# Serbia football refereeing commission reforms

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/serbia-football-refereeing-commission-reforms
> Updated: 2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

The Football Association of Serbia has initiated efforts to professionalize its officiating standards through the appointment of Frank De Bleeckere as president of the Refereeing Commission. De Bleeckere, a former Belgian football official, signed a two-year contract to lead the commission alongside international expert Christophe Dirix, who is tasked with managing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operations.

Following De Bleeckere’s appointment, the association has faced domestic pressure regarding officiating controversies, specifically following a 2-1 victory by Red Star Belgrade over Partizan. In response to dissatisfaction from Partizan officials and heightened scrutiny, the new head of the Referee Commission is evaluating the use of a foreign referee for the upcoming 181st Eternal Derby to mitigate local tensions.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-09: Serbia considers foreign referee for upcoming Eternal Derby

The Football Association of Serbia is considering using a foreign referee for the 181st Eternal Derby in February to reduce domestic pressure and controversy surrounding officiating.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-considers-foreign-referee-for-upcoming-eternal-derby

### 2026-08-11: Serbia appoints Frank De Bleeckere to lead refereeing commission

Former Belgian refereeing chief Frank De Bleeckere has been appointed to lead the Football Association of Serbia's refereeing commission for a two-year term, alongside VAR expert Christophe Dirix.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/serbia-appoints-frank-de-bleeckere-to-lead-refereeing-commission

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Cite as: Serbia football refereeing commission reforms. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/serbia-football-refereeing-commission-reforms