Immense tensions at the top of Romanian arbitration! Istvan “Big Brother” Kovacs and the octopus of the “Group from Satu Mare”

Istvan Kovacs (41 years old) is undoubtedly the best-ranked Romanian referee of the moment. He has frequent matches in the Champions League, he has reached the three European finals, and this summer he will go to the World Championship in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

But, outside the field, the referee from Carei is pointed with the finger by the referees. “His behavior has seriously changed recently”claim important voices.

Who are the observers approved by Kovacs

This information comes from within the Central Referee Commission. “He came to control almost completely the delegations of observers at the matches he refereed”say important people from the phenomenon. Who are afraid to talk about the pressure exerted by Kovacs on President Kyros Vassaras.

“He does absolutely whatever he wants, that everyone in the system plays along with him! The rest of us don't exist if we have a problem or need help“, claim important people from the Commission's entourage.

Among the favorite observers of the referee from Carei is Nicole Grigorescu, an extremely important figure in arbitration, the trusted people of the president Kyros Vassaras. Dan Berbecaru, Marcel Salomir or Andrei Ioniță are not missing.

Ovidiu Hațegan “worked” on Kovacs' man

Another behind-the-scenes episode that people in the system are talking about is the rise of Ovidiu Hațegan in the power structures of the Central Commission of Referees, combined with a years-long “cold war” with Istvan Kovacs.

GSP also wrote about the power that Hațegan took over, who managed to clear Kovacs' house man, the VAR referee, Cătălin Popa. People within CCA talk about Popa's subordination to Kovacs, whom he calls “the emperor of Romanian arbitration”.

Ovidiu Hațegan

“This stance is motivated by Kovacs' support for Popa's inclusion on FIFA's list as a VAR referee,” GSP said.

With the arrival of Hațegan in a leadership position, Popa “flew” from important competitions. He lost the VAR referee list from the World Cup, which Hațegan hoped to get his hands on, but he did not get the final batch for the final tournament.

The influence of the “Group from Satu Mare”

Referees in Romanian football also talk about powerful groups that have great decision-making power within the CCA, also on the Istvan Kovacs axis. Especially with the help of Ștefan Szilagyi, the president of AJF Satu Mare, “who has a special entrance to the office of President Vassaras”.

Istvan Kovacs and Stefan Szilagyi

The revelations bring into question the vice-president Marcel Savaniu and the former assistant Octavian Şovre, all “close friends with Szilagyi and Kovacs”.

And this after Szilagyi gave in to Kovacs' pressure to make Savaniu president of the Referees' Commission within AJF Satu Mare, so that he would then be co-opted within the Central Referees' Commission.

Istvan Kovacs, in Barcelona – Atletico Madrid / Photo: Imago Images

Which is what happened in 2022, when Vassaras pleased Kovacs again Savaniu became a member of the CCA, along with Eduard Dumitrescu, Adrian Comănescu, Augustus Constantin, Liviu Ciubotariu and Irina Mârț.

Important people in the system show Ștefan Szilagyi, the president of AJF Satu Mare, as a character from the famous Italian film “La Piovra”.

Nicknamed Sisi, the man is extremely influential and puts major pressure on the referees who arrive in the county. Upon learning of the delegations, he calls them and promises to provide them with the meals and accommodation they need for the duration of their stay in Satu Mare

the GSP information within the CCA

That's what the information from the CCA sounds like, of which Kyros Vassaras is no stranger, but he seems to be in an extremely difficult position in front of the “only protected son” Istvan Kovas.

“Big Brother” and preferential treatment

Earlier this year a huge scandal broke out a day before the physical tests that Super League referees were supposed to take on January 12. They got Kyros Vassaras, head of the CCA, to cancel the assessments. The main reason? It was -13 degrees Celsius at 19:30 in the town where they were preparing.

Then, some of the president's people came to Cheile Grădiștei with their girlfriends, wives and children, and Istvan Kovacs did not stay in the hotel with the rest of his fellow referees, but he benefited from luxurious conditions.

Kovacs and the cottage at Cheile Grădistei

“Others were staying three to a room, and Kovacs, with his wife and child, had a cabin set up just for him. He was seen acting like he was on vacation, playing outside the cabin in the snow.” the revelations of those in the Romanian arbitration ring, who also posed for the “central”.

The rest of the judges revealed that Kovacs' housemates nickname him “Big Brother” because he is always around the villager. In addition, Savaniu and Șovre, both from Istvan county, were also present at Cheile Grădiștei, together with their families.