Novak (SLO) and Horvath (HUN) among the referees at the #EuroVolleyU18M

Marsicovetere/Lecce, Italy. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a serious lack of competition this year – not only for players but for referees as well, especially for the younger ones who are taking the first steps in their international career. Therefore, many of them are enjoying to the full their experience at #EuroVolleyU18M in Marsicovetere and Lecce. 

Despite the lack of spectators due to the protocols in place to prevent any spread of the novel coronavirus, the rising stars of European Volleyball are playing with much determination in the south of Italy – thus providing the appointed referees with much needed action time to hone and refresh their skills. Moreover, the referees can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the appointed Referee Delegates, including the President of the European Refereeing Commission, Luciano Gaspari (see picture above), and his colleagues Arturo Di Giacomo and Vladimir Cuk. 

The match officials will certainly have even more quality time later this week when the competition reaches its climax in Lecce, where the medals will be at stake. Moreover, finishing among the top six guarantees a spot at the 2021 edition of the U19 World Championship, so the competition will be fierce until the very end and the referees have to be ready for this. 

The referees officiating at the Pool I matches in Marsicovetere together with Referee Delegate Vladimir Cuk 

The group of referees currently officiating in Lecce includes Raquel Portela (POR), Antonio Correa Benitez (ESP), Christian Genitrini (ENG), Danica Viktorini-Lisa (SVK), Thien Khuc (BEL) and Antonella Verrascina (ITA). Over in Marsicovetere, the match officials are Maxim Berdnikov (RUS), Tomasz Janik (POL), Miklos Horvath (HUN), Gregor Novak (SLO), Daniel Apanowicz (GER) and Yves Kälin (SUI).

Source:
CEV – European Volleyball