Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu, Cosmin Nistor – Published Sunday, January 11, 2026, 9:14 p.m. / Updated Sunday, January 11, 2026 9:16 p.m.
A huge scandal came out a day before the physical tests that Superliga referees were supposed to carry out on Monday, January 12. They got Kyros Vassaras, head of the CCA, to cancel the ratings.
The Superliga referees are currently at Cheile Grădiștei, where the resumption of the Superliga was being prepared. The physical tests were scheduled for Monday, but they will no longer be held, following the pressure put on by the participants.
Kyros Vassaras has been waived by the referees
Physical tests will no longer be carried out before the resumption of the season, even if the regulation says that “Referees who do not pass the physical and theoretical tests will be withheld from delegations”.
GSP.ro sources say that the referees were very dissatisfied with the conditions at Cheile Grădiștei, especially the temperature.
It was -13 degrees Celsius at 07:30 in the room where they were preparing. The referees made a huge fuss, saying that they were made to sit in inhumane conditions, that it was a joke, and Vassaras had to give up the physical tests.
A classic outdoor physical test will be attempted in about a month. Until then, another solution will be found to assess the physical condition of the referees.
GSP.ro got in touch with a referee who was present at Cheile Grădiștei, and he transmitted: “It was -13 degrees at 07:30. We do game phases, we analyze. He puts us on the video projector and we have to say the right decision. He also guides us on how to be during the matches”.
The list of Romanian referees for the 2026 international competitions
The list includes 11 referees, 17 assistant referees, 12 VAR referees, 4 futsal referees and 3 beach soccer referees.
Referees: Istvan KOVACS, Marian BARBU, Radu PETRESCU, Horațiu FEȘNIC, Andrei CHIVULETE, Rareș VIDICAN, Szabolcs KOVACS, Iuliana DEMETRESCU, Alina PEȘU, Ana Maria TERTELEAC, Roxana TIMIȘ
Assistant referees: Mihai MARICA, Mircea GRIGORIU, Ferencz TUNYOGI, Radu GHINGULEAC, Valentin AVRAM, George NEACțU, Alexandru CEREI, Marius BADEA, Alexandru CORB, Adrian VORNICU, Roxana IVANOV, Daniela CONSTANTINESCU, Cătălina NAN, Diana FLOREA, Andreea SUȘCĂ, Ana PUȘCAțU, Ilinca MAZGA
VAR referees: Cătălin POPA, Ovidiu HAȚEGAN, Sebastian COLțESCU, Sorin COSTRIE, Marcel BÎRSAN, Radu PETRESCU, Iulian DIMA, Andrei CHIVULETE, Florin ANDREI, Cristina TRANDAFIR, Iuliana DEMETRESCU, Alina PEȘU
Futsal referees: Vlad CIOBANU, Bogdan HANCERIUC, Liviu CHIțA, Laurentiu DEACONU
Beach soccer referees: Attila BALINT, Liviu DÂRJAN, Laurentiu PENTEK
