Albanian official Enea Jorgji has been appointed as referee for Sunderland’s Europa League fixture with Portuguese Cup winners Torreense on Thursday.
The 42-year-old will take charge of his third European fixture of the campaign when he oversees the Black Cats’ clash with the Portuguese second tier outfit - although this will be his first in this season’s Europa League. Jorgji was named as a referee for Copenhagen’s Conference League qualifying win at Hungarian side Debrecen and a play-off tie in the same competition between Icelandic side Vikingur and FK Borac Banja Luka of Bosnia Herzegovina.
Albanian referee Enea Jorgji will be the lead official for Sunderland's Europa League meeting with Torreense.placeholder image
Albanian referee Enea Jorgji will be the lead official for Sunderland's Europa League meeting with Torreense. | Getty Images.
There could be something of a warning sign for Sunderland and Torreense as Jorgji seems only too willing to hand out yellow, red cards and penalties this season. During the six games he has officiated this season, the man that has been a FIFA referee since 2012 has dished out 27 cautions, two red cards and has awarded five penalties, four of which came in just two Albanian Super League fixtures. According to TransferMarkt, Jorgji has refereed 465 matches during his career, handing out 2,191 yellow cards (an average of 4.7 per game), 101 red cards (one every 4.6 games) and awarding 156 penalties (one every 2.98 games).
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Jorgji has officiated two fixtures involving English clubs after he was the man in the middle for West Ham United’s penalty shoot-out win at Maltese club Birkikara in a Europa League tie in 2015 and Aston Villa’s goalless draw at Ajax in a Conference League last-16 first leg clash just over two years ago.
The Echo’s Europa League coverage is sponsored by Renewable Energy Management Ltd, a leading provider of comprehensive renewable energy solutions based in the North East of England.placeholder image
The Echo’s Europa League coverage is sponsored by Renewable Energy Management Ltd, a leading provider of comprehensive renewable energy solutions based in the North East of England. | Renewable Energy Management Ltd.
UEFA have also confirmed Jorgji’s fellow countrymen Denis Rexha and Ridiger Çokaj have been appointed as his assistants for the tie and two more Albanians are also on the team of officials after Juxhin Xhaja and Albert Doda were named as fourth official and VAR assistant. Italy’s Daniele Doveri will oversee VAR duties with Scotland’s Kenneth Clark appointed as UEFA’s referee observer and Belgian Thibault De Gendt will be the UEFA delegate for the fixture.