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Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2027 UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifiers (September 2026)

2027 Under 21 Euro Qualifiers, September 2026. Thuirsay 24 March 2026 Group I 20:00 CET - Westerlo (Het Kuipje) BELGIUM vs. BELARUS Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB UEFA Delegate: Bart van Soerst NED Group A 20:30 CET - Serravalle (San Marino Stadium) SAN MARINO vs. KOSOVO Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: UEFA Referee Observer: Clayton Pisani MLT UEFA Delegate: Fróði Danielsen FRO

21 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Champions League Matchday 1 - Referee Appointments

2026-27 UEFA Women's Champions League, League Phase, MD1. Tuesday 22 September 2026 18:45 CET - Unterhaching (Stadion Am Sportpark) FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN - MANCHESTER CITY WOMEN'S FC (ENG) Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP Assistant Referee 1: Rita Cabañero Mompó ESP Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernández González ESP Fourth Official: Paola Cebollada López ESP Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Judit Romano Garcia ESP UEFA Referee Observer: Caroline De Boeck BEL UEFA Delegate: Svitlana Shkil UKR 18:45 CET - Monza (Stadio Brianteo) FC INTERNAZIONALE

20 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup Second Qualifying Round (First Legs)

The referees in charge of 2026/27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup Second Qualifying Round, First Legs. Wednesday 23 September 2026 12:00 CET - Chișinău, Moldova (Zimbru 2) FC METALIST 1925 (UKR) - SCU TORREENSE (POR) Referee: Merima Čelik BIH Assistant Referee 1: Aida Jusufović BIH Assistant Referee 2: Laura Dugandžić BIH Fourth Official: Senida Petak BIH UEFA Referee Observer: UEFA Delegate: Depi Koxenoglou GRE 15:00 CET - Thessaloniki (Makedonikos Stadium) PAOK (GRE) - SPARTAK MYJAVA (SVK) Referee: Lizzy Van Der Helm NED Assistant Referee 1: Martina Boer NED Assistant Referee 2: Isabelle van Gilst N

20 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup: Damian Sylwestrzak POL

The match will be played on 19 September 2026 at Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Spain, between the Spanish team Real Madrid, the 2025–26 UEFA Youth League champions, and Chilean team Santiago Wanderers, the 2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores champions. 2026 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup 19 September 2026, 12:30 CET Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (Spain) REAL MADRID CF (ESP) - CD SANTIAGO WANDERERS (CHI) Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak POL Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki POL Assistant Referee 2: Adam Karasewicz POL Fourth Official: Damian Kos POL Videro Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL Ass

17 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Europa League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 1 (II)

2026-27 UEFA Europa League, Matchday 1. Second set of referee assignments, 17 September 2026. Thursday 17 September 2026 18:45 CET - Heraklion (Pankritio Stadium) OFI CRETE FC (GRE) - TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM (GER) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Vladimir Šajn SVN UEFA Delegate: Targo Kaldoja EST 18:45 CET - Sofia (Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski) PFC LEVSKI SOFIA (BUL) - FC RB SALZBURG (AUT) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Refer

15 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Europa League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 1 (I)

2026-27 UEFA Europa League, Matchday 1. First set of referee assignments, 16 September 2026. Wednesday 16 September 2026 18:45 CET - Nicosia (GSP) AC OMONIA (CYP) - RC CELTA DE VIGO (ESP) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR UEFA Delegate: Aleksandra Pejkovska MKD 18:45 CET - Yerevan (Republican Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan) FC ARARAT ARMENIA (ARM) - AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee:

14 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026/27 UEFA Youth League - Referee Appointments Domestic Champions Path, Round 1 (First Legs)

2026/27 Youth League, Domestic Champions Path, Round 1 (First Legs). Karl Koppel EST to referee Zrinjski Mostar - Lincoln Red Imps Tuesday 15 September 2026 16:00 CET - Podgorica (DG Arena Lješkopolje) OFK MLADOST DONJA GORICA (MNE) vs. QAİRAT FK (KAZ) Referee: Robin Hensgens NED Assistant Referee 1: Roy de Nas NED Assistant Referee 2: Michael Osseweijer NED Fourth Official: Ivan Šarac MNE UEFA Referee Observer: UEFA Delegate: Wednesday 16 September 2026 18:00 CET - Tallinn (A. Le Coq Arena) FC FLORA TALLINN (EST) vs. HAVNAR BÓLTFELAG (FRO) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Benas Kikutis LTU Assis

12 Sept

Community/Referee.com

Inside “The Comeback” – Buffalo vs. Houston 1993

Had the now ubiquitous “Win Probability Chart” been a thing in 1993, the Buffalo Bills and their fans would not have been happy with what it showed at halftime of their AFC Wild Card playoff game on Jan. 3 of that year. As the Bills shuffled off to their locker room, they trailed the visiting Houston Oilers, 28-3, and the real-time tracking line of the chart would have been […]

9 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 1 (III)

2026/27 UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 1. Third set of referee appointments, Thursday 10 September 2026. 10 September 2026 18:45 CET - Eindhoven (Philips Stadion) PSV (NED) - SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Lucílio Cardoso Cortez Batista POR UEFA Delegate: Angelo Chetcuti MLT 18:45 CET - Istanbul (Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi) FENERBAHÇE (TUR) - AS ROMA (ITA) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assis

8 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026/27 UEFA Youth League - Referee Appointments Matchday 1 - League Phase

2026/27 Youth League starts with MD1 games, referee assignments. Ante Čulina CRO will referee Napoli - Arsenal Tuesday 8 September 2026 11:00 CET | Spata (AEK Training Center “Serafídio”) AEK (GRE) vs. LASK (AUT) Referee: David Rafael Oliveira da Silva POR Assistant Referee 1: Nélson Filipe Vila Pereira POR Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Alberto Rocha de Campos POR Fourth Official: Konstandínos Kátikos GRE UEFA Referee Observer: UEFA Delegate: 13:00 CET | Vila Nova de Gaia (Estádio Luís Filipe Menezes) PORTO (POR) vs. MANCHESTER CITY (ENG) Referee: Lukáš Dzivjak SVK Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Po

8 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 1 (II)

2026/27 UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 1. Second set of referee appointments, Wednesday 9 September 2026. 9 September 2026 18:45 CET - Barcelona (Camp Nou) FC BARCELONA (ESP) - FEYENOORD (NED) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA UEFA Delegate: Alojzije Šupraha CRO 18:45 CET - Stuttgart (MHPArena) VFB STUTTGART (GER) - VIKING FK (NOR) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assis

7 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 1 (I)

2026/27 UEFA Champions League. Please find below the referee appointments for the first set of MD1 games, to be played on Tuesday 8 September 2026. 8 September 2026 18:45 CET - Bruges (Jan Breydelstadion) CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL) - ASTON VILLA FC (ENG) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE UEFA Delegate: Artur Azaryan ARM 18:45 CET - Athens (Agia Sophia Stadium) AEK (GRE) - LASK (AUT) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant

6 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026 - Referee Appointments

Referee assignments at 2026 FIFA Women's Under-20 World Cup in Poland. Tournament will be played with VAR, being a crucial event for 2027 FIFA Women's WC preselection. GROUP STAGE MATCHDAY 1 5 September 2026 Group A POLAND - ARGENTINA Referee: Myriam Marcotte CAN Assistant Referee 1: Gabrielle Lemieux CAN Assistant Referee 2: Mijensa Resnch SUR Fourth Official: Marianela Araya CRC Video Assistant Referee: Sivakorn Pu-Udom THA Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Letticia Viana SWZ Group A MEXICO - BENIN Referee: Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi ITA Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Costantinescu ROU Assist

3 Sept

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup - Referee Appointments

Referee assignments at 2026 FIFA Interconinental Cup, the third edition of the tournament. First Round FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup Play-off King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah (KSA) 26 August 2026, 20:00 CET Al Ahli FC (KSA) - Auckland FC (NZL) Referee: Amin Omar EGY Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud Abouelregal EGY Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossam Taha EGY Fourth Official: Mahmoud Ahmed Nagy EGY Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ashour EGY Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tarek Magdy EGY Second Round FIFA African–Asian–Pacific Cup Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria (RSA) 19 September 2026, 15:00

3 Sept

Community/Referee.com

5 Ways to Manage Conflict

When situations explode on the field or court, it’s up to sports officials to restore the peace and manage conflict. In managing conflict, showing a little empathy, demonstrating good listening skills and providing people with options rather than threats go a long way. The work of conflict management should begin well before any crisis has erupted — for sports officials it starts when first arriving and meeting participants. Not only does appearance matter, but how […]

29 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Champions League Third Qualifying Round (Second Legs)

2026-27 UEFA Women's Champions League, Third Qualifying Round (II). Tuesday 1 September 2026 18:00 CET - Vienna (Franz-Horr-Stadion) FK AUSTRIA WIEN (AUT) - SK BRANN (NOR) Referee: Eleni Antoniou GRE Assistant Referee 1: Vasilia Tsiklitari GRE Assistant Referee 2: Zoi Papadopoulou GRE Fourth Official: Eirini Pingiou GRE UEFA Referee Observer: Katarzyna Wierzbowska POL UEFA Delegate: Christoph Kern GER Wednesday 2 September 2026 18:30 CET - Poissy (PSG Campus) PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (FRA) - EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER) Referee: Emanuela Rusta ALB Assistant Referee 1: Nicoleta Ramona Bria ENG Assistan

29 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup First Qualifying Round (Second Legs)

The referees in charge of 2026/27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup First Qualifying Round, Second Legs. Tuesday 1 September 2026 16:00 CET - Skopje, North Macedonia (FFM Training Centre) FC METALIST 1925 (UKR) - KFF MITROVICA (KOS) Referee: María Eugenia Gil Soriano ESP Assistant Referee 1: Silvia Fernández Pérez ESP Assistant Referee 2: Nahia Alonso Fernández ESP Fourth Official: Elena Peláez Arnillas ESP UEFA Referee Observer: UEFA Delegate: Frédéric Veraghaenne BEL Wednesday 2 September 2026 11:00 CET - Šiauliai (Šiauliai Central Stadium) FC GINTRA (LTU) - SK STURM GRAZ (AUT) Referee: Anastasia Mylo

29 Aug

Community/Dutch Referee Blog

Premier League assistant referee James Mainwaring on fitness and his WC2026 experiences

James Mainwaring, assistant referee at the 2026 World Cup, shares his favourite fitness exercise and fitness experiences during the World Cup. It was a fantastic experience for him and now he prepares for the new season. The fitness exercise he shares with us is intense. “I know that if I can get through this one, I can do anything.” Right after the World Cup he passed his fitness test, before he could take his annual leave. After 7 weeks abroad, he’s glad to have time off with his family. But that doesn’t mean he can just sit back and relax at the pool. “I am still training. I’ve been g

28 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Roberto Rosetti unveils 13 new UEFA guidelines for refereeing.

From time-wasting to VAR, here is a comprehensive guide for referees in UEFA competitions. Rosetti met with the press during the UEFA Champions League draw in Monte Carlo. The most significant legacy from the World Cup concerns refereeing rules, leading to faster matches, fewer tricks and simulations, and greater control over potentially decisive mistakes. However, the problem was the excessive use of VAR, particularly in the latter stages of the tournament, with some "retroactive" decisions perhaps best to be avoided. Consequently, to highlight once again the referee's central role, UEFA has

28 Aug

Community/Dutch Referee Blog

Delaying the restart of play to show a card

Delaying the restart of play to show a card is not seen often. It can happen when an attacking team takes a quick free kick. But is a card still needed then? In which cases it is needed? That’s what you’ll learn in this case study. A match situation A nice example of a quick restart is what you see in the following situation in the Saudi League between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq. You see there’s a defender making a handball offence, but the referee is allowing a quick free kick. That results in an attacker one on one with the goalkeeper and he gets fouled outside the penalty are

26 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments for Play-Offs (Second Leg, II)

2026-27 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, Second Legs, games to be played on 26 August 2026. Wednesday 26 August 2026 21:00 CET - Celje (Stadion Z'dežele) NK CELJE (SVN) - ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed DEN 21:00 CET - Athens (AEK Arena) AEK (GRE) - LEVSKI SOFIA (BUL) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee

24 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Must-Read for Football and Refereeing Fans: "The Impossible Job" by William Ralston

"The Impossible Job": Why You Will Never Watch a Football Match the Same Way Again. Booed by tens of thousands in the stadium. Sworn at by multi-millionaire players. Vilified on social media, and scrutinised frame-by-frame by slow-motion replays. Every single week, millions of us tune in to watch football, but almost all unite on one thing: blaming the referee. Yet, how many of us actually understand what it takes to step onto that pitch? How close is modern officiating to breaking point? In his compelling new book, The Impossible Job: The Truly Unbelievable World of Football Referees (releasi

24 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026/27 UEFA Europa Conference League Playoffs (Second Legs) - Referee Appointments

The referees in charge of 2026-27 UEFA Europa Conference League Playoffs, Second Legs. John Brooks will officiate Brann - PAOK, assessed by Alfredo Trentalange Wednesday 26 August 2026 18:45 CET Vienna (Allianz Stadion) RAPID (AUT) [2:2] HEART OF MIDTLOTHIAN (SCO) Referee: Elçin Məsiyev AZE Assistant Referee 1: Elşad Abdullayev AZE Assistant Referee 2: Pərvin Talıbov AZE Fourth Official: Fərid Hacıyev AZE Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicat İsmayıllı AZE UEFA Referee Observer: Augustus Viorel Constantin ROU UEFA Delegate: Vignir Már Þormóðsson IS

23 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments for Play-Offs (Second Leg, I)

2026-27 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, Second Legs, games to be played on 25 August 2026. Tuesday 25 August 2026 21:00 CET - Baku (Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium) SABAH FC (AZE) - HAPOEL BE’ER SHEVA (ISR) Referee: István Kovács ROU Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU Fourth Official: Szabolcs Kovacs ROU Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa ROU UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen NED 21:00 CET - Linz (Oberösterreich Arena) LASK (AUT) - CELTIC FC (SCO) R

23 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026/27 UEFA Europa League Play-Offs (Second Legs) - Referee Appointments

2026-27 UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round: second-leg referee appointments. Donatas Rumšas LTU to referee Arat Armenia - Universitatea Craiova Thursday 27 August 2026 18:00 CET Yerevan (Republican Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan) ARARAT-ARMENIA (ARM) [1:1] UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA (ROU) Referee: Donatas Rumšas LTU Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedėlis LTU Fourth Official: Robertas Šmitas LTU Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Piotr Urban POL UEFA Referee Observer: Marco Fritz GER UEFA Delegate: Ebe Verhaegen

22 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup First Qualifying Round (First Legs)

The referees in charge of 2026/27 UEFA Women's Europa Cup First Qualifying Round, First Legs. Wednesday 26 August 2026 17:00 CET - Radomlje (Športni park Radomlje) ŽNK RADOMLJE (SVN) - VÅLERENGA FOTBALL DAMER (NOR) Referee: Olivia Tschon AUT Assistant Referee 1: Biljana Iskin AUT Assistant Referee 2: Vanja Vukanović AUT Fourth Official: Lena Hirtl AUT UEFA Referee Observer: UEFA Delegate: Envi Hicka ALB 17:00 CET - Paphos (Stelios Kyriakides Stadium) APOLLON LADIES (CYP) - FH (ISL) Referee: Jelena Međedović SRB Assistant Referee 1: Ivana Jovanović SRB Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Marinković SRB

21 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026–27 UEFA Women's Champions League Third Qualifying Round (First Legs)

2026-27 UEFA Women's Champions League, Third Qualifying Round (I). Tuesday 25 August 2026 18:00 CET - Bergen (Brann Stadion) SK BRANN (NOR) - FK AUSTRIA WIEN (AUT) Referee: Ionela Alina Peşu ROU Assistant Referee 1: Heini Hyvönen FIN Assistant Referee 2: Daniela Constantinescu ROU Fourth Official: Roxana Timiş ROU UEFA Referee Observer: Blaženka Logarušić CRO UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström FIN Wednesday 26 August 2026 18:00 CET - Wolfsburg (AOK Stadion) VFL WOLFSBURG (GER) - FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) Referee: Iuliana Elena Demetrescu ROU Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL Assistant Refe

21 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

2026/27 UEFA Summer Course for Top Referees

Elite and Category 1 will meet in Geneva before the start of new season. All Elite and Category 1 referees, unless Russian officials, have been invited. To be reported the recent retirements of: Anthony Taylor ENG, Benoît Bastien FRA and Slavko Vinčić SVN among the Elite referees. Omar Abdulkadir Artan will attend the course as well, maybe the start of a UEFA career for him. Main topics will be key messages by committee for the new season and a check of the fitness level of all referees. Geneva (SUI), 31 August - 2 September 2026 Elite: BEL Erik Lambrechts BIH Irfan Peljto ENG Christopher Kava

19 Aug

Community/Law 5 — The Referee

Champions League 2026/27 - Referee Appointments for Play-Offs (First Leg, II)

2026-27 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, First Legs, games to be played on 19 August 2026. Wednesday 19 August 2026 21:00 CET - Sofia (Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski) CELTIC FC (SCO) - LASK (AUT) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistant Video Assistant Referee: UEFA Referee Observer: Gianluca Rocchi ITA UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels LVA 21:00 CET - Bratislava (Národný futbalový štadión) ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK) - NK CELJE (SVN) Referee: Assistant Referee 1: Assistant Referee 2: Fourth Official: Video Assistant Referee: Assistan

17 Aug