Who is István Kovács: the referee for PSG vs Inter in the Champions League final

The man in charge of this year’s Champions League final, Romanian referee István Kovács, has been one of UEFA’s fastest-rising officials in recent years. In 2022, he took charge of the Conference League final. In 2024, it was the Europa League. And now, in 2025, he completes a remarkable hat-trick with the biggest stage of all.

Kovács - top official in the Romanian league

Kovács has been an international referee since 2007 and is widely regarded as the top official in the Romanian league. Since 2019, he’s been part of UEFA and FIFA’s elite list. He was present at the 2022 World Cup—though he didn’t officiate any matches—but has worked Club World Cups and the Arab Cup. His standout European performance came in the 2023 Champions League semifinal at the Etihad, overseeing Manchester City’s 4–3 win over Real Madrid.

A physical education teacher by trade, Kovács’s fitness is one of his defining assets. His exceptional conditioning allows him to keep up with play, stay in the right positions, and earn the respect of players on the pitch.

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