Ukrainian referees will officiate the Israeli ‘Hapoel’ and Belgian ‘Union’: the Europa League match will take place in Germany without spectators

The Ukrainian team of referees has been appointed to the UEFA Europa League third round match between the Belgian "Union Saint-Gilloise" and the Israeli "Hapoel" from Be'er Sheva. The game will take place on October 22, 2026, in Düsseldorf, Germany, with the stands remaining empty.

Author: Lev Varshavsky, NANews

The appointment was announced on October 20, 2026, by the Ukrainian Football Association.
Who will referee the Israeli team

The main referee appointed is Nikolai Balakin. On the sidelines, he will be assisted by Alexei Berkut and Viktor Matyash. The fourth referee will be Dmitry Panchishin.

The VAR system — video replays of controversial game episodes — will be handled by Italian Michael Fabbri and Ukrainian Viktor Kopievsky.

Thus, the refereeing team includes five representatives from Ukraine and one Italian specialist.

The meeting will begin at 19:45 Israeli time.
Why the Belgian club is hosting the Israelis in Germany

Initially, the match was planned to be held in Leuven, Belgium. However, local authorities prohibited its holding, citing public safety threats related to the arrival of the Israeli team.

Leuven Mayor Mohamed Ridouani did not agree even to the…

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