Romanian Referee István Kovács to Officiate Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Champions League Return Match

The Romanian referee István Kovács has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the Champions League second-leg match between Azerbaijani club Sabah and Israeli champions Hapoel Be'er Sheva. The match will take place following Hapoel Be'er Sheva's 2-1 home victory in the first leg, with the Israeli team aiming to secure advancement to the next round.

Born in 1984, Kovács is one of Europe's top referees and has been an international official since 2010. He has officiated major European finals, including the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final and the 2024 UEFA Europa League final. In 2025, Kovács made history by becoming the first referee to oversee the finals of all three major UEFA club competitions, including the Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.

Kovács also participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, refereeing two group stage matches: Japan vs. Tunisia (0-4) and Argentina vs. Jordan (3-1). Known for his strict officiating style, Kovács averages 5.3 yellow cards per game, issues a red card approximately every three matches, and awards penalties roughly every two games. This disciplinary record suggests that Hapoel Be'er Sheva players will need to maintain composure and avoid unnecessary fouls to prevent jeopardizing their historic qualification effort.

UEFA's selection of Kovács underscores his status as a leading referee in European and world football, bringing significant experience and authority to this crucial Champions League fixture.