Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 08:19 / Updated on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 08:19
Former referee Marius Avram (46 years old) claims that the president of the Central Commission of Referees, Kyros Vassaras (60 years old), could be removed from the position he has held since 2014.
Despite the intervention and improvement of the VAR system, refereeing issues have been a big part of this Super League season.
Clubs have complained countless times about the mistakes made, and Vassaras he had rare interventions where he tried to explain some controversial phases. The last time it happened after CFR – Universitatea Craiova 0-0, when VAR canceled a possible penalty for Cluj.
In this tense context within the CCA and the FRF, it is possible that the Greek will leave the head of the referee after 12 years!
“This summer the question of changing Vassaras really arises” » Who is lying in wait
Marius Avram he also spoke about two potential names of replacements: it is about the former referees Ovidiu Hațegan and Alexandru Deaconu. There would also be the option of a foreigner, but it remains to be seen if Vassaras will leave the position.
Avram mocked Deaconu, the one who was also the president of the CCA in the period 2012-2014, but who in his opinion did not do well.
“What I heard is that this summer the question of changing Vassaras really arises. Not that a decision has been made, but that this matter is being discussed very seriously. Suitors appear, like Deaconu, like Hațegan, who are there ready to take the place at any time.
There is talk of a strong lobby of Hațegan, of Deaconu, of the possibility of keeping a foreigner. It's the first time it's been talked about seriously.
The best would be Alexandru Deaconu (no – ironic). I was joking, obviously. Because he's shown his limits in the past and we've seen what he's done, things have been under all scrutiny.
But nothing has changed with Vassaras since he came. He explained that there will be transparency, that he will explain… Zero! Only under media and club pressure and only when there are huge scandals.
Another thing was the annual promotion of young referees. Until he passed one, 10 years passed. And now we wonder who those referees promoted by Vassaras are”, said Marius Avram, according to digisport.ro.
Asked if he would like to run, Avram categorically rejected this option: “To be at CCA, two conditions must be fulfilled cumulatively: they want and I want. Neither of the two is fulfilled.”
Former referee Marius Avram
Who is Kyros Vassaras?
Kyros Vassaras is a former Greek international referee who later became one of the most influential officials in European refereeing.
He became a FIFA referee in 1998 and officiated the first international match in 1999, Austria v San Marino. He refereed in the Champions League, but also in final tournaments, Euro 2008 and the World Championship in 2002. In 2009, he retired after not making the list for the world tournament organized in South Africa.
Kyros Vassaras, head of the CCA
After retirement, he continued his career in football administration, where he built his reputation as a specialist in referee education and development. Since 2014, he has been president of the Central Commission of Referees, a structure under the umbrella of the Romanian Football Federation.
