Saša Pukl

Saša Pukl (25 October 1970, Maribor) 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. 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.