Balázs Berke to Referee Sunderland Europa League Match
UEFA appoints a Hungarian officiating team for Thursday's upcoming Sunderland and Lech Poznan encounter.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Soccer
UEFA has confirmed that Balázs Berke will serve as the referee for the Europa League match between Sunderland and Lech Poznan this Thursday, October 22, 2026. Berke leads an all-Hungarian team of officials selected to oversee the fixture.
Why it matters
The selection of an experienced official is critical for maintaining match discipline during high-stakes Europa League group stages. This assignment brings an established referee with significant international exposure to the upcoming fixture.
Balázs Berke has officiated 384 games in his career, recording 1,646 yellow cards, 81 red cards, and 114 penalties awarded. This season, the 42-year-old official has issued 48 yellow cards and one red card.
The players
Balázs Berke
He is a professional Hungarian referee with 384 career games officiated.
UEFA
It is the administrative body for association football in Europe and governs the Europa League competition.
Sunderland
They are a professional football club acting as the visiting team in this Europa League fixture.
Lech Poznan
They are a professional football club hosting the Europa League match.
The details
Berke will be supported by assistant referees Balázs Buzás and Balázs Szert, with Gergő Bogár serving as the fourth official. The team also includes Tamás Bognár as the Video Assistant Referee and Katalin Kulcsár as the Assistant Video Assistant Referee, with René Temmink acting as referee observer and Attila Tömő as the UEFA delegate.
Timeline
UEFA confirmed the match officials on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Sunderland plays Lech Poznan on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This appointment follows the established UEFA Europa League refereeing standards for international matches. Consistent officiating teams play a key role in maintaining professional standards as clubs compete for points during the group stage.
Fans and analysts can expect a veteran officiating presence who has maintained a consistent card-distribution rate of 1.25 yellow cards per game during his career. This consistency may influence tactical discipline for both clubs as they adjust to the officiating style on the pitch.
The takeaway
The appointment of an experienced international official like Balázs Berke underscores UEFA's emphasis on stability during high-stakes group play. Spectators should monitor early match calls to understand how this specific officiating team interprets tactical fouls.
Further reading
For more on international match officials and tournaments, visit the Soccer section.
