Romanian István Kovács to Officiate 2025 UEFA Champions League Final Between PSG and Inter Milan

UEFA has officially appointed Romanian referee István Kovács to oversee the highly anticipated 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Inter Milan. The match will occur on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, with kickoff scheduled for 21:00 CET.

At 40, Kovács is a seasoned international referee who has been officiating major UEFA competitions since 2010. This appointment marks a significant milestone in his career, as he becomes only the third Romanian referee to take charge of a Champions League final, following in the footsteps of Nicolae Rainea (1983) and Ion Crăciunescu (1995).

Moreover, Kovács completes a rare “hat trick” in European club finals, having previously refereed the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final (Roma vs. Feyenoord) and the 2024 UEFA Europa League final (Atalanta vs. Bayer Leverkusen). This will be his third UEFA club competition final, underscoring his consistent excellence at the highest level of European football.

Experience This Season

Kovács has officiated seven Champions League matches during the 2024-25 season, including key fixtures involving both finalists. Notably, he refereed Inter Milan’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal and PSG’s 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the group stage, as well as PSG’s thrilling penalty shootout win against Liverpool in the round of 16 second leg.

His profound familiarity with the teams and proven ability to manage high-pressure matches have contributed to UEFA’s confidence in his selection for this prestigious role.

Refereeing Team for the Final

Supporting Kovács will be a multinational team of officials:

• Assistant referees: Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi (Romania)
• Fourth official: João Pedro Silva Pinheiro (Portugal)
• Reserve assistant referee: Bruno Miguel Alves Jesus (Portugal)
• Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Dennis Johan Higler (Netherlands)
• Assistant VAR: Cătălin Sorin Popa (Romania)
• Support VAR: Paulus van Boekel (Netherlands)

Kovács expressed his honour at being chosen for the final, highlighting it as a testament to his dedication and hard work. UEFA’s appointment signals a commitment to excellence and fairness in officiating the season’s most prestigious club match.

The Romanian referee’s previous finals have seen Italian clubs emerge victorious, which some view as a positive omen for Inter Milan. His calm and authoritative style is expected to ensure a well-managed and transparent contest between two European giants.

István Kovács’s appointment as referee for the 2025 UEFA Champions League final marks a personal achievement and represents a proud moment for Romanian football. Fans and teams can anticipate a professional and fair officiating performance as PSG and Inter Milan compete for European glory on May 31 in Munich.