UEFA has announced the refereeing team for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, which will be played next Wednesday at Camp Nou. Romanian referee Istvan Kovac will officiate the match, while German referee Christian Dingert will be in charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
The team will be joined by fellow Romanian assistant referees Mihai Marica and Ferenc Tuneogi, with Szabolcs Kovac serving as the fourth official. The VAR room will be co-chaired by Portuguese referee Tiago Martins.
Related topics
Kovac: European Experience with a Controversial Past
Kovac, 41, has been an international referee since 2010 and recently officiated the Champions League final, which saw Paris Saint-Germain defeat Inter Milan 5-0, reflecting UEFA’s confidence in his ability to manage high-profile matches.
However, Barcelona’s record with Kovac is not entirely reassuring. The last match he officiated at Camp Nou saw Ronald Araujo and Xavi Hernandez sent off in the 2023–24 Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, contributing to the team’s elimination. The club also failed to secure a victory in a previous Europa League match in 2021–22 against Napoli (1-1).
Furthermore, Atlético Madrid has not won any of its five previous matches under Kovac’s management, adding another layer of controversy to the anticipated clash.
As the highly anticipated match kicks off, the Romanian referee’s composure will be key in what is expected to be a fiercely contested affair at Camp Nou, especially after the recent controversy surrounding player cards in the La Liga match against the same team, which saw Barcelona’s Gerard Martin receive a red card following a VAR review.
