Jesús Gil Manzano, Daniele Orsato, and big associations lobby in Nyon

Reading the appointment of Daniele Orsato for Real Madrid - Manchester City was essentially cursory. Reading the appointment of Jesús Gil Manzano for Olympique Lyonnais - Juventus, I checked twice to see if I were mis-reading it! Congratulations to both on great appointments, first of all.

Those two names beside each other for Wednesday's games give us a nice chance for reflection. What can we read into Gil Manzano's appointment, how Orsato's story that is four years older will have a happy ending, and the bigger picture - how much is the power of big associations lobby in Nyon a threat to meritocracy in UEFA refereeing?

Daniele Orsato during the PSV Eindhoven - Atlético de Madrid game
Italian's appointment in 2016 was viewed as surprising or unexpected

Europa League 2019/20 - Round of 32 - Referee Appointments (II)

UEFA Referees Committee has chosen the following officials to handle the second leg games to be played for Round of 32 of 2019/20 Europa League.

Champions League 2019/20 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (First Leg, IV)

The last set of referee appointments for 2019-20 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 - First legs. 

Champions League 2019/20 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (First Leg, III)

Third set of referee appointments for 2019-20 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 - First legs. 

What is Clear and Obvious, Mr. Rosetti?

Perhaps the view that crucial mistakes and decisions that were correctly supported by VAR should be mutually exclusive is, perhaps, a bit quixotic, but UEFA's direction regarding evaluation of Violent Conducts and Serious Foul Play has worried us this season.

Last night, in Bruges, we reached a new nadir.

Europa League 2019/20 - Round of 32 - Referee Appointments (I)

UEFA Referees Committee has chosen the following officials to handle the first leg games to be played for Round of 32 of 2019/20 Europa League.

Champions League 2019/20 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (First Leg, II)

Referee appointments for Wednesday's games of 2019-20 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, First Legs.