Asian Cup to use European referees for first time

The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia will feature European referees for the first time, under a new agreement between UEFA and the AFC announced on Thursday.

Referees named for Saudi Arabia

The AFC said Lithuanian referee Donatas Rumsas will work at the tournament, alongside two assistants from Lithuania and VAR official Aleandro Di Paolo of Italy. The competition runs from 7 January to 5 February in Saudi Arabia.

Rumsas, 38, is due to take charge of Portugal's home match against Wales in the Nations League on Thursday night.

Asian officials head to Euro 2028

The same deal will also see AFC referees invited to Euro 2028, which will be staged across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

UEFA and the AFC agreed the exchange at a time of tension in global football politics, with their leaders joining calls for FIFA president Gianni Infantino to step aside after the collapse of his plan to sell World Cup shares to private investors.

Infantino was in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to watch a Gulf Cup match in Jeddah, one of the host cities for the Asian Cup.