Alex MacQuoid
UEFA has officially appointed German referee Daniel Siebert to oversee the 2026 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on Saturday, May 30.
The appointment places the experienced Bundesliga official in charge of one of the biggest matches in world football as PSG chase consecutive European crowns while Arsenal aim to lift the trophy for the first time in club history.
For Siebert, the final also represents a landmark moment in his refereeing career — his first-ever UEFA club competition final.
Who is Daniel Siebert?
Daniel Siebert is a German referee from Berlin who has been part of FIFA’s international officiating list since 2015.
The 42-year-old currently belongs to UEFA’s elite referee category and has steadily established himself as one of Europe’s most trusted officials over the past decade.
Despite reportedly being left off FIFA’s World Cup referee shortlist, UEFA’s Referees Committee still selected Siebert to take charge of the Champions League final — a major vote of confidence from European football’s governing body.
Daniel Siebert profile
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Germany |
| City | Berlin |
| Age | 42 |
| FIFA Referee Since | 2015 |
| UEFA Category | Elite Referee |
| Champions League Matches This Season | 10 |
| Red Cards This UCL Season | 2 |
| Penalties Awarded This UCL Season | 1 |
Daniel Siebert’s record with Arsenal and PSG
Interestingly, Arsenal supporters may welcome Siebert’s appointment given the club’s recent record under the German referee.
Siebert officiated two Arsenal matches during this Champions League campaign, with the Gunners winning both 1-0.
The first came in the quarter-final first leg against Sporting Lisbon before he also took charge of Arsenal’s tense semi-final second leg victory over Atletico Madrid.
Across those two games, Siebert reportedly did not issue a single yellow card to an Arsenal player and showed just three yellow cards overall.
PSG, meanwhile, have only encountered Siebert once this season — a 0-0 league phase draw against Athletic Bilbao in December where the referee produced four yellow cards.
Siebert’s Champions League record with both clubs
| Club | Matches Officiated | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 2 | 2 wins, 0 defeats |
| PSG | 1 | 1 draw |
Daniel Siebert’s officiating style
Statistically, Siebert tends to allow games to flow but is still willing to discipline players when needed.
According to Champions League statistics this season, the German referee averages 4.44 yellow cards per game and 0.22 red cards per match in Europe.
Interestingly, those numbers are slightly higher than his Bundesliga averages, where he has averaged 3.20 yellow cards and 0.13 red cards per game domestically.
The figures suggest Arsenal and PSG can expect a relatively controlled officiating style in Budapest, though emotional moments in a Champions League final could still increase tension dramatically.
Daniel Siebert disciplinary averages
| Competition | Yellow Cards Per Game | Red Cards Per Game |
|---|---|---|
| Champions League | 4.44 | 0.22 |
| Bundesliga | 3.20 | 0.13 |
Big-game experience before the Champions League final
Although this will be Siebert’s first UEFA club final, he already possesses substantial experience at the highest level.
The German official previously refereed last season’s Europa League semi-final between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao and also worked matches at both UEFA Euro 2020 and UEFA Euro 2024.
That background likely played a major role in UEFA’s decision to hand him the biggest appointment of his career.
Full officiating team for PSG vs Arsenal
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Referee | Daniel Siebert (Germany) |
| Assistant Referees | Jan Seidel & Rafael Foltyn (Germany) |
| Fourth Official | Sandro Schärer (Switzerland) |
| Reserve Assistant Referee | Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (Spain) |
| VAR | Bastian Dankert (Germany) |
Arteta’s recent comments on referees and VAR
Ahead of the final, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already spoken publicly about the pressure referees face during major matches.
Following a controversial VAR decision during Arsenal’s Premier League clash against West Ham earlier this season, Arteta praised officials for showing courage when making difficult calls under intense scrutiny.
“When I had to be critical, I have been,” Arteta explained after the match.
“Today I have to congratulate them. You needed a lot of courage and bravery to stand out and give the opportunity to the referee to have a look at the action.”
The Spaniard’s comments underline just how much attention every refereeing decision will receive once PSG and Arsenal meet in Budapest for Europe’s biggest club match.