Who will be the referee in Chelsea vs PSG final in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 ?

After so much action, thrillers, goals, red cards, last-minute winners, jaw-dropping golazos, and exciting spectacles, it all boils down to one final game in New Jersey, where the new Champions of the World will be heralded. Among the best teams in the world, only two teams have been chosen as the survivors for the race to become the World Champions. The reigning UEFA Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain, whose meteoric rise in European football has been a story worth reminiscing about for ages. On the other hand, the pride of English football, representing the London heritage, are Chelsea FC, who are also the reigning UEFA Conference League Winners.

However, big games like these are impacted severely by decisions made by the match officials and the referees, who aim to set a golden standard of impartiality, transparency, and a platform for a safer and fair brand of football. The question is who will be the referee in Chelsea vs PSG final?

After so many considerations, the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, Pierluigi Collina, announced the names of the referees who will take charge of the Finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Who are the match officials for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Finals?

FIFA announced that Australia's Alireza Faghani will be the main referee for the final fixture between PSG and Chelsea. The two assistant referees are also from Australia, Anton Shchetinin and Ashley Beecham. Argentina's Facundo Tello will be the fourth official of this game, whereas Gabriel Chade from Argentina will serve as the reserve assistant referee for the finals.

The VAR room will feature a VAR referee from Germany, Bastian Dankert. Tatiana Guzman from Nicaragua will be the assistant VAR referee, and Ivan Bebek from Croatia will serve as the support VAR referee.

Shockingly, not a single referee with European origins has been chosen as an on-ground official. Even the VAR referee panel does not consist of anyone from England or France to ensure complete fairness.

Who is Alireza Faghani?

The 47-year-old Iranian-Australian referee, Alireza Faghani, is unarguably one of the most experienced referees in modern-day football. The two-time winner of the AFC Asian Referee of the Year award has previously been in control of big games like the 2016 Olympic Finals between Germany and Brazil, and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Finals between South Korea and Australia. He has previously been a referee at the FIFA Club World Cup Finals as well in 2015 between FC Barcelona and River Plate.

Surprisingly, he even officiated the 2016 ISL Finals between ATK and Kerala Blasters FC and has been in control of several World Cup games as well. Life came full circle after the man whose first whistle marked the beginning of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will also blow the final whistle to bring an end to the tournament's proceedings.

All eyes will be on Faghani, who will likely officiate his final major game of his refereeing career. He is known for his disciplined and no-nonsense approach.