Who is Chris Kavanagh, the referee for the Galatasaray vs Stuttgart match?

In Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League league phase, Galatasaray will host Bundesliga side Stuttgart. The match will be refereed by English official Chris Kavanagh. The encounter will be played at Rams Park on Tuesday, 3 November, at 20:45.

Kavanagh was born on 4 September 1985 in Manchester, England. He started refereeing at the age of 13 and, after gaining experience in the lower leagues, joined the Premier League referee list in 2017. He officiated his first Premier League match in April 2017, a game between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton.

In 2012 the referee worked National League matches, and in the 2014/2015 season he officiated Football League fixtures. He received a FIFA badge in 2019. In 2020 he refereed the UEFA Youth League final, and in 2024 he was the center referee in the English League Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Promoted to UEFA's elite referee category in December 2025, Kavanagh gained the right to referee qualifying-round matches in Europe's top club competitions. He was also named to England's roster on the 2026 FIFA referee list.