Istvan Kovacs

István Kovács is a referee who imposes authority from the first minute. Born on September 16, 1984 in Carei, Romania, his career has been a constant climb to the elite of European refereeing. In 2007 he made his debut in the Romanian Liga I, and by 2010 he already had the FIFA badge, which led him to officiate in the most prestigious competitions in Europe.

His style is disciplined and energetic. He does not hesitate to make firm decisions and applies the regulations without hesitation, which has sometimes earned him criticism, but also the respect of players and coaches. His handling of matches is authoritative, but he knows how to maintain composure in tense moments.

In 2022, UEFA chose him to referee the final of the first edition of the Conference League between AS Roma and Feyenoord. On a historic night in Tirana, Kovács knew how to handle the pressure of a European final, showing the right balance between discipline and fluidity in the game.

However, like any high-level referee, he has been at the center of controversy. In the 2022 Champions League semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid, Kovács allowed play to continue after a foul and Bernardo Silva scored a goal that sparked the fury of the Spanish team. His decision was subject to debate, but UEFA backed his performance.