The UEFA Referees Committee today announced the referee for the 2013 UEFA Europa League final between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC, to be played at the Amsterdam ArenA on Wednesday 15 May at 20.45CET.

The match will be refereed by 40-year-old Dutch referee Björn Kuipers, who has been an international referee since 2006. He took charge of the 2011 UEFA Super Cup in Monaco between FC Barcelona and FC Porto and also officiated for two matches of UEFA EURO 2012.

Björn Kuipers has handled 15 UEFA Europa League (including former UEFA Cup) matches to date, one of which was this season – the round of 32 return leg between Liverpool FC and FC Zenit St Petersburg (3-1).

He has also officiated at 25 UEFA Champions League matches since the 2006/07 season.

At the final in Amsterdam, Björn Kuipers will be assisted by his fellow countrymen Sander van Roekel and Erwin Zeinstra. The fourth official will be Felix Brych from Germany and the two additional assistant referees, Pol van Poekel and Richard Liesveld from the Netherlands. A Dutch reserve assistant referee – Berry Simons – completes the line-up of the refereeing team.