Istvan Kovacs appointed to UEFA Champions League play-off

Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the second leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off match between Sabah FC and Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The match is scheduled to take place at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This appointment marks Kovacs’ return to elite European competition following a period of scrutiny. He previously faced significant criticism regarding his officiating during a controversial Champions League qualifying match between Bodo/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise, which involved a disputed red card.

Kovacs will be supported by a largely Romanian officiating team, including assistants Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, with Szabolcs Kovacs serving as the fourth official. German official Bastian Dankert will operate in the VAR room, assisted by Cătălin Popa.