Referee Confirmed for Beşiktaş-Marsilya Clash: Controversial Name Andrea Colombo
Tomorrow's Europa League match between Beşiktaş and Marsilya in Dolmabahçe will be officiated by Italian referee Andrea Colombo, whose name recently surfaced in a refereeing investigation.
Beşiktaş will host French side Olimpik Marsilya at home on Thursday, September 17, in the opening round of the UEFA Europa League. The match at Tüpraş Stadium kicks off at 22:00 and will be officiated by Italian referee Andrea Colombo. According to the official announcement on UEFA's website, the officiating team for this significant fixture has now been confirmed.
Colombo will be assisted by Davide Imperiale and Giuseppe Perrotti. Simone Sozza has been appointed as the fourth official for the match. Michael Fabbri will take charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) role, with Valerio Marini serving as his assistant.
This appointment comes amid an ongoing refereeing controversy in Italian football. Gianluca Rocchi, who oversees referee appointments in Serie A and Serie B, is alleged to have engaged in irregularities across three matches during the 2024-2025 season, prompting an investigation into his conduct. According to reports, Rocchi, who faces three separate accusations, is alleged to have ensured Andrea Colombo's appointment to the Bologna-Inter match on April 20, 2025.
The fact that Colombo, whose name emerged in this investigation, will now officiate a crucial Europa League fixture like Beşiktaş-Marsilya has drawn attention from fans. While Beşiktaş aims for victory in their Europa League opener, the referee's background has also become a talking point ahead of the match.
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