Saturday, 4 June 2022

UEFA Nations League 2022/23 - Referee Appointments MD1

Kick off for the new edition of UEFA Nations League. Please find below the appointments for MD1. 



League A - Group 4
1 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Wroclaw, Municipal Stadium 
POLAND - WALES
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandar Kasapovič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež (SVN)
Fourth Official: David Šmajc (SVN)
Video Assistant Referee: Nejc Kajtazović (SVN) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jan W. Wegereef (NED) 
UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels (LVA)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Sebastian Tarnowski (POL) 

League B - Group 2
Match Cancelled 
ALBANIA - RUSSIA

League C - Group 4
2 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Tbilisi, Boris Paichadze National Stadium Dinamo Arena
GEORGIA - GIBRALTAR 
Referee: Morten Krogh (DEN) 
Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Wollenberg Rasmussen (DEN) 
Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Beck Bramsen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Mikkel Redder (DEN) 
Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes (ENG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ian Hussin (ENG) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Rudy Bossen (NED) 
UEFA Delegate: Adrian Casha (MLT) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: George Vadachkoria (GEO)

League C - Group 2
2 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Larnaca, AEK Arena 
CYPRUS - KOSOVO 
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pagès (FRA) 
Assistant Referee 2:  Alexis Auger (FRA) 
Fourth Official: Thomas Leonard (FRA) 
Video Assistant Referee: Pierre Gaillouste (FRA) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Romain Lissorgue (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina (ITA) 
UEFA Delegate: Michel Schafroth (SUI)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Harris Kyrillou (CYP)

League C - Group 4
2 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Razgrad, Ludogorets Arena 
BULGARIA - NORTH MACEDONIA 
Referee: Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Aurélien Drouet (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Laurent Coniglio (FRA) 
Fourth Official: Mikael Lesage (FRA) 
Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier (FRA) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastien Jacques Lucien Dechepy (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Jan Kořínek (CZE)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Dragomir Draganov (BUL)

League D - Group 2
2 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Tallinn, Lilleküla Stadium
ESTONIA - SAN MARINO 
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos (GRE) 
Assistant Referee 1: Konstantinos Nikolaidis (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Vasileios Nikolakakis (GRE) 
Fourth Official: Athanasios Tzilos (GRE) 
Video Assistant Referee: Aggelos Evangelou (GRE) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Efstathios Gkortsilas (GRE) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Clos Gómez (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Diana Bulgaru (MDA)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Kevin Kaivoja (EST)
Mentor for Delegate: Barry W. Bright (ENG) 

League A - Group 2
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Seville, Estadio Benito Villamarín
SPAIN - PORTUGAL 
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Bennett (ENG) 
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley (ENG)
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sian Massey-Ellis (ENG) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Emil Bozhinovski (MKD)
UEFA Delegate: Claude Runavot (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Jagoba Riveiro Zafra (ESP) 

League A - Group 2
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Prague, Eden Arena 
CZECH REPUBLIC - SWITZERLAND 
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER) 
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Siedel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn (GER) 
Fourth Official: Harm Osmers (GER) 
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Katrin Rafalski (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine (NIR)
UEFA Delegate: Balázs Makray (HUN)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Libor Kovařík (CZE)

League C - Group 2
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Belfast, Windsor Park 
NORTHERN IRELAND - GREECE
Referee: Erik Lambrechts (BEL) 
Assistant Referee 1: Rien Vanyzere (BEL) 
Assistant Referee 2: Jo De Weirdt (BEL) 
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen (BEL) 
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche (BEL) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alexandre Boucaut (BEL) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
UEFA Delegate: RenátaTomášová (SVK)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: David Redfern (NIR)

League B - Group 2
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Haifa, Sammy Ofer Stadium  
ISRAEL - ICELAND
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA) 
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis (LVA) 
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonnikovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)
Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot (NED) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Michalis Koukoulakis (GRE)
UEFA Delegate: Kazimierz Oleszek (POL) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Dan Ucenic (ISR) 

League B - Group 4
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Ljubljana, Stadion Stožice
SLOVENIA - SWEDEN
Referee: Ruddy Buquet (FRA) 
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guillaume Debart (FRA) 
Fourth Official: Hakim Salem Ben El Hadj (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mehdi Rahmouni (FRA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL) 
UEFA Delegate: Patricia González García (ESP)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Denis Šabanagić (SVN)

League B - Group 4
2 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Belgrade, Stadion Rajko Mitić
SERBIA - NORWAY 
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Kupsik (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Bartosz Heinig (POL) 
Fourth Official: Pawel Malec (POL)
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcin Borkowski (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT) 
UEFA Delegate: Loukas Siotropos (GRE) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Nikola Borović (SRB) 

League C - Group 3
3 June 2022, 16:00 CET - Nur Sultan, Astana Arena 
KAZAKHSTAN - AZERBAIJAN 
Referee: István Vad (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Vencel Tóth (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: István Albert (HUN)
Fourth Official: Ferenc Karakó (HUN)
Video Assistant Referee: Duje Strukan (CRO)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bojan Zobenica (CRO) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Erol Ersoy (TUR) 
UEFA Delegate: Dennis Cruise (IRL)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Timur Tursumbayev (KAZ) 

League D - Group 1
3 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Riga, Daugava 
LATVIA - ANDORRA 
Referee: Tomasz Musiał (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Radosław Siejka (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Mucha (POL)
Fourth Official: Sebastian Krasny (POL)
Video Assistant Referee: Piotr Lasyk (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Krzysztof Myrmus (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Marco Borg (MLT) 
UEFA Delegate: Kejdi Tomorri (ALB)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Vadims Direktorenko (LVA)

League A - Group 1
3 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Saint-Denis, Stade de France 
FRANCE - DENMARK 
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller (GER) 
Fourth Official: Sascha Stegemann (GER) 
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Riem Hussein (GER) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman (NED)
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack (LUX)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Claude Cauvet (FRA) 

League A - Group 4
3 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Brussels, King Baudouin Stadium
BELGIUM - NETHERLANDS 
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto López de Ceraín (ESP)
Fourth Official: César Soto Grado (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernandez Hernandez (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT) 
UEFA Delegate: Peadar Ryan (IRL)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL) 

League A - Group 1
3 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Osijek, Stadion Gradski vrt 
CROATIA - AUSTRIA 
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG) 
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Richard Cook (ENG) 
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies (ENG)
Fourth Official: Craig Pawson (ENG) 
Video Assistant Referee: David Coote (ENG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Robathan (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Sippel (GER) 
UEFA Delegate: Metin Kazancıoğlu (TUR)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Tomas Marjan (CRO) 

League C - Group 3
3 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Novi Sad, Stadion Karađorđe
BELARUS - SLOVAKIA 
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Mikaël Berchebru (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu (FRA)
Fourth Official: Johan Hamel (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Maika Vanderstichel (FRA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Antonio Damato (ITA) 
UEFA Delegate: Cristiano Ascari (SMR)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Ivan Stamenković (SRB)

League D - Group 1
3 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Vaduz, Rheinpark Stadion
LIECHTENSTEIN - MOLDOVA 
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili (GEO)
Assistant Referee 1: Levan Varamishvili (GEO)
Assistant Referee 2: Zaza Pipia (GEO)
Fourth Official: Davit Kharitonashvili (GEO) 
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Gittelmann (GER) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Gerard Perry (IRL) 
UEFA Delegate: Maria Mifsud (MLT) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Eugen Lichtensteiger (LIE)

League B - Group 1
4 June 2022, 15:00 CET - Yerevan, Republican Stadium after Vazgen Sargsyan
ARMENIA - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU) 
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Iulian Dima (ROU)
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
UEFA Referee Observer: Andrejs Sipailo (LVA) 
UEFA Delegate: Kuanysh Kanapyanov (KAZ)  
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Arman Alaberkyan (ARM)

League A - Group 3
4 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Budapest, Puskás Aréna
HUNGARY - ENGLAND 
Referee: Artur Dias (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Tavares (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Soares (POR) 
Fourth Official: Fabio Verissimo (POR) 
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins (POR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Joao Pinheiro (POR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)  
UEFA Delegate: Tormod Larsen (NOR)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Balázs Berke (HUN)

League B - Group 3
4 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Helsinki, Olympic Stadium
FINLAND - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 
Referee: Nicholas Walsh (SCO) 
Assistant Referee 1: Calum Spence (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Ross Macleod (SCO)
Fourth Official: Colin Steven (SCO) 
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gavan Gillett (AUS) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton (ENG) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Milorad Mažić (SRB)
UEFA Delegate: Boriana Stoycheva (BUL)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Juha Hirviniemi (FIN)
Mentor for Delegate: Myrsini Psarropoulou (GRE)

League C - Group 1
4 June 2022, 18:00 CET - Vilnius, LFF stadionas
LITHUANIA - LUXEMBOURG 
Referee: David Fuxman (ISR) 
Assistant Referee 1: Matityahu Yakobov (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Omer Barbiro (ISR) 
Fourth Official: Erez Papir (ISR)
Video Assistant Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (ISR) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Bar Natan (ISR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgi Yordanov (BUL)
UEFA Delegate: Vakhtang Bzikadze (GEO)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Robertas Tautkus (LTU)

League C - Group 1
4 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Istanbul, Başakşehir Fatih Terim
TURKEY - FAROE ISLANDS
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Portelli (MLT) 
Assistant Referee 2: Edward Spiteri (MLT) 
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele (MLT)
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rosario Abisso (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: John Ward (IRL)
UEFA Delegate: Duncan Fraser (SCO)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Alper Yusuf Dogmen (TUR) 

League A - Group 3
4 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Bologna, Stadio Renato Dall'Ara 
ITALY - GERMANY
Referee: Srdjan Jovanović (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Uroš Stojković (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Milan Mihajlović (SRB)
Fourth Official: Momčilo Marković (SRB)
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcin Borkowski (POL) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström (FIN)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Fausto Giannini Sanguettoli (ITA) 

League B - Group 3
4 June 2022, 20:45 CET - Podgorica, Gradski Stadion
MONTENEGRO - ROMANIA 
Referee: Andreas Ekberg (SWE) 
Assistant Referee 1: Mehmet Culum (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Niklas Nyberg (SWE)
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte (SWE)
Video Assistant Referee: Luis Miguel Branco Godinho (POR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Miguel Hugo Filipe Ferreira C. Moreira (POR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Michalis Argyrou (CYP)
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen (NED) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Amil Gerina (MNE)        

108 comments:

  1. No VAR in UNL? What about Finalissima?

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    Replies
    1. No VAR indeed in this stage of Nations League, I expected it, but there are too many games. I don't remember exactly whether a communication about the specific competition and the use of VAR was given by UEFA or not, but I think it will be introduced in later stages. About Finalissima, the appointment seems to be confidential like CL ones, indeed it will be revealed two days before and not three like Nations League, this should mean that there will be VAR. Given that it is reported the appointment has been made by both confederations together, it would be easy to guess that main referee will be from a confederation while maybe VAR from the other one.
      Otherwise, without VAR, it would be difficult to apply the criterion, being main referee and AR1 more important than AR2 and FO, in terms of role on the pitch. We will know tomorrow.

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    2. An alternative solution woul be to have a CONMEBOL referee for a half and a UEFA referee for the other half, but quite unlikely, as PSO are possible, not a realistic option.
      I can add, very strange, UEFA has added only the delegate for this game so far, as well for the two play off matches, all will be revealed tomorrow.

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    3. Another option would be to appoint a team from England, the host country of this match. With regard to COVID-19 issues, travel expenses and environmental thoughts, I do not see the requirement of inviting CONMEBOL referees or ones from the southeast of Europa. Anthony Taylor or Michael Oliver might be likewise "suitable", maybe with VARs from South America who can also work from their home countries.

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    4. Not sure how happy Italy would be with seeing referees from the country they defeated in their home ground to win the EURO but I understand the idea. I was surprised the referees are coming from South America. I wonder how that is decided.

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  2. Both are penalties IMO. I can't understand the support by VAR especially on the first scene.

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  3. 83' is maybe not a clear penalty, because the attacker somehow also causes it by delaying his movement. Penalty is the better decision though IMO.
    But 73' looks completely clear to me, I would have expected a VAR intervention there.

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  4. It seems as, for unknown reasons, VAR appointments are released the day later than main referees, two days before the game. So, sorry for the wrong info reported yesterday, there is VAR in all games.

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    Replies
    1. No worries at all Chefren. Thank you for the clarfication nonetheless.

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    2. Just alerting you Chefren to the missing s on Neil Davies

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  5. So indeed, UEFA really trying to avoid using WC referees with qualified counties and in big games as much as possible.
    The only exception is Oliver (!) and Siebert is with Switzerland.

    My prediction is that we won’t see a WC referee in PO final in Cardiff,Wales. Del Cerro Grande?

    The Dutch football association (KNVB) removed the appointment from their website. Gonna be interesting who will be the referee in Glasgow tomorrow.

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    Replies
    1. https://www.knvb.nl/nieuws/scheidsrechters/aanstellingen/66231/makkelie-fluit-play-voor-wk-tussen-schotland-en-oekra%C3%AFne

      Do you mean this article?

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  6. Attwell and Massey- Ellis on VAR and AVAR for Spain vs Portugal

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    Replies
    1. Bankes and Hussin on VAR and AVAR for GEORGIA - GIBRALTAR

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    2. One month before women's Euro and Massey is still on AVAR duties... are we going to see her on the field soon?

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    3. Surely its too late considering she has been out all season. Must have been a bad injury. Surely she can't go straight into the Euros having not done duties in a year.

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    4. In spite of that, she is still listed as AR for the 2022 Women's Euro: https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/0274-14f1d666b9a3-7c59d08f17a4-1000--referee-teams-appointed-for-uefa-women-s-euro-2022/

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  7. https://www.uefa.com/returntoplay/news/0275-154498a5b108-6b9c4a9c526e-1000--first-uefa-steps-for-new-international-referees/
    45 new comers FIAF referees went to Nyon for Introduction course, Did it not held begin of Feb ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, it has been cancelled in february due to covid issues

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  8. Some VARs here, who are not on the FIFA VMO list:
    Kajtazovic, Gaillouste, Wattelier, van Driessche

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  9. It is normal that in most of the games, the referees are from France? Is there sth different in France's football federation?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just a coincidence that you have four French referees, nothing more. They could have got appointments in different days, it would have been the same. There are many and many matches on upcoming days. In particular, I think Buquet is at his last appearances at FIFA referee, maybe he will leave the list on next December. All games are normal assignments for them, I don't see anything particular. The next days same can happen for other nationalities.

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    2. Really, Buquet will leave FIFA arena ? He is still a very reliable official with robust performances and huge experience on tough matches. IMO he would have deserved more, comparing him with many elite's, he would surely have deserved to be in the top class. But I'm not form french, so may be I'm wrong

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    3. Watch Ajax - Benfica (Buquet, 1st) and Getafe - Ajax (Buquet, 1st) and afterwards Benfica - Ajax (Rocchi, Elite) and Ajax - Getafe (Sidiropoulos, Elite) and you'll know why he was never Elite.

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  10. I dont understand UEFA why appointed Croatian VARs with István Vad (HUN) while in Hungary used VAR system in last season. In the last match week in WCQF was appointed 2 Hungarian referee team with Hungarian VAR.

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    Replies
    1. What's even more surprising are.. until now I can't find any reason what happened to István Vad II (HUN) in the last decade after his debut at UCL and even becoming FO in the 2011 final, with a lot of experience over a decade, he should be elite if not elite he belongs to upper 1st category which is quite embarassing he only get a mediocre match (KAZ-AZE).. similar case to Svein Oddvar Moen (NOR).

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    2. You must have forgotten the "goal" not seen by AAR Vad at Euro 2012...

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    3. After the EURO 12 he had got bigger matches than Kassai, he had other problems too, in the last European cup season he ad only 1 match because he was injured maybe 1 year...

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    4. Bigger matches than Kassai? Could you name them?

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  11. Isn`t it a little bit early to avoid using WC referees starting from June? I mean, this strategy would have been great in September, but there are a lot of games in June that need top referees.

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    Replies
    1. Indeed Elite big names must avoid issues with WC qualified national teams, and I think that (also) for this reason we are watching different choices for certain big games. So far only very big assignment is Oliver, but mandatory in a game like ESP - POR. It should happen the same in September as well. This can help committee in finding new alternatives for the upcoming big matches, they must start with a new course, the time of appointing always same referees for all games must be over. So, if this need of preserving WC referees will lead to a new policy, I absolutely welcome it. Let's also remember that we are talking about Nations League early games, and even without the WC a few months later, in that case, I would have expected new choices. Just another remark: Siebert appointed in a quite good game for a new Elite, but clearly a calm one on paper, very far away from spotlights, committee must protect him before WC more than other referees, after the facts happened in CL KO stage.

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    2. 3 out of 11 UEFA WC referees are appointed on MD1 (out of 4 in June) So (at least if no referee gets two matches in June) that's not at all avoiding using them. Furthermore two or three others of them will work in play-offs, so I assume, that we will see every WC referee in this window. Maybe even some with two games.

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    3. Taylor in Sweden-Norway. So yeah, probably every WC referee will get a game this month, but not the top ones and rather some low profile but potentially difficult games. Not a bad strategy at all I might say.

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  12. Nicolas Walsh will become Scotlands best referee, please watch some highlights, he’s the future of referees in Scotland!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for having mentioned him, I forgot to add the observer for that game, indeed a very sonorous one, Milorad Mažić.

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    2. Let's see, I watched him in PSG-Sevilla of UYL QF and tbh he completely lost control of the game, my first impression was atrocious, so he will need to work to overcome it ;)

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    3. Please watch a Scottish league game, he is very composed clear and isn’t afraid to hand out cards if needed! He will do well!

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    4. I do agree with the comments of Quilava. Nicolas Walsh completely lost control of UYL PSG vs Sevilla. Furthermore, he, as referee, was overruled by some players !

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  13. BTW I watched Obrenovic yesterday, almost full game, some minutes are missing but overall an expected level with an interesting body language when issuing YCs, not a common referee, to follow for the future.

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  14. Three incidents from Finalissima.

    39' YC for reckless use of elbow:
    https://streamja.com/29vRb

    52' Possible YC for reckless challenge, I must say difficult to spot:
    https://streamja.com/q5lb2

    71' Frustration foul, management of a possible mass confrontation about to happen:
    https://streamja.com/6Kk55

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  15. Correct VAR intervention in Bulgaria - North Macedonia in the very last minute of the game, 90'+4. Wrong penalty whistled by Pignard, never a punishable handball, penalty correctly removed.

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  16. In Cyprus-Kosovo, AR2 was Thomas Leonard, the 4th official!

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    Replies
    1. Do you know who was missing and who was then 40?

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    2. According to what I can see, Benjamin Pages was missing. Pictures: https://ibb.co/bXVMYVB https://ibb.co/WgTVjMK The fourth official doesn't look like him. I couldn't find other info, UEFA on its site reports still the original appointment.

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    3. Aaah sorry now I read that Pages worked as AVAR, so very likely this was a last minute injury! Then FO should be the original AVAR, but I'm not sure watching some pictures of him.

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    4. Original Appointement :
      AR2 : Benjamin PAGES
      4th Referee : Thomas LEONARD
      AVAR : Romain LISSORGUE

      Finally :
      AR2 : Thomas LEONARD
      4th Refeee : Romain LISSORGUE
      AVAR : Benjamin PAGES

      Delete
  17. Intense minutes for Michael Oliver, three yellow cards in three minutes. All correct though

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  18. Overall good performance by Oliver on first half. Also nice call by his AR on the Spain goal.

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  19. Correct tripping penalty by Buquet in 36' (followed by a YC for dissent).

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  20. Weak performance from Pawel Raczkowski in Belgrade. Several important mistakes.

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    1. Appeal for handball penalty in 77'. Replays are quite inconclusive. It looks quite possible, but I don't think one can be sure with the shown pictures. Hopefully VAR had better ones and could base his non-intervention on them.

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    2. Ball was not in unnatural position, short distance, unexpected ball. For VAR intervention, arm must be clearly in unnatural position in situations like this.

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  21. Siebert replaced by Osmers in 70th minute

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  22. Siebert is injued und can't go on. Osmers does that.

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  23. 3-4 handballs in Norwegian PK area - = penalties for Serbia. They are literally playing handball and volleyball all the time. On the other side, every 50-50 duels was given to Norway. Besides that, they are delaying every single foul or out. Very low level of refereeing.

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    Replies
    1. All handball decisions in the second half were correct. One obvious handball missed in the first half, but not in the penalty area.

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  24. Brilliant performance by Oliver

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  25. Here's to hopefully a speedy recovery for Mr Siebert.

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  26. VARs in Armenia - Republic of Ireland ? It`s empty blank now.

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  27. José María Sánchez Martínez gives a penalty for a ball in the face. However the hand of the defender was high. VAR saves him

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    Replies
    1. This incident tells us how mich complex are handballs to assess. We could write books about that... imagine the football before VAR and all these calls. Actually, it looked like an extremely poor and totally wrong decision, but as referee you can easily understand why he was deceived. I think that handballs are the most big issue in the story of football because very often referees are forced to whistle them only based on perception, they almost never see the real handball as it really happens. This mistake in a very important game would have been something extremely shocking, we must indeed thank VAR nowadays in this regard.

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    2. Not convinced about the restart though. To me it felt like the ball was out of play before Sanchez blew his whistle and therefore a corner should've been awarded but I might be wrong

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    3. I think you're right Elliot

      Martinez is very messy tonight. Many protest by every decision

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    4. BEL-NED is not a challenging game imho. Two teams focused on playing football.

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    5. Not at all convinced by Sanchez Martinez tonight. His bar for calling a foul is too low, blows the whistle almost everytime a player goes down. He does not let the game flow and as anonymous 22:17 pointed out, this game was not challenging, therefore a strict line of calling fouls was not needed. You could see the players get agitated like for example van Dijk who kicked the ball away and was punished with a YC. Maybe correct by the book, but very nitpickery... Based on tonight he is nowhere near elite level...

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    6. And what do we think about the Mertens YC?

      https://twitter.com/nosvoetbal/status/1532814040334012417?s=21&t=swMyZr44uiK129ezlVVWKw

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    7. The link you posted doesn't work outside NED. Here the clip: very close to RC for the point of impact. VAR had surely a long check on that. https://streamff.com/v/936d46

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    8. Mertens is very lucky with that. It could easily have been a red card.

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    9. Should VAR have intervened? What do you people think?

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    10. IMO not, because for me it is still more a YC, because it is more a reckless incident than excessive force (as long as one doesn't insinuate intention).

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  28. Zwayer in Paris with a solid performance, imo a bit too lenient, but with a good foul detection.

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  29. Serbia - Norway, a mentioned penalty appeal: https://streamff.com/v/181d7a
    I think rather inconclusive, we can't say too much about that. Given the long duration of check, it is possible they supported the referee just for the lack of contrary evidence, otherwise they would have shown it.
    If you have the minutes of the other penalty area incidents / relevant situations, I would be very curious to check them.

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  30. Some clips from the Armenia vs. Éire game handled by Radu M. Petrescu [VAR: Kajtazović].

    Assessing tackles-challenges:
    https://v.fodder.gg/v/nzhf9x
    https://v.fodder.gg/v/z35x65

    Penalty area incidents:
    https://v.fodder.gg/v/1zjjj4
    https://v.fodder.gg/v/a4km6c

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, 83' is a clear red card. Even violent conduct if you ask me. Player is aware that he can't reach the ball and he deliberately hits opponent in that way. I would have intervened as VAR.
      About the incident at the beginning, I can accept YC, desperate tackle, but still no 100% SFP.
      First penalty appeal never punishable handball, natural position, second incident can be discussed, I think basically he should have whistled it from the pitch, VAR would have confirmed the call. The challenge itself could be deemed as not enough for VAR intervention. In my opinion OK to play on, we had many similar incidents in serie A like this, most common decision was play on, unless a veru reckless challenge by defender, I don't think this is the case...

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    2. I disagree. For me 83' is a correct YC, more SPA (tripping from behind) than VC/tackle as an attack.

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    3. 83' is cleary no RC in my opinion. It is just tactical tripping, but not at all excessive force or an act of violence.
      Deliberate foul play itself is no RC offence.
      First one is just no RC, because he doesn't really hit his opponent.
      48' is technically a foul, but as Chefren describes quite normal/expected not to give it in such situations. VAR should support either call.

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    4. Symbolic tactical foul after giving the ball cheaply 83', IMO not even close to RC

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    5. Never a RC

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  31. Correct handball penalty (43') by Walsh after VAR intervention.

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  32. A bit unusual to see visible tattoos (Dias). I like it though.

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    1. Tbh I don't :D, I'd even enforce a mandatory long-sleeve rule for referees with visible arm tattoos, like Clattenburg in his last PL season.

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    2. Isn’t that a requirement?

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  33. Very soft penalty call by Soares Dias, to be supported by VAR but a mistake in reality.

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    Replies
    1. Agreed, nothing for VAR but soft. Play on is better decision

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    2. I saw if I'm nit mistaken that he was going to give YC also .

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    3. Video: https://streamja.com/A5dr6

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    4. I agree that it is soft, but I would not call it a mistake. Just very clumsy by the defender to carelessly hit his opponent with his arm. And he actually stops the attacker from running around him and getting the ball first (if there wasn't the GK).

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    5. Not a mistake for me. Careless striking is a foul, isn't it? :) Even more, if you stop the video at the moment of the foul, the ball is perfectly reachable for the attacking player and you can even discuss about DOGSO. To be honest, optimal call would be penalty + yellow card (SPA / no attempt) in my opinion.

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    6. I agree with Chefren, this should not be a PK but VAR has to support. Unexpected to give a PK IMO

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  34. First half by Jovanovic expected level in a very easy game, but I think he missed YC for reckless challenge, minute 20:00. The tackle was too late. Still in a "modern" view and even more knowing his style, not a serious mistake. The problem was with assistant referees, too many raised flags in not even borderline situations, I counted at least two mistakes if not three, with VAR no issues, all correct by them according to procedure, but I think this is an important question. For some calls, it looked like AR1 totally missed the presence of a defender, otherwise difficult explanation to find. Indeed in his CL KO debut Jovanovic didn't have any issue but VAR intervened for correcting offside decisions.

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    1. Totally different second half, quite challenging with 8 cards shown by Jovanovic. He had a convincing performance, in my opinion. In the early minutes he started with the first card, following a foul after an advantage on offside, mandatory decision. All the rest of cards were mandaotry as well, and one of them was for protests. Minute 62', a mass confrontation was ready to start, Jovanovic showed his presence when needed. I think in some aspects he has something very familiar to Mazic and his known style, being in the background but then when having to take a decision, breaking in the scene with immediate effect. This said, of course so far still having to make further experience, in order to reach the level of his famous countryman. I think that basically he has shown to deserve the trust by committee, having offered a pair of quite good performance in challenging games. It was not the same for other referees who were fighthing for a promotion with him and indeed they were not promoted. Let's see how the Serbian will develop.

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  35. In general, quite a satisfying performance by Jovanovic in Italy IMO. I liked his approach to this match - well knowing its significance but also not over-estimating his role - as well as his presence and the line of foul detection. Regarding disciplinary control, the Serbian knew when to intervene: in a fair first half, no caution was issued and when the tension grew in the second half, he interfered properly with eight bookings in total (7 of them definitely correct, the one in 83' rather questionable for my taste). As nearly always in the past month, I would have appreciated one or two bookings for what I think were very reckless challenges (especially around 20') - but overall sufficient use of disciplinary measures.
    His assistants cannot be as happy as Jovanovic with their display tonight tho IMO: Especially AR2 struggled quite a lot with offside infringements. His uncertainty was quite visible and even the German commentators were negatively surprised about some weird calls by him...
    That, however, doesn't change the overall positive impression of Jovanovic tonight, well done.

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  36. Is go alone technology in operation in the Nations League? Chris Kavanagh didn’t have the watch on and was just wondering

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    1. *Goal line Autocorrect was having a moment there

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    2. I’m not sure about the goal line technology (my guess is is depends on the stadium but I could be wrong).

      If you watched the game, can I ask how Kavanagh did?

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    3. Only saw the highlights, from what I saw he did ok.

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  37. Jarred Gillett acted as VAR. Ex-FIFA listed of course but not on the current list after his move to England. Does this mean VAR’s don’t have to be listed or is he just an exception given his experience and history?

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    1. Not sure as Dan Robathon has been involved and even ran the line before and he is not on FIFA list. Nick Hopton who was VAR with Peter Bankes is not FIFA listed either.

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    2. Apparently they don't have to be FIFA listed to work as VAR in UEFA. There are several examples in the NL appointments.

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    3. Probably will be listed this year. But will he be listed as Australia not England. Similar situation to Faghani (Iran) but operates Iin Australia

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    4. @Davidcrammond I think Gillett would certainly be the next official in England to become listed. The problem is there is already Oliver, Taylor, Pawson, Kavanagh, Attwell, England, Madley, Coote, Tierney and England, with none of these at the age limit yet.

      This is only an opinion, but I think he is a better referee and VAR than at least half the English names listed. Maybe being Australian as you say means there is another route in for him, he’s one to keep an eye on. He also has age on his side.

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    5. *Darren England’s name is there twice, rather Bankes should be included

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  38. Great Article! Thanks for sharing this information.

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