Miloš Milanović leads a Serbian referee team in Lugano

Serbian referee Miloš Milanović will lead the Lugano and Maccabi Tel Aviv match on 20 August. The fixture opens their two-match Conference League playoff. Every official in the six-person team comes from Serbia.

Milan Pašajlić and Svetozar Živin will work as assistant referees. Pavle Ilić is the fourth official. Aleksandar Živković leads the video review team with assistant Dejan Trifković.

UEFA appointed six Serbian match officials

UEFA assigned all six positions to officials from Serbia. Milanović works in the centre and controls decisions on the field. Pašajlić and Živin follow play from the two touchlines. Ilić supports substitutions, technical areas, and communication as fourth official. Živković monitors all video review operations from the dedicated room. Trifković assists him during possible checks.

A full national team reduces language differences inside referee communication. Every member already understands the shared terminology. Their separate responsibilities still require precise messages during fast incidents. The appointment covers one match rather than the entire two-match playoff. Another referee team will handle the return match. Decisions from both games contribute to the final combined result.

Milanović makes the main decisions on the field. The central referee manages fouls, disciplinary action, restarts, and match time. He also receives information from assistants and video officials. Final on-field decisions remain his responsibility under competition rules. Milanović has recent experience from demanding Serbian fixtures. He led the 179th league derby between Red Star and Partizan. European assignments have also expanded his work outside domestic football.

Milos Milanovic gives a decision during a match.

An opening playoff match requires control without assumptions about the return match. Players protect their qualification chances across 180 minutes.

Early disciplinary decisions may influence the remaining contest. Referee performance is measured through decisions and match management. Previous appointments provide experience but no automatic assessment. The Lugano match supplies a separate test on 20 August.

Two assistant referees monitor the touchlines

Pašajlić and Živin judge offside positions and ball exits from opposite sides. Their movement follows the second-last defender during attacking phases. They also report incidents outside Milanović's view. Offside decisions may enter video review after a goal. The assistant still follows the complete action before raising a delayed flag. That procedure protects a possible scoring sequence from an early interruption.

Touchline work also includes substitutions and nearby fouls. Communication equipment links both assistants with Milanović. Short, exact information supports a quick response. Pašajlić and Živin have previously worked with Milanović in Serbia. Familiar cooperation helps positioning and communication. It does not remove the requirement for an independent decision on each incident.

Two Serbian referees operate the video review system

Aleksandar Živković serves as the main video assistant referee. Dejan Trifković supports him during reviews. Their screens provide several camera angles for listed match-changing situations. Video review focuses on goals, penalties, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. It does not replace every judgement made during open play. A clear error normally starts an intervention.

Milanović may receive a recommendation through his headset. Some situations end after a factual check, while others require an on-field review. The central referee then examines the selected footage. Clear communication limits unnecessary delay during a review.

The Serbian referee team includes two assistant referees.

The video team describes the incident and relevant frame. The final public signal comes from Milanović on the field.

Pavle Ilić monitors both team benches

Pavle Ilić serves as the fourth official beside both team benches. He checks substitutions and equipment before players enter. He also monitors conduct inside the technical areas. Added-time information reaches him through the referee team. Ilić then displays the minimum number of extra minutes. The central referee may extend play further after later delays.

His position provides direct contact with coaching staffs. Calm explanations help reduce confusion without creating a long debate. Serious misconduct is reported to Milanović. The fourth official also acts as the replacement for an injured referee. That possibility requires complete preparation before kickoff. His work continues even when television coverage shows little of it.

The opening match begins a two-match qualifier. Lugano hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv in the opening playoff match. The tie determines one place in the Conference League phase. The return fixture will settle any unresolved aggregate score. UEFA no longer uses away goals in these qualifiers. Results from the two matches produce one combined score. A level combined score leads to extra time and possibly penalties.

That format changes the meaning of one opening-match advantage. The first result provides an advantage without completing qualification. Both clubs retain another scheduled match. Referees apply the rules of the current game rather than protect a preferred aggregate outcome.

Match time, disciplinary records, and confirmed incidents transfer through the official competition process.

All six officials complete the same preparation process

All six officials attend the required meeting before the match. They review duties, communication words, and possible emergency replacements. Equipment checks follow the same agreed process. Assistants compare their movement with Milanović's expected position. The video team verifies camera access and communication with the field. Ilić confirms substitution and technical-area procedures. This work takes place before either club begins its public warm-up. It reduces avoidable confusion during the match. It does not determine any later decision in advance. The referee team then records official incidents after the final whistle. Match documents include disciplinary action, substitutions, and the result. UEFA receives those records through its competition system. The appointment adds European experience for Serbian referees.

Serbian referees regularly work domestic leagues and UEFA competitions. A playoff appointment places the team close to a main competition phase. The match therefore receives detailed administrative and technical preparation. Travel begins before the 20 August fixture. Officials inspect communication equipment and review competition instructions. A pre-match meeting confirms individual positions and emergency procedures. Their names and roles are already official. The match result remains unknown before kickoff. Reporting the appointment does not require a prediction about either club. Milanović leads the six-person team in Lugano. Pašajlić, Živin, Ilić, Živković, and Trifković complete the assignment. Their next assessment will come from the actual playoff match.