 11:52

      Incredible (unacceptable) management of assignments at this level, out of all the referees Balakin is delegated for Rijeka in 2 consecutive rounds of KO phase. Even if they push him for some reason, i dont think it was that difficult to find another game and not send him to France.

      Delete
  2. Eric van Marwijk17 March 2026 at 11:37

    Van der Eijk in Krakow

    ReplyDelete
  3. Eric van Marwijk17 March 2026 at 11:39

    Agayev in Larnaca

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chefren17 March 2026 at 18:25

    Just a comment on Sozza once again, second assignment in Conference League for him, in this KO stage.
    By far better game than previous one, Slovenian team involved, but first leg score that seems to have already closed everything.
    However, I think the plans for him were definitely bigger, he is coming from another shocking performance in serie A, not a media-exposed game, but a very important one for relegation, Lecce - Cremonese, among other things he had two VAR interventions for handballs and he didn't whistle a possible penalty in the end of the game. This caused big controversy, but AIA confirmed that according to their opinion, it should have been whistled by referee and not VAR stuff.
    However, that situation was created by a previous wrong call by referee. At the final whistle Sozza found himself unable to take any decision during crucial scenes, this wasn't a good thing for him.
    The future doesn't look good for him, at least given the expectations, it seems that the referee very well known, before getting the FIFA badge, with excellent performances, was definitely only an illusion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CarlRDM17 March 2026 at 19:14

      "The future doesn't look good for him"
      Many referees from smaller football associations would like their future to not look as bright as it does for the young Italian referee.
      Sozza was appointed to referee even the second match in the knockout phase of European competitions. What's the point? What did he do to deserve this? With good performances in the domestic championship or good performances on the European stage? For at least one of those two KO stage matches to which he was appointed, the committee could have appointed another referee who deserved it with his refereeing in the group phase of European competitions.

      I can list at least 5 names

      Delete
  5. Peter Brendson17 March 2026 at 18:47

    Chefren why is there no Dabanović at this stage, very good performance in recent years in continuity, and not like some "Tigers" here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mikael W18 March 2026 at 12:59

      I don't know if the game reached UEFA's radar, but to be honest Dabanovic's performance in Al-Ahli vs. Al-Ittihad on Friday before last was actually very poor (OFR needed for clear penalty, too undermined by mobbing, unclear card criterion) and the opposite of a recommendation for further challenging appointments.

      Delete
    2. Peter Brendson18 March 2026 at 14:55

      That's why he was at that match, as Dabanovic is currently the best Balkan referee(Balkan tiger).

      Delete
    3. CarlRDM18 March 2026 at 18:34

      @Peter Brendson
      I feel sarcasm here

      @Mikael W
      With all the respect the best thing you can do is not to evaluate referee performance in Saudi, because some completely different rules apply there (refereeing there is another universe)

      Delete
  6. Chefren19 March 2026 at 20:30

    OFR in the very last minutes for Juan Martínez Munuera: he was called for changing a penalty decision in simulation. Extremely crucial call for the final score. Attacker was booked after the OFR. Correct call: it was classic situation with keeper trying a save but no contact with attacker.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. M19 March 2026 at 20:32

      Now commentator says that on the other angle there is a slight contact.

      Obviously, not grey zone enough.

      Delete
    2. Chefren19 March 2026 at 20:34

      Very agitated end of the game for the Spanish Category 1 referee. Rakow asked for handball, but absolutly nothing punishable here. Yellow and red cards in a row to Polish bench.
      However, the Spanish definitely doesn't convince me in terms of refereeing in UEFA games.

      Delete
    3. Euro Soccer Ref19 March 2026 at 21:00

      84' Penalty revoked after OFR and YC 18RAK for simulation
      https://streambug.org/cv/f8cd81

      89' PAI handball
      https://streamff.link/v/32ec83b6

      Apart from the penalty incident, it was a good, expected level performance of Martínez Munuera in a normal-difficulty game.

      Delete
  7. Euro Soccer Ref19 March 2026 at 21:01

    Veeeery talkative Van der Eijk before the game in Kraków :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kapetan19 March 2026 at 21:24

      Context?

      Delete
    2. Euro Soccer Ref19 March 2026 at 21:57

      Positive. He talked with players in the tunnel and then also at the coin toss. Surely very fluent English and ease in communication with players.

      Unfortunately, many small mistakes in the game. Several phantom defensive FK calls, on the other hand some very physical challenges let go - no clear line what, with addition of some wrong restart calls, makes player upset at times. Now, correct VAR intervention in the last action of the first half - penalty awarded for handball after OFR. I'm quite sure it wouldn't be given in the Netherlands but clear in UEFA - an arm away from the body although not a typical blocking action, rather jumping for the ball behind an opponent who also was fighting for it.

      Delete
    3. Euro Soccer Ref19 March 2026 at 22:04

      Pre game
      https://streambug.org/cv/c99cfe

      43' Very effective use of VAR regarding corner kick?
      https://streamff.link/v/ba5ec2e4

      45+4' Penalty awarded for handball after OFR
      https://streambug.org/cv/e3f9fc

      Delete
    4. Euro Soccer Ref19 March 2026 at 23:26

      58' Goal disallowed for offside, too long VAR check, imo
      https://streambug.org/cv/1b8ffd

      90' Play-on call in a possible DOGSO scenario, VAR supported
      https://streambug.org/cv/99d943

      90+4' PAI illegal use of arm, not enough for a penalty
      https://streambug.org/cv/905088

      last minutes: behaviour of SHK coach and post-game conflict
      https://streambug.org/cv/4a2c41

      as I said after the first half, besides key match incidents a too weak technical performance for this level but the game was quite challenging

      Delete
    5. Kapetan19 March 2026 at 23:41

      I don’t understand the instructions to the AR1 to have them immediately go into the dressing room and not meet the rest of the crew after the final whistle especially with confrontations like this. And it’s not just this match, I see this all the time in European competitions. Any insights as to why this is?

      Delete
    6. CarlRDM20 March 2026 at 13:56

      If AR1 doesn't go into the tunnel before the others, who will notice the possible confrontations or violent behavior in the tunnel between players, substitutes and staff?

      And if you are wondering who then covers the part of the field that is in the jurisdiction of AR1 - the answer is 4th official.

      Delete
    7. Kapetan20 March 2026 at 14:57

      Very interesting, thank you for the explanation @CarlRDM

      Delete
  8. Chefren19 March 2026 at 21:53

    After the famous incident in Eredivisie, Sander van der Eijk has been called to OFR in the added time of first half, for a possible handball penalty. Rather long analysis, but in the end he gave penalty. I was convinced he was about to refuse the call by Ruperti...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hans19 March 2026 at 23:14

      I thought the same thing. It's good that he eventually learned something from his mistake at Zwolle-Ajax.

      Delete
  9. Ref Fot19 March 2026 at 22:56

    Very good perfromance from Srdjan Jovanovic in Prague! Good disciplinary control, excellent movement,positioning, consistency in foul situation! I expect him at least one more in quarter/semi final in UECL. I would like to hear if possible Chefren opinion about possibility to see Srdjan in quarter/semi final in UECL?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SB20 March 2026 at 15:38

      Why is Jovanović officiating EUCL, even though he is on the list of elite referees? What is with CL, EL?

      Delete
    2. Holly20 March 2026 at 17:16


      Because he is from Serbia and not from Slovenia or Italy? Everything is allowed for judges from Slovenia or Italy, their mistakes do not exist.

      Delete
  10. PolandRef20 March 2026 at 00:31

    Nothing for Agayev game on Larnaca?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philipp S20 March 2026 at 11:45

      2nd YC was acceptable.
      In the 2nd half of extra time, there was a confusing penalty situation, where Aghayev pointed to the spot with some delay, but then cancelled the penalty after some radio contact - without any VAR gesture though. Probably some communication issues there.
      Straight RC given after OFR (first call was YC) is OK, but I am not sure whether it was a VAR situation (late challenge, high point of contact, but not much intensity in the impact).

      Delete
    2. Philipp S20 March 2026 at 11:47

      ...No penalty was the correct outcome in the mentioned situation.

      Delete
  11. Ref Fot20 March 2026 at 17:58

    I saw some question about why Jovanovic officiate UECL this year. Acutally, very hard was season 24/25 for him becouse he suffered an injury, and probably the plan of Uefa Ref Com is to back him in form in this games in knock out. Next year,he is expected to officiate UCL regulary and to gain his place at Euro 2028!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for writing a comment on our blog!