Nations League
German referee Siebert will officiate Italy‑Belgium in Nations League
German referee Daniel Siebert has been appointed to officiate the Nations League match between Italy and Belgium, with colleague Bastian Dankert on the VAR. The game kicks off from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Friday at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CEST).
Referee profile Daniel Siebert
German referee Daniel Siebert is 42 years old and has been selected to oversee the Italy‑Belgium showdown. His career includes the Champions League final between Paris Saint‑Germain and Arsenal last season.
Siebert has already refereed two national team matches, a 3‑1 victory over Armenia in the European Championships of September 2019. The second match was a 6‑0 friendly win against Moldova in October 2020.
With Belgium, his record is more erratic: in October 2021 the side lost the Nations League semi‑final to France 3‑2. In the most recent game, Belgium converted two penalties for handling offences, both awarded by the VAR.
Nations League silence for Mazzola homage to Baresi vs Italy‑Belgium
The German VAR alongside
On the VAR team, German colleague Bastian Dankert will be assisted by Pascal Muller, also German. Both will operate in the VAR booth for Friday’s match.
A previous incident placed Siebert at the centre of a Champions League encounter: on 4 November 2025 in TURIN, ITALY, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu shook hands with Sporting CP’s Luis Suarez. The referee observed the scene during the UEFA Champions Phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, round MD4. The appointment was part of the same European competition, but it has no bearing on the upcoming clash.
On 21 October 2025, Siebert sent off Napoli’s Lorenzo Lucca during the Champions League MD3 match between PSV Eindhoven and Napoli. In December 2024, he observed the Bundesliga derby between Bayern München and RB Leipzig at the Allianz Arena in Munich. The referee role was assigned to Siebert on both occasions.
Friday’s encounter marks the opening of the Nations League group, where Italy, Belgium, France and Turkey will face each other. It is the national team’s first match in this tournament, with hopes for a positive start.