2025-26 UEFA Europa League, referee appointments for the second legs of semifinals, to be played on 7 May 2026.
Thursday 7 May 2026
21:00 CET - Birmingham (Villa Park)
ASTON VILLA FC (ENG) - NOTTINGHAM FOREST FC (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
21:00 CET - Freiburg (Europa Park Stadion)
SC FREIBURG (GER) - SC BRAGA (POR)
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Anthony Riley ENG
UEFA Delegate: Tarik Shamel ENG
Aston Villa - Nottingham Forest
ReplyDeleteNyberg - Beigi, Söderkvist - Obrenovic - Brisard, Delajod
21:00 CET - Birmingham (Villa Park)
ReplyDeleteASTON VILLA FC (ENG) - NOTTINGHAM FOREST FC (ENG)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
21:00 CET - Freiburg (Europa Park Stadion)
SC FREIBURG (GER) - SC BRAGA (POR)
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Erik Lambrechts BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Anthony Riley ENG
UEFA Delegate: Tarik Shamel ENG
Very likely the game in Freiburg was for Guida but he is injured once again. So Massa replacing him.
ReplyDelete
DeleteWhat did Srdjan Jovanović do that was so terrible and bad that he is treated as a judge of the second category? Does anyone have an answer to this question?
He failed fitness test 2-3 times while he was injured and when he finally passed it the season was over for him.
Delete
DeleteThat was last season, this entire season he was healthy and performed the entrusted matches more than excellently.
I think Erik Lambrechts at least deserved a quarterfinal spot in the Conference League this season... Too bad for him—he’ll only get a semifinal in the Conference League in fourth OF...
DeleteMr. Groule : I do agree with you about Lambrechts. He is not the man with a very expressive style, but why not give him a match 1/4 F in Conference League ? I fear he will politically not be supported within UEFA by one of the big shots...Belgium does not mean anything within UEFA unfortunately, but OK, let's not be too political in this blog and hope that he will be given a fair chance in the future
DeleteDoes this means the season of letexier , oliver , in european competation is ended or there is another things may be
ReplyDeleteThey are both candidates for the champions league final and must wait how the team from their country performs.
DeleteIf PSG advances, Letexier will do the EL Final.
DeleteI think we won’t see again Letexier this season.
DeleteVelasco observing Nyberg, maybe a test for Conference Final?
ReplyDeleteI think him and Schärer are in pole position for that game.
Looking at these appointments, makes think that the likes of Nyberg will never be appreciated by Uefa untill he enters the later stages of his career unless he finds a short cut provided by FIFA as so Marciniak did to jump the ranks up to the very top
ReplyDeleteMarcinak was/is a favourite of collina hence getting few uefa appointments before last WC and getting the final (deservedly so). Not so sure Nyberg fits that bill. Rossetti more a fan of full time referees from the big 5 plus Slovenia and Slovakia where the boss is watching
DeleteDo you think the main reason Collina favours Marciniak is that he sees something of himself in him? A strong personality who can impose his authority forcefully when needed? Or is it something else I'm missing?
Delete(To be clear - I really like Marciniak and know that he is among the very best)
When Marcinek burst on to the scene Collina saw him as his protege.
DeleteSimilar styles altho Marcineck is a calmer (in my opinion) operator. That said Collina was obviously the best in the business. There’s a disconnect between Rossetti and Collina especially when Collina went to FIFA but wanted to remain also at UEFA. So Marcinek is Collins was of a get back at UEFA. You don’t use him well I will say he’s the best
Guida is appointed in Serie B. I think it means his injury was minor or maybe that Massa was the intented referee here
ReplyDeleteAlso again to note, the important appointments (for relegation and UCL spots) of Lecce Juventus and Parma Roma were given respectively to Colombo and Chiffi, and again Zufferli trusted with Milan-Atalanta after he also got a very important game last week between Roma and Fiorentina.The referee from Udine is climbing in the hierarchy.
DeleteIs there any news about EC U17/19 referees?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think the committee needs to take a long hard look at itself to see how Pinheiro got selected for his match having only one Round of 16 and two playoff matches in the Champions League, according to https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe363126/joao-pinheiro/co19/champions-league/se104387/2025-2026/matches-as-referee/. Everyone is talking about the final appointment, but his match was for all intents and purposes the final, in terms of importance due to quality of the teams and difficulty due to pace of play. It's great to give promotions, but they must be merited and sequential.
What a shame. PInheiro is Elite ar sone time of Mariani. Letexer when he officiatte the final of Euro, how many games he have? Speak about the calls. It seems that is something wrong with your worlds
DeleteRiley an important observer?
ReplyDeleteChefren,one question. May we expect your post about specific prediction about who will officiate Uefa Club Finals this year?
ReplyDeleteIt's very difficult, about Champions League I wrote a post and we can expect everything, while many candidates, definitely too many for both Europa and Conference League.
DeleteLet's see but I can't promise anything.
Correct straight RC from Massa. Easy to spot
ReplyDeleteBarely a touch, a minor arm movement by the defender. And attacker does a massive dive/flop and looks up immediately....sad to see football like this
ReplyDeleteA clear-cut red card, dogso. Maybe you mixed up the tackles
DeleteA real test of Nyberg’s metal at Villa park tonight. Handling it well so far, just about.
ReplyDeleteInteresting penalty area incident in AVL-NFO (26’). NFO#4 and AVL#11 trying to head the ball, the latter successfully and the former only hitting his opponent forcefully head-to-head (resulting in extensive treatment).
ReplyDeleteMaking the comparison with a defender and an attacker both trying to kick a high ball and defender being a fraction too late hitting the foot of his opponent is generally considered a penalty in UEFA competitions. Here however no penalty awarded and honestly hardly asked for by the home team.
Taylor has given two in England for heading an opponent rather than the ball in recent years (oddly can't think of any others). It is, for me, a missed penalty. Rare it happens, but it is a challenge, where the player is nowhere near the ball and is late
DeleteThere was a challenge near midfield I want to look at again. Looked accidental but possible studs to shin along the ground. Does anyone know what minute this was?
DeleteShould be a penalty. A time to keep things simple - like most fouls - one players gets there first and the other goes into the opponent. No difference that it is with a header than with feet / body / arm. Simply a foul. Hard to see live but should be helped by VAR.
DeleteNyberg has been flawless in the first half at Villa Park. He is my number two after Makkelie for the UCL FINAL and so far he's just spot-on with every decision, let's see how the second half unfolds
ReplyDeleteNyberg with a yellow each to the benches so far. Good refereeing
ReplyDeleteAlthough now he's missed a penalty
DeleteYellow card for assistant coach Vitor Pereira for protesting. Nyberg is very focused on Villa Park.
ReplyDeleteFirst time for a while I have watched Nyberg. A lot is really very good (and great to see him actively controlling the technical areas!) but also some aspects that he could improve relatively easily. Does he always use the whistle this much? I worry with how much he is using it in normal situations about whether it will have any impact when the temperature rises.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like his whistle-style. It seems to lose all affect when soo overused. And then, a second missed penalty
DeleteNyberg needs to chill with the peeping of the whistle everytime something happens it's quite annoying imo good referring otherwise now var check
ReplyDeleteVery clear pen missed Nyberg.
ReplyDeleteNo really ( missed) at the angle the shirt pulling happened wasn't easy to spot live nevertheless the correct decision prevailed
DeleteOFR PK correct decision and good work by VAR at Villa Park
ReplyDeletewhy not Yellow ?
ReplyDeleteNot blatant lack of respect for the game and another opponent close.
DeleteGood intervention for penalty to Aston Villa
ReplyDeleteNyberg couldn't see the shirt pull on the Aston Villa player because the play doesn't allow for such a pull from behind with a frontal view. Therefore, he was called to the VAR.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the assistant referee would have been viewing through the body of another player, who was directly between the assistant and the foul. This was a difficult decision to spot during live play.
DeleteGood save by Soderkvist in disallowing Watkins' goal.
ReplyDeleteGood flag delay Ar1 min, 70, good timing and then good advantage by Nyberg. Good overall movement and positioning.
ReplyDelete72.20 bad corner position. Really bad.
DeleteNyberg is giving the air of someone who knows theres a final there to be taken for an official!
ReplyDeleteIt's not an extraordinary performance, but it's solid and firm enough to qualify Nyberg for a continental final.
DeleteAnd It's not an extraordinary performance, but it's solid and firm enough to qualify Nyberg for a continental final.
And Makkelie supporters, forgive me: if UEFA dares to do the same again as they did with Letexier in the Euro 2024 final, the Swede would be a surprise in the final in Budapest. But of course, anything can happen. supporters, forgive me: if UEFA dares to do the same again as they did with Letexier in the Euro 2024 final, the Swede would be a surprise in the final in Budapest. But of course, anything can happen.
Im most impressed with Nyberg out of him and the 4 semi final UCL refs I must say.
DeleteI would rank Schärer above him in that list but I agree Nyberg been good tonight on the whole. I don't think he is ready for the UCL final though - he would need some luck to succeed in that match whereas other options remain a safer bet.
DeleteWith all due respect but Nyberg’s game tonight doesn’t even come anywhere close to the level of difficulty of the four UCL semi’s. For me that’s no comparison.
DeleteA game as easy going as this one does smooth a path to the big final though.
Sin Bin i don't think anybody apart from Makkelie is "ready" for the UCL final but we could be looking at a situation where hes not used :(
DeleteI agree with you there, but some others at least have developed a bit more of that aura on the field that would give them a better chance of surviving the final - e.g. Mariani, however undeserved that choice would be in itself.
DeleteRC by Massa: https://streambug.org/cv/617182
ReplyDeleteCorrect decision once whistled foul, RC.
I can understand the point of view above by Jordan Van Geyn Referee at 21:14, but when such contact from behind, foul is expected.
Correct decision and clear Rc
ReplyDeleteNyberg: about the game, I expected a comeback by Aston Villa and it happened (it wasn't hard to guess).
ReplyDeletePenalty after OFR:
https://streambug.org/cv/a717f9
Obstructed view, correct call by VAR, but still another OFR for the Swedish.
There was another incident, in 45+3, YC to Aston Villa player, for me a possible red card.
Clip to be posted when possible, maybe tomorrow.
Will try to post the other mentioned incident by 26', I didn't watch live, but reading the situation, it should be assessed as normal contact of play, hard to think about a penalty there, never seen one given for this reason.
Sorry, it was a Nottingham player in 45'+3
DeleteMy Predictions:
ReplyDeleteUCL: Schaerer
UEL: Nyberg
UECL: Siebert
Thoughts?
An Italian referee will definitely officiate a final game :)
DeleteMine:
DeleteUCL: Mariani
UEL: Letexier
UECL: Nyberg
My final predictions
DeletePSG - Arsenal: Mariani, Bindoni, Tegoni, Massa - di Bello, di Paolo, Chiffi (all ITA)
Freiburg - Villa: Letexier, Mugnier, Rahmouni, Bastien - Brisard, Delajod (all FRA), van Driessche (BEL)
Crystal - Vallecano: Schärer (SUI), Seidel, Foltyn, Siebert (all GER) - San, Fähndrich (both SUI), Dankert (GER)
"I will give it a spin"
DeleteUCL Makkelie/Nyberg
UEL Letexier /Mariani
UECL Siebert/Scharer
Predictions
DeletePSG-Arsenal (Budapest): Mariani
Freiburg-Villa (Istanbul): Schärer
Palace-Vallecano (Leipzig): Siebert
AVLNFO
ReplyDelete26' PAI striking with head
https://streambug.org/cv/33f032
45+3' YC 23NFO for reckless, possible SFP
https://streambug.org/cv/c04001
55' Penalty awarded for holding after OFR
https://streambug.org/cv/cad259
Thanks for the clip.
DeleteAbout the possible red card, I think one should consider the very quick leg movement of Aston Villa player, the player committing foul can't immediately know to find the opponent's leg there, even though he is late in his action, there are for this reason elements of rather unlucky circumstance, and we could also add that it wasn't full contact. So in the end it seems OK yellow card, but red card wouldn't have been questioned by VAR.
Premier League is going strong in Europe every season and doesn't look to fade away in the coming years so it worries me for the coming new generation of the PGMOL the likes of ( Kavanagh Brooks Barrott) and others, the chances for big matches (Finals) is very minimum
ReplyDeleteUCL ARS PSG
UEL AST FEI
UCL CRY RAV (all involving English teams) and last year 2/3 finals.
Tonight Nyberg was excellent and by now he's among the many considered for Budapest final
My predictions for the finals:
ReplyDeleteUCL: Makkelie
UEL: Letexier
UECL: Nyberg
*UECL: Schärer
DeleteI feel sorry for Peljto and the way he's being treated within UEFA.
ReplyDeleteIt feels like he's being silently lynched, and I truly hope his career isn't relegated to oblivion.
Even so, for someone who officiated Arsenal vs. Real Madrid at a high level and had a Conference League final, the curve, instead of ascending, has declined considerably in recent months.
Maybe he's just been saved for the UCL final all this time... At this rate Kruzliak could get it, or even me!
DeleteBut seriously I do agree with you, this wilderness is extremely unfair. He is a very good referee and this season is an excellent reminder of why it is good to have top referees from many countries.
DeleteI expect the finals to be as follows:
ReplyDeleteUEFA Champions League Final: Marciniak, or McAuley to a lesser extent.
UEFA Europa League Final: João Pinheiro or François Letexier.
UEFA Europa Conference League Final: Siebert or Schärer.
McAuley would be the first referee to directly officiate the Champions League final without having previously refereed another UEFA match.
Deletewhy do you want Marciniak for the UCL final? do you know that the polish had already a final? he was in 2023 between Manchester City and Inter Milano. So, why not Vincic for the final if you insist with Marciniak. But I think it will be Mariani for the UCL final.
DeleteI have this odd feeling that Mariani will get this final .. for whatever reason
ReplyDeleteMeaning the ucl final
DeleteHis name lingers but at the back mind Mariani has 25% chance to be in Budapest
DeleteI expect for this in european finals
ReplyDeletePsg vs arsenal : joao pinheiro
Aston villa vs freiburg : mariani
Vallecano vs crstal palace : scharer
Why not:
DeletePsg vs arsenal : joao pinheiro
Aston villa vs freiburg : joao pinheiro
Vallecano vs crystal palace : joao pinheiro
?
My predictions for the finals:
ReplyDeleteUCL: Mariani
UEL: Letexier
UECL: Siebert
The biggest loser I feel is Oliver. Top performances for many years in UEFA. Long overdue one of the 3 finals, UCL, UEL or UECL. Although the UCL is the most deserving. Letexier has time
ReplyDeleteI think things went much worse for Makkelie...
DeleteI feel similarly: English referees fundamentally suffer from the fact that "their" clubs often make it to the final. Even if you "put off" Michael Oliver to a following year, it could happen that he has a weaker season exactly then and still is not eligible. I wonder whether he could at least be appointed for the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. FIFA and UEFA do operate independently of each other. However, due to his World Cup experience, he would certainly be an interesting option, especially since FIFA usually relies on particularly trusted referees in the first matches.
DeleteWhen we can expect announcment of final referees in Uefa?
ReplyDeletelast year, it was monday afternoon. so, I think it will be the same.
DeleteI made an Excel with which referees are available for what:
ReplyDeletehttps://files.fm/f/5ufj9k23dy
Well done you, appreciate the effort, summarized very well and clear to understand with all 35 elite names included
DeleteI find this list not very helpful: You already know the names of the elite referees. I do not see the added value of the information about whether someone also officiated in the semifinals of one of the three tournaments: Sometimes a semifinal referee of the Champions League is used in the final of another competition, but often not. Even the extreme case in which a Champions League semifinal referee also officiates the final has already happened. I think the list could have been ranked more by seniority as an elite referee and/or by the number of appearances in the individual competitions. Those who have just been promoted at the end of the year will probably be eliminated both in the Champions League and in the Europa League. Likewise, it would be unusual for a referee to officiate twice in the same competition final (although that has also already happened). But as it stands, the table is pretty meaningless.
DeleteI just made the obvious, of course now people should do their observations, this is just which referee is POSSIBLY valid for each competition. And i only marked as yellow in the competition the referee had a Game in the semis, not it the others.
DeleteUhh, why exactly is Nicholas Walsh with red everywhere? Not that he is a real candidate for any final, just curiosity.
DeleteScottish referee, out of the running as English teams in all 3 finals.
DeleteOh, fair enough. Somehow I missed that.
DeleteIf I was to predict I would go.
ReplyDeleteUCL: Makkelie (Mariani Fourth Official)
UEL: Scharer (with Gil Manzanos team)
UECL: Pinheiro (Siebert fourth official)
Pinheiro (Scharer) // Mariani (Peljto) // Eskas (Siebert) for me.
DeleteMassa had a very good performance yesterday, I think. After the correct early RC he contributed to the entertaining game with a laidback, but consistent line, giving all the neccessary cautions in the last phase of the game.
ReplyDelete