Georgian referee Goga Kikscheisvili will be in charge of Real Sociedad's match against Union Saint Gilloise in the group stage of the Europa League, marking the first time that a referee from Georgia will call a Spanish club in a UEFA European competition. The appointment is announced in the context of the first day of the competition, where the San Sebastian team debuted in the group stage with a defeat against English side Bournemouth.
Kikscheisvili, 35, arrives at his first Europa League match with Real Sociedad, although he has already officiated two Conference League qualifying matches and a Nations League C match between Bulgaria and Estonia. His participation in the Europa League represents the second time in which a Spanish referee has been assigned to a San Sebastian club; The only precedent was Betis, which was coached by the same referee last season when it faced Dinamo Zagreb, with a result of 1‑3 in favor of Betis.
The referee has also had experience in European competitions with other teams, having coached Sevilla in the Youth League and Union Saint Gilloise in European competition, where he had previously refereed Gent and Bruges. Furthermore, last season he was hired to referee the Greek league playoff, demonstrating UEFA's confidence in his ability to manage high-level matches.
In the match against Union Saint Gilloise, the VAR will be assisted by Englishman Darren England, which guarantees the presence of an international support team and the application of technology appropriately. Real Sociedad, who are in their first matchday of the group stage, are looking to regain their momentum after the initial defeat and take advantage of the opportunity to advance in the competition.
With Kikscheisvili's assignment, Real Sociedad faces a significant challenge in the Europa League, while UEFA continues to expand its international referee panel, offering competitors from different countries the opportunity to participate in high-profile matches. The result of the match will determine the course of Real Sociedad in the group stage and its possibility of advancing to the next stage of the competition.