Celtic v FC Utrecht – UEFA match officials, tickets update

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The Celtic Star

·27 January 2026

Celtic v FC Utrecht – UEFA match officials, tickets update

UEFA has confirmed the match officials for the Celtic v FC Utrecht Europa League match on Thursday evening, which is the final match in the group stages for both sides…

Celtic FC line up during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

FC Utrecht has endured a dismal campaign in the Europa League and are already eliminated with just one point while Celtic need to win the match to guarantee progression to the play-off round and would could be quite a glamorous tie.

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The on-field match officials for this one all come from Finland while the VAR team are from Italy.

Referee, Mohammad Al-Emara talks to Emre Kilinc of Samsunspor FC and Silvan Widmer of 1. FSV Mainz 05 during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Samsunspor FC at Mainz Arena on December 18, 2025 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

The Finnish delegation of match officials is headed by referee Mohammad Al-Emara and he will be assisted by countrymen Turkka Valjakka and Mika Lamppu who will be running the Lins while the fourth official will be Peiman Simani.

The two Italian officials on VAR duties will be Gianluca Aureliano (VAR) and Marco Di Bello (Assistant VAR).

Mohammad Al-Emara had the whistle in the Hibs v Legia Warsaw match in the Conference League qualifier at the start of the season.

Martin O’Neill -Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic, Scottish Cup 4th Round, Rugby Park. Sunday 18 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou ( The Celtic Star)

Martin O’Neill will speak to the media tomorrow ahead of the game which comes on the back of two gruelling, energy sapping 2-2 draws with Celtic reduced to ten men on each occasion.

Reo Hatate of Celtic FC during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD7 match between Bologna FC 1909 and Celtic FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on January 22, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Reo Hatate saw red in Bologna last Thursday after collecting two quick-fire cautions in the first half at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. He paid the price by being unused substitute at Tynecastle on Sunday where Auston Trusty was sent off on 75 minutes after a disgraceful attempt at re-refereeing the game by VAR John Beaton.

Celtic are appealing that decision with the heading taking place this afternoon.

Celtic supporters at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Bologna 2 Celtic 2. Thursday 22 January 2025. Photo Conor Spence (The Celtic Star)

Tickets for the Utrecht v Celtic match on Thursday evening are still available via the official Celtic FC website.

And a quick reminder…

It’s the last few days of the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…

Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?