Career
As a player, Balaj represented Football Club Baia Mare and Pécsi Mecsek Football Club. He became a referee in 1994, entered Romania"s Liga I in 2000, and earned Fédération internationale de football association 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. Balaj was nominated 2008 for best Romanian Referee.
He drew criticism at the play offs europa league between PSV and Shakhtyor Soligorsk, when he interrupted a "one minute silence" for former PSV press officer Pedro Salazar, who died two days before, after fourteen seconds.