UEFA assigns experienced referee to Ajax's Conference League duel

The UEFA on Thursday appointed the referees for the European ties, including the Conference League duel between Ajax and Hajduk Split at 18:45. The match will be overseen by the Austrian referee Christian‑Petru Ciochirca, who became known last year for a game between the Netherlands Under‑17 and Italy Under‑17 in which he handed out seven cards.

Experience and statistics of Ciochirca

Ciochirca, born in Romania, regularly officiates in the Austrian Bundesliga and is known for his high number of penalty kicks. In 109 competitive matches he has issued fourteen red cards and pointed to the spot 38 times.

Other Dutch clubs and their referees

AZ will be assigned the Bulgarian Radoslav Gidzhenov on Thursday for the Europa League duel against Hapoel Be’er Sheva, who has little experience with Dutch sides but previously officiated the Netherlands Under‑17 and PSV Under‑19. NEC will face Levski Sofia under the direction of Aliyar Aghayev from Azerbaijan, who refereed a Nations League duel between Bosnia‑Herzegovina and the Netherlands (1‑1) in 2024.

Ajax departs with 22 players, Adingra misses Conference League duel

FC Twente will host Swiss side FC Thun and will be overseen by the Kosovar Genc Nuza, who has never refereed a Dutch club and has seven duels in the competitive phase of the Conference League to his name.

Dutch referees in the European stage

Joey Kooij is the referee for the match FC Copenhagen – Sporting Braga, supported by assistants Dyon Fikkert and Murat Kücükerbir, fourth official Jannick van der Laan and VAR duo Jeroen Manschot and Stan Teuben. It is his first time in the Conference League this season.

In the VAR department Pol van Boekel and Dennis Higler have been appointed; Van Boekel is VAR for Benfica – Celtic in the Europa League, while Higler is assistant VAR for Olympique Marseille – Olympiakos Piraeus.