News Focus
- Sven Jablonski will officiate the DFB-Pokal final on May 23
- This marks the 36-year-old’s first appointment for a German Cup final
- The match features record champions FC Bayern Munich against cup holders VfB Stuttgart
- VAR officials will work on-site at the stadium for the first time
- The kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 local time at the Olympic Stadium
The German Football Association has selected the match officials for the DFB-Pokal final. Sven Jablonski will take charge of the clash between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart.
This appointment is a major milestone for the 36-year-old. He will officiate his first German Cup final. The announcement comes less than two weeks before the match in Berlin.
Jablonski recently achieved a personal landmark. He took charge of his 125th Bundesliga game last Sunday. That match was between 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Heidenheim.
A team of seven officials will support the final. Sascha Thielert and Eduard Beitinger will serve as assistant referees on the touchlines. Frank Willenborg will act as the fourth official, while Eric Müller will perform duties as the fifth official.
The video assistant referee team will also be present. Sören Storks and Christian Fischer will handle VAR duties. For the first time, they will work from inside the stadium in Berlin. Normally, VAR teams operate from the Video Assistant Centre in Cologne.
Jablonski shared his thoughts on the appointment. He said it is a huge honour to referee this final. He noted that his team views the DFB-Pokal final as a major highlight. They are looking forward to a special night of football in the capital.
The final is set for May 23. The match will begin at 20:00 local time. Bayern Munich will face defending champions VfB Stuttgart at the Olympic Stadium.