Viktor Kassai has been announced as the referee for the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United on Saturday in London. He will be assisted by Gabor Erös and György Ring, with Mihaly Fabian and Tamás Bognar as additional assistant referees. Istvan Vad will be the fourth official while Róbert Kispál will be the reserve assistant referee.
This is only the second time a Hungarian referee has taken charge of the Champions League final, the last one being Sandor Puhl in 1997. Kassai will be the youngest referee to referee a Champions League final when he trots the field on Saturday, only 35 years old.
He went to the World Cup in 2010 and impressed with his refereeing, culminating in a semi-final appointment. While this is only Kassai’s 13th match in the Champions League, he has been an international referee since 2003. He refereed Manchester United in the group stage this season, making Saturday’s match his fourth match including Manchester United in the Champions League. He has never refereed Barcelona in the Champions League.
Kassai has some final experience having refereed the 2008 Olympic final between Nigeria and Argentina in Beijing. The same year he worked as a fourth official at the Euro 2008.
This is the first Champions League final with additional assistant referees.
28/05/2011
Barcelona – Manchester United
Referee: Viktor Kassai, Hungary
Assistant referees: Gabor Erös, György Ring
Additional assistant referees: Mihaly Fabian, Tamás Bognar
Fourth official: Istvan Vad
Reserve assistant referee: Róbert Kispál
Uefa delegate: Geir Thorsteinsson, Iceland
Uefa referee observer: Marc Batta, France
{ 40 comments }
