Experienced referee Alex Chilowicz will be officiating Bristol Rovers' Vertu Trophy Round Of 16 fixture against Plymouth Argyle in the Vertu Trophy.
Chilowicz has had an exceptional career so far, refereeing 104 Major League Soccer (MLS) matches between 2017 and 2023, with his debut match coming between Colorado Rapids and D.C. United in Commerce City.
Following the 2023 MLS season, Chilowicz relocated to England and, in December 2023, became one of the first non-British referees to officiate a football league match, with Mansfield Town beating Sutton United 2-0.
The 38-year-old also has experience with Premier League fixtures and has been a video assistant referee 26 times in the top tier of English football, with nine games this season.
Chilowicz has refereed 19 games in five competitions in the 2025/26 season, with his last game coming in a goalless draw between Bolton Wanderers and Northampton Town in Sky Bet League One earlier this month.
He has only refereed one Rovers fixture in his career, with the Gas beating Northampton Town on the opening day of last season, thanks to a late Bryant Bilongo winner. Chilowicz has only officiated one Plymouth fixture, with the Pilgrims losing to local rivals Exeter City this campaign.
He will be joined by Declan O'Shea and Thomas Harty as Assistant Referees and Joseph Larkin as the Fourth Official.
