Istvan Kovacs entered the history of football. Became the first referee explaining his decisions to the microphone
Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs explained to the public, on two occasions, the decisions taken in the PSG – Atletico 4-0 match, played on Sunday evening, at the World Cup, competition in the period June 13 – July 14. 32 teams, distributed in eight groups participate. The first two teams in each group qualify in the optimum. The final takes place in New York on July 14.
Istvan Kovacs explained in his terms decision
The innovation was introduced in other competitions in Europe, the Italian Cup, but there were no dubious episodes. In contrast, during the PSG-Atletico match, the Romanian clarified the situations in its own way.
Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs received video assistance after a goal scored by Atletico Madrid during the football match in Group B of the World Cup 2025, between the French Paris Saint-Germain and the Spanish Atletico de Madrid, on the Rose Bowl stadium in Los Angeles, the arena on which the Tricolori wrote at the World Cup in 1994 against the US, Colombia and Argentina.
Instead, for the first time, an arbitrator explained his decisions directly to the public after controlling the monitor (on the ground). The Romanian Istvan Kovacs had to intervene on two occasions.
Na gave name, used only numbers
The first episode, in the second half, led to the cancellation of Alvarez's goal, which could have reopen the match, score 2-0 for the new European champions. Before that, however, Koke's clear foul on Douè, saw only on the monitor, had taken place. Kovacs announced to the spectators “Fault of the number 6” and the consecutive annulment of the Spanish void.
Istvan Kovacs was at the center at PSG – Atletico Madrid (4-0), in the first stage of the World Club Championship groups. The Romanian referee offered the moment of the evening in the 60th minute, when for the first time in his career he explained a microphone decision for fans on the 90,000 -seater stadium and in front of the TVs. He then did this again, in extensions.
Atletico scored in the 58th minute of the Los Angeles match, through Alvarez, but his success was canceled by Istvan Kovacs. The Romanian referee was called to the Var monitor to follow the contact between Koke and two, preceding the goal of the Madrid.
Istvan Kovacs admitted that the Spanish midfielder had failed PSG's player and canceled Atletico's success. Immediately, the “central” explained the decision at the microphone. Everything he said was heard on the stadium and the broadcast on TV.
“After seeing the phase, the number 6 from Atletico Madrid committed a free kick in the middle. Empty,” Istvan Kovacs said at the microphone attached in English.
For him he is a premiere in his career. In UEFA competitions and in Superliga this rule is not yet implemented, an extremely new one in football. Only in the Bundesliga and some matches in England did it happen that the decisions taken at the arbitrators are explained to the microphone for supporters on the stadium and for viewers.
The Romanian had a job and 18 minutes later. In the 78th minute, Atletico Madrid stayed with a man in the minus. Istvan Kovacs showed Lenglet the second yellow card for protests.
“Number 24 has become bigger, so it's a penalty”
In the extension of the match, Kovacs was again called to the Var monitor, for a hen made by one of Atletico's defenders. The Romanian gave a penalty, then again explained to the microphone the decision.
“Atletico Madrid's player touched the ball with his hand and increased his body surface. Penalty for PSG,” Kovacs said. Lee scored from 11 meters, and the match ended immediately.
In the extensions, another check after a hen in Le Normand's box and the point with the lime indicated after a funny explanation, perhaps due to its relative English knowledge. In fact, Kovacs explained to the microphone that “number 24 became bigger, so it's a penalty.”
