Sidiropoulos bids farewell to refereeing: 'Blessed to have represented Greek officiating worldwide'

Tasos Sidiropoulos has officially concluded his active refereeing career, marking the end of a journey that took him from Greek pitches to the highest levels of European football. The 47-year-old referee was not included in the new Super League referee list, despite his request to complete the current season before his final departure.

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And so, quietly, among my own people, as I always wished, I closed the curtain on this unique journey. A long path full of intensity, life, challenges, joys, disappointments, dreams, mistakes, but also life lessons.

During his 17-year tenure in Greece's top division, the international referee from the Dodecanese officiated a total of 221 Super League matches and 20 Greek Cup games. He also represented Greek refereeing on the international stage, taking charge of 22 matches in the Champions League group stage, 27 in the Europa League, and eight in the Conference League. Additionally, he officiated 32 games in the Saudi Arabian league.

In a social media post, Sidiropoulos shared his gratitude for his experiences, stating he feels "blessed" to have had the opportunity to represent Greek refereeing globally. He emphasized that the most significant lesson he learned was that difficult decisions require courage and responsibility. He thanked the Hellenic Football Federation, FIFA, UEFA, his fellow referees, assistants, observers, and coaches, as well as the teams, players, coaches, and fans.

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When I started this journey, I couldn't imagine where it would lead me. From my first steps on Greek pitches to major European and international competitions, I lived experiences that exceeded all expectations. I met and worked with exceptional people, competed with great footballers on the biggest and most beautiful fields in the world.

"And so, quietly, among my own people, as I always wished, I closed the curtain on this unique journey. A long path full of intensity, life, challenges, joys, disappointments, dreams, mistakes, but also life lessons," Sidiropoulos wrote. "When I started this journey, I couldn't imagine where it would lead me. From my first steps on Greek pitches to major European and international competitions, I lived experiences that exceeded all expectations. I met and worked with exceptional people, competed with great footballers on the biggest and most beautiful fields in the world."

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Refereeing taught me that decisions must be made with courage, that pressure is part of the journey, and that respect is earned daily through one's work and behavior.

He added, "Refereeing taught me that decisions must be made with courage, that pressure is part of the journey, and that respect is earned daily through one's work and behavior. The biggest 'thank you' I owe to my family. To the people who stood by me every step of the way, through joys and difficulties, successes and moments of doubt. Without their love and support, none of this would have been possible. I leave full of gratitude, pride, and beautiful memories. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to represent Greek refereeing worldwide and to live moments that will stay with me forever."

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The biggest 'thank you' I owe to my family. To the people who stood by me every step of the way, through joys and difficulties, successes and moments of doubt. Without their love and support, none of this would have been possible.