UEFA has appointed Turkish referee Halil Umut Mehler for Benfica-Salzburg and Dutch referee Serdar Gözübüyük for Sporting Braga-Naples for the first round of the Champions League group stage, it was announced on Monday.
Halil Umut Meler, 37, will lead the all-Turkish refereeing team at the Estádio da Luz, which also includes Mustafa Eisoy and Kerem Ersoy as assistants, and Arda Kardesler as the fourth official. Alper Ulusoy and Abdulkadir Bitigen will perform in VAR.
The Turkish referee returns to Luz after overseeing the second leg of the Champions League last 16 between Benfica and Belgian side Club Brugge last season, which the Reds won 5-1.
Benfica host Austria’s Salzburg on Wednesday at 20:00 at the Estadio da Luz in a Group D first-round game that also includes Real Sociedad hosting title runners-up Inter Milan .
UEFA has nominated 37-year-old Dutchman Serdar Gözübüyük to host Sporting Braga against Italy’s Naples in the first round of Group C, also on Wednesday at 20:00.
Serdar Gözübüyük’s assistants will be compatriots Erwin Zeinstra and Johan Balder, and the fourth referee will be Mark Nagtegaal. VAR will include Dennis Higler and Rob Dieperink.