Romanian Referee Istvan Kovacs to Officiate Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Champions League Return Match
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
UEFA appointed Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs to oversee Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Champions League second-leg match against Sabah FC in Azerbaijan. Kovacs, a top European official who has refereed major finals including the 2025 Champions League final, is known for his strict disciplinary style. Hapoel Be'er Sheva holds a 2-1 lead and aims to advance to the next round.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Istvan Kovacs will referee Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Champions League second-leg against Sabah FC.
- Kovacs is a top European referee with experience in major UEFA finals including the 2025 Champions League final.
- He officiated two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage.
- Kovacs averages 5.3 yellow cards per game and frequently issues red cards and penalties.
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva must avoid fouls to succeed under Kovacs' strict refereeing style.
The Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the Champions League second-leg match between Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Sabah FC of Azerbaijan. The Israeli champions will travel to Azerbaijan holding a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, aiming to secure progression to the next round.
Born in 1984, Kovacs is among Europe's top referees and has been an international official since 2010. He has officiated major European club finals, including the 2022 UEFA Conference League final, the 2024 UEFA Europa League final, and notably the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan. This achievement made him the first referee to manage finals in all three major UEFA club competitions.
Kovacs also participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, refereeing two group stage matches: Japan versus Tunisia (0-4) and Argentina versus Jordan (3-1). Known for his strict officiating style, he averages 5.3 yellow cards per game, issues a red card approximately every three matches, and awards penalties about every two games. This disciplinary record indicates a low tolerance for fouls, suggesting Hapoel Be'er Sheva players must maintain composure and avoid unnecessary fouls to prevent jeopardizing their historic qualification attempt.
Kovacs' appointment underscores UEFA's confidence in his abilities and highlights the significance of the upcoming fixture for the Israeli club.
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