2026 Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final match officials confirmed

Charlotte Carpenter has been appointed as the Referee for the 2026 Bute Energy Welsh Cup Final between Cardiff City and Swansea City. 

Carpenter will be assisted by Michelle Portelli and Rubie Bennett, while Erin Brennan is Fourth Official. 

It will be the second consecutive season that Carpenter is the Referee for the Final, while she acted as Fourth Official in 2024. The 37-year-old, who became the first woman from Wales to become an International Referee in 2016, has been a regular in the Genero Adran Premier this season. 

Portelli became a FIFA match official in January 2024 and is an Assistant Referee for the Final for the third consecutive season, while she also held the same role in last year’s Genero Adran Trophy Final.  

Bennett has impressively been appointed to the Final despite being just 19 years old. She was the Assistant Referee for last season’s Bute Energy U16s Cup Final and this term has refereed across both the women’s and men’s pyramids, including being Fourth Official at the Racecourse as Wrexham clinched the Genero Adran Premier title last month. 

Brennan is a former Genero Adran Premier goalkeeper – retiring two years ago following six seasons at Barry Town United. She has refereed in the Genero Adran South this term as well as carrying out Fourth Official duties in the top-flight – a role she was also appointed to in the Genero Adran Trophy Final. Brennan was the Referee for last season’s Bute Energy U16s Cup Final. 

Want to try refereeing for yourself? Get started with the FAW Referee Award today.

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