Arsenal-Atletico referee is good omen for Gunners

UEFA have confirmed the refereeing team for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg match against Atletico Madrid, coming up on Tuesday.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Ademola Lookman of Atletico de Madrid is shown a yellow card by referee Daniel Siebert during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Atletico de Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 18, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) — Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

UEFA have confirmed on their website that Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg match against Atletico Madrid will be refereed by an all-German officiating team.

Daniel Siebert will be the referee on the night, assisted by Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn, with Tobias Stieler as the fourth official.

Then Bastian Dankert will be on VAR, with Robert Schroder as the assistant VAR to complete the team of officials.

BODO, NORWAY - FEBRUARY 18: Referee Daniel Siebert looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images) — Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images

Siebert has refereed both teams on three previous occasions, with Arsenal having the better of the results so far.

Atletico lost to Liverpool, drew with Manchester City, and lost to Tottenham Hotspur during Siebert’s three matches officiating them, with the ref showing Antoine Griezmann a red card in the Liverpool game and awarding a penalty to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Siebert also gave Spurs a penalty in their 3-2 win in March, but it’s worth remembering that Spurs’ win on the night was actually a defeat on aggregate.

As for Arsenal, Siebert refereed the Gunners’ 3-1 Europa League knockout win over Olympiacos, the 3-0 Champions League group stage win over GNK Dinamo, and the 1-0 quarter-final win over Sporting in April. But he didn’t award any penalties or red cards in those matches.

Referee Danny Makkelie checks the VAR screen before overturning a penalty to Arsenal for a foul by David Hancko of Atletico de Madrid — Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Arsenal fans will just be hoping for fair officiating this week, having seen David Hancko inexplicably avoid a red card for a last-man foul in the first leg, before having Eberechi Eze’s penalty overturned for no good reason.

But it’s always good to have some positive omens ahead of a big game, and Siebert’s record refereeing the two clubs is a good sign on that front.

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