Cristian Balaj
| Full name | Pavel Cristian Balaj | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
17 August 1971 Baia Mare, Romania |
||
| Other occupation | Company manager | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1994–2016 | Romania | Referee | |
| 2000–2016 | Liga I | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2003–2016 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Pavel Cristian Balaj (born 17 August 1971 in Baia Mare, Maramureș County, Romania) is a Romanian former football player and retired referee.
On 18 January 2019, Balaj was elected Romanian Anti-Doping Agency President. Subsequently, on 4 November 2021, Balaj signed with Liga I 4 times champion club CFR Cluj as their new president, after the departure of Marian Copilu earlier in 2021.
Career
As a player, Balaj represented FC Baia Mare and Pécsi Mecsek FC. He became a referee in 1994, entered Romania's Liga I in 2000, and earned FIFA certification in 2003.
At international level, Balaj has served as a referee in qualifying rounds for Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, as well as 2010 and 2014 World Cup qualifiers.