Bulgarian Referee Georgi Kabakov to Officiate Israel's Nations League Opener Amidst Domestic Criticism

Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov, widely considered his country's most famous football official, will officiate Israel's first match in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, when they face Austria in Linz. Despite his international standing and frequent assignments by UEFA, Kabakov faces a peculiar situation in his homeland, where he is reportedly sidelined and criticized.

A report from "Sportlive" in Bulgaria suggests that Kabakov's "freezing" began under the previous chairman of the referees' committee, Stanislav Todorov, stemming from a personal dispute with the Bulgarian Football Union president, Georgi Ivanov. This frosty reception has persisted even after the appointment of Matteo Trefoloni as the new chairman two months ago.

In the spring of 2026, Ivanov publicly called for a review of Kabakov's assignments following controversial calls in a match between Ludogorets and Cherno More. This incident, coupled with a previous indefinite suspension in October 2025 for "unsatisfactory" performance as a VAR official in a Sofia derby, led to his effective benching until the end of the season.

While Trefoloni has partially altered the situation, Kabakov has received only four assignments in Bulgaria's top league this season, none involving the major clubs. In contrast, he remains highly regarded by UEFA, recently officiating a Champions League match between Lille and Betis where he sent off Ethan Mbappé, Kylian's younger brother.

Kabakov, a FIFA referee since 2013 and a six-time Bulgarian Referee of the Year, has a history of officiating Israeli clubs. He previously refereed Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa League loss to Midtjylland, Maccabi Haifa in a Europa League win against Panathinaikos, and Beitar Jerusalem in a Europa League qualifier against Jelgava.