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Orel Grinfeeld

Orel Grinfeld is an Israeli football referee who has been on the FIFA list of international referees since 2012.

born 1981Refereeing Champions League matchesFirst Israeli referee at European ChampionshipFirst Israeli in UEFA's 25-referee group

Born: 21 August 1981, Kiryat Yam
Occupation: association football referee

Orel Grinfeeld was born in 1981 in Kiryat Yam

Orel Grinfeld was born on 21 August 1981 and grew up in Kiryat Yam. He joined the Israeli referees' association in 1997.

After his army service in the armored corps reconnaissance unit, he began further service in the Yasam police unit. He left it when refereeing clashed with his advancement there.

He began refereeing in the Israeli Premier League in 2008. In 2010 he passed a course for young referees in Europe with distinction, and in 2012 he joined the FIFA list. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in 2018, in a group stage match between Real Madrid and Viktoria Plzeň.

In December 2019 he became the first Israeli in UEFA's group of 25 referees who handle Champions League, Europa League, European Championship and World Cup matches. He was the first Israeli to referee a Champions League knockout stage match, between Lazio and Bayern Munich. On 17 June 2021 he refereed Netherlands against Austria at the European Championship, the first Israeli to referee at that tournament.

He holds a bachelor's degree in social sciences and humanities with a focus on criminology, and he lectures on football. He lives in Rishon LeZion.

Milestones in Orel Grinfeeld's life

1981
Born on 21 August.
1997
Joined the Israeli referees' association.
2008
Began refereeing in the Israeli Premier League.
2010
Passed a young referees' course in Europe with distinction.
2012
Joined the FIFA list of international referees.
2018
Refereed his first Champions League match, Real Madrid against Viktoria Plzeň.
2019
Became the first Israeli in UEFA's group of 25 referees.
2021
Refereed Netherlands against Austria at the European Championship.