UEFA have officially confirmed the refereeing appointments for the third round of Champions League fixtures, and Newcastle United’s clash with Benfica at St James’ Park has drawn familiar and controversial names.
Szymon Marciniak of Poland will take charge of the game, while his compatriot Tomasz Kwiatkowski will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
For Newcastle fans, those names immediately stir memories of a painful night in Paris two years ago when the Magpies were controversially denied a famous win over PSG in the dying minutes of the match.
Back in November 2023, during Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain, the pair found themselves at the heart of one of the most talked-about VAR incidents of the Champions League season.
In the sixth minute of added time, Kwiatkowski advised Marciniak to review a potential handball by Tino Livramento. The ball had ricocheted off Livramento’s torso before brushing his elbow, a clear case of accidental contact.
However, VAR deemed it deliberate, arguing that Livramento had “made his body bigger” and “created a barrier.” Following that review, Marciniak awarded PSG a penalty, which Kylian Mbappé duly converted to snatch a 1-1 draw.
The decision caused outrage among Newcastle supporters and neutral fans alike. It was widely condemned by pundits, journalists, and even former referees, who agreed that the call was wrong.
The outcry was so intense that UEFA removed Kwiatkowski from his next scheduled VAR duty a Champions League game between Real Sociedad and FC Salzburg less than 24 hours later. He was replaced by German official Marco Fritz.
ESPN at the time described UEFA’s decision as a response to a “controversial and incorrect intervention,” noting that Livramento’s arm position was a natural result of his movement and not an attempt to block the ball.
That moment arguably changed the course of Newcastle’s Champions League journey. The Magpies had been moments away from a historic win in Paris that would have put them in a commanding position to qualify from the so-called “Group of Death,” featuring PSG, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan.
Instead, the penalty left Newcastle vulnerable, and they ultimately exited the competition at the group stage. PSG advanced and went as far as the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Dortmund.
Many still believe that, had that penalty not been given, it might have been Newcastle not PSG who progressed.
Now, almost two years later, both Marciniak and Kwiatkowski are set to return to officiate a Newcastle game again and not just one of them, but both together. It’s hard for fans not to feel uneasy, especially given the stakes.
This will only be Newcastle’s fourth Champions League match since that infamous night in Paris, and for these two officials to be involved again feels like a cruel twist of fate.
UEFA’s official list confirms the full Polish officiating team for the Newcastle vs Benfica encounter. Marciniak will be assisted by Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik, with Paweł Raczkowski serving as fourth official.
Kwiatkowski will be joined by Spanish official César Soto Grado as Assistant VAR. Norwegian Terje Hauge will oversee the refereeing performance, while Antonio Talarico of Italy will act as UEFA delegate.
For context, Szymon Marciniak is regarded as one of Europe’s top referees, having officiated both the 2022 World Cup final and the 2023 Champions League final.
However, that reputation has done little to ease the tension among Newcastle fans, who still remember his decision in Paris. Likewise, Tomasz Kwiatkowski’s involvement reignites old wounds, as his controversial intervention was the catalyst for the entire VAR fiasco.
Many Newcastle supporters are already voicing their concerns on social media, calling for fair officiating and consistency from UEFA’s top officials.
There’s a lingering sense of injustice that a refereeing mistake two years ago cost them a fair shot at history. Tuesday night’s game against Benfica will therefore carry an extra layer of emotional weight.
All eyes will be on how Marciniak and Kwiatkowski handle proceedings, with fans hoping this time the focus stays on the football, not on the officials.
UEFA’s announcement confirms the match details for the Champions League’s third round of fixtures in the 2025/26 season.
The game between Newcastle United and Benfica will take place at St James’ Park on October 21, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET.
| Match | Newcastle United (ENG) vs Benfica (POR) |
|---|---|
| Venue | St James’ Park |
| Date | 21 October 2025 |
| Kick-off Time | 21:00 CET |
| Referee | Szymon Marciniak (POL) |
| Assistant Referees | Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL), Adam Kupsik (POL) |
| Fourth Official | Paweł Raczkowski (POL) |
| VAR | Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL) |
| Assistant VAR | César Soto Grado (ESP) |
| Referee Observer | Terje Hauge (NOR) |
| UEFA Delegate | Antonio Talarico (ITA) |
This fixture not only represents a crucial step in Newcastle’s European campaign but also a chance for redemption both for the club and for the officials who made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Whether this reunion will pass without controversy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: every decision will be under the microscope.
