Romanian referees take on key roles in prestigious European competitions

Five teams of referees from Romania have been delegated to officiate matches in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.

Leading the charge is Istvan Kovacs, who will referee the return match between Bodo/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise on August 11. Notably, Kovacs is the only referee to have overseen all three finals in continental competitions, showcasing his exceptional skill and experience.

Kovacs will be supported by assistants Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, while Horațiu Feșnic will serve as the reserve referee for the Bodo/Glimt versus Union Saint-Gilloise match. Feșnic is also set to referee the match between Hradec Kralove and Beşiktaş Istanbul on August 6, accompanied by assistants Alexandru Cerei and Alexandru Vodă.

In the Hradec Kralove and Beşiktaș Istanbul game, Ovidiu Hațegan and Iulian Dima will officiate in the VAR room, ensuring that the match runs smoothly.

On the same day, Marian Barbu is tasked with officiating the Benfica Lisbon versus Hearts match, with assistants Mircea Grigoriu and Imre Bucsi by his side. Radu Petrescu will take on the role of fourth official in this fixture, while Cătălin Popa and Marcel Bîrsan are designated for VAR duties.

Also on August 6, Rareș Vidican will referee the match between Bohemians and Midtjylland, supported by assistants Alexandru Corb and Marius Badea. Szabolcs Kovacs is set to be the reserve referee for this encounter, with Sorin Costreie and Cristina Trandafir overseeing the VAR operations.

Looking ahead, the fifth Romanian crew will officiate the match between Dinamo Minsk and Braga on August 13, with Szabolcs Kovacs taking the lead as the main referee, assisted by Florin Badea and Adrian Vornicu. Rareș Vidican will again serve as a reserve referee, while Cătălin Popa and Marcel Bîrsan will return to VAR duties for this match as well.