The stage is set for the Champions League final, and UEFA has officially announced the match officials who will take charge of the showpiece event in Budapest later this month. For Arsenal fans, the name at the top of the list will bring a sense of familiarity—and perhaps a touch of optimism.
German referee Daniel Siebert will be the man in the middle, marking his first-ever UEFA club competition final. He’ll be joined by fellow countrymen Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn as assistant referees, while Switzerland’s Sandro Scharer steps in as the fourth official. Guadalupe Porras Ayuso of Spain rounds out the on-field team as the backup assistant. In the VAR booth, Bastian Dankert will lead the review process, with Robert Schroder—also from Germany—and Spain’s Carlos Del Cerro Grande providing support.
While this is a new milestone for Siebert, Arsenal supporters will remember him well from their thrilling run through the knockout stages. He officiated the Gunners’ 1-0 quarter-final first-leg win over Sporting CP and later took charge of the semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid—another 1-0 victory for Arsenal. That’s two clean sheets and two wins under his watch, a record that bodes well for the final.
Fortunately, we’re not talking about the referee from the controversial first leg in Madrid—otherwise, the news might have been met with far less enthusiasm. Siebert has also overseen two other Arsenal matches prior to this season: a 3-1 Europa League win over Olympiacos and a 3-0 Champions League group-stage triumph against GNK Dinamo. While no penalty or red-card decisions went Arsenal’s way in those games, the unbeaten streak with Siebert in charge remains intact.
On the flip side, the opposition—PSG—will also feel confident. Siebert has refereed the French champions four times before, with PSG winning three and drawing one. That means both sides head into the final with an undefeated record under this official. It’s a clean slate for two of Europe’s finest, and all eyes will be on Budapest as they battle for glory.