Article by Alexandru Stanciu – published on Saturday, May 31, 2025 20:03 / Updated Sunday, June 1, 2025 01:25
Istvan Kovacs (40 years old), the Romanian referee who will be at the center in Final of the Champions League from Allianz Arena, between PSG and Inter Milan, was “claimed” by the Hungarians in an article in the neighboring press.
Born in Carei, very close to the border with Hungary, Istvan Kovacs is considered “one of ours” by Hungarian journalists.
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GSP has 4 journalists who will transmit all the important information from Munich. The match between PSG and Inter takes place on Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 pm.
Istvan Kovacs, “claimed” by Hungarians before the Champions League final
In an article on Magyar Nemzet, Hungarian journalists talked about Istvan Kovacs and the most important moment of his career, the Champions League final.
“Someone called Istvan Kovacs can be nothing but Hungarian and the Romanians recognize it. The press writes Istvan Kovacs, not Stefan Kovacs.
Its nationality does not change much, especially since one of the most famous referees in our times was born in Nagykaroly (no Carei), just six kilometers from the border, on the Romanian territory.
His mother is from the family of Swabians, his father is Hungarian, he is a Romanian citizen from birth, but in 2011 he also received Hungarian citizenship, of which he is very proud, ”wrote Hungarian journalists.
Istvan Kovacs is the third Romanian referee who officiates at a final of the Champions League, after Ion Crăciunescu, in 1995 (AJAX-Milan 1-0), and the late Nicolae Rainea, in 1983 (Hamburg-Juventus 1-0).
It is the third European final that Istvan Kovacs arbitrates. The Romanian was also at the center in the first Final Conference League, won with 1-0 by AS Rome in front of Feyenoord.
Last season, Kovacs also arbitrated the Europa League final, won by Atalanta in front of Bayer Leverkusen with a score of 3-0.
This season, Kovacs also refereeed 7 other parties in the Champions League: Real Madrid-Dortmund 5-2, Inter-Arsenal 1-0, Bayern-PSG 1-0, Red Star-PSG 2-3, Juventus-Benfica 0-2 (group phase) / Real Madrid-Manchester City 3-1 (play-off), Liver -fo-1-4, 1-1, 1-1, 1-4 at penalties (finals optimal).
