Chris Kavanagh has been promoted to the UEFA elite list of referees, joining fellow English officials Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor at the highest level of European officiating.
The promotion means England will have three referees on UEFA’s elite list for the first time in eight years. The last time this happened was during the second half of the 2017–18 season, when Oliver and Taylor were joined by Martin Atkinson. That period was short-lived, as Atkinson retired from international refereeing at the end of the season, aged 47, although he continued officiating in the Premier League for a further four years.
Kavanagh’s elevation allows him to referee matches in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, marking a significant step in his officiating career. The elite group is reserved for officials trusted with UEFA’s biggest club and international fixtures.
The move has also prompted renewed discussion about Taylor’s future. Now 47, Taylor previously told BBC Sport in October that he was uncertain how long he would continue refereeing at the top level, acknowledging the physical demands of the role. He said his main aim was to help England have “two refereeing teams at the World Cup”.
Across Europe, Germany continues to lead the elite category with four referees, while England now matches France, Italy and Spain with three each. However, England still trails other major nations overall when elite and first-list referees are combined.
John Brooks remains England’s sole official on UEFA’s first list, leaving the country with four referees across the top two tiers. Germany has seven officials across those categories, while France and Spain have six and Italy five.
