This Wednesday evening in Lisbon, OM will face Sporting Portugal with a referee with a controversial past to say the least. Rade Obrenovič, a 35-year-old Slovenian, has never managed Marseille or Sporting, but his reputation precedes him. In a few months, he accumulated incidents which transformed several European matches into disciplinary nightmares.
Monaco-Benfica: one scandal too many
On November 27, 2024, Obrenovič lost control in the Monaco-Benfica match. Five yellow cards in eleven fouls for ASM, a record for a first half of the Champions League. The expulsion of Wilfried Singo crystallized the criticism: the defender had received a yellow for having protested after Alvaro Carreras, already warned, had committed a foul on him without being sanctioned. Former Portuguese referee Duarte Gomes described Obrenovič's management as “inconsistent”.
The Slovenian signaled Thilo Kehrer to be quiet and initially refused to shake Adi Hütter's hand. “ The referee should have communicated more,” regretted the Austrian coach, who received a card for simply asking “What are you doing?” “.
Monaco has written an official letter to UEFA, an extremely rare approach. The body also removed Obrenovič from his duties during a subsequent Monaco match in January 2025.
A series of embarrassing mistakes
On October 2, 2025, he denied a valid goal to Feyenoord against Aston Villa for an imaginary foul. Robin van Persie will reveal that Obrenovič came to apologize to him after the match. Regrets that don't change the outcome.
In September 2022, new controversy during Ireland-Armenia. He awarded a penalty after consulting the VAR, but the images were broadcast on the giant screen while he watched the replays, allowing the 41,000 Irish supporters to influence his decision. UEFA will confirm the error.
A referee under surveillance
Obrenovič has only managed eight Champions League matches in his career. His average of six yellow cards per match makes him one of the harshest referees in Europe. His lack of communication and his sometimes provocative attitude created a climate of mistrust.
This Wednesday, OM will have to manage Sporting, but also a referee whose past inspires more distrust than serenity.
