Milorad Mazic leads the refereeing department of the Russian Football Union and has taken on a new role as an inspector for a Champions League group stage match. The clash features Belgian side Antwerp and Ukrainian squad Shakhtar, a fixture listed in the Champions League calendar managed by the Union of European Football Associations. This assignment places Mazic in a position to oversee the match as part of UEFA’s group stage operations, aligning with his experience at the highest levels of European competition.
The Group H encounter is scheduled to take place on October 4 in Derne, Belgium. In this setup, Slovenian official Rade Obrenovic has been designated as the chief referee, with Jan Willem van Dop from the Netherlands acting as the match delegate to ensure that proceedings adhere to the competition’s standards and procedures. The allocation of roles reflects UEFA’s method of distributing responsibilities to uphold consistency and fairness across the tournament.
Mazhich has served as the head of the RFU refereeing department since June 2023, a tenure marked by responsibilities that extend beyond the whistle. He signed a two-year contract in that period, with an option for an additional extension, signaling the federation’s confidence in his leadership and the ongoing development of officiating in Russia. His record includes involvement in high-profile matches across major competitions, such as the UEFA Super Cup and the Champions League final, as well as assignments in two World Cup qualifiers and events under the Confederations Cup umbrella. This breadth of experience reinforces the value placed on his governance of refereeing standards and the development of match officiating.
Earlier, due to policy decisions by global governing bodies, the Russian national team, along with its clubs, faced suspension from competitions overseen by FIFA and UEFA in the spring of 2022. This suspension redirected participation toward friendly matches and other sanctioned events that remained available within the cooperative framework established by international football authorities. The changes affected the competitive trajectory of Russian clubs and the national side during that period, shaping their scheduling and competitive opportunities in European football and beyond.
In related developments, Ukraine was preparing for its own competitive fixtures as it connected with reconciliation and qualification programs. They were slated to meet England in the Euro 2024 qualifying rounds, a match-up that carried significant implications for both nations as the qualification campaign progressed and teams navigated the evolving European football calendar. The broader landscape for the sport at this time involved a careful balance between competitive obligations and the ongoing structural adjustments prompted by governance decisions at the international level, with UEFA coordinating schedules to maintain momentum for the continental championships while accommodating national federations’ needs.
Across these arrangements, the roles of officials, delegates, and match administrators were highlighted as essential elements in the integrity and smooth operation of top-tier football. The attention paid to referee leadership, appointment processes, and survey of standardization efforts underscores the sport’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and high performance on the European stage. As the Champions League group stage continued to unfold, observers noted how the federation structures and international bodies collaborated to support competitive balance and the development of refereeing expertise within Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, and the broader continent. (Sources: UEFA announcements; RFU communications; international federation policies)