Kick off for the new edition of UEFA Nations League. Please find below the appointments for MD1.
Thursday 24 September 2026
League D, Group 1
18:00 CET - Encamp (Estadi FAF)
ANDORRA vs. MALTA
Referee: Joey Kooij NED
Assistant Referee 1: Dyon Fikkert NED
Assistant Referee 2: Murat Kücükerbir NED
Fourth Official: Jannick van der Laan NED
Video Assistant Referee: Richard Martens NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Robin Hensgens NED
UEFA Referee Observer: David Malcolm NIR
UEFA Delegate:Jiří Novák CZE
League A, Group 2
20:45 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
NETHERLANDS vs. GERMANY
Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Enrique Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Quintero González ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina ITA
UEFA Delegate: Philippe Prudhon FRA
League A, Group 2
20:45 CET - Belgrade (Stadion Rajko Mitić)
SERBIA vs. GREECE
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA
UEFA Delegate: Armen Minasyan ARM
League A, Group 4
20:45 CET - Lisbon (Estádio José Alvalade)
PORTUGAL vs. WALES
Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Donatas Šimėnas LTU
UEFA Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
League A, Group 4
20:45 CET - Oslo (Ullevaal Stadion)
NORWAY vs. DENMARK
Referee: Tobias Stieler GER
Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Weickenmeier GER
Fourth Official: Matthias Jöllenbeck GER
Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam NED
League B, Group 3
20:45 CET - Linz (Raiffeisen Arena)
AUSTRIA vs. ISRAEL
Referee: Georgi Kabakov BUL
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Margaritov BUL
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Venev BUL
Fourth Official: Radoslav Gidzhenov BUL
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nikola Popov BUL
UEFA Referee Observer: Draženko Kovačić CRO
UEFA Delegate: Virgar Hvidbro FRO
League B, Group 3
20:45 CET - Pristina (Stadiumi “Fadil Vokrri”)
KOSOVO vs. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Referee: Lawrence Visser BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Ruben Wyns BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Michele Seeldraeyers BEL
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Jan Boterberg BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Simon Bourdeaud'hui BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: William Young SCO
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev BUL
League D, Group 2
20:45 CET - Vaduz (Rheinpark Stadion)
LIECHTENSTEIN vs. LITHUANIA
Referee: Ante Čulina CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Dario Kolarević CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Kristijan Novosel CRO
Fourth Official: Antonio Melnjak CRO
Video Assistant Referee: Tihomir Pejin CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Augustus Viorel Constantin ROU
UEFA Delegate: Andrew Dickson SCO
Friday 25 September 2026
League B, Group 2
18:00 CET - Tbilisi (Boris Paichadze National Stadium)
GEORGIA vs. NORTHERN IRELAND
Referee: Orel Grinfeeld ISRAssistant Referee 1: Roy Hassan ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Idan Yarkoni ISR
Fourth Official: Snir Levy ISR
Video Assistant Referee: Eli Hacmon ISR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Gal Leibovitz ISR
UEFA Referee Observer: Hannes Kaasik EST
UEFA Delegate: Adrian D. Casha MLT
League C, Group 2
18:00 CET - Yerevan (Republican Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan)
ARMENIA vs. LATVIA
Referee: Martin Matoša SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandar Kasapovič SVN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleksandar Matkovič SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandar Kasapovič SVN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleksandar Matkovič SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Olzhas Abrayev KAZ
League A, Group 1
20:45 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
ITALY vs. BELGIUM
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Sascha Stegemann GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pascal Müller GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström FIN
League A, Group 1
20:45 CET - Kocaeli (Turka Kocaeli Stadyumu)
TÜRKIYE vs. FRANCE
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER Assistant Referee 2: Nikolai Kimmeyer GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Johann Pfeifer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: René H.J. Temmink NED
UEFA Delegate: Bakar Jordania GEO
League B, Group 2
20:45 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
HUNGARY vs. UKRAINE
Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Neil Davies ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Nick Greenhalgh ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Hristo Zapryanov BUL
League B, Group 4
20:45 CET - Warsaw (PGE Narodowy)
POLAND vs. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Tryfon Petropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Petros Patras GRE
Fourth Official: Fotios Polychronis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Tryfon Petropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Petros Patras GRE
Fourth Official: Fotios Polychronis GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Kim Hallberg DEN
League B, Group 4
20:45 CET - Solna (Strawberry Arena)
SWEDEN vs. ROMANIA
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZEAssistant Referee 1: Matěj Vlček CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Kamil Hajek CZE
Fourth Official: Ondrej Pechanec CZE
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Fabbri ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Karel Rouček CZE
UEFA Referee Observer: Marco Fritz GER
UEFA Delegate: István Huszár HUN
League C, Group 2
20:45 CET - Podgorica (Gradski Stadion)
MONTENEGRO vs. CYPRUS
Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Giovanni Ayroldi ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Federico La Penna ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Giovanni Ayroldi ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Federico La Penna ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgi Vadachkoria GEO
UEFA Delegate: Victor Marius Radu ROU
NED-GER: Hernandez
ReplyDeleteSRB-GRE: Nyberg
POR-WAL: Rumsas
NOR-DEN: Stieler
AUT-ISR: Kabakov
KOS-IRL: Visser
LIE-LTU: Culina
Do you guess or know?
DeleteThe appointments are published.
DeleteOT: U17 WC referees announced by FIFA today. Two female refs will attend the tournament, Olatz Rivera Olmedo and Daiane Muniz, the two refs that handled the last Women's U17WC finals (Muniz in 2024, Rivera Olmedo in 2025)
ReplyDeleteAFC (5)
Mohamed Al-Ismail (KSA)
Abdulhadi Al-Ruaile (QAT)
Ahmed Darwish (UAE)
Du Jianxin (CHN)
Asker Nadzhafaliev (UZB)
CAF (4)
Kassim Abdusalam (NGA)
Mohamed El Baroudi (MAR)
Willy Ngah (CMR)
Elhadji Sy (SEN)
CONCACAF (4)
Ismael López (MEX)
Fernando Morón (PAN)
Josué Ugalde (CRC)
Michael Venne (CAN)
CONMEBOL (6)
Derlis Benítez (PAR)
Oswaldo Contreras (ECU)
Mathias de Armas (URU)
Jairo Mayorga (COL)
Daiane Muniz (BRA)
Sebastián Zunino (ARG)
OFC (1)
Calvin Berg (NZL)
UEFA (7)
Willy Delajod (FRA)
Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)
Patrik Kolarić (CRO)
Elçin Masiyev (AZE)
Miloš Milanović (SRB)
Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP)
Damian Sylwestrzak (POL)
Milanovic over Minakovic is an interesting choice.
DeleteMinakovic would have appeared more on the level of Delajod and Sylwestrzak (CL debut done), while Milanovic can be seen similar to the other selected UEFA referees, I think.
Is this official or? Where did FIFA publish this?
DeleteMostly normal appointments in NL.
ReplyDeleteOnly Hernandez with the bigger match than Nyberg is notable. It could mean that for now Hernandez continues as Spains no 1, maybe resulting in a big game in CL MD2 as well.
Personally, I find the Scandinavian derby between Norway and Denmark a very appealing fixture, even though it is not generally considered a high-risk match where crowd trouble is likely. I had thought Sven Jablonski would continue to receive higher-profile appointments and be handed a League A fixture. This match, officiated by his fellow German Tobias Stieler, would certainly have fit the bill. But let's wait and see where Sven Jablonski is appointed next, perhaps to another League A match.
DeleteOT:
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, watching Romero’s and Bellingham’s almost simultaneous tackles (IMO Romero’s came a little bit earlier), how would you guys, in the confines of LOTG approach the situation, if both the tackles actually simultaneously.
I am aware of the wording in the part 5.3, which states the following:
[t]he referee:
punishes the more serious offence, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact, when more than one offence occurs at the same time.
I am also aware of one Q&A case from IFAB, in which they were solving a situation, in which two players strike each other immediately in one’s penalty area. This situation apparently results in penalty kick, because the restart is more serious.
In the light of the above, I have two questions:
1. How would you solve the above mentioned situation?
2. By which part of the LOTG all the referees, which, in the case of mutual holding let the game flow? Because, by the wording in 5.3, SPA would be more serious in terms of tactics I guess, so YC and DFK for the attacking team would be by the law, but IMO not for the spirit of the game, and me, personally, I incline more for letting the game flow.
I may be missing some part of LOTG, but would appreciate yours opinion.
Thanks!
Delete1)Romero is borderline,YC and RC to me would have been acceptable
What I dont get is what exactly where they reviewing if not RC?
Mistaken identity?Well it was not Romero's teammate.
I think they went by the rules and considered that RC review and then he issued YC.
2)Kang In Lee-RC for sure and the fact that I here that Valverde needed to stay down and roll over.
That statements are such disgrace to the game.
Should we award players that are rolling over?
That way we are saying that theatricatility matters.
3)Huijsen's is also RC,the fact that he did not issue that at first reminded me of Kovacs and his Cubarsi yc/rc where both of them had thoughts about before and decided to make even more mistakes.
Holding was short, but clear and Simeone is not like Valverde to continue.
He falls right away and he and his team gets rewarded for that.
And about Mourinho..
Of course he will do that thing after the match,he has always been like that,for some maybe too much but you cant tell he was not right.
In my view, we need to analyze the Nations League appointments from a different perspective than the one above.
ReplyDeleteHistorically, this competition has often served as a testing ground for referees who aren't the very top though let me clarify what I mean: those jinside the Elite category, who rarely get crucial fixtures in the Champions League. This is maybe even more valid in these early matchdays, where everything is still taking shape.
Analyzed through this point of view, the assignment of the Canarian referee to the big match makes sense.
Meanwhile, Nyberg gets Serbia-Greece, which, while not a headliner on paper, could be extremely challenging, given his well-known officiating style, it promises to be a big test.
The same logic applies to the German referee in Norway just months before his international retirement, Rumsas being selected for Portugal, and so on. Not very first choices, but still Elite referees.
Regarding the Belgian assignment, I wanted to add: it looks like Lambrechts' injury might be a long one, can anyone share any details on that?
Also, unless I'm wrong, D'Hondt hasn't received a single fixture since that well-known incident months ago... It remains to be seen whether he will appear later in the competition, but in recent times refereeing in Belgium always seems to go through troubles for one reason or another.
As regard Belgian referees, Lambrechts' injury looked not so severe. D'hondt is making the same mistake as did Visser before in Belgium, although the latter significantly improved on that : too much theatre. In Belgium, I think the bet is now on Jasper Vergoote, but I must say that the start of the season by good old Visser (36 years, but already whistling in first division since 24 years old) in Belgian competition was very strong. This being said, I think he felt from number 1 to number 3 in (informal ?) ranking of Belgian referees. D'hondt is 4, Lambrechts 1, Vergoote 2 (this is only my guess : I have no info about a formal ranking + Visser is used nearly every week for top matches)
DeleteInteresting situation for Turpin this week-end :
ReplyDeleteVAR call him for an OFR for potential hanball, the video is the audio btw VAR and Turpin, his final decision is no hanball because Dier touch it and deflect it into the arm of the defender. But the DTA, the french committee said thaht this should have been a PK. What do you think ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_-hPuM5Ex8
I actually think that referee who get different information, from their own country and from UEFA/FIFA are just lost for handball guidelines, and here an exemple where Turpin iis thinking that this deflection cancel the handball but the french committee says no, weird situation imo.
DeleteHandball. The deflection of the other defender is not decisive IMO. It could be different, if he really played the ball, but I don't think, the pure touch is a relevant factor in the assessment.
DeleteFor me no Penalty, there is clear deflection, and defender has no time to move his hand, what can the dender do to prevent this touch? nothing is for me the right answer,so natural and very unlucky touch, no penalty for me, perfect call by Turpin, i would have done the same!
DeleteI will also make the same call, no PK, as Turpin says in the clip the deflection is changing the direction of the ball and this is very close action, no PK is correct imo.
Deletehttps://www.uefa.com/running-competitions/refereeing/clear-line/penalties/handball/
Delete"A deflected shot still traveling towards the goal is blocked by the defender’s arm/hand, which is clearly held away from the body in an unnatural position" -> penalty
This is actually a really interesting situations where I am seeing a lot of people not agreeing on the right call on this .... For me this should not be whistled as a penalty, I see a ball clearly changing its trajectory, but then the arm is wide, which could be something to note .. Very interesting indeed and one of the borderline situations that will make people have different opinions
DeletePhillip, for me it’s a natural movement, so no penalty!
Delete@Philipp i actually think. that video 18 and 19 from this page is actually better for this situation.
DeleteNo PK : ''in principle, a defender is attempting to block a shot or a pass with any part of the body and a deflection causes the ball to clearly change direction before contacting their arm/hand, which is held in a natural position. This applies when the ball would not have continued travelling towards the goal or in the original direction of the pass''
We can disagree, but I don't see the "clearly change direction". Unlike in the examples 18 and 19, the ball still goes towards goal without significant change by the deflection.
DeleteThe "natural position" is debatable, but in my understanding such an outstretched arm currently is assessed as unnatural increase of the body surface, so that it would be a very clear penalty without the deflection.
Understandable aswell, i think those situations as really difficult to judge even with clear guideline, it's a real grey zone imo
DeleteAccording to CFF, Pajac is appointed in Nations League on 5 October and Champions League 13/14 October. Naturally, matches not precised.
ReplyDeleteTurkey - France
ReplyDeleteFelix zwayer.
VAR: Christian Dingert
2 week ago, Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk:
'Dingert, I mean they even said dingil (a bad word in Turkish), but we call him Dingert. If it were me, I would end that German referee's career.'"
And Dingert became the VAR referee for the Turkey-France match :)
At this point, we are really not interested what Turkish managers, presidents and other people in a black suits think. It's ridiculous and their word carries no weight. They turned football into a circus and reality show and since more money has been invested this year than ever before, madness on an unprecedented scale is to be expected.
DeleteKudos to the fans for the fantastic atmosphere but the behavior of people in the most responsible and highest positions is sad
👍🏻 💯
Delete@HB2300 It is quite tragicomic that you are trying to create a mocking agenda by bringing local Turkish rivalries and your obsession with Okan Buruk to European forums.
Delete@CarlRDM While criticizing the managers' tone by calling it a "circus", it is highly prejudiced of you to ignore the systematic double standards UEFA applies against Turkish football. Is it a coincidence that only 1 Turkish referee was appointed in 86 Play-Off round matches (and that was in a formality match where the first leg ended 7-0)? Is it normal for Cüneyt Çakır to be mobbed by Ceferin over a single controversial decision (in the SVN-AUT match) and banished from major matches? On the other hand, the fact that referees with very poor performances like Dingert (who has been appointed to a Turkish team's match for the 3rd time in just 10 days) are virtually rewarded by being consecutively appointed to critical matches is the actual "circus" that needs to be questioned. Football in Turkey is a massive, passionate ecosystem where huge investments are made. Turkish football fans can very clearly see this Eurocentric arrogance and double standards in referee appointments, apart from Collina.
With the observer appointed for gillett can we say that he is definitely being pushed at the moment
ReplyDeleteFor sure
DeleteIt's unbelievable what they do with Gillett...
ReplyDeleteThey have to push an English ref to be same what the same level as Oliver and gillet is the most experience one.
DeleteBut they tried with Sam Barrott this summer. He got three games in qualifying rounds while Gillett none. And then instantly Gillett is appointed to (one of) biggest game on UEL MD1 without even a UECL appointment in his palmares while Barrott is forgotten. Could you find any logic?
DeleteUnfair to barrott but perhaps age has came into play here
Deletewhere is Kavanagh?
DeleteThey could still be pushing both. Remember England only has 3 officials in elite/cat 1 which is less than other "big countries" I think that both of them get promoted to Cat 1 soon.
DeleteI think you are right very soon we could have a situation where gillett and barrott get promoted to cat 1 and depending on brooks being promoted to elite maybe jones to cat 1 aswell
DeleteI think we will see brammell added to f the FIFA list at Christmas and hallam added some time next season
I don’t understand why people are so against Gillett
Delete- if anything, uefa has taken far too long to focus on him. Very experienced previously in Australia, has then become fifa again in England and is refereeing regularly and successfully in a top league. What’s the problem? UEFA should have been using him more previously and surely should be Cat1 anyway.
João Pinheiro will referee today's Saudi Arabia vs. Kuwait in the Gulf Cup (20:00 CET).
ReplyDelete16:30 CET - Jeddah (Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium)
IRAQ vs. OMAN
Umar Al-Ali - Muhammad Al-Hammadi, Jasim Al-Ali UAE - Ammar Mahfuz BHR
[Muhammad Ubaid UAE, Mishari Ash-Shammari QAT]
20:00 CET - Jeddah (King Abdullah Sports City Stadium)
SAUDI ARABIA vs. KUWAIT
João Pinheiro - Pedro Ribeiro, Luciano Maia POR - Muhammad Ash-Shammari QAT
[Fu Ming CHN, Hamza El Fariq MAR]
At least now there is a committee member observing Gillett, which makes more sense, it would have been logical to assess him in a match like this first and only then assign him to a game like Milan - Benfica.
ReplyDeleteStill, if we try to find logic, it all should be about fast-tracking another English referee given Taylor's retirement. That said, it remains to be seen if something happened with Barrott, since it all started with him a few months ago.
At this point, given that Barrott needs more time, they may have decided to select a referee who is already established internationally as a VAR. And we should also mention Brooks persistent injury issues, which have stopped his path. It's a situation to be monitored.
Especially to see what they intend to do with Barrott now.