May 15 – The UEFA Referees Committee has announced the referee team appointments for the 2024 UEFA club competition finals.
Three of the referees, Istvan Kovacs, Artur Soares Dias, and Slavko Vinčić will also feature at the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament, which kicks off next month.
Real Madrid will meet Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1 after Los Blancos dramatically eliminated Bayern Munich in the dying moments of the semi-final.
The competition seemed set for a sensational rematch of the 2013 final which saw Bayern break yellow hearts with seconds to spare at the English capital.
Madrid striker Joselu confirmed his side’s oh-so familiar place in the final with a late brace against the Bavarians, which presents a different (but equally challenging) puzzle for the Dortmund hopefuls to solve.
The UEFA Referees Committee has appointed Slavko Vinčić (pictured) from Slovenia to referee the blockbuster clash, officiating his second UEFA club competition final following on from his appointment as the referee for the 2021 Europa League final in Seville.
He has refereed seven Champions League matches this season, including the quarter-final second leg between Finalists Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid.
2024 UEFA Champions League Final refereeing team:
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Assistants: Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič (Slovenia)
4th Official: François Letexier (France)
Reserve AR: Cyril Mugnier (France)
VAR: Nejc Kajtazović (Slovenia)
Assistant VAR: Rade Obrenović (Slovenia)
VAR Support: Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Atalanta’s underdog run will meet its end one way or another in Dublin on May 22 as they prepare to meet Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, who are still yet to lose a game this season.
The Italians have proved capable of shutting down elite opposition though, after dismantling Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter finals.
The fixture will be officiated by Istvan Kovacs and his assistant team also hailing from Romania. The 39-year-old has taken charge of eight Champions League matches and one Europa League match this term.
He has experience in European club competition finals after having officiating AS Roma against Feyenoord in the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final in Tirana, Albania.
2024 UEFA Europa League Final refereeing team:
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
Assistants: Vasile Florin Marinescu and Mihai Ovidiu Artene (both Romania)
4th Official: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
Reserve AR: Branislav Hancko (Slovakia)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)
Assistant VAR: Catalin Popa (Romania)
VAR Support: Rob Dieperink (Netherlands)
Olympiacos’ inspired 6-2 turnover of Aston Villa in the semi-finals means they’ll face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Athens on May 29.
The core refereeing team for the final is comprised of Portuguese officials, spearheaded by the experienced Artur Soares Dias. The 44-year-old has officiated four Champions League matches and two Europa League matches this season, including the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham.
2024 UEFA Europa Conference League Final refereeing team:
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
Assistants: Paulo Soares and Pedro Ribeiro (both Portugal)
4th Official: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
Reserve AR: Mahbod Beigi (Sweden)
VAR: Tiago Martins (Portugal)
Assistant VAR: Christian Dingert (Germany)
VAR Support: Marco Fritz (Germany)
FC Barcelona controversially overcame Chelsea back in April to secure a place in their fourth-straight UWCL final. They will meet long-term rivals Olympique Lyonnais Féminin in the final as the two do battle yet again. Between them, they have claimed all of the last seven UWCL trophies to steep an era of dominance from the two sides.
The UEFA Referees Committee announced that Rebecca Welch will referee clash, to be played at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, on May 25.
Stuart Attwell, who has been appointed VAR for the fixture, faced nasty allegations from Nottingham Forest last month, accusing the 41-year-old of being a ‘Luton Town fan’ after their defeat to Everton.
The club has doubled down on their accusation, which looks even more petulant now that Forest have virtually secured Premier League safety.
2024 UEFA Womens Champions League Final refereeing team:
Referee: Rebecca Welch (England)
Assistants: Natalie Aspinall and Emily Carney (both England)
4th Official: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)
Reserve AR: Sanja Rođak-Karšić (Croatia)
VAR: Stuart Attwell (England)
Assistant VAR: Katrin Rafalski (Germany)
VAR Support: Katalin Kulcsár (Hungary)
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734952773labto1734952773ofdlr1734952773owedi1734952773sni@g1734952773niwe.1734952773yrrah1734952773