Thursday 5 November 2020

Europa League 2020/21 - Referee appointments for Matchday 3

2020-21 UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3 will be played on 5 November 2020. Please find below all the choices made by committe. 


5 November 2020 

18:55 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
AS Roma (ITA) - CFR 1907 Cluj (ROU) | Group A
Referee: Matej Jug (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali (SVN)
Fourth Official: David Šmajc (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jouni Hyytiä (FIN)
UEFA Delegate: José Guilherme Aguiar (POR)

18:55 CET - Vienna (Weststadion)
SK Rapid Wien (AUT) - Dundalk FC (IRL) | Group B
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Portelli (MLT)
Assistant Referee 2: Jurgen Spiteri (MLT)
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit (MLT)
UEFA Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann (SUI)
UEFA Delegate: Richard Havrilla (SVK)

18:55 CET - Petah Tikva (Itztadion HaMoshava)
Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC (ISR) - Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) | Group C
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Fabrizio Pasqua (ITA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić (SRB)
UEFA Delegate: Vakhtang Bzikadze (GEO)

18:55 CET - Prague (Eden Arena)
SK Slavia Praha (CZE) - OGC Nice (FRA) | Group C
Referee: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Heine Sørensen (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Lars Hummelgaard (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jens Maae (DEN) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos (CRO)
UEFA Delegate: Alin Cioban (ROU)

18:55 CET - Poznań (Stadion Poznań)
KKS Lech Poznań  (POL) - Royal Standard de Liège (BEL) | Group D
Referee: Manuel Schüttengruber (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Brandner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Steinacher (AUT)
Fourth Official: Christopher Jäger (AUT)
UEFA Referee Observer: Vadims Direktorenko (LVA)
UEFA Delegate: Peadar Ryan (IRL)

18:55 CET - Lisbon (Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
SL Benfica (POR) - Rangers FC (SCO) | Group D
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto López De Ceraín (ESP)
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Bertrand Layec (FRA) 
UEFA Delegate: Oleg Molceanov (MDA)

18:55 CET - Nicosia (GSP)
Omonoia FC (CYP) - Granada CF (ESP) | Group E
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Heidenreich (AUT)
Fourth Official: Harald Lechner (AUT)
UEFA Referee Observer: Neale Barry (ENG)
UEFA Delegate: Paul Tompkins (ENG)  Duncan Fraser (SCO) 

18:55 CET - Thessaloniki (Stadio Toumba)
PAOK FC (GRE) - PSV Eindhoven (NED) | Group E
Referee: Daniel Stefański (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dawid Igor Golis (POL)
Fourth Official: Damian Sylwestrzak (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel (FRA) 
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed (DEN) Paul Tompkins (ENG) 

18:55 CET - San Sebastián (Estadio de Anoeta)
Real Sociedad de Fútbol (ESP) - AZ Alkmaar (NED) | Group F
Referee: John Beaton (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Alan Mulvanny (SCO)
Fourth Official: Steven McLean (SCO)
UEFA Referee Observer: Karel Vidlák (CZE)
UEFA Delegate: Victor Marius Radu (ROU)

18:55 CET - Rijeka (Stadion HNK Rijeka)
HNK Rijeka (CRO) - SSC Napoli (ITA) | Group F
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Peter Aravirta (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mikko Alakare (FIN)
Fourth Official: Joni Hyytiä (FIN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT) 
UEFA Delegate: Garry O'Hagan (SCO)

18:55 CET - Sivas (Yeni 4 Eylül Stadyumu)
Sivasspor (TUR) - Qarabağ FK (AZE) | Group I
Referee: João Pinheiro (POR) Sandro Schärer (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiago José Pereira Costa (POR) Stéphane De Almeida (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Ribeiro (POR) Bekim Zogaj (SUI)
Fourth Official: Iancu Ioan Vasilica (POR)
UEFA Referee Observer:  Georgi Yordanov (BUL)
UEFA Delegate: Nikoloz Jgarkava (GEO)

18:55 CET - Razgrad (Ludogorets Arena)
PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) - Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) | Group J
Referee: Fran Jović (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Ivica Modrić (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Hrvoje Radić (CRO)
Fourth Official: Mario Zebec (CRO)
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL) Emil Bozhinovski (MKD) 
UEFA Delegate: Aurel Mihail Ionescu (ROU)

21:00 CET - Bern (Stadion Wankdorf)
BSC Young Boys (SUI) - PFC CSKA-Sofia (BUL) | Group A
Referee: Lawrence Visser (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Thibaud Nijssen (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Rien Vanyzere (BEL)
Fourth Official: Bram Van Driessche (BEL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel (GER)
UEFA Delegate: Michael O'Brien (ENG)

21:00 CET - London (Arsenal Stadium)
Arsenal FC (ENG) - Molde FK (NOR) | Group B
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Margaritov (BUL)
Fourth Official: Bahattin Simsek (TUR)
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: John Taylor (SCO)

21:00 CET - Leicester (Leicester City Stadium)
Leicester City FC (ENG) - SC Braga (POR) | Group G
Referee: Bas Nijhuis (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Charles Schaap (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig (NED)
Fourth Official: Sander van der Eijk (NED)
UEFA Referee Observer: Edward Foley (IRL) 
UEFA Delegate: Stephen Williams (WAL)

21:00 CET - Zaporizhia (Zaporizhzhya City Stadium)
FC Zorya Luhansk (UKR) - AEK Athens FC (GRE) | Group G
Referee: William Collum (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Sean Carr (SCO)
Fourth Official: Nicholas Walsh (SCO)
UEFA Referee Observer: Antonio Damato (ITA) 
UEFA Delegate: Bartosz Laski (POL)

21:00 CET - Glasgow (Celtic Park)
Celtic FC (SCO) - AC Sparta Praha (CZE) | Group H
Referee: István Kovács (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Florin Marinescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene (ROU)
Fourth Official: Marius Avram (ROU)
UEFA Referee Observer: Shmuel Shteif (ISR)
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam (NED) 

21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
AC Milan (ITA) - LOSC Lille (FRA) | Group H
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Jakub Winkler (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Marek Arys (POL)
Fourth Official: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Yuri Baskakov (RUS)
UEFA Delegate: Gijs de Jong (NED)

21:00 CET - Villarreal (Estadio de la Cerámica)
Villarreal CF (ESP) - Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) | Group I
Referee: Nikola Dabanović (MNE)
Assistant Referee 1: Milovan Djukić (MNE)
Assistant Referee 2: Vladan Todorović (MNE)
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković (MNE)
UEFA Referee Observer: Lutz-Michael Fröhlich (GER)
UEFA Delegate: João Morais (POR)

21:00 CET - Deurne (Bosuil)
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) - LASK (AUT) | Group J
Referee: Yevhenii Aranovskiy (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Volodymyr Vysotskyi (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash (UKR)
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov (UKR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Rusmir Mrković (BIH)
UEFA Delegate: Oleg Harlamov (EST)

21:00 CET - Zagreb (Stadion Maksimir)
GNK Dinamo (CRO) - Wolfsberger AC (AUT) | Group K
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pages (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guillaume Debart (FRA)
Fourth Official: Amaury Delerue (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović (SRB)
UEFA Delegate: Kejdi Tomorri (ALB)

21:00 CET - Rotterdam (Stadion Feijenoord)
Feyenoord (NED) - PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS) | Group K
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: David Elias Biton (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Dvir Shimon (ISR)
Fourth Official: Liran Liany (ISR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson (SWE)
UEFA Delegate: Aleksandr Aleinik (BLR)

21:00 CET - Belgrade (Stadion Rajko Mitić)
FK Crvena zvezda (SRB) - KAA Gent (BEL) | Group L
Referee: Michael Fabbri (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Giorgio Peretti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Costanzo (ITA)
Fourth Official: Rosario Abisso (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Volodymyr Petrov (UKR)  
UEFA Delegate: Velid Imamović (BIH) Vasko Dojcinovski (MKD)

21:00 CET - Sinsheim (Rhein-Neckar-Arena)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (GER) - FC Slovan Liberec (CZE) | Group L
Referee: Sergey Karasev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Igor Demeshko (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Maksim Gavrilin (RUS)
Fourth Official: Vladimir Moskalev (RUS)
UEFA Referee Observer: Erol Ersoy (TUR) 
UEFA Delegate: Alexandr Keplin (KAZ)

134 comments:

  1. Milan vs Lille for Bartosz Frankowski Big Game for Polish team

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paok vs PSV for Daniel Stefański good day for Polish teams

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  3. Good day for Stefański in Greece after he married in Santorini👌

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bebek with mixed Croatian-Austrian team, Im glad that he doesnt "suffer" because of his AR issues.

    Also Jovic got interesting game, at the moment he seems to be more trusted by UEFA than by croatian referee commitee (let alone Croatian public...).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What happened to his AR2 and 4th

      Delete
    2. it is no surprise that Jović was appointed to that match, certainly the best Croatian referee at the moment

      Delete
    3. At the moment, Jovic had 3 consecutive unconvincing performances in Croatian league with mistakes in each game. Sorry, I am happy for any Croatian referee to get a chance, but really he had better moments during last few years.

      Delete
  5. If I'm not mistaken group stage debut for Fabbri.

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  6. Well, if I say that Fabbri's debut is a surprise, this statement doesn't explain how I feel after having read his name. Absolutely unexpected choice by Rosetti. A referee who is not in the best moment of his career (to say it kindly), he wouldn't have deserved that at moment. Anyway, I want to wish him the best because he must recover.
    The ideas of Rosetti are very different from his predecessor, he seems to allow everything, as long as this is possible. The technical selection of the best referees is more flexible than what we saw in past.
    Debut also for Trustin Farrugia Cann, I think.
    Many weird appointments, Pasqua (Italian NO FIFA) in Israel with a Romanian team is the most difficult to explain. Maybe the Romanian officials came to Italy with Hategan in Bergamo for today's game and then they will fly to Israel tomorrow? I really don't know. The first option as fourth official should be a FIFA referee, in case, so there should be something more related to Italy in order to see Pasqua there...

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  7. Jovanovic not appointed after Feyenoord match. Big match for Reinshreiber

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  8. Is this the first time a Maltese official reaches the groupstage?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, a few years ago there was a try with Clayton Pisani, Category 1, then he retired for some reasons.

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    2. Oh, no, of course not. We had Pisani.

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    3. I guees Alan Mario Sant he appeared in international matches.

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    4. Alan Mario Sant has retired from active refereeing. Trustin Farrugia Cann is now Malta's top referee when it comes to UEFA's categories.

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    5. Alan Mario Sant is a Category 2 referee and was never appointed for a Group Stage match.

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    6. He was never given the opportunity he deserved... and now he has retired

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    7. Alan Mario Sant sent his resignation to Fifa in August when he was appointed as Chairman of Referees Committee in Malta. Now he is the man in charge in Malta.

      Delete
  9. Tricky match for Jovic cause we know how Ludogorets can be very phisycal team and Tottenham's not interested in Europa League that much so we could se some challenging moments for Jovic.



    For Bebek it's the case were we have two fighting teams that can play dirty so it will be interesting to see how he performs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. not tricky at all, he can manage that game and he will do that...

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    2. I only do not understand reasons for Austrian AR and Lechner as fourth official in Bebek's match. I must say, that mixed appointment makes no sense to mee but ok.

      Delete
  10. Is Fyodor Zammit the son of WC 1998 AR Emanuel Zammit?

    ReplyDelete
  11. UEFA countries without referees in EL group stage:
    Andorra
    Armenia
    Faroe Islands
    Gibraltar
    Kosovo
    Liechtenstein (no FIFA referees there)
    San Marino

    While it seems still impossible for the very small countries without an adequate number of FIFA officials (Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar), I think that for Armenia, Kosovo and Faroe this could be possible, sooner or later.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Having one FIFA referee has really restricted these nations (Andorra, San Marino, Gibraltar) in showing their refereeing talent. For these countries to have some opportunity they should be paired with a country where they could share appointments together, so that they could have an opportunity to progress.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Segei Karasev
    ��������
    Is he still elite ???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes he is still an Elite referee and he must recover.
      Maybe one day the old Karasev will be back...

      Delete
    2. Not only Karassev, Collum and Kralovec also must recover if not they might never progress to top level anymore

      Delete
  14. I would raise Aliyar Aghayev's status again. After 3 matchdays, as Category 1 ref, he had no appointment. I know that he is not injured or covid he had a game this weekend. I hope this is not about the conflict going on in the region. If this is the reason, politics shouldn't be at sports...

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  15. According to UEFA.com, there is a change in the Referee team for Sivasspor vs Qarabag

    The Referee team now is Sandro Schärer, Belim Zogaj and Stéphane de Almeida from Switzerland.

    This means 3 weeks in a row in CL/EL Group Phase for this Swiss Referee team.

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  16. Any changes to officials on the FIFA panel anywhere?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Malta will have 2 new FIFA Referees, Philip Farrugia and Ishmael Barbara, replacing Alan Mario Sant (who was appointed Referees committee chairman) and Fyodor Zammit.

      Delete
    2. In Turkey, Abdulkadir Bitigen is expected to replace a FIFA referee. This could be Huseyin Gocek (not performing very well just two low profile games, no EL appointment) or Arda Kardesler. But I don't understand why Turkey goes for 37 old referee, who officiated only 14 Super League games till 2019-2020. Last season and this season he had 20 games. I think there are more promising and younger referees available.

      Delete
    3. Maybe Bitigen will be nominated as FIFA Video Match Official, since he already has lots of such appointments by UEFA.
      Isn't Kardasler a recent FIFA referee? Why would he be replaced?

      Delete
    4. Any news from Netherlands, Germany or Italy about Kuipers (47), Brych (45), Orsato (45)?

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    5. I think Gocek or Kardesler will be replaced. Reason for Kardesler is he doesn't have too much support from Turkish Refereeing Committee. Bitigen's father is ex ref and observer in the committee.

      Delete
  17. BIG NEWS:

    https://apnews.com/article/international-soccer-sports-europe-gianni-infantino-aleksander-ceferin-only-on-ap-8508c770558a9deef930e637df3dce53

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Title : UEFA asks FIFA for handball law change to stop harsh calls

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    2. So we can say, Zwayer was right by law yesterday

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  18. @Frenchref in the previous post

    And a 2 out of 10 for Zwayer in the newspaper today. The last one to get such a low mark from L’équipe was... Zwayer for Juve-Lyon in August.
    I know newspaper don’t know much about refereeing but that’s saying something nevertheless.

    I hope we won’t see Zwayer’s name in UCL this season, many referees deserve it much, much than him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You overdo a little bit 😉
      Zwayer followed the lotg, and I don't see, why this should be against the spirit of the game as well.
      You say that's no shot on goal anymore. That's just nonsense. Take a look at offside. It's still a blocked shot, even if it's getting touched multiple times by one player (as long it's not played intentional the second, third... time).
      So you can't blame Zwayer following the rules, just because of your personal view.

      Delete
    2. I don't want that this blog becomes a tool to write against or in favor of a certain referee, I think you wrote already enough about Zwayer. Things are clear, no need to repeat that again and again. Committee will draw their conclusions. Thanks.

      Delete
    3. Ok sorry, no problem.

      Delete
  19. Italy Serie A
    Matchweek 7

    Friday 06th November

    20:45 Sassuolo - Udinese
    Eugenio Abbattista - Mauro Galetto - Vittorio Di Gioia - Luca Massimi
    [Luca Banti - Stefano Liberti]

    Saturday 7th November

    15:00 Cagliari - Sampdoria
    Giovanni Ayroldi - Fabiano Preti - Giuseppe Macaddino - Valerio Marini
    [Gianluca Manganiello - Alessandro Lo Cicero]

    18:00 Benevento - Spezia
    Gianluca Aureliano - Filippo Valeriani - Daniele Marchi - Antonio Di Martino
    [Marco Di Bello - Rodolfo Di Vuolo]

    20:45 Parma - Fiorentina
    Federico La Penna - Giacomo Paganessi - Fabrizio Lombardo - Lorenzo Maggioni
    [Michael Fabbri - Damiano Di Iorio]

    Sunday 8th November

    12:30 Lazio - Juventus
    Davide Massa - Filippo Meli - Stefano Alassio - Juan Luca Sacchi
    [Paolo Mazzoleni - Dario Cecconi]

    15:00 Atalanta - Inter
    Daniele Doveri - Salvatore Longo - Stefano Del Giovane - Davide Ghersini
    [Maurizio Mariani - Daniele Bindoni]

    15:00 Genoa - Roma
    Massimiliano Irrati - Alessio Tolfo - Domenico Rocca - Marco Serra
    [Luca Pairetto - Alberto Tegoni]

    15:00 Torino - Crotone
    Francesco Fourneau - Sergio Ranghetti - Marco Bresmes - Federico Dionisi
    [Aleandro Di Paolo - Ciro Carbone]

    18:00 Bologna - Napoli
    Fabrizio Pasqua - Giorgio Peretti - Valerio Vecchi - Riccardo Ros
    [Rosario Abisso - Matteo Passeri]

    20:45 Milan - Hellas Verona
    Marco Guida - Valentino Fiorito - Gianluca Sechi - Livio Marinelli
    [Paolo Valeri - Alessandro Giallatini]

    ReplyDelete
  20. Italy Serie B
    Matchweek 7

    Friday 6th November

    21:00 Spal - Salernitana
    Ivano Pezzuto - Andrea Zingarelli - Riccardo Annaloro - Daniel Amabile

    Saturday 7th November

    14:00 Cosenza - Brescia
    Manuel Volpi - Vito Mastrodonato - Giuseppe Perrotti - Daniele Rutella

    14:00 Cremonese - LR Vicenza
    Ivan Robilotta - Mauro Vivenzi - Matteo Bottegoni - Daniele Chiffi

    14:00 Monza - Frosinone
    Matteo Marchetti - Salvatore Affatato - Gamal Mokthar - Giacomo Camplone

    14:00 Pisa - Ascoli
    Lorenzo Illuzzi - Oreste Muto - Robert Avalos - Livio Marinelli

    14:00 Pordenone - Chievo
    Alessandro Prontera - Davide Imperiale - Christian Rossi - Daniel Amabile

    16:00 Empoli - Reggina
    Gianpaolo Calvarese - Niccolo Pagliardini - Thomas Ruggieri - Daniele Paterna

    Sunday 8th November

    15:00 Pescara - Cittadella
    Alberto Santoro - Pietro Dei Giudici - Marco Trinchieri - Luca Massimi

    18:00 Reggiana - Venezia
    Simone Sozza - Alessandro Costanzo - Davide Moro - Daniele Paterna

    21:00 Virtus Entella - Lecce
    Antonio Rapuano - Tarcisio Villa - Alessio Berti - Matteo Gariglio

    ReplyDelete
  21. England Premier League
    Matchweek 8

    18:30 Brighton - Burnley
    Mike Dean - Ian Hussin - Dan Robathan - John Brooks
    [Michael Oliver - Stephen Child]

    21:00 Southampton - Newcastle
    Peter Bankes - Neil Davies - James Mainwaring - Graham Scott
    [Chris Kavanagh - Sian Massey-Ellis]

    Saturday 7th November

    13:30 Everton - Manchester United
    Paul Tierney - Stuart Burt - Simon Bennett - Andy Madley
    [Michael Oliver - Constantine Hatzidakis]

    16:00 Crystal Palace - Leeds
    Chris Kavanagh - Dan Cook - Sian Massey-Ellis - David Coote
    [Mike Dean - Ian Hussin]

    18:30 Chelsea - Sheffield
    Jonathan Moss - Marc Perry - Simon Long - Stuart Attwell
    [Kevin Friend - Simon Beck]

    21:00 West Ham - Fulham
    Robert Jones - Darren Cann - Mark Scholes - Martin Atkinson
    [Andre Marriner - Eddie Smart]

    Sunday 8th November

    13:00 West Bromwich - Tottenham
    Andy Madley - Adrian Holmes - Scott Ledger - Steve Martin
    [Simon Hooper - Derek Eaton]

    15:00 Leicester - Wolves
    Anthony Taylor - Gary Beswick - Adam Nunn - Peter Bankes
    [Stuart Attwell - Dan Cook]

    17:30 Manchester City - Liverpool
    Craig Pawson - Lee Betts - Richard West - Andre Marriner
    [Paul Tierney - Stephen Child]

    20:15 Arsenal - Aston Villa
    Martin Atkinson - Constantine Hatzidakis - Nick Hopton - Graham Scott
    [David Coote - Stephen Child]

    ReplyDelete
  22. OT

    Just to come back at the penalty decision taken by Felix Zwayer and VAR yesterday in CHE-REN. Here is the full clip:
    https://streamable.com/jsdyw2


    Let's take a look at what the law says:

    "It is an offence if a player:
    (...)
    - touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
    (...)
    - the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)" (Law 12, handling the ball)

    Having a look at the images, the arm is clearly above shoulder level at the moment the shot is taken. Dalbert's action of playing the ball can never be seen as a deliberate action. Therefore, VAR was RIGHT to intervene as per the laws, there is a clear and obvious error! Kudos to Zwayer and his VAR team for taking this crucial decision!

    Considering the 2YC: I do get the argument of people saying that 2YC is too harsh, because the ball changes the direction, it cannot be seen as a shot on goal. However, this is my interpretation: at the moment when the shot is taken, it is a shot that is aimed on target initially, irrespective of the deflection before or not. The deflection doesn't change the fact that initially, the shot was aimed at target and that must also have been Zwayer's interpretation when he was at the screen. Therefore, I would assess the 2YC as a correct decision too, in that case it is even a mandatory caution.

    However, I'd like to condemn the language used by some readers here, saying that Zwayer 'killed the match' or suggesting that his decision is scandalous, criminal, etc. This is not the place to condemn a referee who takes a decision based on the footage he is given, based on the current LotG and on the current guidelines. If we start to condemn and the referees because they take correct decisions based on the Laws, then I think we've got a lot to fear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not the first time he makes big mistakes and never been punished. Continues to get appoints while other refs are getting suspensions.

      Delete
    2. I agree with you Stake. It was nowhere scandalous. And maybe there are guidelines on the subject of 'shot on target' that we don't know about. If you watch BT sport you can be biased very fast, because they simply can't accept the new handball rules.. seems to be an english thing. They even compared the call with a situation, where the ball hit Zoumas hand, that was very clearly near to his body and not high (unnatural) :/

      Delete
    3. You can watch the sequence that I'm talking about here: https://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2020/11/05/uefa-champions-league-highlights-show-bt-sport-4/ From minute 35:55

      Delete
    4. Did the handball stop a shot heading towards the goal? Absolutely not.
      Did the foot stop a shot on goal? Yes.

      The handball is punished. If it never hit the hand where would the ball go? 5-10 meter up in the air to the right and not even close to the goal or an opponent. No promising attack was stopped. Correct handball. Incorrect yellow card.

      Delete
    5. The player stopped the shot with both: his food and his hand. Everything else is nonsense. We have other fields in the lotg in which this is fact and wouldn't be worth of debating, like offside

      Delete
    6. That's however a very interesting point for discussion.
      I would assume that a handball should be always assessed considering the previous trajectory of the ball, because as long as there aren't infringments, player is allowed, of course, to deflect a shot with all the parts (unless arms and hands of course) of his body. So the assessment, in case of handball after a rebound on another part of the body, should be done at the moment of the impact with hand.
      However, it seems as many people disagree with that, and there is the chance that for somebody the action of a defender (first deflection and then handball) can be considered as only one action: this would be the argument to consider the YC by Zwayer correct.
      As there isn't agreement on that, I think this question could be even sent to IFAB.

      Delete
    7. @Stake
      Why do you assess the position of the arm/hand at the moment the shot is taken, and not at the moment the ball hits the hand/arm? In my opinion that’s the moment you should assess the position. And at the moment the ball hits the arm the point of contact is not above shoulder level in my opinion. The same goes for your interpretation of the shot on goal, considering it as one and the same action. I hold another interpretation.

      So your conclusion is based on your interpretation of the Laws, which can differ from somebody else’s interpretation. Exactly that is the problem of the current handball rule.

      To conclude I do strongly agree with your statement in the last part of your post. The emotions and use of strong language is a bit shameful, especially in this particular situation where different interpretations can be equally valid.

      Delete
    8. @Anonymous
      In this case, I think it is not much a difference in this specific case whether we assess the position of the arm at the moment when the shot is taken or when the arm is hit: in my opinion, here the position of the arm remains punishable in any case. That’s why I interpreted it in this way. I also understand why the 2YC can be assessed as a mistake, I totally respect both interpretations.

      I agree that in this case and in other cases, the problem is as you say the Law: blaming the referees is way too simplistic, you cannot blame an official who takes a decision based on what is written in the law. And also in that context: I strongly condemn that article written by L’Equipe which indirectly tries to link Felix Zwayer’s past to the decisions he’s taken at Stamford Bridge. That’s nothing but nonsense and whataboutism! What I expect from such a high-profile sports newspaper is proper research (look up the laws, question the laws instead of the man (personally!) applying them) and trying to understand the decisions based on the laws. Not that piece that they published...

      Delete
    9. A referee proven involved in a betting scandal, regardless his name or country, should be treated accordingly - see Calciopoli where all those proven guilty were banned.

      Delete
    10. 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.

      I completely agree with your observation @Stake !

      Delete
  23. I just rewatched some highlights of RB Leipzig vs PSG and Don Hutchinson pointed out, that Kimpembe should have seen the 2nd YC (therefore red) for the handball that led to the penalty. Can anyone tell me, why Marciniak was right not to give the YC?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very easy to explain... It was not shoot on the goal, defender played/touched the ball by his arm in a position where bobody was behind to take the ball, therefore no promising attack was stopped, so yellow card in that situation would have been wrong decision. Clear enough?

      Delete
    2. Yes, thank you. I thought Forsberg could have gotten there, but I guess he was standing still and would not have reached the ball.

      Delete
    3. Even if, the defender has no intention to play the ball to prevent his opponent getting the ball, which is clearly a needed point.

      Delete
  24. Red card for DOGSO by Gil Manzano:
    https://streamja.com/y3L4r

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unbelievably missed 2nd YC for holding to Standard player by Schüttengruber in 35'...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Good 1H from Trustin Farrugia Cann in Vienna. He simply issued cautions for the offences that merited them and didn't overcomplicate this game. He is a good mover, and his manner was convincing too.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Correct penalty for PSV by Stefanski.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Possible missed dangerous play-IFK before Granada goal?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not possible,mandatory. Also missed PK imo at 4oth minute.

      Delete
  29. Miss penalty for Cann in Vienna on 60'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, there were two interesting situations in a minute which could have resulted in a penalty given. Both tackles were theoretically reckless after the ball was kicked, however the first was rather trifling and the second could be conceived as bad luck.

      Delete
  30. Correct penalty awarded to Dundalk by Farrugia Cann (81'). Not sure if the caution given was for not undeliberate SPA or accidental DOGSO, but I think it is a credible card in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  31. And now correct yellow card only for a just very reckless tackle by a Dundalk player (82').

    Farrugia Cann has increased his presence in this more chaotic part of the game - good.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Villarreal-Maccabi (Dabanovic) delayed 1 hour for heavy rain.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I watched Gestranius in Rijeka - Napoli and I must say that I was not convinced. No crucial mistakes but many minor mistakes. Some inverted fouls, some harsh if not wrong yellow cards, not always close to players, didn't give the impression that he was in control of a (very easy) game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree Chefren. I watched him several times and he is not the type of referee I would like to watch in Europe. Not convincing body language, statue etc.

      Delete
  34. Very interesting penalty appeal for Michael Fabbri to solve (9'), potential handling, I would argue this is a good case for an UNDELIBERATE handling in the new LotG, arm used for co-ordination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you referring to "when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body"?
      Then I would say, that the arm was clearly extended laterally away from the body.
      Or are you thinking of another phrase?

      Delete
  35. About Pinheiro (POR):

    "João Pinheiro found positive in Covid-19 test

    Referee João Pinheiro tested positive for COVID-19, is well and will now comply with the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health for these cases.

    The referee was appointed by UEFA for a Europa League game, Sivaspor-Qarabag, as were assistants Tiago Costa and Pedro Ribeiro, with the trio replaced. Only the 4th referee in the game, Iancu Vasilica, remained nominated.

    João Pinheiro and his team will be out of the next round's appointments.

    The arbitration agents, such as the support staff, are being submitted to the testing protocol defined by the General Directorate of Health and have permanent clinical monitoring by the Health and Performance Unit of the FPF."

    by: FPF

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really sorry for him, my wishes for a quick recovery!

      Delete
  36. Penalty by Bartosz Frankowski to Lille for a push from behind with both arms, however very soft action. Supportable call, nothing more, maybe another referee wouldn't have called it. Stupid action by defender.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wouldn't have called it. Very, very soft.

      Delete
    2. For me correct decision especially that Lille player was in the air. Stupid behaovior by Milan defender.

      Delete
    3. https://streamja.com/GZ10Z

      I agree with Anonymous, it's a simple careless push. Penalty to be given IMO.

      Delete
    4. To add, in Italy this is perceived as fully wrong. A referee whistling it in serie A would be blamed.

      Delete
    5. Clear penalty. Clear push from behind, nothing else to do here except to fall down..

      Delete
    6. Totally agree with Quilava and Chefren on this one, very soft penalty. The attacker very cleverly uses the slight hand in the back to earn the much desired penalty.

      Delete
    7. I agree with Chefren's first comment.

      Delete
    8. On this subject, any views on the red card shown to Odamenti of Benfica (formally of Man City) in the game against Rangers in Lisbon by Gil Manzano.

      Delete
  37. Between Fabbri and his AR Alessandro Costanzo they should have detected that the tackle by Crvena zvezda no.35 (45') was a clear case of SFP. A caution was issued after an advantage played (rather poorly managed scene with a booking for an LoR holding missed too).

    Impressed by Fabbri's manner in a relatively easy-going game until those last minutes of the half.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://imgur.com/a/SjF7WDO

      Delete
    2. 90+3 He missed second YC for no.35 Sanogo (Illegal use of hands - elbow)

      Delete
    3. Yes, I think SYC was the most optimal outcome, but given that the striking / blocking offence was neither CLEARLY reckless or SPA, I guess UEFA will support Fabbri.

      More problematic for me is the freekick given for the winning goal - Fabbri was sold a dive.

      Not a bad performance by the Italian per se, but he seemed to doubt his perception (-> lack of form?) too much.

      Delete
  38. PORTUGAL - NOS LEAGUE
    Matchweek 7

    Friday, 6th November

    21:30 Belenenses SAD-Rio Ave FC
    Gustavo Correia - Inácio Pereira, André Dias - Cláudio Ferreira
    [Luís Ferreira, Nuno Eiras]

    Saturday, 7th November

    16:00 CD Tondela-CD Santa Clara
    João Bento - Marco Vieira, Hugo Coimbra - Fábio Loureiro
    [Luís Ferreira, Nuno Eiras]

    16:30 Moreirense FC-FC Paços Ferreira
    Postponed

    19:00 FC Famalicão-Marítimo M.
    Luís Godinho - Rui Teixeira, Carlos Covão - Pedro Ramalho
    [Rui Oliveira, Sérgio Jesus]

    21:30 Vitória SC-Sporting CP
    Hugo Miguel - André Campos, Ricardo Santos - José Rodrigues
    [Vasco Santos, Bruno Rodrigues]

    Sunday, 8th November

    16:00 CD Nacional-Gil Vicente FC
    Fábio Melo - Tiago Leandro, Luís Costa - João Pereira
    [Manuel Mota, Jorge Fernandes]

    16:00 SC Farense-Boavista FC
    Vítor Ferreira - Luciano Maia, Valdemar Maia - Hélder Nunes
    [Vasco Santos, Bruno Rodrigues]

    18:30 FC Porto-Portimonense SC
    António Nobre - Nuno Pereira, Pedro Felisberto - Flávio Lima
    [Rui Oliveira, Sérgio Jesus]

    21:00 SL Benfica-SC Braga
    Artur Soares Dias - Rui Licínio, Paulo Soares - Pedro Campos
    [Bruno Esteves, Pedro Mota]

    *out (only FIFA): Pinheiro (SARS_COV_2), Veríssimo and Martins.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Missed RC by Nijhuis for SFP, he gave only YC, but it wasn't easy from his position, he was exactly behind the fouled player so he couldn't see... maybe a help from another official? This was a very clear red card, if you ask me, studs up, very high, on opponent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, RC also for me. Maybe a case of being too close to the situation.

      Delete
  40. Correct 2nd YC by Aranovsky (68') for a reckless foul (tending towards SFP)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. very harsh for SFP . UEFA should support reckless

      Delete
  41. Two goals from offside were allowed by Reinshreiber's team (the 1st and the 3rd by Feyenoord)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For the 1st goal, the defender played the ball deliberately, therefore no offside is correct IMO.

      Delete
    2. The third goal is definitely offside. Very, very close, but because of the camera angle perfectly caught on camera. About the first goal however we cannot be sure without the offside-lines, but extremely close as well.

      Delete
    3. Ah, Philipp is correct. Even if offside (1st goal) there was a deliberate play by defender (which hardly affected the path of the ball, but still a deliberate play).

      Delete
  42. Some clips from the Rapid Wien - Dundalk game handled by Trustin Farrugia Cann (from Malta).

    56' Second Yellow Card (SPA/LoR)?
    https://streamable.com/i2d1tt

    60' Two penalty appeals (tackle; tripping)
    https://streamable.com/jrdava

    81' Penalty (tripping) to Dundalk
    https://streamable.com/bs30yt

    82' Reckless or Serious Foul Play?
    https://streamable.com/u50p0h

    +95' Penalty (charging) to Dundalk
    https://streamable.com/mrub3w

    -> Successful début for the Maltese referee. Farrugia Cann definitely has the competencies to rise to 1st Cat. - UEFA should appoint him for more challenging matches to determine his potential beyond that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 60th minute. Two penalty appeals , both punishable with YC as well.
      82 minute. Borderline
      95th minute. Very soft penalty

      How is this a successful debut????!!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. IMO
      56' - I prefer a SndYC here, but wouldn't call it a mistake.
      60' - In both cases penalty would have been possible. I think that the 1st appeal (green player fouled) is a mandatory penalty, but the 2nd appeal (black player fouled) is a correct play-on.
      81' - correct decision.
      82' - For me, that is reckless and therefore correct.
      95' - Supportable call.

      Looks like a promising performance, would be interestint to see him in more difficult EL matches. I think, he is able to manage that as well.

      Delete
  43. Seems like team Aranovs'kyj made a mistake by allowing four separate. subs for Antwerpen in the second half (none at half-time)...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is not a ref problem. Is team’s.

      Delete
  44. IMO, not only teams problem. 4 th official is in charge for substitutes and team.

    ReplyDelete
  45. If true this is totally unacceptable and the error lies with the referees team...Can anyone confirm this ?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Lech Poznań - Standard de Liège

    13' - handball penalty incident
    https://streamable.com/p5thag

    35' - missed YC for SPA?
    https://streamable.com/mf4lxa

    64' - reckless v SFP
    https://streamable.com/i7y8jd

    - - -

    Leicester City - Braga

    69' - reckless v SFP
    https://streamable.com/wnu2su

    Thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lech Poznań - Standard de Liège
      The incident in 13' is very particular, at first defender wants to avoid contact with arm by keeping them behind back, but then when ball passes in my opinion he even makes a deliberate movement with that arm to block shot, or at least one can say that body's volume is surely increased. I think this should have been whistled. Not 100% clear whether inside or outside, however, defender had a very ambiguous behavior.
      In 35' a clear SPA, after having lost the ball, counterattack was stopped in a very blatant and unsporting manner. I analyze the reaction by referee, at first glance, he looked to be aware that he had to show YC, but then when he came there, he changed idea...
      64': clear SFP, RC.

      Leicester City - Braga:
      100% SFP, RC, VAR intervention mandatory.

      Delete
    2. @64': YC is still OK for me (low forward intensity, no straight leg, no real danger of injury (just painful...))

      I agree with the rest though.

      Delete
    3. 13min: POZ player does not keep his arms behind his back and widens. Penalty!
      35min: This is a mandatory yellow card. Would be the second by the way, so the exclusion. The STA player knows very well that he has already received a yellow card. The STA player 'overrules' the referee here, which is never good. Referee shows his lack of courage and personality here.
      64min: SFP. RC

      Delete
    4. IMO

      13' - Clear penalty missed.
      35' - Absolutely clear YC. What a crucial mistake!
      64' - Reckless is supportable for me.

      69' - Clear SFP RC.

      Delete
  47. Why do you think it is unacceptable?

    ReplyDelete
  48. Who will referee ahli vs zamalek in caf champions League final 27 th November ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not following CAF so closely as before, however my first thought is Mustapha Ghorbal. If an Algerian is allowed to handle a full Egyptian derby, I don't know...

      Delete
    2. Charef did an Egypt vs Tunisia final in 2018, so Ghorbal should be allowed and I would also see him as favourite.
      Besides him, also Tessema and Gassama seem possible, although they already had it - but that doesn't play a role in CAF with Gassama having it almost every year.

      Delete
    3. I agree with Chefren and Philipp, Ghorbal would be my choice.

      He was excellent in the Espérance Tunis - Zamalek quarterfinal game, and has been out (saved?) from the appointments since the resumption of CAF club competition.

      Delete
    4. And what about Moroccan referee redouane jiyed ?

      Delete
    5. Jiyed might be too unexperienced yet, I think.

      The last Cairo derbys have been refereed by UEFA referees, so I wouldn't completely rule out that option given the big rivalry.

      Delete
    6. No i talk about this match in caf champions League final not in domestic competitions

      Delete
    7. Please chefren i need your analysis of prediction referee for caf champions League final this season

      Delete
  49. Who was the best in Brazil carlos simon or marcio rezende or sandro ricci ?

    ReplyDelete
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