Wednesday 2 May 2018

Damir Skomina in AS Roma - FC Liverpool (discussion #2)

Damir Skomina's performance in AS Roma - FC Liverpool.
02.05.2018, 20:45 CET
Stadio Olimpico, Rome (ITA)
AS Roma - FC Liverpool
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Vukan (SVN)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Matej Jug (SVN)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Slavko Vinčič (SVN)
Fourth Official: Tomaž Klančnik (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Hamer (LUX)
UEFA Delegate: Ronald Zimmermann (GER)

125 comments:

  1. Management of referee appointments is one major area to be looked at... It was more than poor this KO stage!!

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    1. What could’ve been done better? The most elite elite referees were appointed yet here we are. What more could’ve been done? I genuinely want to know.

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    2. Well, most of people on this blog expected Kuipers, Brych and Cakir in semis, and particularly Kuipers and Cakir for Bayern-Real duel. And, we got them! The only question was Mazic or Skomina as forth. UEFA gave the best they had, but the refs were at (very) low level. If Collina would go for Turpin, Karasev, Collum for CL semifinals, in case of such mistakes, they would be crucified in all papers, blogs etc. and their dreams for something bigger would be over (e.g. Hategan made ONLY ONE, yes - very important mistake, and where is he now? I believe he will recover, but he lost his place to Russia, where he should be, and his place in big European matches for this year). Those mistakes from Cakir and Skomina were bigger and were numerous, but I don't think they will suffer. They have big credits.

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    3. Overall spreading of appointments was weird... Skomina management by Committee was absolutely appalling... Based on current form and everything, Skomina had to get the Final this time... Mazic was the one for Rome I felt... Either Skomina management not good in my view!!

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    4. @Teo The big credits had to be earned by Çakir and Skomina after years of hard work and consistent performances at the international level in big games, the credits didn't come for free... They are humans and are equally prone to one odd rough night in their career as any other referee and that doesn't necessarily mean they are finished and neither should they lose any credits... In past they have made strong comebacks numerous times let's not forget and they will again do so!!

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    5. After this performance, do you still think Skomina deserved CL final this year? I watched all his matches this year - this one was the only one where he was really challenged. All the rest were easy going matches... The problem is that almost the same I can say for Mazic. And maybe the most important thing is that he didn't get many high profile matches this year. We all knew what happened with Eriksson when he was saved for EL final (several crucial mistakes in Sevilla's PK area).

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    6. I didn't say they didn't earn credits. They did, so they won't suffer for those poor performances. I don't think something like this will ever happen to them.

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    7. They will suffer if performances are consistently poor... Just one poor performance can't get such an experienced campaigner totally out... You see Kassai and Eriksson, they got so many chances before being not anymore considered for big games... If the same goes on to happen for Brych, Kuipers, Cakir, Skomina, Mazic or anyone else then they will suffer the same fate... For one match nothing is lost!!

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    8. They do eventually feel the repercussions (Odvar Moen, Bebek, ect....). But it seems that the number of poor or controversial matches allowed is too vast. Well at least it is for my taste.
      I get it. After a single match no demotion should happen. However it should also depend on how poor the performance was. But even after a single poor match there has to at a minimum a strong admonishment.

      Personal drive and strive to be the best can only take a person so far. There has to be a little extra pressure/fear to ensure that referee's execute. The feeling that you are replaceable and that nothing is guaranteed.

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  2. Footage of the alleged "clear handball", please?? Apart from that, can't see any crucial mistake. One thing is for sure: Skomina's performance did not decide who goes through to the final.

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    1. Just because the team that was leading by three goals went through does not mean that his performance did not decide the finalist. Roma would’ve had a better shot at going through had he given that penalty and RC in the 64th minute.

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    2. Not even room for speculation in this case. Just watched the replay. It's a PK, no doubt, but never a RC. Keeper was standing on the goal line. So, your "theory" just fell apart. Skomina had no bearing whatsover on final outcome, unlike Çakir yesterday night.

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    3. It was very much a red card, even though the keeper was still behind. The ball was shot with such a speed I heavily doubt the GK would ever even touch it. Within 5 meters from the goal, using the hands to prevent a goal, that is with no doubt a red card. Skomina did a terrible job, by denying Roma two penalties and a red card for Alexander-Arnold. Moreover Florenzi deserved a red card with his tackle on Mané in the last phase of the game. Skomina did not perform well.

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    4. That's what I call a highly biased comment without any link to reality. Skomina missed one and only one penalty for Roma (64') and btw it is an extremely difficult one to spot (Roma players did not even protest). It is never a RC, as some experts have already pointed out. Keeper was on the goal line and that says it all. Skomina did not influence the outcome of the match by any means. I you want to pinpoint a "terrible" job you have to look at Çakir's performance on Tuesday deciding the finalist. It was an unfortunate night by his standards but not as bad as some are suggesting. I agree with the ones who are saying Skomina was a little bit under the weather as he knew he had been overlooked yet again for CL final, an appointment he already deserved last season.

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  3. Sorry again for the inconvenience about the maximum number of comments allowed in a discussion. Here, a new one.
    In my opinion the missed penalty for handball by Skomina is clear, but very difficult if not impossible to be detected.
    The whistled one in the last minute is wrong: arm is close to body, in natural position. I'm convinced that AAR just saw a touch by arm and reported it to Skomina. This can't work at high level.
    We expect more. VAR is the solution, but, as I said in the previous post, referees on the pitch didn't show great performances in this KO stage. A very bad signal, and again, I want to say a poor management of appointments.
    Skomina was for sure a candidate for CL final, after the game in Round of 16 he could have directly handled CL final. Where is the problem? Is there a reason for which this man can't get CL final?
    Of course, after this evening, it will be impossible.
    But I'm starting to think what will happen until next season?
    Everything can happen, he can lose motivations again, he can be more than disappointed for the missed chances two years in a row.
    What if Skomina wont return back at top level like the recent seasons? Is committee aware of that? I would like to know their plans. For now, and sorry for this long post, I think they spoiled a good referee for the final by a quite absurd management.
    Now, what is going to happen? Who will be the next?

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    1. "Is there a reason for which this man can't get CL final?" Indeed it is, and don't look for the answer in the committee...

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    2. Maybe they tried to save him for 2019 Final in Madrid... I noticed a huge change from the Skomina in Barcelona v Chelsea to the Skomina in Roma v Liverpool... The difference was a huge lack of concentration, alertness and motivation... And I think I know where the lack of motivation comes from!!

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    3. It´s unbelievable what Committee is doing to Skomina. At this moment he should be gearing up for CL final.

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    4. Soham, I agree with what you have written, except for the first sentence.. It's a bit strange to not appoint one of the best referees and in top form in the last two years just to "maybe" save him for the next year CL final.. It's not very logical.. many things happen in a year and Chefren very well outlined some of the concerns..

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    5. Of course that's just a speculation from my side on the Committee's thinking patterns, and obviously I personally don't agree with it at all... Before today Skomina had been having a good season so after the appointment at Barcelona in R16, it would be the best thing to give him the final in Kyiv... Often we have seen referees not being the same as before after one particular match... If something like that happens to Skomina after tonight, God forbid, then where will Committee turn to in 2019??

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  4. A catastrophe. One wrong penalty. 2 clearly missed penalties. No consistent line of foul detection. We have no reason anymore to pretend European refs are better than others. Especially the handball-calls have got to a level where we must talk about a ridicolous lottery. And we need VAR more than ever and def.for next season. If Collina & Co. refuse here, the Topclubs should start a revolution not sending their teams to the matches without VAR!

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    1. I completely agree. But isn’t that (the decision to implement VAR) up to the president of uefa who has said that VAR won’t be used any time soon (or something along those lines)?

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    2. I would say that I like the chances of Non-Euro referee's at the WC. But then I remember that Bussaca is still in charge. He's made his intentions clear time and time again. His mission to "Europeanize" the officiating at FIFA Competitions. Even though said Euro ref's are experiencing a low point.

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    3. @Sheriff Wanted to know from you which referees from other confederations do you think have a realistic chance if making it big in the WC and bigger than UEFA referees?? 🤔

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    4. Agree. It was a poor night for this crew all around. Not just the missed penalties and poor award for one at the end. Also the missed offside calls. I didn't know Skomina and his crew before this, but they had a ragged night.

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    5. Catastrophe today? So yesterday with Çakir was the apocalypse.

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    6. Soham,
      The thing is. Referee's don't have to compete directly against each other. Their "competition" are the matches they are assigned to and the evaluation that they receive by the match assessor. Further assigments or bigger assignments should be solely based on that.
      So it's not UEFA vs CONMEBOL or AFC vs CONCACAF. Or at least it shouldn't be that way.

      Now the candidates I see doing well from non UEFA Confederations are:
      AFC: Irmatov andFaghani. Sato, if he gets the opportunity to be on the pitch.

      CONMEBOL: Pitana, Ricci, Roldan and Bascunan. Cunha may be the surprise performer.

      OFC: N/A.

      CAF: N/A. However I do believe that Grisha may be a pleasant surprise.

      CONCACAF: Aguilar
      *Ramos is my fellow countryman, but he's not even the best referee in Liga MX. Garcia Orozco would definitely be a candidate for more had he been the one chosen. Ramos will do well, but I've seen too much of him and know his limitations. This is definitely one of the weakest/inexperienced group of referee's to represent CONCACAF at a WC in quite some time. No big hitters like Archundia, Batres, Brizio Carter or Rodriguez left in CONCACAF.

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    7. I personally believe Geiger to go big in this World Cup... Cáceres and Cunha might be the surprises from CONMEBOL... Pitana, Ricci and Irmatov are stable as always... Faghani and Aguilar are safe pair of hands IMO... I don't expect something too big from the rest!!

      Point to mention : Sato is an excellent and brilliant referee here in AFC... Most probably he won't handle games as main refs as only 1 of his ARs has been called... It will be a pity and a shame that one of our brightest referees in AFC will probably stay only as VAR or FO...

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    8. I am still not convinced with Geiger. I've watched him come up through the ranks in MLS. And I've seen plenty of him in various CONCACAF competitions. And he always seems to have that one inexcusable mistake in all of his high profile matches. Me personally, I have yet to get over his underpunishment of Matuidi's vicious and dangerous stomp on Onazi's ankle in Brasil 2014. And I won't even elaborate on my thoughts on his performance in Panama vs Mexico at the Gold Cup. But that's just my opinion of him as a referee.

      I've been fortunate enough to have seen Sato quite a few times in his local J League, the AFC Champions League, and in other AFC Competitions. And I totally agree with you in regards to his quality. He most definitely deserves to be on the pitch ahead of the likes of Al-Mirdasi and Shukralla.
      But I haven't lost hope in seeing him on the pitch in Russia. Because Aguilar has also been selected with only 1 AR. But I can't imagine a WC in which Aguilar doesn't get on the pitch.

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    9. Circumstances are quite different for Aguilar... One of Aguilar's ARs failed the fitness test and as far as I know he will be joined by Marrufo's AR so that will be a mixed team from El Salvador and USA... But from the information I have gathered the case is not the same with Sato, his ARs passed all fitness tests but one of them were not called... And that is not a good sign!! :(

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    10. Oh I see. On the bright side. Sato is still fairly young. So if he remains focused, he should be on the pitch in Qatar.

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    11. I agree with Nando. If Sato is able to maintain his form throughout the next World Cup cycle. There is no reason why he shouldn't be a main referee in Qatar.

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    12. Sato isn't as young as you might be thinking... He is 1977 born and this April he celebrated his 41st birthday... So by 2022 WC in Nov-Dec, he will be past 45 and he will be in his last season actually... So 2022 will be his last chance... Compare that to someone like Al-Mirdasi, he's only 32 and he would get his chances in 3 more WCs after Russia so this time as FO or VAR and then main referee in next 3 tournaments would've made sense!!

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  5. Maybe Brych again for final, if not Mazic?

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    1. This might be a wild one, but honestly, other than age, there is no reason it shouldn't be Turpin.

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  6. The penalty minute 93. If you call it, which is 100% wrong, then it’s a clear DOGSO

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  7. Croatian referee expert said that he is expacting Mazic for UCL final, and Marciniak for UEL. What do you think?
    For me candidates are Mazic and Rocchi.

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  8. #1 - Inconsistency! Marginal pushes whistled in the middle of the field, then the clearest one in the penalty area (09') allowed. You allow play to continue after a collision in 11' (and rightly so in my view) and then you buy Džeko's jumping onto an opponent in 56'.

    #2 - clearly deliberate handling denying a goal not spotted (63'), then the penalty awarded for a non-deliberate handling (90+3', most likely upon advice from Jug) - two clear and important mistakes.

    #3 - Skomina gave me a weird impression, he was motivated more than in his other games. Strong reactions against any form of dissent are a positive aspect of his performance, but I missed his usual cool head in the key match incidents (apart from El Shaarawy's dive, where he was 100% sure there was no foul).

    Some words about assistant Praprotnik:
    He had some very difficult situations. In the 49th minute he flags for offside what denies a clear penalty. I rewatched the incident carefully and I have to say that in the moment when the ball-shoe contact starts it's an offside and in the moment when there is already a full ball-shoe contact it's onside because Liverpool player does a step and put his leg on the field what makes both players level. Impossible to be 100% right or wrong in that scenario... If there was VAR, Praprotnik most likely would have allowed play to continue and having in mind that VAR takes the very first moment of ball-player contact, it would be offside. So, in this context, it was a good call. Three minutes later, a goal scored from minimal offside (a shoe seems to be in an offside position). Again, do you expect a human being to judge it with 100% certainty?

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    1. Mistakes happen, that's normal. And there are marks for such mistakes. Praprotnik's decisions were tough, very tough, but at the end they were wrong.
      We can say: Skomina couldn't see the handling in 63' and in 93' he was wrongly informed by the AAR1 (possibly the same happened in 8' when Mane was pushed from behind) - so Skomina had expected level performance - 8.4.
      Praprotnik - humane eye can hardly detect so close situations - therefore he should be backed (8.4 for him, too).
      AAR1 Matej Jug - he is the only to be blamed - missed 2 penalties and gave one wrongly - so 6.9.

      Of course, this won't be the case. The most that Skomina and Praprotnik could receive is 7.4 and only if Mr Hamer decides to be generous.

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    2. I think @RayHD makes excellent points, especially #3.
      I think Skomina was either more nervous or likely less nervous than normal tonight. I had always the idea that he was an anxious referee on the pitch (not meant as a criticism), and he had to work hard to present himself as calm. It would make sense IMO if he was less nervous than usual, because he was more irritated and very firm, but also lacking his usual calmness (I relate to myself because I need to be nervous beforehand to whistle a good match). And it seems his concentration wasn't 100% (but this no hugely new fact for him, especially tonight though).
      Sorry for Skomina, we saw with Rizzoli it is possible to lose your form in the period of twelve months. Mazic? Rocchi? Turpin? To Kiev, who knows...

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  9. When we will know the referee for the finals ?

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  10. What is best match of Skomina from all seasons in european matches for you? Because the worst we saw last night....

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  11. As you may have understood so far, I’m a Roma fan. As Bayern supporters yesterday, I must admit that the worst errors in these two semis were made by the players. Then, of course, I’m really sad because of the refs’ errors. I’m not angry for the errors themselves since most of the situations were very hard to spot. I am disappointed since there is a solution to these errors: VAR.
    If Ceferin has doubts on the management of handballs and 50/50 situations, why not introducing it only for offsides, in/out, handballs denying goals?
    That’s frustrating: we have the solutions to most of the errors made by humans and we don’t use it. Tremendous. Hope UEFA will change their minds!

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  12. Roma's director of football Monchi said that if VAR was there, then probably the final would be Bayern-Roma. Can't agree more! The missing VAR at this level of competition (most important club competition on the world) he called "an absolute joke".
    Some of his words:
    "It’s not just damage on an economic level, but also for the passion and hard work. The lads in the locker room were really angry, as we gave 100 per cent in the second half and were excellent.

    “We must introduce VAR in the Champions League, because it’s fundamental. I don’t know why UEFA don’t want it. I really think it’s necessary, because fans might joke that the final with VAR would be Bayern Munich-Roma, but it’s actually true.”

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    1. He also said: “it’s like playing two different sports”. Couldn’t agree more

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    2. I agree with Mr. Monchi and my full respect to him... Let's appreciate him for him wonderful way of putting the entire thing forward in a polite and considerate manner... Something for Juventus Football Club to learn!!

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    3. If VAR was there, the penalty at 90+3 would have never called. So nothing would have changed.

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    4. If the penalty at 90+3' wouldn't have been awarded, that would've been the correct decision... But in this case it was awarded so it was the wrong decision... VAR would have changed it and it would definitely help the referee reach the correct outcome!!

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    5. There was an interview with A. Čeferin published on the Slovenian web page (https://siol.net/sportal/nogomet/intervju-aleksander-ceferin-461257 ) at the end of February..and his position on using VAR at that time was as follows (maybe he will change his mind after CL KO matches and after WC):
      Journalist ''If we go back to fans they are not familiar with the operating of the VAR system. Due to current confusion do you see a real potential for UEFA to issue the general guidelines in this area?’’

      A.Čeferin: ‘’ Firstly, the Board for football rules IFAB will decide this end of the week (interview was published on 28 February 2018), where this system shall be used in the future. We, when we decide to use this technology, will wait for at least one season before its introduction. We must prepare the referees, to whom is not very clear how to use it.

      Apart from that technical specifications should be clarified. For example, should the supporting centre for VAR to be located on each stadium as in Italy or there should be a one common centre as is in Germany. As we hear the Italians have better experiences with it.

      There are some other problems too; fans do not understand how and when to use it, there remains wide variety of unclear situations. If the referee points to the offside position, the game stops, and the replay shows there was no offside, do you restart the action and how ? There are many things being unclear, even to us.

      We have some people in football who would like to leave their footprints; as if to say ‘’we have changed the football’’. Well, you can change the football, but change it smartly. At the same time we need to provide that the game will run fluently and the thing (VAR) will reasonably serve its purpose.

      With that I see a lot of troubles, which will need to solve, but I don’t, unlike Fifa, want to bump into such important decisions’’.

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    6. So he is not strictly against it, but just want to take some more time.
      At least for the points infrastructure and referee education he might be right. The other competitions also needed around a year of preparation (and had still some starting problems).
      The understanding among the football world will hopefull improve during the World Cup, if things go well there.

      Now we have many voices for the VAR after the CL matches. But probably there will be also a lot of criticism for it again during the WC, if something about it feels unfair or it takes too much time.

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  13. Bad Çakir, bad Skomina......bad Collina,
    bad Dallas, bad Batta.

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    1. Best comment in the history of the blog :D

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    2. I disagree. At moment of the appointment, Cakir and Skomina were names we considered for this years finals due to their good performances. Unfortunatelly, it happened to them what happened to Marciniak. Great season, spoiled by one match. Cakir and Skomina were not good this week, ok everybody has a bad night. I hope UEFA will introduce VAR next season in club competitions, it would be great help for referees.

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    3. Sweden- Italy and Juventus- Real were good performances for Cakir ?

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    4. Sweden v Italy was a very good performance by Çakir and Juventus v Real was also a good performance!!

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  14. Match incidents

    08' - Pushing in the penalty area (penalty?) vs other pushes deemed as fouls by Skomina
    https://streamable.com/nqqm0

    10', 56' - inconsistency in foul selection, you either whistle both or none of them
    https://streamable.com/1v11h

    40' - penalty incident (you can see a contact in 1/4 speed)
    https://streamable.com/flti4

    44' - reaction on dissent
    https://streamable.com/rl8og

    49' - offside vs penalty
    https://streamable.com/8x0gf

    52' - goal vs offside
    https://streamable.com/0zdpt

    63' - deliberate handling denying a goal
    https://streamable.com/ofp29

    76' - reckless vs SFP
    https://streamable.com/1ozk4

    90+3' - penalty for handling
    https://streamable.com/9wate

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    1. Ray, thanks for the videos.

      My thoughts:

      08' Penalty. There is enough intensity. If Skomina other pushes deemed as fouls, then this PK is blatant. But, in any case PK for me.

      10',56' Both fouls should be whistled. In fact, foul for Lpool is more obvious.

      40' No PK. There is clear intention for Roma player to fall down. I would issue a YC for simulation.

      44' Not enough for second YC. But Skomina's face look like he heard something that he does not like, some swear probably (the were not speaking English language for sure).

      49' No offside off course, and clear PK (and YC).

      52' Džeko's right leg and right foot were offside. Hard to detect, though, but I think it is offside.

      63' PK and for me RC (I don't understand how this should be YC).

      76' Borderline. It is on the very edge of serious foul play, but I think it is smarter to give YC there. In any case, not a clear mistake.

      90+3' Well, it is obvious that this was wrong call from Skomina.

      Very challenged match, but Skomina, his AR1 and AAR1 made several very important, very crucial mistakes. Real nightmare for them.

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    2. Thank you Ray, it's always great what you afford!

      For me:

      08' - Pushing in the penalty area (penalty?) vs other pushes deemed as fouls by Skomina
      Not a stonewall penalty, but more than a supportable call. Would have liked it, if he whistles none of these.

      10', 56' - inconsistency in foul selection, you either whistle both or none of them

      See it the same like you. Would have liked to see whistled none of these


      40' - penalty incident (you can see a contact in 1/4 speed)
      For me no penalty.

      44' - reaction on dissent
      No foul. Beside this I agree Nole.

      49' - offside vs penalty
      Maybe tight offside? Not clear at all.

      52' - goal vs offside
      Same as above.

      63' - deliberate handling denying a goal
      Clear PK and Red Card. For me the AAR has to see this!

      76' - reckless vs SFP
      Correct decision and good mamagement.

      90+3' - penalty for handling
      Completly awful decision.

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  15. It's a shame that the skomina went poorly today and I'm starting to think that Turpin will be responsible for the final of the Cl even though he is not that experienced, but his performances this season so far have been high.

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    1. Mazis is now sure for one of the finals IMO. I agree with Jhonathan, why not Turpin in CL final. I know he is only 36, but why not? He was great this season, expecialy in control and player management.

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    2. I doesn't like the idea of Turpin, because we all know what happened to Kassai after his final. Turpin's time will come, but not this year.

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    3. Too early for Turpin, he just handled EL semifinal this season, there would be, in case, some other referees, ahead of him.

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    4. Plus Turpin in Roma v Barcelona didn't really cover himself in glory... Much work to be done!!

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    5. Why the emphasis on having a different referee for the Final every year? And why must it be a referee who hasn't handled a Final previously?

      I'm of the mindset that the referee who has had the best season should have the honor of working the Final.

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    6. Go with whoever is in the best form during the current season. Reward those who stand head and shoulders above their colleague's.

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    7. Serbian referee expert said that YC is correct decision for handball in 63' since GK was on his line and infront of both players..

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  16. https://twitter.com/tancredipalmeri/status/991805388231184385

    Seems like Skomina saw all incidents and was sad about his decisions..

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    1. It was reported that he had apologised for obvious mistakes.

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    2. The disappointment is obvious... As a referee it's the worst feeling when we discover that we made more than one crucial mistakes that might have influenced the outcome of the match... The first moment it strikes, you feel absolutely shattered and destroyed... Part and parcel of the job and we all face it sometime or the other :(

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  17. I'm sad and regretted too about the mistakes done by Skomina, he didn't deserve to face these issues because IMO he has outstanding seasons since three years and he deserve high recognition for whole carrier. Unfortunately one match can ruin everything, even for few facts. I think that there is too much pressure and attention to referee's mistakes. Some of them could be considered as blatant (like the PK not accorded by cakir and Skomina), but they remain only single facts. Everybody (especially press and players) should talk much more about the global behavior and match management by the referee and not only about the single mistake.
    And indeed because there is too much pressure and attention at the single fact, I strongly sustain that a referee who deserve final match or semifinal match should not be used at previous kick off stages. They must be preserved and protected.
    Said that, I think now that Mazic is the only choice for CL final; Today's Rocchi appointment should rule out him fro El final in favour of Marciniak (in case of Atletico presence) or Mateu (in case of Arsenal presence)

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    1. he has had outstanding season... sorry typo mistake

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  18. Watching the match, I agree with RayHD and Mickael about Skomina's emotional behavior.
    My feeling is that he was not so relaxed and cool like many other times; he seemed much more nervous especially in the relation with the players and towards the complains.
    Probably he was disappointed about the missing CL final (once again) showing high tension.

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  19. UEFA system for referee's assessment puts on the same level a performance with two crucial mistakes with a performance in which control is poor and maybe totally missing for the whole game.
    It wasn't Skomina case, but the crucial mistakes remain.
    This shows us how much relevant are the crucial mistakes and they should be in any case avoided at this level. Skomina can't get more than 7.4 in my opinion. And given this mark, we already back him about all the situations in first half...

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  20. German Cup Final (19.5.):
    Bayern München - Eintracht Frankfurt
    Referee: Felix Zwayer
    Assistants: Thorsten Schiffner, Markus Häcker
    4th: Patrick Ittrich
    VAR: Bastian Dankert
    AVAR: Rene Rohde

    It's on Zwayer's 37th birthday. Achmüller is not available, because he comes from Bavaria. Dankert is the first VAR in a German cup final (and of course going to Russia together with Zwayer this summer).

    I had expected Dingert after the SFs, but as he was appointed for the same match last MD, it was more or less clear, that either Zwayer or Dankert would get it.

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  21. CAGLIARI – ROMA h.20.45
    DI BELLO Marco (Brindisi)
    LO CICERO (Brescia) - LA ROCCA (Ercolano)
    IV: CHIFFI (Padova)
    VAR: TAGLIAVENTO (Terni)
    AVAR: TEGONI (Milano)

    CHIEVO – CROTONE
    MASSA Davide (Imperia)
    ALASSIO (Imperia) – CARBONE (Napoli)
    IV: DAMATO (Barletta)
    VAR: VALERI (Roma 2)
    AVAR: TONOLINI (Milano)

    GENOA – FIORENTINA
    MANGANIELLO Gianluca (Pinerolo)
    BOTTEGONI (Terni) – SCATRAGLI (Arezzo, CAN B)
    IV: MARINI (Roma 1)
    VAR: ABISSO (Palermo)
    AVAR: PISCOPO (Imperia)

    JUVENTUS – BOLOGNA Sabato 05/05 h.20.45
    IRRATI Massimiliano (Pistoia)
    DI IORIO (VCO) – LIBERTI (Pisa)
    IV: SAIA (Ragusa)
    VAR: MARIANI (Aprilia)
    AVAR: POSADO (Bari)

    LAZIO – ATALANTA
    BANTI Luca (Livorno)
    MELI (Parma) – VIVENZI (Brescia)
    IV: MARESCA (Napoli)
    VAR: PAIRETTO (Nichelino)
    AVAR: VUOTO (Livorno)

    MILAN – H. VERONA Sabato 05/05 h.18.00
    PASQUA Fabrizio (Tivoli)
    GORI (Arezzo) – ZAPPATORE (Taranto)
    IV: NASCA (Bari)
    VAR: PINZANI (Empoli)
    AVAR: RANGHETTI (Chiari)

    NAPOLI – TORINO
    DOVERI Daniele (Roma 1)
    LONGO (Paola) – DE MEO (Foggia)
    IV: AURELIANO (Bologna)
    VAR: GAVILLUCCI (Latina)
    AVAR: FIORITO (Salerno)

    SASSUOLO – SAMPDORIA h. 18.00
    LA PENNA Federico (Roma 1, CAN B)
    PASSERI (Gubbio) – MONDIN (Treviso)
    IV: MARINELLI (Tivoli)
    VAR: CALVARESE (Teramo)
    AVAR: DI LIBERATORE (Teramo)

    SPAL – BENEVENTO
    GUIDA Marco (Torre Annunziata)
    CRISPO (Genova) – SCHENONE (Genova)
    IV: ABBATTISTA (Molfetta)
    VAR: FABBRI (Ravenna)
    AVAR: TASSO (La Spezia)

    UDINESE – INTER h.12.30
    MAZZOLENI Paolo Silvio (Bergamo)
    GIALLATINI (Roma 2) – COSTANZO (Orvieto)
    IV: DI PAOLO (Avezzano)
    VAR: GIACOMELLI (Trieste)
    AVAR: PAGANESSI (Bergamo)

    NEXT MATCHDAY - SERIE A APPOINTMENT

    Orsato completely out after the complains in Inter-Juventus. Damato still VAR. Big match is Chievo-Crotone for relegation: Massa. very good season.

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  22. Some newspapers are saying that Cakir will officiate CL final :O

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    Replies
    1. That will be equivalent to scandal if he is appointed... He has done Real Madrid 3 times this season already with enough medial controversy... There's a limit and the Committee MUST know where to draw the line!!

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    2. Please don't follow any single news starting from today, about CL final appointment. You will have an article for almost each of the 25 Elite referees.

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    3. Cakir for CL final, EL final and Super Cup :-)

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    4. hum...and World cup! :D:D

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  23. The candidate of UCL final Referee is Mazic,2nd choice Rocchi, or maybe the referees which already officiate UCL final before(Cakir,Kuipers) or maybe non european referee(small chance). If non european referee maybe Irmatov or Roldan. In Euro 2000,there was non european referee(Gamal Al-Ghandour) from Egypt.

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    Replies
    1. A No UEFA referee would be a joke, for sure.
      Said with all the respect for other confederations, of course.

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    2. First of all I agree with Chefren a non-UEFA referee being called to do a UCL final would be a joke... And even if someone from CONMEBOL is ever invited, then that won't be Roldan for sure even in a million years!!

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    3. I strongly believe that two names for the final that were earlier decided are Nazic and Rocchi. I think that Rocchi came in Madrid as a replacement of Marciniak, but that he will get one of the finals. Only if Atletico is out, then there is a chance for Mateu for EL final, but a small one.

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    4. *Mazic
      This phone of mine...

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    5. Marciniak could never have got Atletico Madrid v Arsenal even if he was 100% fit after his shocker at Wembley!!

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    6. I am not so sure. If he was planned for semifinal, then there were only 2 possibilities for him: Madrid or Salzburg. You think Karasev was planned for Madrid, and when Marciniak canceled, Rocchi and him switched the places?
      UEFA do not have enough big names nowadays! UEFA lost Clattenburg, Rizzoli, Atkinson (too old), Kassai and Eriksson (far away from their level)... Those are 5 big, very important names that officiated finals and semifinals in last 2-3 years. Turpin, Collum, Karasev - they are all good, but they still haven't reach those heights.

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    7. Roldan is a good solid referee. But in a dream scenario in which a CONMEBOL referee was to be chosen for a UCL Final. That referee would have to be Nestor Pitana.
      If you look to the AFC, then the obvious candidate would have to be Irmatov. He did very well at the Azteca in the 2nd Leg of a CONCACAF Champions League match

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    8. Pitana and Ricci are the general FIFA favourites actually... Overall I personally think Cáceres and Cunha are the best CONMEBOL referees at present!!

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    9. @Teo I think Rocchi was an obvious choice for Madrid while Marciniak might have been a name for Salzburg... Karasev appears to be the replacement... Or maybe Marciniak would've got Roma v Liverpool in case it was already decided in 1st leg but Roma with 2 away goals might have prompted them to bring in Skomina (which has proved to be a rather bad idea now)

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    10. Yeah, might be (for me, CL semifinal, even if it is decided, is much bigger achievement for the ref than EL semifinal, no matter the club names - so I don't believe Marciniak was planned for Rome). Maybe Marciniak was planned for Salzburg and Karasev stepped in, that is possible. But, then who for the final? Maybe the one who perform the best in semifinal - well the concurence is not strong this time :-) e.g. if Rocchi have just a solid (8.2-8.3) performance tonight, he will "buy" his place in the final.

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  24. Can a referee get multiple UEFA finals in the same year? Rocchi already did Super Cup.

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    Replies
    1. That's the reason I had earlier left Rocchi out of my considerations!

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    2. I wouldn't bet, Soham. We can expect everything from Collina. Important issue is that Rocchi is Italian, too. Of course, under condition that he won't make any obvious and significant mistake tonight. If so, Collina would be in very, very big problem who to appoint for the final, because almost all the biggest names made so big mistakes in their last appearances that should rule them out from possible nomination.

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    3. Let's see how things transpire tonight!!

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  25. https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/real-madrid/how-the-referee-for-the-champions-league-final-is-chosen-6797455

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    Replies
    1. Jonas Eriksson? I don't think so :D:D

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    2. Totally meaningless article... What's worse is that it reports Jonas Eriksson as going to the World Cup... That just about sums up the credibility (or the lack of it) and of these kinds of articles :D

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    3. I agree with you, Soham and Nathan ;)
      I just shared info i`d read

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    4. From now till the time the appointments are announced, you'll find several such news articles flooded all over the Internet!!

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    5. After no Mazic found this article - fully agree

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    6. Also I want to re-ask - what is best Skomina`s match from all his seasons in european matches for you? Because the worst we saw last night....

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    7. Barcelona v Juventus was good... Chelsea v Roma was also very well managed... I'll go for those 2 games if I have to choose!!

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    8. 05/11/2013
      Olympiakos - Benfica
      CL Group Stage
      This game is still impressed in my mind, I had made also a short report.
      Skomina was simply excellent in every single decision. 8.6 if not more.
      But for sure, there are also other ones.

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    9. Oh I didn't see that he wrote all seasons... I thought it's a question about this season only... I personally liked Skomina's 2012 UEFA Super Cup performance quite a lot

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    10. Skomina showed himself to be a top class referee for the first time in Real - Lyon where he was very good.
      Then he showed an 8,6ish performance in Chelsea - Benfica, which was a kind of breakthrough moment IMO for him, excellent performance.
      But IMO he was absolutely fantastic in Sevilla - Athletic, EL QF 2016, rising tension which he managed on a remarkable high level (this performance got him two Semifinals), the best I ever saw him.
      Wales - Ireland was also very impressive to my mind.

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    11. Thanks a lot for your answers! I will try to rewatch these matches;)

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  26. Collina is facing many criticisms here in Italy after this KO stage. Italian teams eliminated from CL and fans are more than angry at him. They are repeatedly reporting that he is deliberately against Italian teams and he appoints certain referees just to show that he is super partes and he doesn't have a "special attention" for the teams of his country. That's of course something absurd. The reality is that this time there were definitely too many mistakes in several games and now our football fans are used to watch always games with VAR solving crucial mistakes...
    I don't know what Collina has in his mind, but for sure this is the most difficult moment for him in his UEFA role in the last 8 years.

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    Replies
    1. Alberto is that you?? :D:D

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    2. Bad Çakir, Bad Skomina....Bad Collina, Bad Dallas, Bad Batta :D

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    3. Well, he appointed all the best that he got at the moment! What more could you ask from him? But, there was bad luck. Refs didn't have their evening, and you can't blame Collina for that! Also, we have to admit that circumstances were against the referees: in last two games there were more controversial situations than in whole CL KO stage! So many close situations... First mistake lead to second, second to third... Of course, one can say (and that's the true) that if there was no 1st mistake, things on the pitch would happen differently and maybe there wouldn't be any tough situation and bad decisions. If the first wrong decision was correct, maybe in the rest of the match nothing suspicious would happen. Bad luck, as I said, for the refs themselves, and for Collina.

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    4. Why would people blame Collina? He gave best referees with big experience. Not his fault if referee is having a really bad game.
      Skomina was looking very dissapointed and uninterested in the game coz he lost another CL final and probably that led to a catastrophic performance by whole team..

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    5. He didn't lost anything, it wasn't HIS final. He , like all other refs, have to proof in every singl match that he deserves it. They all are in the race. By performance like last night, next year's CL final (which I believed and still believe is HIS) is in danger for him.

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  27. If I was PLC, I put the CL final in the safe and give it to Dr. Felix.

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    Replies
    1. Mazic can handle it easy.

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    2. Brych simply doesn't deserve to get CL final 2 times in a row. If I am not wrong, neither one referee got 2 CL final in career, much bigger names than Brych.

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    3. Since the era of UCL final it's none,but before that era Dienst and Horn get twice (which is a long time ago)

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  28. He could be the first.

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    Replies
    1. It's not needed IMO... We have other names available!!

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