Monday 25 March 2019

2019/20 European Qualifiers - Referee Appointments MD2 (25 March 2019)

Referee appointments for 2019-20 UEFA European Qualifiers Matchday 2, games to be played on 25/03.  Thank to @h_demboveac on Twitter.


Group H
25 March 2019, 18:00 CET - Eskişehir (Eskişehir Yeni Atatürk Stadyumu)
TURKEY - MOLDOVA
Referee: Serhiy Boyko (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ihor Alokhin (UKR)
Fourth Official: Mykola Balakin (UKR)
UEFA Referee Observer: John Ferry (NIR)
UEFA Delegate: John Taylor (SCO)

Group A
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Prishtina (Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri)
KOSOVO - BULGARIA
Referee: Gediminas Mažeika (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vytautas Šimkus (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas (LTU)
Fourth Official: Manfredas Lukjančukas (LTU)
UEFA Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter (SUI)
UEFA Delegate: Kris Bellon (BEL)

Group A
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Podgorica (Gradski Stadion)
MONTENEGRO - ENGLAND
Referee: Aliaksiej Kulbakou (BLR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dzmitryj Žuk (BLR)
Assistant Referee 2: Alieh Maslianka (BLR)
Fourth Official: Dzianis Ščarbakoŭ (BLR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Sándor Piller (HUN)
UEFA Delegate: Jānis Mežeckis (LVA)

Group B
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Luxembourg (Stade Josy Barthel)
LUXEMBOURG - UKRAINE
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Peter Aravirta (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mikko Alakare (FIN)
Fourth Official: Petri Viljanen (FIN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Ferenc Székely (HUN)
UEFA Delegate: Michel Schafroth (SUI)

Group B
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Lisbon (Estádio do SL Benfica)
PORTUGAL - SERBIA
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Tomasz Musiał (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Fröjdfeldt (SWE)
UEFA Delegate: Tarik Shamel (ENG)

Group H
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Andorra la Vella (Estadi Comunal)
ANDORRA - ALBANIA
Referee: Filip Glova (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: František Ferenc (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Kováč (SVK)
Fourth Official: Boris Marhefka (SVK)
UEFA Referee Observer: Michális Koukoulákis (GRE)
UEFA Delegate: Jacob Erel (ISR)

Group H
25 March 2019, 20:45 CET - Saint-Denis (Stade de France)
FRANCE - ICELAND
Referee: István Kovács (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Florin Marinescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mihai Ovidiu Artene (ROU)
Fourth Official: Ionut Marius Avram (ROU)
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen (NED)

111 comments:

  1. I hope that in Portugal we will see finally a good performance by Marciniak. He strongly needs that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha ha ha
    Marciniak - Chefren's obsession.

    Most experts think it's a good referee, but not a Chefren. Are you Polish?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe you missed how many positive words I spent in past on this blog for Marciniak and I'm the first person very disappointed for his last performances....

      Delete
    2. And just to add something - Chefren, me and I think everybody else here know it that Marciniak is a good referee... Just compare to 2-3 years ago when he was among the most reliable top 3 referees in Europe, now he is only in the let's say top12. And all of us want to see him in his best form because now he has also the experience and his time should come for getting a CL/EL final. But for that he has to jump back in the top5. So good luck for him in Portugal!

      Btw Kovacs with a great appointment and with important observer!

      Delete
    3. Don't worry, Chefren. In Poland mostly there are either psychofans or big enemies of Szymon. He polarizes the public opinion here very much - good case for socio-psychological study ;)

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Most of the big names are taking a rest and that's a good thing.

      Delete
    2. Well, you were right about Skomina :)

      Delete
  4. I expected elite referee in France-Iceland. Great match for Kovacs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Similar impression, I think that now committee sees Iceland in a different way, if you understand what I mean :)
      Nothing against Kovacs, of course, but indeed I expected a more experienced referee as well, or even an Elite one.

      Delete
  5. I would say another good game for Kulbakou. Now I think we can be almost sure of his promotion in June.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, one can also make the "contrary reasoning": it would be quite a nonsense to keep him as Category 1 after such appointments...

      Delete
  6. OT:

    One of the biggest clashes of Spanish 2nd Division (Asturian derby between Sporting de Gijón and Real Oviedo, with both teams looking for promotion play-offs) was given to Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos (1989 born). It was a very (and sometimes too) intense derby as always (Díaz de Mera had to issue a total of 13 YC), in which he took 2 crucial decisions:

    -First one. PK + YC for reckless use of hand/arm (70')

    https://streamable.com/xclxt


    -Second one (and the most controversial so far). Oviedo's equalizer goal disallowed for foul on defender prior to the shot. It resulted in 3 YC to Oviedo players for dissent and the sending off of an assistant coach.

    https://streamable.com/8twer


    Your thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers to the ref, nice work by the keeper, too, I'm not on the line but I suppose he saved it clearly. Is it worth watching the whole match, if can be found?

      Delete
    2. No, I can't find the whole match. Sorry :(

      Sometimes OnTheFly (VK.com channel) uploads full matches of Spanish 2nd Division, but it's not the case of this one.

      Delete
    3. If you are outside Spain, all Segunda División games can be accessed legally at LaLiga 123 YouTube channel. Below the link to Sporting de Gijón v Real Oviedo

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GucVRd_X2Q

      Delete
    4. Wait, what? I didn't know :O

      Still geoblocked, no matter which country I try. I think I must change my VPN :/

      Delete
    5. Do you meant inside Spain?

      Delete
    6. There is such info:

      Subscribe to LaLiga 1|2|3 (bit.ly/1OvSXbi) to watch LIVE all LaLiga 1|2|3 games in HD on YouTube. The competition can be watched on YouTube at the following countries:

      Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Konakry, Comoro Islands, Kenya, Lesotho, Lyberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Saint Helena and Ascension, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

      America: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sant Bartolomé, Sant Kiitts and Nevis, Sant Martin, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

      Asia: Australia, Cambodia, Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, Tukmenistan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Fiji , Vanuatu, Salomon Islands, Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa.

      Europe: Albania, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Vatican City, Slovakia, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Saint Marine, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova.

      Delete
    7. Quilava, in my opinion Isidro has made the right choice.

      Delete
  7. I'm blocked by the owner, too. Anyway, the ref should have done well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Canadian referee Drew Fischer has been selected, along with 15 other referees from around the world, to participate in the Video Assistant Referees Seminar for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France, 2019.
    I'm trying to get more info about the full list.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Solid performance by Boyko (Ukraine) in Turkey vs. Moldova. Good fitness condition, solid foul detection and technical approch.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Not sure, whether this was commented already:
    Copa America referees (probably including VARs and support referees)
    http://www.conmebol.com/sites/default/files/21_03_19_conmebol_copa_america_2019_-_convocatoria_1.pdf

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, it wasn't commented. Thanks Philipp.
      It seems as the reasons for which Cunha has been ruled out, are unknown. He is available and not injured, it is a specific technical choice. Very strange.

      Delete
    2. It seems, he has not done any international match in 2019, but was regularly appointed in Uruguay.

      Delete
    3. Also Aquino, Fedorczuk, Argote and Vigliano (as VAR expert) are missing

      Delete
  11. Marciniak with brave and fully correct decision to award PK for Serbia in 7'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Missed YC for reckless challenge?

      Delete
    2. Material for UEFA RAP, we will see :)
      I agree it was reckless

      Delete
    3. Agree with both of you,missed YC.

      Delete
    4. I just rewached the situation, I'm okay with careless tackle.

      Delete
  12. Excellent onside by AR1 from Kovacs’s team prior to 1-0 for France. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Missed YC for Kanté (tackle from behind, important foul). In general, very lenient style for Kovacs. Not convincing IMO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Surprised to hear that, he was rather strict in Zagreb - Plzen.

      Delete
    2. Very surprised by the whole refereeing. Another foul forgotten against Kurzawa. Very « northern Irish » management ^^

      Delete
  14. Correct first yellow card by Marciniak for Pepe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yellow to Red .... Pepe was lucky this time.

      Delete
    2. boarding line in my opinion correct YC

      Delete
  15. In my eyes, an excellent performance by Gediminas Mažeika so far in a match in front of a partisan home crowd and with several scenes that felt like boiling over. But he is very calm, talks with the players and - what so many lack - he takes action when neccessary. He let the first altercation go with a verbal warning, the next time he booked the most involved player of each team. Excellent advantage and later a YC given as well. With Bulgaria leading, this will continue to be very challenging after the break, I hope he continues his fine form.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Not so easy match for Filip Glova.
    Lots of fouls and dirty stuff from Andorra and their games are not hard to offciaite.Hard and reckless tackles all over the place,we saw that other day against Island and now today against Albania.
    But so far,expected level.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What has happened with Marciniak and that changed PK decision?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dont know,I saw that AR had his fingers in all this.
      Moments later very dangerous tackle from Serbia player,resulted in YC.

      Delete
    2. According to commentary his AR1 overruled/overturned the decision either he saw exactly wat happened or flagged for offside the latter not really feasible

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. As I know, referees in Poland have very strict instruction about handball. Right, RayHD?

      So, maybe Marciniak wasn't convinced 100% in his decision so and AR told him it was short distance and no penalty.

      Delete
  18. Oh my god. Completely wrong offside call from AR1 to take back a correct PK decision by Marciniak.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After VAR joking in Barcelona, another enormous mistake by Marciniak’s team. A pity.

      Delete
    2. It wasn't offside. Dropped ball

      Until this momment, Marciniak was good.

      Delete
    3. Well, Marciniak didn't raise the hand at the end...

      Delete
    4. I don't think offside was called, it looked the Serbian GK restarted the play kicking the ball from his arms...

      Delete
    5. Without overturned dicision, Marciniak with 8.5 in his pocket.

      Delete
  19. OMG! Clear penalty-kick for Portugal... :/

    ReplyDelete
  20. 82' good decision to play on,
    mutual holding

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm not watching the game, let's hope for a video soon, uefa.com says "Rukavina (Serbia) blocks a shot", so it should mean that AR suggested it wasn't a penalty to Marciniak.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AR had way better view of the handball than Marciniak but IMO Marciniak made the correct decision initially, no need to overturn it.

      Delete
    2. Yes. Sokolnicki suggested it wasn't a penalty-kick to Marciniak. 😮

      Delete
    3. Offside wasn't awarded 100%

      Delete
    4. Rukavina claimed that the ball had impacted on his face before, maybe that's what Marciniak asked to AR.

      Delete
    5. Szymon Marciniak 7.9 (8.5/8.6)
      Paweł Sokolnicki 7.9
      Tomasz Listkiewicz 8.4

      Delete
    6. If you not sure don't blow the whistle first discuss with your assistant to prevent this controversies. If he had not blown it initially it won't spark such outcry. And maybe AR1 said short distance because marciniak was sure it hit the hand

      Delete
    7. If you not sure don't blow the whistle first discuss with your assistant to prevent this controversies. If he had not blown it initially it won't spark such outcry. And maybe AR1 said short distance because marciniak was sure it hit the hand

      Delete
    8. 8.5??????? 8.6??????? Are we watched the same game???

      Delete
    9. 45+1’ YC Pepe (POR)
      https://streamable.com/swcuf

      72’ Overurned penalty POR - handball
      https://streamable.com/5s1b8

      Delete
    10. @Mareska
      You forgot one question mark.

      Ok, maybe I'm wrong, maybe you can explain to me which mistake for -0.1 referee made?

      Delete
    11. Thank you Dutch Ref ;)
      For me rather RC the challenge by Pepe, studs up, but this can be easily "confused" with a normal reckless tackle on the pitch, no big faults for Marciniak. I think that with VAR such challenge can be checked.

      Delete
    12. Thanks, DutchRef :)

      It's clear that the key factor when assessing the penalty incident was whether the ball hit Serbian defender in the head at first. It seems that Sokolnicki told Marciniak the ball hit the defender's head at first and only then touched his arm.

      Delete
    13. And to be a little more complete, also the awarded penalty to POR (6’)

      https://streamable.com/qusln

      Delete
    14. The whistle went once the ball was out of play. The restart should have been a corner kick. It's absolutely unjust to award a dropped ball there. Play was not stopped to award the penalty.

      Delete
  22. Expected Level for Kulbakou in Montenegro England with a couple of flashpoints in added time where 3 YCs were issued. However, there has been reports of Montenegro fans shouting racist chants at England players which has angered England players near the end where it nearly boiled over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed. It would have been much more sensible to blow at 90' or only add on a single minute, but he dealt with both scenes proactively. He tolerated quite a big dissent against Dzmitryj Žuk AR1 at 75' which was partly irritating, no verbal warning. Besides, no problems in an easy going match.

      If UEFA wanted to use this match to compute whether Aliaksiej Kuĺbakoŭ is ready for Elite, they ought to look elsewhere :-)

      Delete
  23. Video of the possible missed penalty by Marciniak in min 73:
    https://streamable.com/82ztx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the video. In my opinion, if the ball hits directly the arm, it is a 100% clear penalty, no matter the short distance because that position of arm is punishable in all situations.
      Only reason for changing decision, and video can't help us to sure, is a possible touch (deflection) at first by head. In this case one could think that even with the open arm, ball had touched the head before so no penalty... but what one must also add is that AR was very far away from this situation, it happened on the other side of penalty area, this is full Marciniak's responsibility. This would have been a brave call even for an AAR... imagine the AR.
      To sum it up, I think that, without a clear evidence, penalty should have been confirmed by Marciniak without changing idea after AR1 suggestion, because the process is not clear.
      It is not the first time that Marciniak makes things difficult for himself. Our reader Iheanacho Chiagozie is fully right in his remark: if you are not 100%, don't whistle, at least wait for a while and then have a consultation with AR, only after that make signals to players.

      Delete
    2. Marciniak was 10-12 meters away from the situation (ok distance but he needs to be closer) but also had solid angle.

      Delete
    3. There was definitely a contact between ball and Rukavina's head but the question is:
      Is that enough to evaluate it as a obvious deflection?

      Delete
    4. There is, however, a bigger mistake in the form of technical mistake. The ball was out of play when the penalty was whistled, so the appropriate restart should have been a corner kick. For me, however, it is a clear penalty.

      Delete
    5. The ball touched the nose of Serbian defender first... Can this influence the penalty call? Some people say that when the ball touch the body of defender first, and then the arm - then no penalty.

      Delete
    6. In case of contact with head at first, it's not a penalty according to UEFA. Such text will be even included in next LotG:

      "However, except in the situations outlined above, a player will not usually be penalised when the ball touches their hand/arm if:
      • the ball came off the player’s own body, or the body of another player (of either team) who was close by, as it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the ball"

      Delete
    7. "Some people say that when the ball touch the body of defender first, and then the arm - then no penalty."

      Well, it's not some people, it.s official statement by UEFA :)
      We can also find some examples in the last UEFA RAP 2018:2

      (Benatia vs Real)

      Delete
    8. When I wrote "some people", I meant Dejan Stanković. :)

      Delete
    9. El grande Deki, thanks for the reply.

      Delete
  24. Excellent performance by Mažeika, a difficult game he had fully under control with very calm, but consequent management. My sincerest congratulations to the Lithuanian team!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Again the same story with Polish refs... Unfortunately...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Indeed penalty was whistled when ball was out with a certain delay.
    This is also a technical mistake by Marciniak, who then had to resume game by a corner kick.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. maybe he start the game with dropped ball??? i cant found replay

      Delete
    2. I think the game was resumed when there were still replays... so you wont find the original sequence.

      Delete
  27. So, did the ball hit Serbian defender's head or not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not sure even after watching videos. This is why in my opinion Marciniak's original decision should have been confirmed.
      AR definitely too far away from the incident, it is first of all a question of credibility. If you are not 100% sure, don't whistle so early.

      Delete
    2. https://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=03&dd=25&nav_id=1522371

      You have a picture there. The ball obviously hit defender in the face first.

      Delete
    3. Excellent spot by photographer. He should be rewarded by UEFA Referees Committee :D

      Delete
    4. Marciniak should reward him as well :)

      Delete
    5. I must say very good spot by the AR.

      Delete
    6. Cristiano Ronaldo told the media that Marciniak apologized him for annulling penalty call! Also the coach Fernando Santos told that Marciniak took him to re-watch together the incident and said that he made a mistake (!?). Is this "normal" procedure for the ref to do such things after the match ended???

      Delete
    7. I can understand people who still think that this is a penalty, as this is not a written rule. I think that regarding the incident Marciniak could be backed but the decision making process is too poor, in my opinion. Also, one must underline that it is player from Serbia trying to convincing the officiating crew that he touched the ball at first by head. This should be referee's opinion before any statement by a player.

      Delete
  28. There are two important elements here. One is the team work, and the other one is PK.
    With regard to the team work, I would say the communication within the refereeing team took place since the referee changed his decision. And I need to reiterate, the referee changed his decision, he was not overruled by the AR. I can only guess, but dare to say the AR provided an input on what he had seen and suggested a decision based upon that (big credits to him for taking responsibility. The referee accepted it and to me, this is a great example of the trust within the team. i.e. the trust that the referee placed in his teammate/s. The truth is, the referee did not have good angle view and in such critical moment he should not have rushed with his decision, but had to communicate it within the team first.
    According to the RAP 2018-2, it is no deliberate handball, the ball was deflected off the white player’s face into his arm. In addition, it was close distance, high speed. No PK.

    ReplyDelete
  29. If it is not PK (even if we take a close look at the moment I can still defend the referee first decision), there is a technical mistake right after: there should be a corner kick to Portugal, the match should never restart with the ball in GK hands... Anyway, although Marciniak will be backed for sure by UEFA Referees Commission, I'm positive about a detail: if there's a VAR in the match, PK would be awarded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think with VAR penalty will be awarded if there was clear evidence that the ball struck the players face first just like in the world cup cuneyt cakir did when he refed Nigeria vs Argentina and explained to the players what he saw which was the ball struck the head first

      Delete
  30. Tomasz Listkiewicz (AR2) said that was a mistake even though the ball hit the head at first. I can't understand that, to be honest.

    https://sport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/eliminacje-me/tomasz-listkiewicz-po-meczu-portugalia-serbia-blad-przy-karnym/mgxp9pd

    ReplyDelete
  31. Tomasz Listkiewicz, Marciniak's assistant stated to the press, that they made a mistake and that it was evaluated by UEFA observer as such. He also stated Marciniak had a talk with Portugal's couch and he admitted that they made a mistake.

    https://sport.onet.pl/pilka-nozna/eliminacje-me/tomasz-listkiewicz-po-meczu-portugalia-serbia-blad-przy-karnym/mgxp9pd

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So if everything reported in this news is true and confirmed, definitely not good times for Polish crew... however, about the incident, it is really impossible to have clear ideas about handball criteria, I give up.

      Delete
    2. Just a short question: would referees be allowed to do things like talk to team repesentatives and media about their match decisions right/soon after the match?

      Delete
  32. Please,
    I'm sorry. Did Artiom ROZGONIUC receive a yellow card in match Turkey - Moldova? How much yellow cards were in that match?
    I am sorry. Thank you for answer.
    Best regards!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UEFA says 3 YC all to Moldova.
      Booked players are: Reabciuk, Rozgoniuc and Ioniţa.

      Delete
    2. That. That's what I saw. But many sites wrote that they were two yellow cards. I watched match, I didn't see yellow card in first half. I do not know how to really know what happened. It's important for me.

      Delete
    3. Probably Rozgoniuc was issued a delayed YC after Boyko played the advantage resulting in Turkey’s second goal.

      https://streamable.com/osh97

      Delete

Thank you for writing a comment on our blog!