The UEFA Referees Committee has named Romania’s István Kovács as the official referee for the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan.
The match will take place at the Munich Football Arena in Germany on Saturday, May 31, with a 21:00 CET kick-off.
Kovács, 40, is a seasoned international referee with a wealth of experience, having officiated in major UEFA competitions since 2010.
This will mark his third UEFA club competition final, having previously refereed the 2024 UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, and the 2022 UEFA Conference League final between Roma and Feyenoord in Tirana.
“I’m incredibly honored to be chosen for this prestigious match.
“It’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication I’ve put into my career, and I look forward to officiating what promises to be an exciting final,” Kovács said upon the announcement.
The Romanian referee has also officiated seven Champions League matches this season, including the high-profile round of 16 second-leg clash between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
His experience and consistent performances at the highest level have earned him this significant appointment.
“Kovács will be supported by assistants Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, both from Romania, while Joao Pedro Silva Pinheiro from Portugal will serve as the fourth official.
“The officiating team will also include reserve assistant referee Bruno Miguel Alves Jesus (Portugal), with Dennis Johan Higler from the Netherlands overseeing VAR duties.
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“Catalin Sorin Popa (Romania) will assist with VAR, and Paulus van Boekel (Netherlands) will provide VAR support,” it read.
UEFA has been vocal in its commitment to inspiring the next generation of referees through initiatives like the “Be a Referee!” campaign, which encourages young people to pursue a career in match officiating.
This effort is part of a broader UEFA program designed to recruit new referees and support national associations in developing their officiating talent.
The 2025 Champions League final promises to be a spectacle, and with Kovács at the helm, fans can expect a highly professional and fair officiating display as Paris and Inter vie for European glory.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
