In Focus: Daniele Orsato's performance in Paris - Bayern

A closer look at the UEFA Champions League Final 2020 Paris Saint-Germain - Bayern München refereed by Daniele Orsato (VAR: Massimiliano Irrati).

Let's start with three tricky in-box situations that Orsato had to face:

Key Match Incidents

+46' - Penalty to Bayern?

-> Analysis of this situation is best partitioned into two halves:

UEFA niveau: There is no clearly visible contact at the feet, and the upper body contact is too trifling to punish. Play on.

Law 5 (Mikael): Having extensively studied the replays, my view is that Coman was actually tripped by Kehrer - the Paris player's right heel hits the attacker's right foot, causing him to stumble a bit, and then the otherwise trifling push was actually enough to cause Coman to fall.

Ergo: It was only fitting that a UEFA Club Competition restart that on an officiating level was quite defined by accidental tripping fouls got one in it's Champions League Final. For fouls like that, which as elite football becomes more dynamic by the year will become more-and-more common, refereeing has two potential solutions: 1) en bloc instruct referees not to punish very-hard-to-see contacts; 2) en blec instruct referees to punish contacts like that and very proactively explain calls like that in the media. In the current era of refereeing where referees are to be in the background as far as possible, it's axiomatic the former path will be chosen.

Despite my theoretical solution, absolutely no criticism for Orsato at all - only a fool after everything that happened would give a penalty there, well seen by the referee from Italy. I would staunchly defend a penalty call, too.

73' Penalty to Paris?

-> Certainly the most controversial of the decisions that Daniele Orsato had to take in the Champions League Final.

At first, Orsato quite brilliantly managed to keep up with a very quick Paris counter-attack, he is only a short distance away from the in-box situation. But, despite that, his insight angle in the event is not very good - already having look through a player, Orsato would have been better served having been in the square on the pitch to his adjacent left of where he was. Understandably then, given the travel of the ball after the contact, Orsato on an expectation-perception-recognition level 'sees' the ball played and very clearly gestures as such.

The question then - is this misperception enough for VAR Massimiliano Irrati to intervene and call the referee to an On-Field Review? In UEFA's view - surely not. Mbappé's fall is unnatural and manufactured. More than that perhaps, Mbappé actually takes a poor touch and allows Kimmich the chance to play the ball. Mbappé surely does not play to get fouled but he does move the way he does to ensure that Kimmich cannot get to the ball and probably - though I'm sure I will be told otherwise (!) - Mbappé could not really do much with the ball there, having taken that prior touch. So, for what it's worth, I agree with Irrati too - very good non-intervention in my eyes.

By the way, I am quite sure that football expects this to be called as a penalty - Mbappé is clearly kicked in the penalty area.

+91' - Penalty to Bayern?

-> For my taste, quite clearly play on is the better decision here - through good play Kehrer wins the position, ahead of Lewandowski in the race for the ball, and then there is a normal footballing contact. Orsato was correct here not to award a penalty.

Approach

Daniele Orsato did not offer a typically modern piece of refereeing, but in my view can be satisfied with how he refereed the Champions League Final, as especially in the second half he faced a really challenging match.

On a tactical level, I noted one 'big' mistake that Orsato made - he did not appreciate, or at least was happy to take a risk on, the tactical importance of the collision initiated by Goretzka on Neymar, after the Brazilian had got away from his opponent at a throw-in. Referee clocked it, saw that there was little player reaction, and was satisfied by not intervening with his presence. That was at 50', and then the mass confrontation was at 51' - it is criticism on a high level, but by intervening in that trivial scene, Orsato would have prevented the conflicted minutes that followed it. Also, as a general rule - any scene, however little, involving Neymar always poses a potential threat to your control of the match as referee!

Sure, there were a small handful of perception mistakes, such as the very clear missed corner in the first half or not booking Lewandowski for his accidental reckless stamp at 64', but on the whole Orsato did well. Actually - his caution to Süle was quite excellent in my view, the referee from Italy sensing the tactical value of evaluating the foul, credibly, as a reckless one.

Conclusion

Not perfect, but a good job nonetheless by Daniele Orsato; he showed that he was a good choice to handle the biggest game in European football.

A special mention to Orsato's assistant referee Lorenzo Manganelli, who lost his father in the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, and honoured him with a touching tribute during the medal ceremony. A stirringly pertinent moment for all who have suffered in these times, and a reminder that sport can be a beacon of hope where before there was none.

Congratulations to all of the officials who handled the UEFA Champions League Final 2020!

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)

Assistant Referee 1: Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA)

Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)

Fourth Official: Ovidiu Alin Hațegan (ROU)

Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)

Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (ESP) 

Offside Video Assistant Referee: Roberto Díaz Pérez Del Palomar (ESP)

UEFA Referee Observer: Vladimir Šajn (SVN)

UEFA Delegate: Kris Bellon (BEL)

UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Mauro Quaresma (POR)

UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Fábio José Costa Veríssimo (POR)

Your assessment about Orsato performance in Champions League Final PSG- Bayern?

Excellent performance.

Very good performance. Important decisions correctly taken.

Good, expected level.

Satisfactory with small areas for improvement.

Satisfactory with important areas for improvement.

One clear and important mistake, otherwise expected level or above.

One clear and important mistake, otherwise satisfactory.

Below expectations, poor control, significant points for improvement.

Disappointing. Below expectation with one and clear important mistake or a performance with two or more clear and important mistakes.

Unacceptable performance.

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