The referee appointments for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round between Garabagh and Newcastle have been announced.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the match will be officiated by a team of referees from Norway.
Espen Eskas has been appointed as the head referee for the encounter. He will be assisted by linesmen Jan Erik Engan and Isaak Elias Bashevkin. The role of the fourth official will be performed by Sigurd Kringstad.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the match will be Rob Dieperink from the Netherlands, assisted by his compatriot Dennis Higler as the AVAR.
The Garabagh vs Newcastle match is scheduled to take place on February 18 at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku. The kickoff is set for 21:45 local time.
The UEFA Champions League play-off round is the final qualifying stage before the prestigious group phase of the tournament. Garabagh, representing Azerbaijan, has a consistent history of competing in European club competitions, frequently hosting high-profile international matches at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, which serves as one of the country's primary sporting venues.
