2026-27 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, Second Legs, games to be played on 25 August 2026.
Tuesday 25 August 2026
SABAH FC (AZE) - HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA (ISR)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA
21:00 CET - Linz (Oberösterreich Arena)
LASK (AUT) - CELTIC FC (SCO)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere BEL
21:00 CET - Bodø (Aspmyra)
FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) - NEC NIJMEGEN (NED)
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
Marciniak for LASK-CELTIC
ReplyDeleteThree very big names for Tuesday's games.
ReplyDeleteKovacs is lucky to get CL after his rather below expectations previous performance, however he is given the least sonorous clash, but potentially very hot in terms of fouls.
An interesting chapter about VARs: Kovacs once again with a foreign name for him, more generally, apart from the trust in a certain name or not by committee for a game (in this case, Popa), I think the famous Elite referee finds himself better while having communication with VAR from other countries, than Romanias, but it's also true his career started and continued in this way (when Romania was among the few countries still without technology), Marciniak without Polish colleague from the room, he will be with van Boekel. Tomasz Kwiatkowski doesn't seem highly regarded by UEFA at moment, we see Malec as AVAR, the official who confirmed the controversial penalty call by Al Hakim in Sion - Ajax.
And in the English team, Salisbuty takes over Attwell as main VAR.
I don't think that Kovacs is given the least sonorous clash,if anything I would say he got the most challenging and in terms of result the most uncertain match.
DeleteThe other one is Celtic 4,-0 lead with Marciniak and Oliver that has pretty straightforward match.
Marciniak observed by de Bleeckere is particular. Normally, de Bleeckere is paired with rather young "development-referees". Do they want to check Marciniaks status after a disapppointing world cup?
ReplyDeleteThis season, Olivers path must be thepreparation for a european final - EL or CL, in case of "allowing" this by english clubs, the main obstacle.
For the four games on wednesday, we can be sure about Mariani, Turpin and at least one spanish referee.
Tomorrow's matches are going to be more challenging both in terms of scoreline and difficulty level. I was expecting Michael Oliver and Marciniak in one of those matches. Following these appointments, it is now clear that Mariani will officiate Lyon vs. Fener match.
ReplyDeletePrediction:
DeleteOlympique Lyon - Fenerbahçe: Mariani
AEK - Levski: Turpin
Celje - Slovan: Hernández Hernández
Viking - Dinamo Zagreb: Sánchez Martínez
Brooks for Brann - PAOK
ReplyDeleteUEFA Europa Conference League?
ReplyDeleteYou have all the appointments on Uefa site. They published it 7 or more days ago
DeleteAlready known since less than 2 weeks ago:
DeleteLarne - Lincoln Red Imps: Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)
Riga - Klaksvík: Allard Lindhout (NED)
Borač - Víkingur: Anastasios Papapetrou (GRE)
KuPS - Shamrock Rovers: Patrik Kolarić (CRO)
Inter Escaldes - Drita: Giorgi Kruashvili (GEO)
-----
Copenhagen - Inter Turku: Oleksiy Derevinsky (UKR)
Brighton - Tromsø: Sander van der Eijk (NED)
Rijeka - Midtjylland: Jasper Vergoote (BEL)
St Gallen - Nordsjaelland: Orel Grinfeld (ISR)
Brann - PAOK: John Brooks (ENG)
Monaco - Górnik Zabrze: Vasilis Fotias (GRE)
Qarabag - Twente: Rohit Saggi (NOR)
Ajax - Sion: Julian Weinberger (AUT)
Freiburg - Motherwell: Andrea Colombo (ITA)
Hradec Králové - Panathinaikos: Sascha Stegemann (GER)
Hibernian - Gent: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Hapoel Tel Aviv - Atalanta: Daniel Schlager (GER)
Maccabi Tel Aviv - Lugano: Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
Rapid Wien - Heart of Midlothian: Elçin Masiyev (AZE)
Jablonec - Rangers: Nenad Minaković (SRB)
Raków Czestochowa - Hajduk Split: Aliyar Aghayev (AZE)
Pafos - Dinamo Tirana: Martin Matoša (SVN)
Austria Wien - Braga: Nikola Dabanović (MNE)
Partizan - Getafe: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
I'm rare in commenting Premier League performances, but I watched Brooks in yesterday Fulham - Chelsea and I must say it's incredible to see a referee officiating a PL game in such a fautless way, applying the LotG in every moment and every decision. All cards absolutely spot on, also one for simulation outside the box. I think this was a very good start for him, if he has in mind to make progress at UEFA level.
ReplyDeleteI have watched the match, too, and I was speechless. All the depressive talk about a lack of talent in England - and now that brilliant performance: So there is light at the end of the tunnel!
DeleteI think he is an excellent referee I think if he doesn't get injured we could see him as elite very soon. I think barrott could see himself as cat 1 at the end of the season
DeleteQuiet first half for Kovacs, not difficult.
ReplyDeleteThe only important decision for him was a yellow card for simulation, he correctly gave it, but one didn't need the Romanian to issue this one, very evident.
About the rest, offside in focus.
VAR intervention to disallow the 0-1 after a few minutes, but I think AR can be excused, while good no flag when Sabah scored 1-1.
A game in which everything can happen, it seems it will be open for both sides until the end.
The 2 goals the Sabah goalkeeper conceded have got to be a joke 😂😂
ReplyDelete86', SPA, Missed second YC by Kovacs in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteHard to think it wasn't a promising attack.
The Hapoel player kicked the ball into the stands.
ReplyDeleteIstvan Kovacs showed him a yellow card and told him to 'fck off.' 😂
Wrong second yellow 🤦🏻♂️
ReplyDeleteWell Dankert as VAR said it was alright.
DeleteVAR only steps in for second yellows in case of simulation. Dankert can't intervene here.
DeleteNo, that’s incorrect. VAR will step in when a clearly wrong second YC was issued. Doesn’t have to be a simulation.
DeleteRegarding clear and obvious errors... because there is a slight contact here, VAR cannot get involved. Watch the replay, it's never a second yellow card.
DeleteAll three examples used by UEFA in their so called "Clear Line" article are when no foul was actually committed, so I guess that's basically what they want for VAR to get involved
Delete@HB2300 I agree the 2nd YC is soft and shouldn’t have been issued, but I only wanted to make clear that the laws don’t require a simulation for VAR to be allowed to intervene.
DeleteNow challenging for Kovacs. Crucial second YC to Hapoel and 4-2 by Sabah. Many protests.
ReplyDeleteLooked like it was an exaggerated reaction by opponent, waiting for a clip to rewatch it.
Rc by Oliver for handball by the goalkeeper. Match over after 2 minutes but correct decision
ReplyDeleteKovacs at it again, and another chaotic match. Second yellow cards shouldn't be handed out so easily.. The worst part is, he forgot the player already had a yellow card.
ReplyDeleteSecond YC by Kovacs:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.link/v/057a765f
soft
DeleteI think it is a bad decision in that situation.
DeleteIt's not soft, it's totally wrong and VAR was wrong here for staying silent
DeleteDidn't Kovacs give a similar 2nd yellow in a game last year?
ReplyDeleteRC for DOGSO by Oliver: https://streamin.me/v/f375b4bf
ReplyDeleteHome team in yellow, host in dark green, Oliver in black. Not the best choice, IMO.
DeleteI think it is the best and most acceptable decision
DeleteI bet on a red card.. thank you Kovacs.
ReplyDeleteUEFA mentions a 2nd sending off in Sabah-HBS? It wasn’t caught by the cameras?
ReplyDeleteA red card is shown in the 117th minute. I think another player was sent off for dissent after the goal. It wasn't shown on screen and there was no replay🤔
DeleteFairly clear YC 30’ missed on LASK 7 by Marciniak
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the clip?
Deletehttps://streamin.link/v/fe7af751
DeleteVery clear, it seems a deliberate choice not to book...
Looked like he was going to reach for his pocket but then he decided to solve this with his authority.
DeleteUnfortunate choice of jersey for Team Oliver.
ReplyDeleteAssuming it was given on field, an excellent goal decision on 91' in Linz from AR2
ReplyDeleteGood onside call by AR2 in Austria. No one seemed to think it was onside live.
ReplyDeleteMarciniak whistling about 6 times to signify half time in extra time
ReplyDeleteCorrect PK by Marciniak
ReplyDeleteMore clips from Kovacs game.
ReplyDelete21' Simulation, very clear
https://streamin.link/v/21a98ff7
72' First YC to a player then sent off, correct for reckless
https://streamin.link/v/5a6d72c8
86' Possible second YC for SPA
https://streamin.link/v/f701105d
Here I must say that rewatching it, one can back referee's decision, mostly for the slow action, not a fast attack, however given the position of the foul and the other defenders, in the same scenario with the fouled player running, I think it would have been very mandatory card.
89' First YC to another player then sent off, very correct for delaying restart, kicking ball away
https://streamin.link/v/7cf25216
100' Second YC for late challenge
https://streamin.link/v/2045e8e7
I think it was minimal contact, exaggerated by the opponent, who stepped into the running path knowing well what could happen and went down. Following the spirit of Rosetti application, VAR couldn't get oinvolved in the decision, as it is not a clear case of simulation. Unfortunately, this leaves a gray area that is ideal for players who choose to force the referee to issue a card. It's not a clean decision, but it's not entirely wrong either, though in the end, it leaves you with the feeling that it was unfortunately the decisive call of the match, of a very open tie until the end.
A few minutes before the end of the game, another sending off for second YC, but it wasn't shown live.
It's incredible how some referees, even when making mistakes, are always protected in the comments by some members of this group. Some miss yellow cards and lose control of the game, others miss penalties and show clearly wrong second yellow cards and nothing happens.
ReplyDeleteIt takes courage!
I think this is a fair comment. 86' is, in my view, a pretty clear mistake - the Sabah player quite deliberately (he tries to make the foul look innocous) takes down the attacker in a fairly clear SPA position; this should be a yellow card. With a kind interpretation, I think one could say 'modern refereeing, only CLEAR SYCs, etc' and indeed, I doubt very much that Lannoy would have 7,9-ed him for this. HOWEVER, the worst element of the SYC given is the incongruousness of it to the previous incident: maybe the step on foot was a bit heavier than the replays showed, but how you can say this is treating both teams fairly and equally with the same criterion, after the 86' incident? It does seem as though, as happened in Glimt, Kovacs was unaware of the previous caution he had issued. Punishing dissenting/threatening behaviour is absolutely a good thing, don't get me wrong, but it is definitely a fair observation that one of the top ≈5 considered referees by UEFA should have been able to deliver both Bodo-USG and Sabah-H.Beersheva whilst arousing way less attention on his decisions and refereeing. As I said after the last round, perhaps FIFA's consideration of the Romanian official at the present time is the more correct interpretation.
DeleteI don’t understand how Kovacs, with his current form and performance, is still being assigned to important matches at all. I wish Meler and Irfan Peljto had been lucky like Kovacs. At their first mistake, those two elite referees were completely excluded by Rosetti.
ReplyDeleteWith all respect for Meler and Pejito: Because, Kovacs is the better referee. Maybe he has currently a bad form. But in terms of communication, body language and ability to control games he is still one of the best referees worldwide. And about Meler I will never understand why some people here think he is a great referee. He can control games only with many yellow cards for everything, his ridiculous penalties can decide games (f.e. Leverkusen-Arsenal). I cannot name a big game with a great performance of him.
DeleteI don't think Meler or Peljto are better than Kovacs, but Kovacs had a bad match yesterday.
DeleteWe need to wait a little bit before putting people to the guillotine. It's just the start of the competition.