Saša Pukl
Saša Pukl is a Slovenian professional basketball referee and an international official licensed by the FIBA since the mid-1990s, widely regarded as one of the most experienced European referees in the Euroleague.
Career
Pukl began refereeing at a young age and entered professional officiating in Slovenia in the 1990s.He became a FIBA-licensed referee in 1995 and has since served in major international competitions over more than two decades.
Pukl's career spans domestic, regional and global competitions:
- He has been a recurring official at the EuroLeague, including six assignments at the Final Four stage.
- In the ABA League, Pukl has officiated for over twenty years.
- He has also been selected for high-profile assignments in continental championships and finals, including key matches in EuroCup competition.
- Pukl officiated at the 2012 Summer Olympics basketball tournament.
Notable games
Pukl has been involved in high-pressure and widely reported situations:- During a Liga ABA final game in Belgrade, Pukl made the decision to clear the arena due to fan disturbances — a rare measure reflecting strict enforcement of game control and safety standards.
- He has been at the center of intense on-court reactions, including technical fouls on notable players during EuroLeague contests.
EuroLeague Final Four appearances
Pukl has officiated in the following EuroLeague Final Four tournaments:- 2007 EuroLeague Final Four – Officiated at the 2007 Final Four in Athens, Greece.
- 2015 EuroLeague Final Four – Served as one of the referees during the 2015 Final Four in Madrid, Spain.
- 2019 EuroLeague Final Four – Assigned as a referee at the 2019 Final Four in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
- 2021 EuroLeague Final Four – Officiated at the 2021 Final Four in Cologne, Germany.
- 2022 EuroLeague Final Four – Selected among the officiating crew for the 2022 Final Four.
- 2023 EuroLeague Final Four – Took part in the 2023 Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania.