2025-26 UEFA Europa League, referee appointments for the second legs of quarterfinals, to be played on 16 April 2026.
Thursday 16 April 2026
18:45 CET - Vigo (Abanca-Balaídos)
RC CELTA DE VIGO (ESP) - SC FREIBURG (GER)
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Bewisk ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Cook ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Cook ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI
UEFA Delegate: Vignir Már Þormóðsson ISL
21:00 CET - Seville (La Cartuja de Sevilla)
REAL BETIS BALOMPIÉ (ESP) - SC BRAGA (POR)
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER
UEFA Delegate: Iain Blair SCO
21:00 CET - Birmingham (Villa Park)
ASTON VILLA FC (ENG) - BOLOGNA FC 1909 (ITA)
Referee: José María Sánchez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Augustus Constantin ROU
UEFA Delegate: Giel Kirkels NED
21:00 CET - Nottingham (City Ground)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST FC (ENG) - FC PORTO (POR)
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout NED
Video Assistant Referee:Bastian Dankert GER Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout NED
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA
UEFA Delegate: Manuel Huber SUI
Sanchez Martinez?? If it was really said that he lost the WC because of that match in Paris, then this appointment makes no sense to me, obviously we can expect that as a form of compensation he will get a European final this season, even though I do not see what he has done to deserve it?
ReplyDeleteI am quite sure that Sanchez will not do a European final this season. The right question is not so much "Sanchez Martinez??" as "where is Alejandro Hernandez?". It would have made more sense to give Hernandez this match, rather than repeating Sanchez after his so-so performance (it was not a disaster!) last week, surely? The only thing I can think of, again unless something has happened that we don't know about, is that there is concern that FIFA could reconsider Hernandez's status after a bad continental performance (remember that the ref-res numbers currently stand at 37-15 and could very easily be made even!) and they want to avoid that happening?
Delete+1, Unbelievable what kind of lobby the Spanish have, because lets be real is there really even one Spanish referee right now who deserves a place at the WC?
DeleteDoes it mean the season is over for the Meler?
ReplyDeleteWell, Path for Makkelie continiue. Expected to be seen at very hot clash Forest Porto!
ReplyDeleteThis new appointment for the Spanish referee is certainly unexpected, but we know how things work. The performance in front of Rosetti didn't go well, to say it kindly, but still we can imagine that this might be one of the last appearances for referees of Spanish nationality. They could be out from all the semifinals, especially considering the large number of Spanish teams still involved.
ReplyDeleteIt must also be interpreted in terms of the “Spanish quota,” even though it would have been more logical to expect Hernández Hernández, unless they plan to assign him a Champions League semifinal, which would be shocking. Moreover, that would expose him to the risk of being burned even before the World Cup begins, so this decision can also be seen as an attempt to preserve the referee from the Canary Islands.
Unfortunately, we now have to get used to these kinds of interpretations, because what happens behind the scenes is very complex. And here, of course, everything related to technical performance, what Rosetti saw in Paris, has been completely thrown out the window in order to appoint the same official once again, and that is what should worry us more than anything else.
As for the rest, Gil Manzano is also out, which confirms that Spanish referees need to get games before they are no longer able to, once again in a match involving an Italian team.
But we have something even more interesting: the replacement of Dankert as VAR in the match officiated by Makkelie. From the Dutch federation website, we learn that the original appointment included Dankert, but he was removed and replaced with Bebek by UEFA.
Now we know that Dankert will once again work as VAR in the same match for which he had been appointed in the first leg in Champions, and at this point we might imagine that someone else involved there has been replaced.
I think the Ucl final is still wide open. Letexier had very good observers including Rizzoli earlier this year and Bleeckere. Oliver with Sajn. The VAR roles are strange, Letexier with Dankert and Mackelie with Bebek.
ReplyDeleteTaylor back in a Spanish vs German clash after Euro 2024 infamous QF.
ReplyDeletePresumably, the clear home victory of the German team in the first leg favored this appointment. In the case of a closer result and a more open outcome, one probably would not have tried to 'return' Anthony Taylor with exactly this game. Now, however, it is a brilliant move to 'pacify' the Germans symbolically with an assignment for a game against a Spanish team (given that Freiburg will probably advance to the semifinals).
DeleteWow .. sanchez martinez is a huge surprise for me.. the others are not unexpected
ReplyDeleteElite Referees with no QF:
ReplyDeleteHernandez, Meler, Kavanagh, Lambrechts, Gozubuyuk, Jovanovic, Peljto, Stieler , Marciniak
I wouldn't be surprised if some of those get an appointment in a 1st leg SF in UCL.
DeleteGozubuyuk is ought to be in the UCL SF, at the very least. Very underrated referee. I see below the Hernandez discussion. I cant believe a scenario of giving it to Hernández - with only 5 UCL games until this year —and now (with the SF) he’d have 6 UCL games! just in 2025/2026... This management is not possible in my eyes.
DeleteI hope I’m wrong, but (unless some kind of injury) I SMELL that UEFA is waiting for a PSG-Bayern SF for give it to Hernandez…This would be SHOCKING (!) but we have to be prepared in case this scenario happens.
ReplyDeleteIt's my feeling as well...
DeleteSanchez also repeats Aston Villa from the previous round, which could support the theory, that he is a replacement.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Marciniak should get this game?
Sanchez did Villa's Round of 16 1st leg and also had a European game last week so seems a strange appointment.
ReplyDeleteRizzoli Last Appointments as Observer:
ReplyDeleteOlympiacos vs Real Madrid 26/11/2025 - Oliver
SL Benfica vs Real Madrid 17/02/2026 - Letexier
Now
Nottingham vs Porto 16/04/2026 - Makkelie
Very nice game for Makkelie, plus to be observed by Rizzoli...
Final test for something more this season (?)