A REFEREE who was hit with a six-match ban this season will take charge of Chelsea’s Conference League final against Real Betis.
Irfan Peljto will become the first Bosnian to officiate a major Uefa club competition final on Wednesday.
The clash sees Chelsea looking to become the first-ever club to win all three European titles.
But Betis will prove to be their toughest test yet, with Premier League flops including Antony, Pablo Fornals and Gio Lo Celso shining under ex-Man City title winner Manuel Pellegrini.
Enzo Maresca’s men will have to be at their best just days after securing Champions League football with a fourth-place domestic finish.
However, their fate could end up in the hands of Peljto, who oversaw Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg win over Real Madrid in April.
The 40-year-old is held in high regard by Uefa, having also taken charge of a further six Champions League matches and four Europa League clashes this term.
However, back in his native Bosnia, Peljto was banned for six matches after overseeing an error-strewn game.
He was found guilty of making three major mistakes, with two errors involving his failure to award clear penalties.
September’s 1-1 derby draw between bitter rivals Zrinjski Mostar and Borac Banja caused plenty of controversy, with the Bosnian FA declaring both sides should have been awarded penalties on separate occasions.
A damning statement declared: “In the 25th minute, the referee, although very well positioned and with a clear view of the incident, failed to recognise an obvious foul and award a penalty kick to FK Borac.
“In the 26th minute, the referee, although well positioned, failed to award a direct free kick for the away team after a clear foul which led to a goal for the home team.
“In the 90th+5 minute, the referee failed to award a clear penalty kick for Zrinjski too.”
Despite his previous ban, Peljto believes his selection for the Conference League final is a huge boost for Bosnian football.
He told Uefa: “We are living a dream. To receive the call was very emotional. It’s an honour not only for my career, but to bring the flag of my small country under the European spotlight is a very proud moment.
“I hope it is also a moment for the future of referees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that young referees have this positive perspective on refereeing, and that we have created a path for them.”
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