Our Guests - Referee Abroad

Referee Abroad has proudly collaborated with some of the most renowned names in international refereeing. From highly experienced FIFA referees to elite UEFA officials, these professionals have been instrumental in supporting our referee development programs at prestigious tournaments such as the IberCup, Donosti Cup, and Paris World Games. Their invaluable insights and mentorship have shaped countless referees, and we are honored to have their continued support.

Looking forward, we are excited to continue these partnerships for years to come. Want to know who will join us next year? Check out the list of past referees below, and visit our website regularly for the latest news and updates.

Flip the boxes below to know more about the guests.

Peter Frojdfeldt

A retired Swedish FIFA referee, officiated the 2008 UEFA Cup final and at Euro 2008, he then became a UEFA Observer and Head of Refereeing in Greece.

Manuel Lopez Fernandez

A respected Spanish assistant referee, he officiated in various international matches, including key UEFA competitions. Notably, he served as the vice-chairman of the UEFA Referee Committee, where he played a significant role in shaping refereeing standards across Europe. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the development of officiating in both domestic and international football.

Daniele Orsato

A retired Italian FIFA referee, officiated the 2020 UEFA Champions League final, the 2022 World Cup semifinals, and multiple high-stakes UEFA matches. Named IFFHS World's Best Referee in 2020,. Refereed also at Euro 2024.

Alan Snoddy

A respected Northern Irish FIFA referee, officiated in two World Cups (1986, 1990) and numerous UEFA competitions. After retiring, he became a key figure in referee development, working with UEFA and FIFA to mentor new generations of referees

Lucilio Batista

A respected Portuguese referee, he officiated in two matches at UEFA Euro 2004 and two at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. His career also included 16 UEFA Champions League matches and 10 in the UEFA Cup. Now retired, he serves as a respected UEFA observer.

Michel Vautrot

A legendary French FIFA referee, officiated in two World Cups (1982, 1990) and two European Championships, including the 1988 final. He also refereed the 1986 European Cup final and 1989 Intercontinental Cup final. After his on-field career, Vautrot served on the UEFA and FIFA Refereeing Committees, shaping the future of international refereeing.

Danny Makkelie

A prominent Dutch FIFA referee, officiated the 2022 World Cup semifinal and numerous UEFA Champions League matches. He also took charge of the 2021 UEFA Super Cup and has been a key figure in international refereeing since 2011

Konrad Plautz

An esteemed Austrian FIFA referee, officiated at the 2004 UEFA Cup final and the 2005 UEFA Super Cup. He also took charge of multiple UEFA Champions League and European Championship matches, leaving a significant mark on European football.

Jozef Marko

Josef Marko

A distinguished Slovakian referee, he officiated numerous European Championship and World Cup qualifiers. Notably, he achieved significant success as a referee observer and was one of the longest-serving members on the UEFA Referee Committee.

Zdravko Jokic

A notable Serbian referee, he was a FIFA referee with a significant career in both domestic and international football. Jokić served as a UEFA observer and made substantial contributions as the head of refereeing in Serbia. His work has been influential in advancing refereeing standards in Serbia and beyond.

Stefano Braschi

A highly esteemed referee who was considered one of the best in the world at the same time as Pierluigi Collina. Braschi’s distinguished career included officiating at major finals such as the UEFA Champions League Final and numerous Serie A matches. After retiring, he took on the role of head of Serie A referees, further demonstrating his leadership in the field.

Leif Lindberg

A distinguished Swedish assistant referee, is unique for having officiated both a World Cup final and a European Championship final. He assisted Pierluigi Collina in the 2002 World Cup final and Anders Frisk in the 2000 European Championship final, marking a remarkable career in international refereeing.

Renato Faverani

A respected Italian assistant referee, he officiated in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2013 UEFA Champions League final alongside Nicola Rizzoli. He worked in prestigious stadiums such as the Maracanã and Wembley.

Bobby Madley

A distinguished English referee, he officiated in the Premier League and various UEFA competitions. Known for his role in the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals, he has been a significant figure in English football.

Chris Kavanagh

A prominent English FIFA referee, he has officiated in the Premier League and various UEFA competitions. Notable achievements include managing matches in the UEFA Europa League and the FA Cup, showcasing his influence in English and European football.

Vladimir Medved

A distinguished Slovakian referee, he was a FIFA referee and played a significant role in both domestic and international football. Medveď was known for his contributions as a UEFA observer and served as the head of refereeing in Slovakia, influencing the development of refereeing standards in his country and across Europe.

Joao Capela

A distinguished Portuguese referee, was on the FIFA list from 2011 to 2019, managing international matches including nine Europa League qualifiers and two Champions League qualifiers. He also refereed numerous Portuguese clásicos and served as a VAR manager in Greece, contributing to the development of the VAR technology.

Istvan Vad

A prominent Hungarian referee, he has been a FIFA referee since 2007 and officiated in numerous UEFA competitions, primarily in the Europa League. Vad was also an additional assistant referee at the 2012 European Championship. His career is marked by his significant contributions to both domestic and international football.

Sten Klaasen

A prominent Estonian assistant referee, he has been on the FIFA list and officiated in international matches, including UEFA Europa League fixtures alongside fellow countryman Kristo Tohver. He is also the founder of RefPal, and previously coached at the Referee Abroad Academy.

Karolin Kaivoja

A notable Estonian referee, she served as an assistant referee in the 2019 UEFA Women's Champions League final and the 2020 UEFA Women's Euro final. Her career highlights underscore her prominent role in international women’s football. An ex Ibercup referee.

Djamel Haimoudi

A retired Algerian FIFA referee, officiated the 2014 World Cup, including the third-place final, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final. He also refereed at the 2012 Olympic Games and is a member of the CAF Referee Committee, shaping the future of refereeing in Africa.

Jamie Robinson

A distinguished Northern Irish FIFA referee, he has officiated in the top tier of Northern Irish football and various domestic cup competitions. His contributions are well-regarded within Northern Ireland’s footballing community. An ex IberCup referee himself.

Dejan Filipovic

A former Serbian FIFA referee, had a notable career officiating both domestically and internationally. After retiring from on-field refereeing, he became a prominent UEFA observer and played a key role as the head of refereeing in Serbia, significantly influencing the development of refereeing in his country and across Europe.

Roger East

A well-regarded English referee, he advanced to the Premier League after initially reaching the highest levels as a FIFA assistant referee alongside Steve Bennett. His career highlights include officiating key matches in the EFL Cup and FA Cup, showcasing his significant impact on domestic football.

Uno Tutk

A prominent Estonian official, he started as an assistant in 1996 and officiated in the Estonian Championship League until 2003. He managed UEFA Cup and Intertoto Cup matches and served as a UEFA technical delegate and referee observer, contributing significantly to the development of refereeing in Europe.

Daniele Chiffi

A rising Italian FIFA referee, he has officiated in Serie A and various international competitions. His notable achievements include managing key matches in the UEFA Europa League and Serie A, marking him as a significant talent in European football.

Luca Zufferli

One of the youngest referees in Serie A, he has quickly made a name for himself in Italy's top league. His career includes officiating key Serie A matches and notable domestic cup games. While he has not yet officiated internationally, his impressive performances suggest a promising future in refereeing.

Mark Clattenburg

A retired English referee, he officiated the trifecta of 2016 UEFA Champions League, Euro Championship and FA Cup finals. Known for his work in the Premier League and also his role in the 2012 Olympic Games, he is a prominent figure in international refereeing.

Dilan Deniz Gokcan

A retired FIFA female referee from Turkey, she had a distinguished career officiating in domestic and international matches. Now a respected UEFA observer, Gökcan continues to contribute significantly to the development of female refereeing in Europe, leveraging her extensive experience to shape the future of women’s football officiating