A forty-year-old Dutch referee, Bjorn Kuipers, will be at the centre when Chelsea confronts Benfica in Wednesday’s Europa League final at the Amsterdam Arena, Holland.
A statement on UEFA’s official website revealed that Kuipers, who has been an international referee since 2006, has been saddled with the responsibility to take charge of the fierce encounter.
His fellow countrymen, Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra, will assist Kuipers.
The fourth official will be Felix Brych from Germany and the two additional assistant referees, Pol van Poekel and Richard Liesveld, from the Netherlands.
A Dutch reserve Assistant Referee, Berry Simons, completes the line-up of the officiating team.
His Cup final experience was in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco between FC Barcelona and FC Porto and has also officiated two matches of UEFA EURO 2012.
Kuipers has handled 15 UEFA Europa League fixtures, including former UEFA Cup matches to date, one of which was this season’s round of 32 return leg tie between Liverpool and Zenit St Petersburg.
He has also officiated at 25 UEFA Champions League matches since the 2006/07 season.
Nigeria’s duo of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses are expected to be in action for the European Champions.
Europa League final: Mikel, Moses get Dutch referee
