Romanian football officiating continues its impressive run at UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, with Alina Peșu and Iuliana Demetrescu entrusted with pivotal group stage matches. Peșu leads the referee team for the Norway vs. Iceland showdown tonight at 22:00 on Stockhorn Arena in Thun, marking her second appointment after overseeing the tournament’s Swiss opener. The Romanian-led crew includes assistant referees Daniela Constantinescu (Romania) and Svitlana Hrushko (Ukraine), fourth official Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria), with Katrin Rafalski (Germany) as VAR and support from Romanian Cătălin Popa[2][3].
Meanwhile, Iuliana Demetrescu returns to the pitch tomorrow for the high-stakes Italy vs. Spain clash at Wankdorf Stadium, Berna, also at 22:00. Demetrescu will be assisted by Elena Mihaela Țepușă (Romania) and Franca Overtoom (Netherlands), with Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary) as fourth official. VAR duties fall to Dennis Johan Higler (Netherlands) and Tamas Bognar (Hungary). This marks her second EURO assignment after handling Spain vs. Portugal[2][4].
**Context and Significance**
The presence of two Romanian “center referees” at the tournament—both receiving multiple appointments—highlights the growing confidence in Romanian officiating at continental level. Their selection underscores a broader trend: UEFA’s commitment to diversifying and professionalizing women’s football officiating through multi-national teams and experienced VAR setups[1][3]. With both Peșu and Demetrescu overseeing games featuring strong contenders, their performances could have significant implications for group standings and tournament dynamics.
**Insight**
Romania’s strong representation in key fixtures reflects both personal achievement and the rising status of Eastern European referees in major UEFA competitions.