Football games are full of heroes on the pitch. But away from the spotlight, another group works tirelessly. These are the referees and their teams. They are the quiet guardians of fair play. It takes great trust to put them in charge of big European matches. This Thursday, UEFA has shown that trust in two officiating teams from Portugal. They will oversee crucial qualifying games.
Gustavo Correia has one of the bigger tasks ahead. He will be the main referee for a Europa League match. This is the second leg of the first qualifying round. It features Partizan from Serbia playing AEK Larnaca from Cyprus. The action happens in Belgrade, Serbia. The whistle blows at 8 PM, Lisbon time. Gustavo won’t be alone. Pedro Ribeiro and André Dias will serve as assistant referees, running the lines. José Bessa is the fourth official, ready to help on the sidelines. Overseeing the video replays will be Fábio Melo as the VAR, with Hélder Malheiro as the AVAR. This whole crew works as one to ensure everything is called correctly.
Further south in Europe, João Gonçalves also has a key role. He will handle a Conference League qualifier. This match sees Haverfordwest County from Wales facing Floriana from Malta. It’s another second-leg decider. The game takes place in Llanelli, Wales, starting at 5 PM, Lisbon time. João’s team is just as vital. Luciano Maia and Tiago Costa will be his assistant referees. David Silva steps in as the fourth official for this important contest.
These assignments are more than just jobs. They show the high quality of officiating coming from Portugal. It’s a quiet source of pride. These men dedicate themselves to knowing the rules inside and out. They make tough calls in split seconds. Their precision helps make the beautiful game truly fair for everyone involved.