Champions League final referee and VAR: Match officials chosen for PSG vs. Arsenal as German crew named in 2026
The UEFA Champions League is considered the most prestigious club football competition in the world, and thus the UCL trophy is the most iconic silverware any professional player can aspire to at their club.
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The winner of the Champions League is crowned as European champion, something only 24 clubs have ever achieved over the course of 71 seasons of UEFA competition.
As the match carries such importance for players and fans, it is also considered the pinnacle of European officiating as well, as every referee hopes to be assigned the biggest Champions League games.
The Sporting News brings you the referee team assigned to officiate the 2026 final between defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and Premier League challengers Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary.
MORE: When is the 2026 UEFA Champions League final?
Who is referee for Champions League final in 2026?
The referee for the 2026 UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG is Daniel Siebert of Germany.
Siebert, 42 years old, has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2015 when he made his international debut. He has been officiating Bundesliga matches since the 2012/13 season, and was soon elevated to continental status. Siebert has been a member of the UEFA elite category since December 2021.
He officiated three matches at Euro 2020, including a Round of 16 match between Wales and Denmark, and also officiated games in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.
Interestingly, Siebert was selected for Champions League final duty in a year when he was not selected to officiate matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, the only German head referee making the trip is Felix Zwayer, who is three years Siebert’s senior and refereed the 2025 Europa League final.
Siebert recently officiated Arsenal in the Champions League, taking charge of their 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semifinal matchup. The German came under fire from Atleti fans for not awarding a penalty to the La Liga side for a foul by Riccardo Calafiori, adjudging that there was a foul committed just moments earlier, negating the chance.
The German was also in charge of Arsenal’s narrow quarterfinal first leg win at Sporting CP, where he only showed one yellow card the entire 90 minutes.
Siebert has officiated one PSG match this season, coming back in October during the league phase when they drew 0-0 with Athletic Club.
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Daniel Siebert stats, fouls called
Daniel Siebert has officiated nine Champions League matches across the 2025/26 tournament. That is joint-most alongside 2024 UCL final referee Slavko Vincic, meaning Siebert will finish alone atop the list with 10 after this year’s title match.
In those nine matches, he has shown 40 yellow cards, more than any other referee in the competition, while his mark of 4.44 cards per match puts him third amongst referees with at least three games in charge. He has also shown two red cards, both coming in the league phase of the competition.
According to WhoScored.com, Siebert has whistled for 22.44 fouls per match in his nine Champions League games this season, which puts him 18th overall amongst the 44 officials in this year’s tournament.
Who is VAR for Champions League final in 2026?
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for the 2026 UEFA Champions League final will be Bastian Dankert, also of Germany.
It is often the case that UEFA and FIFA build referee crews from the same country to help with ease and accuracy of communication.
The 45-year-old Dankert has been a Bundesliga referee since 2012 and FIFA listed since 2014. He has largely become a VAR expert in UEFA competition, often paired with either Siebert or Zwayer instead of taking charge of games himself.
Dankert was on VAR duties during the Euro 2024 semifinal between England and the Netherlands, in the spotlight for recommending a review which resulted in a penalty to England. He judged that Harry Kane was fouled on the follow-through of a shot in the 14th minute, a highly controversial decision based on precedent.
Who are assistant referees for Champions League final in 2026?
The two assistant referees manning the lines for the 2026 Champions League final are Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn, both of Germany.
The pair was assigned along with Siebert for each of his nine European matches this season, leading up to the Champions League final, many of which also saw Dankert manning the video review.
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