Two referees from Northern Ireland will be officiating at this year’s UEFA U17 Euros in Hungary.
Jamie Robinson is among eight referees from across Europe to be chosen by UEFA to take charge of matches at the 16-team tournament.
And Adam Jeffrey will be one of 12 assistant referees officiating at the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament, which is being staged in stadiums across Hungary from 17 May to 2 June.
Jeffrey was chosen by the Irish FA as eight of the 12 ARs are appointed by the referees’ national associations. The others have been chosen by UEFA, which has also appointed four fourth officials.
Trevor Moutray, Head of Refereeing at the Irish FA, said: “For the Irish Football Association to get an official to a UEFA final tournament is a great achievement.”
This will be the Northern Ireland representatives’ first appearance at a major UEFA tournament. Both, however, have officiated at mini Euro qualification tournaments in the past.
Robinson has been on the FIFA list of referees for the past four years.
Now aged 28, the Belfast man started refereeing at the age of 14. He was promoted to intermediate level in 2012 aged 17 before moving up to NIFL Championship level at 19.
The Queen’s University student - he is currently studying for a degree in economics - attended the UEFA Centre of Refereeing Excellence in 2017.
After making his NIFL Premiership debut in 2017, he was subsequently promoted to the Premiership panel of referees in 2018 before becoming a FIFA international referee in 2020 at the age of 25.
Adam Jeffrey, from Omagh, started refereeing in 2013 at the age of 19.
He began his career as an assistant referee when joining the Championship panel in the 2014-15 season. He made his top flight debut in September 2016 and was promoted to the Premiership panel in 2017-18. He has now officiated in almost 200 games at Premiership level.
Jeffrey, who attended the UEFA Centre of Refereeing Excellence in 2019, has been a FIFA assistant referee since 2021.
Other highlights in the 29-year-old’s career include being an AR at the 2020 League Cup final and at the 2021 Irish Cup final.
England, Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland have all qualified for the U17 Euros. The other 12 nations taking part are: hosts Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Italy, Slovenia, Portugal, France (holders), Germany, Croatia, Netherlands and Switzerland.
The venues for the tournament include Hidegkuti Nandor Stadium in Budapest, which will host four group games, a quarter-final and the final.
Two stadiums in Debrecen - Nagyerdei Stadium and DEAC Stadium – are being used as well along with stadiums in Felcsut, Budaors, Telki and Balmazujvaros.
