UEFA has revealed the refereeing team for Celtic’s upcoming Europa League dead-rubber in Germany tomorrow night against VfB Stuttgart…
The Hoops head into Thursday’s second leg at the MHP Arena facing a monumental challenge after losing the first leg 4-1 last week at Celtic Park, leaving Martin O’Neill’s men with a significant deficit to overturn.
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Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid is shown a red card by Referee Irfan Peljto during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
UEFA.com confirm match officials for VfB Stuttgart v Celtic match
Bosnian official Irfan Peljto has been selected to take charge of proceedings on the pitch. He will be supported by assistants Senad Ibrisimbegovic and Davor Beljo, while Milos Gigovic has been appointed as the fourth official.
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Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande looks on during the Copa Del Rey Quarter Final match between Valencia CF and Athletic Club at Estadio Mestalla on January 26, 2023 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
In the VAR room, Spanish referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande has been appointed and will assisted by compatriot Guillermo Cuadra Fernández.
Peljto is no stranger to Scottish clubs in European competition. He previously refereed Celtic’s 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in Bergamo in October 2024. The official also referee’d the Ibrox club’s 2-0 Europa League loss to Athletic Club last season, as well as Union Saint-Gilloise’s victory over the Ibrox side in 2022.
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Celtic release statement after Trusty red card appeal kicked out by SFA
In other news, Celtic have released another statement, this time disappointed by the outcome of Austin Trusty’s appeal being rejected.
The Celtic FC statement reads: “With regards to the outcome of today’s hearing regarding Auston Trusty, the club provides the following update:”
“We are hugely disappointed at today’s decision, which will now result in Auston Trusty being suspended for three matches after an “arm to arm” contact as he looked to release himself from being held prior to the ball coming into play – the kind of incident which features in games across the country week in week out.”
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Martin O’Neill arrives at Celtic Park ahead of the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic FC and VfB Stuttgart at Celtic Park on February 19, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
“The match audio demonstrates that the referee saw the incident clearly. Immediately following the incident, the referee said: “It’s nothing I’m just going to speak to them” in terms of no further action being required. In discussions with Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill after the match, this was something he also confirmed.”
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“However, VAR again decided to intervene to ‘re-referee’ an initial decision which had been made.”
“While we await the written judgement, this and other decisions in the match and in other recent games demonstrate a serious issue with VAR and its current deployment which needs urgently reviewed.”
Auston Trusty and Miguel Chaiwa. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 22 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock
The American will now miss games against theRangers, Aberdeen and Motherwell so will be a certainty to start in Germany tomorrow night.
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