The referees for the upcoming matches of Italian clubs in the Europa League and Conference League have been officially assigned by UEFA. The decision, communicated recently, provides that Milan, Juventus and Atalanta will play under the supervision of referee managers from different countries, confirming the diversity of refereeing teams within European competitions.
Milan will face Salzburg on Thursday evening in the Europa League. The refereeing team will be entirely Romanian and led by referee Horatiu Fesnic. The assignment of a commission entirely of Romanian origin is a gesture that underlines UEFA's trust in the country's judges, as well as the importance of guaranteeing impartial refereeing in one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.
The same evening will see Juventus play away against Celta Vigo. The match will be refereed by the Dutch referee Sander van der Eijk, with the assistance of colleagues of the same nationality. At the VAR, in a Conference League match, the English referee Salisbury will preside over the match. The assignment of referees of different nationalities for the two Italian teams highlights UEFA's desire to maintain a high standard of neutrality and professionalism in European competitions.
Atalanta, however, will host the Cypriots of Pafos in a Conference League match on Thursday. The referee commission will be Swedish, with Adam Ladeback as the main referee. The choice of a Swedish referee for this match is a further example of the diversity of refereeing teams assigned by European authorities.
These assignments are part of a wider UEFA program to ensure that European club matches are officiated by highly qualified and independent referees. Decisions have been made in such a way as to respect the federation's transparency and competence guidelines, ensuring that each match is managed with the utmost professionalism. With matches scheduled for Thursday, Italian fans will be able to enjoy a weekend of top-level football, with attention paid not only to player performances but also to the quality of refereeing.