For the second leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League playoff (3-2 in the first leg), Paris Saint-Germain host AS Monaco on Wednesday, February 25 at the Parc des Princes (9 p.m., Canal+). UEFA has appointed 41-year-old Istvan Kovacs to officiate this decisive clash.
Istvan Kovacs will be in charge of the PSG vs Monaco showdown. He will be assisted by Mihai Marica and Ferencz Tunyogi, while Szabolcs Kovacs will serve as the fourth official. Video assistance will be handled by Pol Van Boekel and Marci Di Bello.
A Referee Known for Handing Out Yellow Cards
The Romanian referee, who has overseen 35 Champions League matches including a final last season, has a reputation for quickly issuing bookings. With an average of 4.51 yellow cards per match in the competition, he sits well above French standards.
Nuno Mendes in particular will need to be cautious, as a booking would result in suspension if his side qualifies. While Kovacs is less inclined to show straight red cards (0.09 per match) and remains close to the average for second yellow dismissals, he has already officiated PSG six times with mixed results and will be refereeing AS Monaco for the first time.
