Tuesday 31 July 2018

Champions League 2018/19 - Referee Appointments - Second Qualifying Round (II)

Thank to h_demboveac on Twitter we know the referees who will officiate second legs of 2018/19 UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round. 
Paolo Valeri (ITA) will officiate Basel - PAOK

Monday 30 July 2018

UEFA Referees Summer Course 2018 - List of participants

This summer the course for UEFA referees will take place in Nyon, from 01/08 to 03/08. We are pleased to provide you the list of participants. 

Sunday 29 July 2018

Juan Martínez Munuera in charge of 2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship Final

Spanish Juan Martínez Munuera will be in charge of the final act of 2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship, to be played on 29 July between Italy and Portugal. 

Thursday 19 July 2018

Who will officiate 2018 UEFA Super Cup (Madrid's derby)? Analysis and prediction

A new season of European cups with fascinating duels is waiting for us. Both Champions League and Europa League have already started with preliminary rounds. In a few time, UEFA Super Cup will be played, this year in Estonia, and it will be Madrid's derby. A very hot game to start the season, who could be in charge? Let's make a short analysis. 
A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia, venue of 2018 UEFA Super Cup

Wednesday 18 July 2018

2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship - Appointments for Matchday 2

Referee appointments for Matchday 2 at 2018 UEFA U-19 Championship in Finland. 

2018 FIFA WC - Vote for the best officiating of the tournament

Based on the polls made during the competition, here the best officiating you voted after every stage. Now it is the turn the decide about the best of the whole tournament. I have also added the officiating of third place final and major final because they weren't object of a poll. 
Poll will end on 20 July 2018 09:00 CET. 

Alireza Faghani (IRN) is the best referee of 2018 FIFA WC according to our readers

Here the results of the poll for the best referee at World Cup 2018. Iranian referee Alireza Faghani, who has handled four games culminating in third place final, has been elected as the best of the tournament by our readers. 

Monday 16 July 2018

2018 FIFA WC - Refereeing Analysis

World Cup is over. We can start an analysis about refereeing through the six confederations. Who has been the best referee? Who has disappointed?
Pitana will stay for sure as "icon" of 2018 World Cup: he officiated 5 games, including the opener and the final.

2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship - Appointments for Matchday 1

Referee appointments for Matchday 1 at 2018 UEFA U-19 Championship in Finland. 

Saturday 14 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Final Results - The winner is Ref_1707

Our predictions game for WC 2018 appointments is over. This is the final ranking, big congratulations to Ref_1707

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 63: Belgium - England (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of  Alireza Faghani in Belgium - England. Good luck to the officiating team! 

Thursday 12 July 2018

2013 - 2018: the rise of Néstor Pitana

Argentinian Néstor Pitana has been assigned as WC final referee. He has followed the steps of his countryman Horacio Elizondo, who got this honor in 2006. Let's have a closer look at the recent years of Néstor Pitana as FIFA referee. 

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Néstor Pitana and Alireza Faghani to officiate finals

Argentina's Néstor Pitana will be the man in the middle for the masterpiece between France and Croatia, while Iranian Alireza Faghani will get the honor of Third Place game.

Néstor Pitana in charge of WC final

The 43 y.o. from Corpus, Argentina, has been appointed as referee fow WC final. 

2018 FIFA World Cup: VAR predictions for final

After having asked for the opinion about the main referee to be appointed for the final match, I don't want to influence more our readers, also because we have an open game with predictions. However, we can focus on VAR. The argument has been discussed on the blog and many readers have shown to be interested, therefore it will be interesting to point out some data. 
FIFA VAR Room in Moscow: a view from above 

Monday 9 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Cüneyt Çakır to officiate CRO - ENG Semifinal

Referee appointments for Semifinals at 2018 World Cup. Cüneyt Çakır will officiate the semifinal involving Croatia and England. 

Sunday 8 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Andrés Cunha to officiate FRA - BEL Semifinal

Referee appointments for Semifinals at 2018 World Cup. Andrés Cunha from Uruguay will handle France - Belgium, the first full European semifinal of the tournament. 

Saturday 7 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Semifinals

You can already send now the predictions for semifinals. 

2018 FIFA World Cup: Officiating at Quarterfinals has been overall very good with a point for discussion

Only 4 matches to be played  on next days and then this tournament will be over. So far, after 60 games, the level of officiating is still high. But there is a big  point for discussion regarding Quarterfinals... 
Néstor Pitana (ARG) officiated the first game of Quarterfinals

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 59: Russia - Croatia (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of  Sandro Ricci in Russia - Croatia. Good luck to the officiating team! 

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Kuipers, Mažić, Ricci and Pitana to officiate Quarterfinals (UPDATED WITH VAR)

Thank to ArbitroInternacional we can offer you referee appointments for Quarterfinals. 

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 60: Sweden - England (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Björn Kuipers in Sweden - England. Good luck to the officiating team! 

Friday 6 July 2018

Thursday 5 July 2018

17 referees, 37 assistant referees and 10 Video Assistant Referees appointed for next phase of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 17 referees, 37 assistant referees and 10 Video Assistant Referees for the final phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.


Given the number of matches left and the teams that have qualified for the next round, the number of referees has been reduced.

Appointed for the next phase are:


AFC: FAGHANI Alireza (IRN); SHUKRALLA Nawaf Abdulla (BHR)


CAF: DIEDHIOU Malang (SEN); SIKAZWE Janny (ZAM)


CONCACAF: GEIGER Mark (USA); MARRUFO Jair (USA); RAMOS PALAZUELOS Cesar Arturo (MEX)


CONMEBOL: CUNHA Andres (URU); PITANA Nestor (ARG); RICCI Sandro (BRA)


OFC: CONGER Matthew (NZL)


UEFA: CAKIR Cuneyt (TUR); KUIPERS Bjorn (NED); MATEU LAHOZ Antonio (ESP); MAZIC Milorad (SRB); ROCCHI Gianluca (ITA); SKOMINA Damir (SVN)


Video Assistant Referees


CONMEBOL: SAMPAIO Wilton (BRA); VIGLIANO Mauro (ARG)


UEFA: DANKERT Bastian (GER); DIAS SOARES Artur (POR); GIL Pawel (POL); IRRATI Massimiliano (ITA); MAKKELIE Danny (NED); ORSATO Daniele (ITA); VALERI Paolo (ITA); ZWAYER Felix (GER)


The FIFA Referees Committee would like to thank all the match officials that have been involved in the 2018 FIFA World Cup so far for their commitment and professionalism.


Source:
fifa.com

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Round of 16 and Quarterfinals Results

Here the results of both Round of 16 and Quarterfinals. 

Tuesday 3 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Quarterfinals

You can already send now the predictions for quarterfinals. 

2018 FIFA World Cup: Officiating at Round of 16 has been mostly good, with only one VAR correction in 8 matches (analysis)

The first round of KO stage has ended. Eight matches with a direct elimination for one of the teams involved have offered overall a good officiating, with only one particular exception. 
Alireza Faghani (IRN) has officiated the first game in Round of 16, France- Argentina

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 56: Colombia - England (discussion #3)

Third and last part of the discussion about Colombia - England, officiated by Mark Geiger. 

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 56: Colombia - England (discussion #2)

Let's continue here the discussion. 

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 56: Colombia - England (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Mark Geiger in Colombia - England. Good luck to the officiating team!

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 55: Sweden - Switzerland (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Damir Skomina in Sweden - Switzerland. Good luck to the officiating team!

Monday 2 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Skomina and Geiger to complete Round of 16 appointments (Round of 16 - IV) UPDATED WITH VAR

Lasta package of referee appointments for Round of 16 at World Cup: Slovenian Damir Skomina and US Mark Geiger will officiate on 03/07. 

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 54: Belgium - Japan (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Malang Diedhiou in Belgium - Japan. Good luck to the officiating team!

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 53: Brazil - Mexico (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Gianluca Rocchi in Brazil - Mexico. Good luck to the officiating team!

2018 FIFA World Cup - Referee Appointments - Rocchi in charge of Brazil - Mexico, Diedhiou with Belgium - Japan (Round of 16 - III) UPDATED WITH VAR

Italian Gianluca Rocchi will officiate Brazil - Mexico in Round of 16. while Malang Diedhiou from Senegal has been appointed for Belgium - Japan.  


Sunday 1 July 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 52: Croatia - Denmark (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Néstor Pitana in Croatia - Denmark. Good luck to the officiating team!

2018 FIFA World Cup Match 51: Spain - Russia (discussion)

Let's discuss here the performance of Björn Kuipers in Spain - Russia. Good luck to the officiating team!