UEFA referee lists place Romania in top European tiers

UEFA has released its official lists for the Elite and Category 1 referee classifications for the upcoming season. Romania has secured a significant presence in these top tiers, with four officials included. Istvan Kovacs remains in the Elite category, a position he has held for several years. He is joined in the higher rankings by three Category 1 officials: Marian Barbu, Horațiu Feșnic, and Radu Petrescu.

With these appointments, Romania ranks fifth in Europe for referee representation in these two categories, tied with the Netherlands and ahead of nations such as England and Portugal. This follows the retirements of several high-profile officials, including Slavko Vincic, Anthony Taylor, and Benoît Bastien.

To prepare for the 2026/2027 season, UEFA will hold a summer training course in Geneva from August 31 to September 2. The session will bring together top officials from the Elite and Category 1 groups to receive technical instructions on match interpretation and undergo physical fitness assessments.