UEFA confirmed on Monday that Romanian referee István Kovács will officiate the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
The 40-year-old Kovács is highly regarded in the football community, having previously officiated several major finals, including the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final and the 2024 UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
This season, Kovács has refereed seven Champions League matches, including the second leg of the last-16 tie between Liverpool and PSG.
UEFA Champions League on X (formerly Twitter): “Romania’s István Kovács will referee the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris and Inter on Saturday 31 May.#UCL / X”
Romania’s István Kovács will referee the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris and Inter on Saturday 31 May.#UCL
Who Is István Kovács?
István Kovács is a distinguished Romanian football referee, born on September 16, 1984, in Carei, Satu Mare County, Romania. Renowned for his precision and professionalism, he has officiated at some of the most prestigious European and international football matches.
Career Highlights:
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UEFA Appointments: Kovács has officiated numerous high-profile UEFA fixtures, including the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League final between AS Roma and Feyenoord in 2022, and the 2024 UEFA Europa League final between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
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UEFA Euro 2020: Kovács was selected as one of two Romanian referees for UEFA Euro 2020, overseeing the Group D match between the Netherlands and North Macedonia in Amsterdam.
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UEFA Champions League: Kovács has officiated several significant Champions League games, including the first leg of the 2022 semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid, as well as the quarter-final second leg between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.
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FIFA Appointments: Kovács served as the fourth official at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and also officiated matches at the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.
Background and Personal Life:
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Early Interest in Refereeing: Kovács developed a passion for refereeing at a young age, inspired by the UEFA Euro 1996 tournament. He began officiating at just 15 years old, making his debut in Romania’s top division at 22.
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Dual Citizenship: He holds both Romanian and Hungarian citizenship, reflecting his Hungarian heritage.
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Family in Refereeing: Kovács comes from a family of referees—his younger brother, Szabolcs Kovács, is also an official in Romania’s Liga I.
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Residence: Kovács currently resides in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. In 2023, he was honored as an Honorary Citizen of Carei for his exceptional contributions to refereeing.
Philosophy and Approach:
Kovács is known for his calm demeanor, excellent decision-making, and consistent performance on the field. He places great emphasis on thorough preparation for every match, ensuring he is always ready to manage any situation, regardless of the game’s importance.
His selection to officiate the 2025 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan solidifies his esteemed reputation within European football officiating.
