Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Who will officiate Champions and Europa League finals?

 Please find below a prediction about the candidates for 2020-21 UEFA CL and EL finals.


Differently from past season, this year the analysis about UEFA Champions League and Europa League final referees will not take a so long time. A few words are enough to understand that the first option by committee looks to be Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP), who  has been observed recently by Roberto Rosetti in a quarterfinal and he has performed well. In previous seasons, he has already had the chances to get the big call, but he was not selected by committee. Now it seems that the right time has come. In case of appointment, he will meet again Manchester City after three years, due to a previous incident occurred, but this shouldn't be considered too much. The best referee for the best game. It is also interesting to point out that a Spanish referee is missing from CL final since 2005, definitely a very long time for a so important school of refereeing. Alberto Undiano Mallenco gave an early signal for Spanish refereeing two years ago with Nations League final, and now everything speaks in favor of Mateu Lahoz for this big assignment.  

Regarding Europa League final, all the clues seem in favor of Clément Turpin (FRA) who is still showing good performances and this game would be a very expected stage of his career. He has achieved the needed experience to be selected for such a honor, working year after year. This reward would be a very logical choice by committee. Small futher prediction: maybe Stéphanie Frappart will accompany him as fourth official. 

So, final predictions are:

Champions League final 
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrián Devís (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Díaz Pérez Del Palomar (ESP)
Fourth Official: Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)

Europa League final
Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA) 
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA) 
Video Assistant Referee: François Letexier (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)

And you? What are your predictions for CL and EL final referees? 

81 comments:

  1. I hope you are right Chefren.

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  2. I hope your tips are correct, Chefren :)

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  3. A number of semi-finals referee:

    Cakir - 6
    Kuipers - 6
    Brych - 4
    Skomina - 3
    Lahoz - 3
    Makkelie - 1
    Orsato - 1

    Brych, Cakir and Kuipers were nomineed for final after only one semi-final CL. Orsato (2020) and Mazic (2018) wasn't semi-final referee before final nomination.

    A different choise than Mateu Lahoz will be ridicolous.

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  4. I would prefer to see team Çakir in the CL final :)

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  5. My prediction:
    CL Lahoz (FO Karasev)
    EL Cakir (FO Vincic)

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  6. To be honest, i don't think Uefa will just put a full Spanish and French team in the finals, for many years now the 4th official will be from another country then the main referee... you off course can be right about Mateu and Turpin... that would be very logical choices

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    1. I think Frappart is possible for Europa League final 4th official but that doesn't mean it's guaranteed. And I think Makkelie will be 4th official for the Champions League Final.

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  7. cl makelie, fo lahoz
    El sidrtipoulos fo frappart
    These predictions are based on the fact rossetti is full of surprises

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  8. Worth mentioning for 10 seasons in a row the referee for CL final hasn’t done a quarter final. Lahoz has.

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    Replies
    1. If correct, this is a very interesting observation! Amongst those who did R16, but not QF, in 2021, who could be a suitable candidate?

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    2. Makkelie

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    3. Hmmm... but he did a semi-final. The pathway R16-semifinal-final resembles what happened in the last 10 years? Not really, with the exception of Clattenburg, but it is an option.

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  9. Mateu Lahoz CL
    Makkelie EL

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  10. Considering the appointments and performances till now I can suppose that Lahoz for UCL and Cakir for EL finals.

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  11. Cakir for europa league final

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  12. I also agree regarding Mateu and Turpin.
    My full team prediction would be
    CL: Mateu Lahoz, Cebrian Devis, Diaz Perez, del Cerro Grande, Yuste Jimenez - Hernandez Hernandez, de Burgos Bengoetxea, Prieto Lopez, Martinez Munuera
    EL: Turpin, Danos, Gringore, Kovacs, Marinescu - Letexier, Brisard, Pages, van Boekel

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  13. Referee12: could you kindly post the link to the UEFA Committees composition on the UEFA website?

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  14. What about Cakir as FO on the UCL Final, given it is in Istanbul?

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  15. I have nothing to add to the predictions.

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  16. These are also my predictions.

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  17. Totally agree, there is nothing to add on CL final candidate. For El final, both Turpin and Cakir are possible and reasonable.

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  18. CL: Lahoz (or Turpin)
    EL: Turpin (or Cakir)

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  19. For sure Brych. Both finals.

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  20. My Predictions are the following:
    CL:
    REF: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
    AR1: Pau Cebrián Devís (ESP)
    AR2: Roberto Díaz Pérez Del Palomar (ESP)
    FOF: Artur Dias (POR)
    VAR: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
    AVAR: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)

    EL:
    REF: Clément Turpin (FRA) 
    AR1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
    AR2: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
    FOF: Daniel Siebert (GER)
    VAR: François Letexier (FRA)
    AVAR: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)

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  21. When we can expect the names for finals?

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  22. Totally agree with you Chefren on the fact that this year we haven't so many words to spend for the analysis and completely agree with all your names (Del Cerro and Frappart included); the only tiny change I would do is about the AVAR on El final, putting Bastien in spite of Brisard.
    But since we need yo expect the unexpected I would add:
    CL Final: 65 % Mateu Lahoz (and his team) - 30 % Makkelie - 5 % Turpin
    EL final: 65 % Turpin - 30 % Lahoz (in case of Villareal will not be there) - 5 % Cakir

    A spanish referee is missing in CL final since very long time and this is good opportunity

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    Replies
    1. Bastien never VAR or AVAR in UEFA competitions plus he had not been assigned any UEFA matches since his UEL disaster in December 2020.

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  23. Interesting new rule for EURO2021 announced by UEFA: referees are allowed to whistle a game of their home nation if UEFA, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the referee bubble, has to shuffle appointments around. Let's hope the rule never has to be brought into action!

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    1. Yes, i posted it here just yesterday afternoon.
      Imagine Felix Brych whistling Germany, i really can't imagine that.
      I will post the official release from the UEFA now once again.

      Special rules applicable to the EURO 2020 final tournament due to COVID-19

      4. If any member of the appointed referee team for a match tests positive for COVID-19,
      UEFA may exceptionally appoint replacement match officials who may be of the same
      nationality as one of the national associations concerned and/or may not be on the FIFA
      list.

      https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0269-122ffdf305da-5ed483f1d1a2-1000/special_rules_applicable_to_the_euro_2020_final_tournament_due_to_covid-19_20210503140511.pdf…

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    2. These regulations were already published when football resumed after COVID and it already happened in some EL preliminary games!

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  24. For me is clear
    Orsato 8.5
    Brych 8.4
    Makkelie 8.4
    Kuipers 7.8(8.2)

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    1. That corresponds quite well to my opinion on the performances.
      For Kuipers it's not so clear, how many of the situations should be counted as wrong KMIs, but 7.8 feels like a fair mark overall.

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  25. I wonder which plans UEFA will have with Carlos del Cerro Grande: This season, he got more UCL/EL/NL matches (6+3+2) than Mateu Lahoz (5+2+0) so far as well as two WC qualifiers compared with just one by the latter.

    Carlos del Cerro Grande seems to be highly appreciated by UEFA but no option for any of the this season's finals given that he is "just" the number 2 behind Mateu Lahoz und that UEFA won't appoint a second Spaniard for one of them.

    And, Carlos de Cerro Grande is "already" 45. I know, there aren't any age restrictions any more but at least next season he should be a strong candidate for the EL final, the Super Cup final, the new Conference League final or the Nations League final.

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    1. Peter, I do wonder if Rosetti surprises us with Del Cerro Grande (like PLC had done with Velasco on 2011 in EL).

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    2. I wanted to spitball the same before but Mateu Lahoz' experience, his performances and his lack of appointments for finals so far chardly justify to "ignore" him.

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    3. Not even in a theory that Uefa will change Lahoz if Spaniard is in the final, especially after brilliant performance in Munich.

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    4. Good point Peter; Very often I have same thoughts like yours. I guess that del Cerro cannot be totally ruled out.
      If I was Rosetti I would consider him for the Super cup final (Villareal permitting).
      On other hands for NL finals I would give priorities to who has been excluded in this end of season (MarciniaK or Skomina) or a farewall match for Collum for his carrier and, because fianl stage is in October, maybe Stieler and Zwayer have improved to be appointed for the SL

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    5. Del Cerro is a strong candidate. He got important matches and he did well.

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    6. Del Cerro, Madrid, Velasco, Rosetti, nothing more.

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    7. Del Cerro got EL semifinal: for me non chances to obtain finals

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  26. I hope Anthony Taylor for UCL final since both teams are from England, and Michael Oliver for UEL final if the final is Rome vs Villareal or MU vs Arsenal... in the terms of UEFA rule referee cannot officiate the teams despite BOTH club not ONE club from same country with the referee... and I hope UEFA can changes that rule if BOTH club are from same country.

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    1. Never ever this year! Taylor is a good choice for one of the coming years finals. However now it should be Mateus turn. (Or outside het Cerro, altough I think Mateu is really on a higher level than Cerro)

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    2. According to the numbers presented above by statistician Peter, Del Cerro seems higher rated by UEFA than Mateu, but, on the other hand, the fact that Mateu was kept away from all semi-finals is an indication that we will see him in one of the two finals.

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    3. Taylor only made his CL KO debut last season, and he can’t referee teams from his own country anyway.

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  27. Meanwhile, Mateu Lahoz gets the spotlights in La Liga with the very decisive Barcelona - Atlético Madrd. An appointment that can be a signal of something big coming immediately after that...

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  28. My prediction for the ucl final is: refree : matue lahoz met zyn vaste linesman op uefa: var : hernandez hernandez ,sanchez martinez ,raul cabanero martinez , fo: anthony taylor ,resserver ar = simon burnett

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  29. My prediction for uel final is : refree: hategan with his linesman from uefa : var:turpin,buquet,gringore,fo:karasev, resserver ar = nicolos danos

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  30. I think will could have all Spanish team in Champions League final with Lahoz obviously as referee, Del Cerro as 4th official and Her. Hernandez as VAR. In Europa League Turpin and his team on the pitch, Soares Dias as 4th official, Letexier as VAR (maybe one more French as AVAR and maybe Gil and Borkowski as two additional AVARs).

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  31. chelsea x city ( lahoz - ESP )
    villareal x man untd ( siebert - GER )

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    Replies
    1. I would like that!

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    2. Siebert nowhere ready for a major final

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  32. Lahoz for cl and cakir for el imo.

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  33. Cl Final: Lahoz
    El Final: Cakir

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  34. When will UEFA announces the appointments for the finals?

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  35. Cakir 4th official for CL Final in 'his' Istanbul, if Turpin would be appointed for EL Final.

    Possible?

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  36. My Predictions are the following:
    CL:
    REF: Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP)
    AR1: Juan Carlos Yuste Jimenez (ESP)
    AR2: Roberto Alonso Fernandez (ESP)
    FOF: Cüneyt Cakir (TUR)
    VAR: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
    AVAR: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)

    EL:
    REF: Tobias Stieler (GER)
    AR1: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
    AR2: Eduard Beitinger (GER)
    FOF: Daniel Siebert (GER)
    VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
    AVAR: Mark Borsch (GER)

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    1. Stieler can't because he is not selected for EURO. Siebert could be but is too early for him IMO.
      Del Cerro was not so good in EL semifinal, Mateu Lahoz would be a more logical choice :)

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    2. There is in my view not a connection between not being selected for Euro, and refereeing the Europa League Paul, although i don't think Stieler will be appointed for Europa League, referees who are not selected for Euro, they can referee the Europa League final

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  37. Paul, for example:
    in 2000 Stefano Braschi (Italy) refereed even the Champions League final Real Madrid-Valencia, while Pierluigi Collina went to Euro 2000 and not Braschi

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    1. They were different times. Before great referees who were not called for Euros or World Cups, they were designated for great finals as compensation. There are several cases: López Nieto, Krug, Braschi, Ceccarini ...

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    2. Lopez Nieto went to WC2002 in addition to his 3 UEFA Cuo finals.
      Krug went to WC1994 in addition to a Champions League final.
      Braschi and Ceccarini did not attend any World Cup.

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    3. Yes, I know. But I was referring to the fact that in 1998 López Nieto arbitrated a UEFA Cup final as compensation for being left out of that World Cup. And Krug directed the Champions League final that year for the same thing. Today I see it as impossible.

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    4. Yes, that's right; also in 2006 Haughe officiated CL final for compensating the fact that he didnt't go to WC. But they were different time and I would say that at that time more good or elite referees were assigned. Now we always have the same names who get everything. Probably that generation was better

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  38. Who was the best braschi or ceccarini ?

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  39. Lopes nieto refereed in euro 1996 abd ceccarini refereed in euro 1996

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  40. And krug refereed in euro 1996

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  41. On Twitter :
    https://twitter.com/ActuFoot_/status/1391870093315952648?s=20

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    1. Although they do not mention the source, it seems almost sure that Turpin will referee the UEL final.

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    2. The source : a tv show on Canal+ but what is the source of this tv show ? Idk.
      But, I'm very happy to see more and more Turpin's name for the EL final !

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  42. An Interview very interesting of Mateu Lahoz
    https://www.larazon.es/deportes/20210416/ol3cjgusqzfebhsgpk4zzy334i.html

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  43. Why Luis Medina not refereed in euro 2008 although he refereed 4 matches in wc 2006 ?

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    1. Because at that tournament there could be only one referee per country. And Mejuto Gonzalez was #1 in Spain.

      It's important to understand that Mejuto Gonzalez only missed WC2006 because one of his assistants failed fitness. Medina Cantalejo was, essentially, a backup plan and replacement. So while he performed well at that tournament, the catalyst was the fitness failure of Mejuto's AR. UEFA did not hold that against Mejuto and welcomed him back.

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    2. But why mejuto Gonzalez didn't referee in wc 2010 in South Africa ?

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    3. Because he reached the retirement age. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone went to South Africa in their last eligible year on the list. Mejuto was born in 1965.

      Even if that was not a steadfast rule, Undiano Mallenco went to WYC in 2007 and was clearly the Spanish candidate or 2010.

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    4. I think Carlos Simon was 1965-born as well.

      I seem to remember Mejuto saying in the "Les Arbitres" documentary that the EURO 2008 tournament would be his last chance. Whether he meant a EURO final, or an international tournament, I don't know. Although Mejuto was on the 54-man longlist for 2010, he was already off the updated list after EURO 2008. So perhaps also his own choice.

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    5. Medina could not repeat a WC appearance in 2010, since Spain had a different referee at every World Cup in the last 40+ years.
      Undiano did the U20WC final in 2007 and was a rising star at that time, much younger than Mejuto.

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  44. UCL final will be moved from Turkey to Portugal.

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    ReplyDelete

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