The officiating crew for the return leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round between England's Newcastle United and Azerbaijan's Garabagh has been announced.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that a team of referees from Italy will officiate the encounter. The head referee for the match will be renowned FIFA official Davide Massa. He will be assisted by linesmen Filippo Meli and Stefano Alassio, while Luca Pairetto will serve as the fourth official.
The VAR (Video Assistant Referee) duties will be handled by Daniele Chiffi, with Christian Dingert from Germany serving as the assistant VAR.
The match is scheduled to take place at St. James' Park on the night of February 24-25, kicking off at 00:00 Baku time. In the first leg of the tie, the English club secured a 6-1 victory. Garabagh, representing Azerbaijan on the international stage, faces a significant challenge in the return fixture as they seek to overturn the deficit in Newcastle.
The UEFA Champions League play-offs represent the final qualifying hurdle before the prestigious group stage of the competition. For Garabagh, consistent participation in European competitions has bolstered the club's international profile and contributed to the development of football in Azerbaijan. The appointment of an experienced elite official like Davide Massa, who regularly officiates high-stakes Serie A and UEFA matches, underscores the importance of this fixture.
