The UEFA Referees Committee has appointed Romania’s István Kovács to officiate the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, scheduled for Saturday at the Munich Football Arena. Kick-off is set for 21:00 CET.
The highly anticipated clash will see PSG seeking their first-ever Champions League title, while Inter Milan aim for their fourth, having last lifted the trophy in 2010. Kovács’ appointment adds an experienced, yet somewhat scrutinized, presence to the match.
A FIFA-listed referee since 2010, the 40-year-old Kovács will be overseeing his third major UEFA club competition final. He previously officiated the 2024 UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, as well as the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final between Roma and Feyenoord in Tirana.
This season, Kovács has officiated seven Champions League matches, including the round of 16 second leg between Liverpool and PSG—a performance that drew praise for his composure and game management.
Saturday’s officiating team will feature an all-Romanian trio on the field, with Kovács joined by assistants Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi. Portugal’s João Pedro Silva Pinheiro has been named fourth official, with Bruno Miguel Alves Jesus as the reserve assistant referee.
The VAR team will be led by Dennis Johan Higler of the Netherlands, supported by Romania’s Cătălin Sorin Popa and fellow Dutchman Paulus van Boekel.
However, Kovács’ selection hasn’t come without controversy. His performance during UEFA Euro 2024, particularly in the Czechia vs. Turkey match, drew criticism from fans on social media over several contentious decisions.
Moreover, his appointment comes amid debate surrounding the omission of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak. Once considered a frontrunner for the final, Marciniak was reportedly sidelined following criticism of his handling of the Inter-Barcelona semifinal. The fallout included a formal complaint from Barcelona midfielder Pedri, who called for an investigation into Marciniak’s officiating.
According to Tribuna.com, UEFA opted for Kovács in a bid to ensure impartiality and preserve the integrity of the competition
