Wednesday 4 November 2020

Champions League 2020/21 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 3 (II)

Referee appointments for 2020-21 UEFA Champions League Group Stage, Matchday 3.  Games to be played on 4 November 2020. 

4 November 2020

18:55 CET - St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg Stadium)
Football Club Zenit (RUS) - S.S. Lazio (ITA)  | Group F
Referee: Artur Dias (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Tavares (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Soares (POR)
Fourth Official: Antonio Emanuel Carvalho Nobre (POR)
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins (POR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Luis Godinho (POR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)
UEFA Delegate: Siarhei Ilyich (BLR)

18:55 CET - Istanbul (İstanbul Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu)
İstanbul Başakşehir FK (TUR) - Manchester United FC (ENG) | Group H
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Gianpaolo Calvarese (ITA)
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Nikolai Levnikov (RUS)
UEFA Delegate: Leonid Kaloshin (RUS)

21:00 CET - London (Stamford Bridge)
Chelsea FC (ENG) - Stade Rennais FC (FRA)  | Group E
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Thorsten Schiffner (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller (GER)
Fourth Official: Tobias Stieler (GER)
Video Assistant Referee:  Sascha Stegemann (GER) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas (SCO)
UEFA Delegate: Dennis Cruise (IRL)

21:00 CET - Seville (Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán)
Sevilla FC (ESP) - FC Krasnodar (RUS) | Group E
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Günter Perl (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Riley (ENG)
UEFA Delegate: Patrik Filipek (CZE)

21:00 CET - Bruges (Jan Breydelstadion)
Club Brugge (BEL) - Borussia Dortmund (GER)  | Group F
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomaž Klančnik (SVN)
Fourth Official: Dragoslav Perič (SVN)
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fabio Maresca (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Nuno Castro (POR) 
UEFA Delegate: Sviatlana Hrynkevich (BLR)

21:00 CET - Barcelona (Camp Nou)
FC Barcelona (ESP) - FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)  | Group G
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Bennett (ENG)
Fourth Official: David Coote (ENG)
Video Assistant Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Craig Pawson (ENG)  
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina (ITA) 
UEFA Delegate: Scott Struthers (SCO)

21:00 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
Ferencvárosi Torna Club (HUN) - Juventus (ITA) | Group G
Referee: Orel Grinfeld (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Roy Hassan (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Idan Yarkoni (ISR)
Fourth Official: Gal Leibovitz (ISR)
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Harm Osmers (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Vladimir Sajn (SVN)
UEFA Delegate: Jenni Kennedy (ENG)

21:00 CET - Leipzig (RB Arena)
RB Leipzig (GER) - Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)  | Group H
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Radosław Siejka (POL)
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski (POL)
Video Assistant Referee: Paweł Gil (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen (NOR) 
UEFA Delegate: Robert Kispal (HUN)

197 comments:

  1. interesting the appointment of Soares Dias in Russia. especially at a time when the points of the UEFA Ranking are so close and when the media discussion is so great.
    Then, Orel without Pinheiro? Will Pinheiro be appointed to UEL?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pinheiro punished for a missed penalty intervention in the Borussia Mönchengladbach - Real Madrid game?

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    2. Maybe, but neither was he appointed to any game in the Portuguese League like Soares Dias, Godinho and Martins.

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    3. I want to thank Dr Emu a very powerful spell caster who help me to bring my husband back to me, few month ago i have a serious problem with my husband, to the extend that he left the house, and he started dating another woman and he stayed with the woman, i tried all i can to bring him back, but all my effort was useless until the day my friend came to my house and i told her every thing that had happened between me and my husband, then she told me of a powerful spell caster who help her when she was in the same problem I then contact Dr Emu and told him every thing and he told me not to worry my self again that my husband will come back to me after he has cast a spell on him, i thought it was a joke, after he had finish casting the spell, he told me that he had just finish casting the spell, to my greatest surprise within 48 hours, my husband really came back begging me to forgive him, if you need his help you can contact him with via email: Emutemple@gmail.com or add him up on his whatsapp +2347012841542 is willing to help any body that need his help. 

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  2. What happend to Skomina's Assistant Referee Robert Vukan? Is he injured or replaced by Klancnik?

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    Replies
    1. The same to Marciniak’s assistant Referee Tomasz Listkiewcz ?

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    2. Not 100% sure, but probably COVID. There are a few referees completely missing from domestic appointments as well, including Vincic, Obrenovic ... of course not all of them are injured, I guess in isolation.

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    3. Listkiewicz is isolating due to Covid - not sure whether he tested positive or he had contact with someone who tested positive.

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    4. https://twitter.com/TListkiewicz/status/1323359354771410945

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  3. Interesting appointments.
    Zwayer back in Champions League with Dallas, very important game.
    It seems there will be quite interesting tests for Dias in Russia (Vassaras) and Grinfeld in Hungary (Sajin) as well. Chanches for the Israeli to attend EURO 2020?
    Marciniak is back in CL as well, but in this case without a particular observer.
    Not the best appointment for Oliver but one must still consider that thare aren't so many options given the nationality of the teams. About this argument, it is interesting to underline that committee still keeps the (unwritten) rule of avoiding appointments from the same nation of the teams involved in the groups, but this seems to be not valid for VAR assignments. Indeed we have Guida and Maresca with Skomina, in a group with an Italian team. This doesn't make sense, in my opinion, we are still talking about official refereees appointed for a game, I think soon Rosetti will also abolish this rule to have more freedom...

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    Replies
    1. Indeed not many other choices for Brych and Oliver, therefore they get matches below their standing.
      I agree regarding Soares Dias and Grinfeeld, both could be on the edge of EURO selection, which is a good achievement for the Israeli, who seems to have established well in the Elite group.
      Marciniak directly with a top match after his break on MD1/2, so his situation should not be particularly bad.
      Brügge again with a top referee, maybe UEFA considers their matches to be quite hard.

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  4. OT. Serious criticism from Dutch headreferees Wiedemeijer on the new hands rule. Says he is very unhappy with the choices of the IFAB. Yesterday on Dutch TV. Remarkable

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  5. No Listkiewicz, but Siejka as AR2 in Marciniak's team after their break, do we know why? I don't think he's injured as he had a game at Polish Ekstraklasa last week.

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  6. Come Back Szymon!!!yupi!!! good luch Polish team:)

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  7. Nijhuis in charge of Leicester-Braga. 4th official is Sander van der Eijk, a masterclass referee. Kamphuis would have been available (or, for that sake, Blom, Manschot, etc...) but they have not been chosen.

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    Replies
    1. Sander van der Eijk is performing really good this and last season. I think they have (deservedly) big plans for him. Maybe he will get a FIFA badge in 2022, when Kuipers retires.

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    2. 2022? Than he should be promoted first. He is doing well, but he seemed to be behind for example Kooij, Van de Graaf, Bax en Perez. I agree he has surpassed some of them, but the step would be quite big...

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    3. IMO that would be way too quick for Van der Eijk. For example his performance last week at Heerenveen-Emmen was not good. Missed penalty and the second red card was too soft.

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    4. I agree. Good referee for the future - but not yet.

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    5. For me the first one who gets fifa badge is Kooij, haven't seen Kooij for a while btw....only VAR, maybee injured? Van de Graaf is already 37, so not an option i think, Bax/Perez (32), and Kooij/Van der Eijk 29

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    6. Well I agree that it would be a bit early, but there aren't real good alternatives. Manschot (38), van de Graaf (37), Mulder (36) and van den Kerkhof (36) will be seen as too old I think. Bax, Martens and Pérez don't have FIFA badge level IMO. So Kooij and van der Eijk (both 29) seem to be the options. IMO van der Eijk is better than Kooij at the moment, so that's why I expect van der Eijk to get a FIFA badge in 2022

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    7. At the moment I sent my last comment I thought of Dieperink. He is 32 at the moment and I really like him as a referee, so is he will also be a good option.
      Nijhuis has to retire due to age limit one year later, so in 2023 there will be a new badge available with those same 3 options.

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    8. Are there still age limits in Netherlands? If Kuipers did not have to retire due to age, why Nijhuis has to retire due to age?

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    9. I meant retire as international referee at the age of 45. For Kuipers UEFA made an exception.
      Nationally there is no age limit anymore in the Netherlands. Roelof Luinge, for example, retired refereeing in the Eredivisie at age 54 in 2010.

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  8. I wouldn't underestimate the importance of Grinfeld being observed by Šajn - Slovenian has seldom appointed in that role under Rosetti. EURO 2020?

    Given the changing restrictions here in the United Kingdom, I wouldn't read too much into Dallas' placements. Naturally though still important tests for the concerned officials in front of a committee member.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you expect an increase in number of referees selected for Euro 2020 or the same number as Euro 2016?

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  9. Commitee members very active in observing role in first three matchdays...

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  10. With Steinhaus and Perl appointed as AVAR: Have there been other examples of retired referees used as VARs in international competitions?
    BTW, Perl (born 1969) could also be the oldest official in UEFA since a long time ago.
    I assume, Dingert has been replaced as VAR in that match (he was also replaced in Bundesliga at the weekend). Then Fritz was promoted from AVAR to VAR (first match in that role in CL for him, I think) and Perl jumped in. But only speculation from my side.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed, that's possible. However, they could have easily chosen a German FIFA-AR for the role as AVAR (Dominik Schaal who is even AR in the team of Marco Fritz in Bundesliga, Eduard Beitinger, Rafael Foltyn, Christian Gittelmann). All of them have experience as AVAR.

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    2. We will see more and more former first divison referees who are becoming specialized VARs.

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  11. Wow, you haven't discussed the most surprising appointment yet. Günter Perl seems to be AVAR in Sevilla supporting Marco Fritz as VAR. Günter Perl, 50 years old living near Munich, is not an active referee since summer 2017 and has never been a FIFA referee. However, he is an 'expert VAR' in Germany with most experience of all German referees (more than 50 games this and last season). So, not a surprising performance in regard to VAR experience and abilites, but definitely considering he is not an active referee and has never been an international referee.

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    Replies
    1. FIFA are introducing a separate "Video Match Officials" list for 2021, amongst which Perl and others (eg. Alan Kelly) will be on.

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    2. Thanks for the news, Mikael.

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    3. "The proposed video match officials shall have officiated regularly first division matches in their country for at least two years and have officiated at least 15 matches as a VMO. There is no fitness requirement for this role."
      http://refereeingworld.blogspot.com/2020/10/new-fifa-list-video-match-officials.html

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  12. strange that you have nothing to say to u Massa ...

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    Replies
    1. Why? Unlike Chelsea - Sevilla, it's a normal appointment for a referee that is top of First Category / bottom of Elite.

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  13. Tuesday: two French, two Dutch, two Spanish referees and three Spanish VARs.
    Wednesday: two German referees, three German VARs and two Italian VARs.

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  14. I would like to ask authorities like Anonymous and Chefren about their comment on Marciniak appointment in the context of their theory about "suspension of the Polish referee" for "crucial mistakes" allegedly made in previous matches?

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    Replies
    1. So it was most likely a punishment because it doesn't happen very often to be completely out from both UCL and UEL as an Elite referee (while being appointed as VAR = no COVID issue).

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  15. Appointments - Bundesliga Germany
    Matchday 6:

    2nd November

    20:30 TSG Hoffenheim - FC Union Berlin
    Robert Hartmann - Christian Leicher - Markus Schüller - Nicolas Winter [Tobias Welz - Mike Pickel]

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  16. Next year it will be very interesting to see if Benjamin Brand who is back in charge of Bundesliga games will be the next German Fifaref. That would be well deserved. And he is a very experienced VAR, who acted in that role more than one year after he recovered from a serious back injury. As VAR, he earned very good reputation, often in charge of the top clashes. Now back on the field, he shows very good performances, too. And he is still young, 29 or 30. A very very promising talent especially because his self consciousness, authority and body language are on high level, now, too! Keep an eye on him...

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    Replies
    1. Completely agree. Hopefully he stays fit as he was injured for a very long time.

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    2. His biggest rival is Sven Jablonski, who has been getting good games as well (for instance Hamburg Derby last season) and would deserve it very much as well. I think Jablonski will be FIFA before Brand, what do others think?

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    3. Is anyone retiring to leave a vacant spot in 2021 on Germany's FIFA list?

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    4. Felix Brych, Mike Pickel and Thorsten Schiffner are 45 year old

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    5. Jablonski and Brand have a similar situation regarding age (Jablonski:30, Brand:31) and number of Bundesliga matches (Jablonski:34, Brand:39), therefore only performances can decide. There I also see Jablonski slightly ahead, although Brand's sample size after the injury still is quite small.
      Also Storks is in a similar situation (age: 31, BL matches: 31) and can't be ruled out. But he had a weak last season, so he should be behind the other two at the moment.
      And for completeness: There are also
      Petersen (35yo, 27 BL matches)
      Schlager (30yo, 21 BL matches)
      Schröder (35yo, 20 BL matches)
      available for a FIFA spot.

      Regarding vacant spots, indeed only Brych reaches the former age limit, but will most likely continue at least for the EURO.
      However it is always possible, that someone is taken off the list early, especially with the new perspective of becoming a specialised VAR FIFA referee instead (mentioned above).

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    6. The deadline is 8 November, so DFB might announce the news next week.

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    7. Not sure about Pickel, but it seems that Brych and Schiffner will continue in 2021.

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    8. Sure Jablonski is a big talent, too. And I see both as Fifarefs sooner or later, but the reason that I see Brand in a slightly leading role is his brilliant reputation as VAR... AND on the field. But those two are good friends anyway, and good sportsmen. Strange things like between Brych and Zwayer will definitely not happen here.

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    9. Do you know more details about what happened between Brych and Zwayer?

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  17. A good matches for Szymon,well-deserved domination,good luck to the Polish team

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  18. Good luck Szymon!!!

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  19. News from Scotland, troubles for Douglas Ross.
    If true, he should be removed from FIFA list as first step.
    https://www.thenational.scot/news/18839977.fifa-confirm-probe-lead-end-douglas-rosss-career-referee/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The nationalists pursuit of Douglas Ross is all a little embarrassing and nothing more than political point scoring. Not sure such nonsense has a place on this forum.

      Save yourself the time and don’t click the link, it’s fake news.

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    2. There is never smoke without fire...

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    3. Three Scottish referee teams are appointed this week in UEFA competitions and Ross is not there.

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  20. https://mobile.twitter.com/TListkiewicz/status/1323359354771410945

    Marciniaks Assistant Referee Tomasz Listkiewcz has contact with his daughter because Covid.

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    Replies
    1. and he is in domestic quarantine

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    2. Without Peljto this week. He had 2 great perfomances, Sivas-Mac TA and Zrinjski-Velez.

      Also, he get appointment for biggest Bosnian derby match between Sarajevo and Zeljeznicar. That would be 6th time.

      Delete
  21. Argentina. Appointments round 2

    Viernes 6 de noviembre

    19.00 Patronato - Huracán

    Árbitro: Nazareno Arasa

    Asistente 1: Diego Martin

    Asistente 2: Juan Vázquez

    Cuarto árbitro: Ramiro López





    21.15 Argentinos Junios - Aldosivi

    Árbitro: German Delfino

    Asistente 1: Alejo Castany

    Asistente 2: Maximiliano Castelli

    Cuarto árbitro: Emanuel Ejarque




    Sábado 7 de noviembre
    16.00 Banfield - Godoy Cruz

    Árbitro: Ariel Penel

    Asistente 1: Ariel Scime

    Asistente 2: Walter Ferreyra

    Cuarto árbitra: Salome Di Iorio



    18.30 San Lorenzo - Estudiantes de La Plata

    Árbitro: Fernando Espinoza

    Asistente 1: Diego Bonfa

    Asistente 2: Gerardo Carretero

    Cuarto árbitro: Luis Lobo Medina



    21.15 River Plate - Rosario Central

    Árbitro: Facundo Tello Figueroa

    Asistente 1: Lucas Germanotta

    Asistente 2: Miguel Savorani

    Cuarto árbitro: Darío Herrera




    Domingo 8 de noviembre

    11.00 Arsenal - Atlético Tucumán

    Árbitro: Leandro Rey Hilfer

    Asistente 1: Mariano Rossetti

    Asistente 2: Pablo Gualtieri

    Cuarto árbitro: Fabricio Llobet



    16.15 Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata - Vélez Sarsfield

    Árbitro: Patricio Loustau

    Asistente 1: Hernán Maidana

    Asistente 2: Sebastián Raineri

    Cuarto árbitro: Andrés Gariano


    18.45 Unión - Racing Club

    Árbitro: Jorge Baliño

    Asistente 1: Facundo Rodriguez

    Asistente 2: José Castelli

    Cuarto árbitro: Pablo Dóvalo



    21.15 Newell's - Boca Juniors

    Árbitro: Mauro Vigliano

    Asistente 1: Gabriel Chade

    Asistente 2: Javier Uziga

    Cuarto árbitro: Nicolás Lamolina





    Lunes 9 de noviembre
    17.00 Independiente - Colón

    Árbitro: Silvio Trucco

    Asistente 1: Diego Verlotta

    Asistente 2: Marcelo Bistocco

    Cuarto árbitro: Hernan Mastrangelo



    19.15 Talleres - Lanús

    Árbitro: YAEL FALCON PEREZ

    Asistente 1: PABLO GONZALEZ

    Asistente 2: Diego Romero

    Cuarto árbitro: Diego Abal



    21.30 Central Córdoba - Defensa y Justicia

    Árbitro: Pablo Echavarria

    Asistente 1: Iván Núñez

    Asistente 2: Eduardo Lucero

    Cuarto árbitro: Jorge Broggi

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  22. By the way, can anyone overlook the developments of top refereeing in overseas? New Stars upcoming, light at the end of the tunnel especially in Asia, Concacaf and Conmebol?

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  23. Where are the VAR in the Champions games?
    At the stadiums or at the headquarters of the football federations?

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  24. YC 4’ and 6’ by Dias is correct ?

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  25. Massa gave a YC instead of RC against ManU. Right decision as it was no DOGSO

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    Replies
    1. I felt the player was in an offiside position, more reason VAR wouldn't have intervened if it was worthy of red at all

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  26. In my opinion it's unfair that Kralovec, Bastien, Sidiropoulos, Karasev or Collum are treated like First Group referees due to some not so good performances while Marsiniak is appointed to top clash after MANY bad blunders in his games. He spoilt many games with his mistakes and keeps getting big games like nothing happened. What is the reason behind treating certain referees differently to others, Mr Rosetti?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you on Kralovec, Sidiropoulos and Karasev, but Collum has been worse than Marciniak considering mistakes and spoiling games, whereas Bastien is not the top official from his country.

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    2. Not being the top official in your country doesn't mean, look at Lahoz and Carlos Del Cerro or Taylor and Oliver or even Brych and Zwayer untill the latter fell out of favour. If you are good UEFA will find ways to manage you and the "top official in your country" I am not saying Bastien isn't good I am just saying UEFA doesn't fancy him at the moment...

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    3. It s funny which you have written XD

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    4. IMO Sidiropoulos is being treated fairly by UEFA considering his bad form and mistakes on UEFA and National Level.

      Tbh, I consider some of these referees very lucky to even be on the Elite Group.

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  27. Skomina injured, Dragoslav Perič will officiate a CL game!

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    Replies
    1. Oh no ! Get well soon, Damir !

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    2. Is peric a FIFA REF?

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    3. No, and the most interesting thing is that he never officiated with VAR.

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    4. Really? During the match or before! What happend?

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    5. During the match, and then Skomina run to Peric and wearing a 4th Official jacket

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    6. I’m suprised to, that peric is 4th official. Slovenia has 5 fifa referes: skomina, vincic, jug, obrenovic and kajtazovic and few very talented young referees with their participations on uefa core programe. I don’t know can be peric 4th

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    7. He is quite experience ref in Slovenian league but of course level of the game today will be completely different. Good luck to him.

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    8. Don’t want to be sarcastic but M. Peric seems to be lost on the pitch. And concerning his fitness...no word, he is so far away from play. But I understand the situation as very uncomfortable for him !

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    9. Wish him all the best, not easy to referee CL match ~80mins without warm up.

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    10. Of course he can be lost. Based on informations from slovenia he is not great fitness prepared. He has a problem with injuries, kilograms, body fat... every year he has problems with fitness tests and he passed tests on 2nd or 3rd chance.

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    11. And it’s really obvious on the pitch...Sorry but disgraceful management by UEFA to accept this kind of ref on UCL...

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    12. I was under impression that the referees own FA appoints 4th not UEFA?

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    13. Yes it should be as you said when UEFA has not particular inputs, main appointments by UEFA are referee on the pitch and VAR.
      Just to add, it is not the first time that Skomina, despite of having the chance to get a FIFA referee as fourth official, prefers a NO FIFA. I indeed remember some years ago Roberto Ponis who appeared in CL in this role as well.
      Readers from Slovenia can maybe confirm this.
      However, even in case fourth official had been a FIFA one, the problem with officiating with VAR would have been the same.
      This doesn't happen to referees from other countries where VAR is there.

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    14. Maybe UEFA should consider changing their guidelines and allow the VAR to take over in case of an injury, if he is higher ranked than the 4th official - or at least if the 4th official is not FIFA.

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    15. Sorry but 4 official can be top divison referee, not obligatory FIFA. This is the rule. ANd of course, all others FIFA referees in Slovenia has been in contact with infected people and they are probably in isolation with will end in one or two days...SO dont make conclusion to fast. We are now in COVID times, not easy at all for UEFA to appoint the referees. We have already seen mixed teams...

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    16. Anonymous, you are probably right about infections and isolation.

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    17. Agree with Anonymous. If my info is correct, Vincic, Obrenovic and Kajtazovic have not been appointed until this weekend due to COVID isolation (Vukan is still missing). Jug is appointed in Rome tomorrow, so the situation with Peric has nothing to do with Skomina's "non-FIFA preferences", what a nonsense. Regardless of your opinion about Peric's fitness, he is still one of the most experienced referees in Slovenia left to be chosen.

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  28. VAR intervention in Sevilla. Brych takes back penalty

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    Replies
    1. Correct decision, the attacker kicks the defender, not the other way around. Fast invitation to take an OFR, rewatch took some time.

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    2. I think the penalty had been whistled (and revoked) for the handball, not the possible other foul.

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    3. Well, I should not have trusted the commentator. Indeed, I have just had a look at the kick, not at a handball.

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  29. Correct penalty decision for Chelsea by Felix Zwayer. Not too difficult but good positioning.

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  30. Correct penalty for handball given to PSG by Marciniak

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  31. Not the best start for Brych with two OFR, now the second one to assign a penalty.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed. In the end, I think both decisions are correct. The defender stamped his opponent on the foot.

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    2. You can say it's not the best by Felix Brych but I have to say it is excellent work by VAR Marco Fritz.

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    3. Is this the first time when Brych had two OFRs that forced him to change his initial decisions in the same match?

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  32. Some work for Marco Fritz and Günter Perl in Sevilla. Another check for a possible penalty leading to an OFR. Brych decided to award the penalty. Not the best start for Felix Brych. Two OFR after 20 minutes.

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  33. Oliver missed yc for spa around 15th min.

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    Replies
    1. Didn't see you say great early penalty awarded

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  34. Looks like the game in Bruges will not give too many troubles to Peric.
    An easy CL debut so far. I'm very interested in case something related to VAR will happen...

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  35. Wrong offside by AR1 in Leipzig (38')

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  36. OFR in London for a possible penalty for handball. Ball hit the open arm after a rebound on the knee. Very long review for Zwayer who then decides for penalty. One can agree with this decision.
    OK to invite referee to rewatch if he totally missed the incident.

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    1. Plus 2ndYC as a shot on the goal was blocked. Correct decision. I even think the hand was hit before the ball hit the body.

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    2. Very harsh decision here. Second YC and RC not needed here. Robotic appliance by Zwayer here. And supportable decision but we can say there is a big issue with hand’s decisions and PK. What a mess...

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    3. Disagreed, Frenchref. Second YC is mandatory, a shot on the goal was blocked. One cannot ignore the clear rules. Handball is punishable because hands are on shoulder level.

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    4. I agree for the card, I was speaking about « football spirit ». Concerning the hand, I saw it on replays in front of chest so i said was an harsh one. But just my opinion :)

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    5. Sorry. I definitely should not trust German broadcaster. Now they have said for the first time that the ball came from the defender's foot first. I only saw a replay of the upper body where the handball seemed clear. Must be rewatched.

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    6. It's a clear handball, arm is above shoulder height and the ball is not deliberately played. However the deflection off the player's foot means that it is no longer a shot on goal, it's just an offence that should be penalised with no card, there's no promising attack so can't justify that card for me.

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    7. Indeed T. J. Oss is right, the previous touch by player makes the handball happen when it isn's anymore a shot on goal (ball changed direction), so one could say, under this aspect, that YC could have been avoided. In these situations, however, in front of a monitor, in my opinion it is very difficult to make such detailed analysis.

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    8. I saw some replays now. Clearly a deflection after ball went from foot’s player. So NO offense with card here and furthermore strongly disagree to whistle this kind of PK. Zwayer seemed clear about his decision and wasn’t a clear clear mistake. RC is ridiculous. Sorry but another phantom management by his ref from Germany who doesn’t deserve to be Elite !

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    9. Chefren is very kind with ref and VAR. You have to be clear and sure of your decision to kill a match with PK and second YC for unwanted gesture. Sorry but Elite ref aura needs more of this kind of management...OK for the penalty if you want as Bastien was (seems uefa wants them whistled) but definitively not with this RC.

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    10. Please rewatch the the situation once again. Does the ball really hit the arm at a position above shoulder level...?

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    11. This not the question needed here. Unexpected hand after a ball played with FOOT. We can’t by card a player with his arm gesture here. That’s unfair and ridiculous !

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    12. Of course that’s the question, as it determines whether or not the handball is punishable in the first place.

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    13. Regarding the technical decision, at the moment of the shot on goal the position of the arms of the Rennes player is considered as unnatural, distant from the body. The fact that there's a foot deflection before that the ball touches the arm, it is not determinant as the action of the defender is blocking a shot on goal, which is different from a situation in which the player is clumsy and shots the ball on his own body. I think that the decision is supportable as Rennes player is defending in a illecite manner.

      Now, regarding the technical decision, if you give a penalty, you have to give a YC as it's a shot on goal. So, as the Rennes player was already booked, a RC is the normal decision. I don't think this should be a discussion, honestly.

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    14. Chefren, this cannot be a valid argument. Where would be the red line, when would it still be a shot and when not. For example, what would be, if a player stops a shot with his torso and the ball rolls from this to the outstretched arm?
      It's a goal shot at least as long as the ball is moving away from goal.

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  37. Replies
    1. Agree, Polish team in full control, sharp disciplinary control.

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    2. Marciniak's great first half. Very good control over the competition and the right decision to award a penalty kick for PSG

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  38. Brych with a RC for DOGSO and free kick.

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    1. Good decision, surely after advise from AR concerning card color. Well done.

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    2. Actually I don't think advice was from AR. I think Brych was always thinking RC but was waiting for confirmation from VAR that the foul was outside the Penalty Area. Because if it was inside and penalty it would have changed to YC. Smart work I think. Once he got confirmation it was outside he showed the red.

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  39. Excellent Marciniak in the first half!!!

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  40. What do people think about the penalty and sending off in the Chelsea match. Personally I felt the penalty and second yellow was harsh due to how close the defender was to the attacker and due to the fact that the ball came off the defenders foot first

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  41. Entertaining first half with many crucial decisions that had to be taken. A lot of work for the German crews: Brych with 2 OFR giving and taking back a penalty, RC for DOGSO in 45'. Zwayer with an early penalty decision and another penalty given for handball + 2ndYC after OFR.

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  42. Very good Marciniak and his team in first half. Correct penalty decision, strong body language, 3 yellow cards - all correct. Two goals for PSG disallowed by A2 for offside - good decisions. Good luck in second half!

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  43. Very, very harsh first half for Stade Rennais... Zwayer referees with the nose in the book and that’s not what football expects in such a game...
    Too bad for the match, but I guess supportable calls......

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    1. You cannot kill the match on such a debatable call, PK why not but certainly not RC...

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  44. Zwayer follow the rules but i think we all feel that this new handballrule ruïned our sport. I hope IFAB change it asap.

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    1. With PK yes Hans. But for the YC, as Chefren said, no action and shoot on goal after foot deflection so YC is not needed. That’s a cold and unhuman decision. Refs have to dominate rules. Not the contrary...

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    2. Agree. I meant the penalty. YC was bizarre anyway

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  45. OFR for Marciniak as well, very clear handball missed.
    This is something you can say 100% worthy of an OFR.

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    1. Clear one on the tv and replays. From the position of Marciniak pretty hard to see, AR2 could have helped here

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    2. Good team decision. Very good Marciniak ! Good to see him as « usual » ! :)

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    3. Indeed, and very quick check. Nice to see that.

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  46. VAR intervention because missed handball and then penalty to Leipzig by Marciniak. Correct for me

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  47. From the field, a very difficult situation for the referee to be taken by the PSG player

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    1. You’re clearly in a better mood than you were yesterday :)

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    2. Yesterday Makkelie made three serious mistakes in the first half, Szymon is leading this game very well despite VAR. Another great decision to show the second yellow card for the PSG player

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    3. So Makkelie makes a correct decision with the help of VAR and that’s a bad thing, but Marciniak making the correct decision with the help of VAR is fantastic. Uhu, you make a lot of sense. Apart from that the overturned penalty was the only mistake by Makkelie. Don’t know which other two you made up.

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    4. Why must makkelie be brought in the picture at all, just to push your agenda for Marchiniak... It doesn't have to be so, they are all good referees but not matter how you want to compare them, makkelie is better at the moment

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    5. We had many Mazic' fanboys in the past but those supporting Marciniak are even funnier XD

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    6. 2nd yellow card a great decision? It would have been a bad mistake if he did not give it. An elite referee should give that card - and he did, which is fine. But that's not a great call. I'd actually have liked a YC for protesting in the same situation.

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  48. A very good decision after the intervention of VAR. Finally, the decision to dictate a penalty kick for RB Leipzig is good.

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  49. Very good and brave decision by Marciniak with Gueye second YC and RC indeed. Clear one. No hesitation, masterclass attitude by polish ref.

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  50. Replies
    1. I saw many similar foul not punished by referees in UEFA even if the player was card-free. To issue a 2nd YC for such minor foul - not full contact with leg that was not standing one - is against common sense and I don't think observer will be overly happy with this.

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    2. Disagree Anonymous. Clear foot damaged. Reckless foul. YC mandatory as Kimpembe RC too...

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  51. Challenging match for Marciniak but he's doing great

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    1. How many such type of comments are you going to write under different names on this blog?

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    2. Just now clear whistle for an head obvious foul. What a model of body language by polish ref with PSG players : strong, confident, charismatic. Very impressed tonight by M. Marciniak ! ;)

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    3. Very good competition management, interesting body language, correct individual penalties and a tough match to lead. Unfortunately, due to one situation in which VAR was used, the score for this match for Marciniak was 7.9 / 8.6

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  52. What about Perić?

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  53. Oliver missed another yc for hand play in 83 min

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  54. Here is video about QFR by Zwayer between Chelsea against Rennais : https://streamable.com/zmqtje

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  55. Next correct 2nd YC by Marciniak. Maybe even direct RC was possible here?

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    1. Not really. No intensity on gesture. Good decision by a strong and fantastic Marciniak ! Congrats !

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    2. Indeed, SFP would have been possible as well. 2ndYC absolutely mandatory.

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  56. Excellent match for Polish team!!!Congratulations

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    1. Wait. In a moment, the anonymous will write that something was wrong - for example, a second yellow card for Gueye. As always, an expert from Poland who hates Marciniak at all times

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    2. Better to be an expert from Poland who can write something showing arguments than a typical childish fanboy under multiple nicknames ;)

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    3. Yes, here I am :) Actually it’s not the Gueye 2nd yellow card which was wrong, it was Kimpembes 2nd yellow card. Clearly an act of violence, requiring a direct sending off!

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    4. Ouch, even two 'experts from Poland who hate Marciniak at all times'. How fanboys are going to cope with this?

      But seriously, it's nothing wrong to write critical posts as long as there are arguments. And indeed, many comments supporting Marciniak are nothing more than fanboyism. Sorry!

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    5. Sorry, I was going to write "expert". I always write as Krokus, so I don't know what you write about "under different nicknames". I only have one question - what league do you referee? Class A?

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    6. 3rd tier and you?

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    7. I've been a referee for 25 years. Now I am an observer. And I'm always looking for the positive sides of referees. Conversely, you should always find something bad. This is annoying to me.

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    8. Several years in the 2nd league

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    9. So we can meet in the future about the field :D See you then :D

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    10. 'Conversely, you should always find something bad. This is annoying to me.'

      Not true at all. You should know how observer in UEFA work. As full professionals who analyze every detail. While I agree the overall performance of Marciniak was good / satisfying today, I don't agree with the first 2nd YC and I think the second 2nd YC should have been a straight red card. I wouldn't mark him down for those but I think the expected decisions were different than taken by him on the pitch.

      Treat my comments as an 'answer' to the overly excited comments of several users I was annoyed by as well. Nothing against Marciniak and any other ref. I just miss the old The Third Team forum where discussions were full of arguments and analyses instead of blind support or blind hating. That's all.

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    11. Well, then it's better you don't know me :D

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  57. Definitely the most "challenging" evening for refereeing in UEFA Champions League in this group stage! Many OFR if compared to all previous matchdays. Some interventions were absolutely mandatory and clear, while for other ones one can discuss. Rosetti will have many things to review.

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  58. Solid night for referees, many good decisions, OFRs.
    Not to many mistakes, apart from:
    2nd YC for Rennes after a second PK (Zwayer)
    1st YC for Gueye, Marciniak missed on that one for me, too easy shown yellow, and he gets 2nd later on...

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    Replies
    1. In my opinion Marciniak should show a yellow card for the PSG captain. For permanent mobing.

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    2. Potential SFP for Brych in the last minutes. Studs on the calf. No review made.

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  59. Would be nice to get some clarification from UEFA regarding handballs in unnatural positions with increasement of the body surface
    - with the ball coming from a teammate (e.g. Makkelie yesterday)
    - with the ball deflected by the same player before (e.g. Zwayer today)

    Only judging by the LotG text the first point is completely irrelevant (not mentioned at all). The second point depends on the interpretation of "except for the above offences" (we had that discussion here before) but in my opinion the "directly from the player's own body" part is only relevant if the body is not made unnaturally bigger.
    The touch only becomes relevant, if it was a deliberate play ("unless the player deliberately plays the ball...").

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    1. If the arm is seen as being in an unnatural position it is always a handball offence no matter what. That's why they say ''except for the above...''. Those above are always offences if their criteria is met. In this case it was clearly unnatural.
      The difference is that if a player deliberately plays the ball first it is extremely rare to see the arm in an unnatural position since they would have no intention or reason in doing so and the arms are used for balance in those cases.

      So you are interpreting the LOTG correct, Philipp.

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  60. Definitely the wrong decision by German team today in London IMO. It is simply forbidden to kill the match like that. The LotG are very unclear on this point, and it leads to very controversial situations.
    I wrote the same thing about Bastien's penalty yesterday : this is not the kind of calls you want to see in a UCL match. UEFA's consistency about soft/clear PK during the Final 8 has been rightfully praised, but this season we have a complete mess with handballs.
    The LotG being vague on the subject, the referee's first impression MUST prevail. It is simply outrageous to see matches being spoiled by this kind of decision. It is never a crucial mistake to reject this penalty, more "common sense" if you ask me, so Zwayer should not be asked to rewatch it, especially not a frozen image.
    But what bothers me more is this 2nd YC. While the PK is supportable, I cannot explain this YC. It does NOT stop a shot since the shot from Chelsea player was blocked by the player's foot !!! It does not stop a promising attack either. While the PK is harsh but supportable at the maximum, this YC is simply an awful mistake IMO that did nothing but kill the match.
    Just my opinion of course, but I don't like to see good matches like that spoiled by such decisions.
    BTW this decision is perceived as a scandal in France, even by medias that usually don't talk much about refereeing.

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    1. 100% agree.. Very good explanation..

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    2. I don't even find arguement for the first YC for this player. At maximum careless offence, nothing more. In case perceived as SPA then within penalty area this is not YC either.
      And completely agree what you wrote about the sent off. From and elite referee with VAR support we should expect to take correct decision, I don't see this as a very complex situation. Zwayer and VAR should have noticed in case a penalty it's not a YC as the handball happens after the block has happened.

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    3. Today both sides are unhappy about this decision. There is definitely a problem, either with the law or its application...

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    4. Just watch Brych in the other match in Seville, he had the opportunity to give a Sevilla player red card, he fouled a player who one can argue was DOGSO but gave the player a yellow card, supportable, then the same player gave away a penalty with an awful stamp on the leg of a player in which Brych missed but after OFR he gave the penalty but refused to send of the player... Now to Zwayer I would argue he have the first yellow card for dissent because if you see clearly after he awarded the first Penalty he moved to the penalty spot then the offending player came towards Zwayer and then he got his card, I refuse to believe the card was giving for the trip on the Chelsea player but for dissent but for the second card, I cannot phantom what Zwayer was doing there, it is against everything, the spirit of the game, the LOTG, everything!!!!! It was awful, it was as if he was trying to do everything to the letter of the law to come in contention with committee members again but it was horrible to see, I am sorry to say.

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  61. https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Chelsea-rennes-felix-zwayer-un-arbitre-au-passe-sulfureux/1191307

    Very harsh article from L’Equipe concerning Zwayer...I think refs committee has to forgot this awful ref. I wasn’t aware of this corruption affair, disgusting !

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