Second semifinal at 2022 World Cup. FIFA has appointed the Mexican referee César Ramos to officiate the game between France and Morocco.
Game 61 - Al Khor (20:00 CET)
FRANCE - MOROCCO
FRANCE - MOROCCO
Referee: César Ramos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Video Assistant Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN) Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Neuza Back (BRA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Corey Parker (USA)
Marciniak final 👍👍👍👍👍
ReplyDeleteWell, everything seems, that Marciniak will play a WC final without having whistled one of the Champions League or the Europa League...
ReplyDeleteNobody takes the Champions League 2023 final from him
Congrats to Ramos!!! After this appoitment it is very close that race is between Marciniak, Elfath and Sampaio.
ReplyDeleteI think that Sampaio is not an option, BUT BE CAREFUL if ARG loses
Deleteit's not related to the topic, but where does FIFA publish those official appointments?
ReplyDeleteTwitter @fifamedia
DeleteThank you very much!
DeleteRace is over guys
ReplyDeleteMakkelie and Taylor are out IMO (almost impossible to get final without a single KO match). Marciniak undoubtedly stands as the most probable name. Elfath (in case Morroco is knocked out) and Sampaio (if Argentina loses) are the only two other options
ReplyDeleteI think Valenzuela is an option for a potential Croatia-Morocco final
DeleteI can't imagine that 1 of the 2 Brazilians retained would not now appear in the final 2 matches in some capacity (otherwise doesn't make sense).
ReplyDeleteSo, it does seem set up for a UEFA referee for the final.
AFC or CONMEBOL for 3rd place game
This appointment can suggest us many things! Deserved for Ramos.
ReplyDeleteAt first I would start with the fact that a CONCACAF referee with two world cups, this is his second one, gets a semifinal after good performances. So, exactly based on that, one could find very strange to see another CONCACAF referee, at his first WC and with a poor game as first one, getting the final. After seeing Ramos in this game, my idea is that final will be for another confederation and not CONCACAF. Then, taking a look at the candidates, we could mention the Brazilians but when we see that Argentina's national team is still there, it is difficult to believe they could get the final act, even more I think Sampaio was not good in his last appearance.
AFC and CAF are out from all arguments due to the treatment they got so far. So, coming to UEFA officials: it is easily said that with two referees not appointed again after group stage, the major candidate looks the one who got a round of 16 as second game.
So it seems quite obvious that Marciniak has been kept as storng candidate for this game and this would be very surprising if you ask me, given his UEFA palmares, still without any EL or CL final.
But there are too many signals, also the good work by Polish VAR never appointed in very decisive games. Having to bet, I would say Marciniak.
Add to that Marciniak has had Argentina & France in this tournament (the 2 favourites on paper to win their matches - even though there could well be an upset in 1 of the SF).
DeleteIt certainly looks like it's set up for the Polish crew
Marcianak is a decent referee but he's not got the experience on the big stage, no major finals, as yet and that I think will go against him for the final. I still think Makkelie is in with a shout. He has the experience on the big stage, and a proven track record of masterclass performances, he is fitter, his positioning is better, and he is a far more consistent referee, over a longer period of time.
ReplyDeleteIt's also inaccurate to be saying that no QF rules him out: In 2018, 2014, 2006, 1994 and 1990 the Final referee did a quarter final; 2010 and 2002 it was Round of 16 and 1998 the Final ref did two in the group stage then no other knockout games! The precedent is there for a ref to get the final without a QF.
I son't think it's about a QF, it's more about a KO game. It would be strange to appoint a referee that hasn't got a KO game direct to a final.
DeleteShould be a revolution to see Makkelie and Taylor candidates, to me it is still strange they didn't get any game, in case would be the first time, but a very weird management because they could have got more before! You have Brazilians and Argentinians with so many games on the other hand...
DeleteAs @bmb stated, Saïd Belqola in 1998 directly to the final after two group stage matches.
DeleteThat's happened once in 20 plus years!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree with @bmb. I just don't see why Marciniak is suddenly ahead of Makkelie? Marciniak is a great referee, but he doesn't have thát much experience in high profile fixtures, with a billions of people watching. Makkelie does. He's always been Rosetti's go-to referee in high profile fixtures, when all the eyes are on the referee.
DeleteA World Cup final is one of the biggest stages in the world. I don't think the ref committee will select a referee based on just a few decent games in the UCL group stages and a decent R16 game.
@Alfie: I doubt there is much difference between a crucial Poland-Argentina (MD3) with big stars like Messi and Lewandowski facing each other, or Argentina-Australia (R16)? Both referees had a quite similar run, with "just" two games this World Cup. With Makkelie in the bonkers games, again.
Experience on big stages could be decisive.
Yes, the levels of appointments in their first two games at the WC was quite similar for Makkelie and Marciniak.
DeleteHowever in my opinion regarding performance, there is a difference: Both had one game (GER-ESP resp. ARG-AUS), where their foul detection / consistency in smaller situations was below the high expectation we have for them. For Makkelie, it was a bit worse, because also his card selection wasn't consistent in that game.
Their respective other game was then much better without the mentioned problems.
However Makkelie had that one soft penalty for Argentina, which is somehow defendable, but still at least the worse of two possible decisions.
You can obviously disagree with my opinion here, but it's at least possible, that FIFA thinks in a similar manner.
Having said all that, I would not be completely shocked, if Makkelie still gets the final...
If Morocco don’t make the final it’ll be Elfath. No reason to keep him there otherwise
ReplyDeleteBut Ramos from CONCACAF a referee with two WC culminating in a semifinal, Elfath at first WC with a final after a controversial first game? This wouldn't make absolutely any sense, nevertheless I can see him in FO role in case...
DeleteIt wouldn’t make sense but nothing will surprise me anymore. He would be home by now if they weren’t planing to use him (especially considering one of his countries are semi finalists)
DeleteThere would be another issue, the VAR, in case they should appoint Elfath with a VAR from another confederation, as Fischer, the best CONCACAF VAR at this WC, got this semifinal. Just also think to the fact that committee has to keep all names for neutral nations for all options...
DeleteJust because FIFA has kept referees in Qatar. It doesn't necessarily mean that they will all be assigned. The Committee has to keep a varied pool of referees to ensure they have options no matter what the matchups are.
DeleteHoward Webb get the final after ONE MONTH from UCL Final. I think that rule that the WC FINAL ref should whistle UCL, UEL, Committe doesn't care about it this because lake of options.
ReplyDeleteSide Note: Pitana didn't whistle UCL final but he did WC FINAL.
Of course Pitana didn't whistle UCL Final, he is South American how he can whistle? Lol
DeleteGod, I don't know that Pitana is from south america, thanks for your info (:
DeleteAnd Pitana did indeed whistle the CL (Copa Libertadores) final in 2013 and 2016
DeleteElizondo worked in the CL finals 2002 and 2005.
So it looks like Belqola was the last WC final referee without previous CL final.
[I didn't find the referee for the 1995 CAF CL final - if Belqola officiated there, the last one would be Puhl]
He refereed caf cl final 1995 in cotedvore 2 nd leg asec vs orlando
DeleteYeah, after 20 (Orsato/Irrati), now 13 (Ramos/Fisher).....i had predicted Barton...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I want to thanks Mikael for his article in the previous post because I haven`t done it yet. Unfortunately, this is the truth. Nowadays, it is very difficult to be referee and it is absolutely impossible to please everyone(fans, players, managers, superiours).
ReplyDeleteMarciniak is surely in a final, and very probably it is the big one. My theory is that, starting from QF, Elfath was the main candidate for the big final, Ramos main candidate for the small final - but Elfath got ruled out in the moment Tello blew the final whistle in Marocco-Portugal; with Orsato and Marciniak set for semifinals. Since Elfath out, and a few hours later Turpin out too, they needed to start thinking about a name for the final. They had 2 options: first one, to promote Ramos to the big final or the second one, to move one of the semifinal referees to the final and Ramos replace the chosen one in the semi. Which I think it happened. Between Marciniak and Orsato, indeed Orsato seemed more ready for it, and desrve it, but from GS to the big final directly is without precedent. So here we go, with Marciniak, definitely a safe pair of hands.
The Polish was in my opinion, before the start of the tournament, the referee in the best form in the world and I was expecting high from him, but certainly not the big final; of course because he hasn`t whistled yet UCL/UEL final. He did well at the WC and I have the trust that he will do a great job if he is chosen for the big one. Only that this management is reeeaallly strange - and a refeee development shouldn`t work like this. On the other hand, this will ease a lot Rosetti job to give Marciniak the UCL final when he needs him, "breaking the unwritten rule" with UEL final before, becuase sooner or later, he would be in that situation anyway.
So yes, in conclusion, the committee were seriously taken by surprise when they realised that they can`t use neither of their first 3 names: Turpin, Faghani and Elfath. And they haven`t prepared back-up with Orsato(no KO game). Indeed, this scenario before the start of the tournament, with top 3 unavailable looked crazy, but here we are now. Huge chance for Marciniak, he better profits of it.
Excellent opinion. I 100% agree with you and was about write the same. Even if Argentina wins, I don't think Elfath would get it either because Morocco wil be beaten so it has to be Marciniak for the final. There is no other option now considering the situation. I don't know who will be for 3rd to be honest.
DeleteI didn't catch, why Faghani is out?
ReplyDeleteWrong penalty in Portugal-Uruguay
DeleteIn 2010 was webb the favourite for the final before the tournament?
ReplyDelete100% yes. 1. From PL which makes him more famous 2. did UCL final in the same year
Delete"A favourite", yes. But with "the favourite" I don't agree. There were at least Busacca and Archundia as bigger names before the tournament, I think.
DeleteArchundia should have got it in 2010. Had no errors leading up, but was being saved in case only one UEFA side made the final. This is not hindsight, based on the problems Webb had. Archundia did an all UEFA semifinal in 2006, and performed well. I believe Webb’s name may have earned him the appointment, because I am not certain that this World Cup was the first that they appointed a referee from the same confederation if the teams were also from the same confederation.
DeleteDeeSee - I agree Archundia was unlucky and could have gotten it but "had no errors leading up"... FIFA assigned him with a crucial mistake in the first forty-three seconds(!!) of his tournament! :D
DeleteFor the final:
ReplyDeleteMakkelie is below Marciniak
why?
Marciniak has a world cup on his resume where he did not do badly.
Simple.
(Makkelie for 2026 is an option)
If I remember well Marciniak was sent home after group stage four years ago after a chaotic game involving Germany
DeleteYes, he was in ARG-ISL and GER-SWE.
DeleteLike all performances by referees in World Cups, no one is perfect and perhaps I left a few doubts about his performances, but he has that, a world cup that can easily be translated into "experience", which Makkelie does not have.
I'm not saying that Makkelie is a bad referee, ever, but I'd rather give the World Cup final (if there are no options, like this WC) to a referee who was in a WC than to one who wasn't.
You may think that this is not taken into account, but yes, it is taken into account a lot.
Or maybe you say "Makkelie has a Europa League final and that's why he deserves the WC final and he's better than Marciniak", that's fine, it's your opinion and I respect it.
But, in how many world cups has Makkelie participated as a central referee?...
This is not about having finals, it is about experience and Marciniak knows how to handle a WC and a WC final.
It is my opinion.
GER-SWE wasn't a chaotic game, Marciniak simply missed a penalty for Sweden early in the match.
DeleteYes, Marciniak is missing a big international final (he only had U21 EURO final), but Makkelie also only has one EL final more.
In CL, their experience is nearly identical with around 40 matches including around 10 GS matches.
Marciniak never appeared in IFFHS best referees ranking, never UEL or UCL final, just a supercup few years ago, for me he did great performances in this tournament but he lacks experience in major events in UEFA/FIFA despite the fact that he was referee in WC 2014. Marciniak have to thank Faghani and Lahoz disasters, that's it. He was perfect for semi final but final is simply too much.
ReplyDelete"IFFHS best referees ranking"
DeleteFake artificial rankings that carry no weight and are simply irrelevant.
Ok IFFHS doesn't matter, but experience does. final for marciniak is the result of others excellent candidates disappointing performances. Orsato or Ramos far better.
DeleteYou can mention everything, but please IFFHS... until a few years ago they didn't even write correctly the names of the referees. Just a joke. And to be honest I think they learned something from this blog... :D
DeleteThese are the names which are left for 3rd place and final (the rest are sent home):
ReplyDeleteAl Jassim
Hasan
Ghorbal
Elfath
Claus
Sampaio
Valenzuela
Taylor
Makkelie
Marciniak
I mean it is obvious that it is for Marciniak, right?
And here goes the last reasonable candidate for the final.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Ramos has been phenomenal and absolutely deserves his 4th appointment being a big one. For me could have been even bigger.
FIFA with a very bad management oppened the door for a lot of weird final options. Faghani had a huge mistake. Elfath and Makkelie werent convincing enough. Turpin ruled out by France advancing. Orsato not being appointed to any KO match. Seemingly no trust in Gomes.
Now almost certainly Marciniak will get the final. I wish him the best of luck. But thinking of the possiblity it will be FRA-ARG I fear he will be in huge trouble and lacking the abilty to handle it.
Isn't he one of the best referees who can handle such matches? I always thought that him, orsato, olivier, turpin are the best for big, big clashes because they know how to handle it. Now only Simon left so it has to be him
DeleteIn UEFA ofc.
DeleteDont get me wrong. I believe Marciniak is a great referee. He is Top 5-7 UEFA, but not more. Especially looking at experience he is lacking it.
DeleteI highly doubt he was planned to do the final. We just witness a horrible management ruling out every option. Seemingly Marciniak was trusted above Ramos (for me hardly understandable), with them being the last 2 options.
Yes, but that doesn't matter if he is 5-7 best in europe. He has the best form at this tournament from all refeerees alongside Orsato and it is the most important thing right now. If we add the fact that he had Arg match and France (two final candidates) it is perfect chpice, almost Mastermind :D
DeleteStockholm, Marciniak is/was the best UEFA referee of the last 12 months, by far. Not top 5-7, anyway top 3. Please watch all his games of last year, simply outstanding.
DeletePersonally, in any case I would like to see full Brasilian crew leading by Sampaio in final with Claus as fourth official. And, I dont se the reason if confederation rule is broken in 2014, why some of gentelmans exclude Sampaio. He let the game flow, and I strongly belive that there are a lot of chances for him. Also, he showed that he has no problem to funciton with big players and teams. He was consistent through championship, and his games was always higher profile than Maricniak. But, from the other side, my personal wish does not mean that Marciniak is not excellent referee, and if he recive final, it would not be undeserved. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteOur team's reports from the QFs. A special mention for Upstylon, who had NEDARG, and did a really excellent job of rounding everything up on a crazy night. All here:
ReplyDeleteCROBRA (Oliver) -
http://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2022/12/michael-oliver-in-quarterfinal-croatia.html?showComment=1670675529565#c2240122640690333424
NEDARG (Mateu) -
http://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2022/12/refereeing-in-paralysis-world-cup.html?showComment=1670868005319#c2951088802420742586
MARPOR (Tello) -
http://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2022/12/refereeing-in-paralysis-world-cup.html?showComment=1670846231890#c1010531684195188726
FRAENG (Sampaio) -
http://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2022/12/wilton-sampaio-in-quarterfinal-england.html?showComment=1670868772778#c3739895667290638586
Great job 👌
DeleteThanks for accuracy and objectivity (which sometimes miss in comments)
Yes thank you for this excellent reports both of you!
DeleteMakkelie for the final. Has been the most trusted referee in high profile fixtures over the past 3-4 years, or so.
ReplyDeleteWhat a ridiculous appointment. This means either Marciniak or Makkelie does not get a third appointment, two top refs, who refereed two spotless games, while mediocre referees like Sampaio and Ramos get four appointments, solely based on their nationality. These political have got to stop and they need to step fast as well.
ReplyDeleteIs it that devastating to find out that there are referees that are actually pretty good but aren't from UEFA? It's mind-blowing how this "International" sport includes so many nationalities. ;)
DeleteCompleately agree with @Arbiter, as an European myself. Besides, I've found Sampaio's performances pretty decent, altough the last penalty could have been awarded without the VAR support. Makkelie is a great referee but he deserves eating a humble pie every now and then.
DeleteSampaio mediocre? Ramos mediocre? Come on just because the biased here aren't on a semifinals you say this. It's a world cup not uefa cup. Other referees need their space too. Sampaio is one of the best referees of this world cup, Ramos too. Uefa referees were very bad.
DeleteMakro23 I suspected you didn't know anything about football and refereeing, but now I'm sure.
DeleteIf Sampaio and Ramos are mediocre, what about Siebert who ran away? And the Dutch golden boy, acclaimed by the Makkeliettes here on this blog, who after POLARG lost the spotlight and went to the bench? And the terrible performance of the English duo Taylor and Oliver, the latter of which will even have a statue in Zagreb, Croatia, by the penalty not called in favor of Brazil. Lahoz so I prefer not to comment. If there are names that still maintain the UEFA standard, they are Marciniak, who on merits will receive the final, and Turpin, who was heavily criticized here on this blog and even conspiracy theories were raised against him. Less please. If there's one thing that this World Cup left behind, it's that refereeing urgently needs to find itself again, and FIFA needs clearer guidelines, if they want a spectacle and a fluid game tying the referees' cards, or if they want to protect the athletes from the beating and let the referees apply more severe punishments
Wow, immediately accusing someone with a different opinion of not knowing anything about football, that's classy. For sure you are not looking through a Brazilian glass, are you?
DeleteMy point is not that I only want UEFA referees. I agree with you that Siebert, Taylor, Lahoz were definitely beneath Ramos in my ranking. But I would put Marciniak and Makkelie in my top3 of this world cup. And therefore I'm disappointed that they get a maximum of 5 mathces together, while Argentinian and Brazilian referees got 12 games together. And I'm quite sure that has something to do with dividing the matches equally between confederations. I call that political appointments and I'm not a fan of that way of appointing. Even more so, for me the whole confederation rule could be thrown out the window. Best referees get best matches, that's it. For me, Sampaio was definitely not among them. Ramos might be in my top5, but not more. Of course are opinions on that can differ.
Yes, but nothing new. We already knew it would be a political circus after 2(!) Brazilian referees were assigned to Match 2 and 3, as compensation for the UEFA referee in the opening game.
DeleteAdditionally, some countries always get the top refs (starting with A), whereas smaller countries got the lower ranked referees.
Why would FIFA allow Taylor and Makkelie to stay in Qatar until the final/3rd place match, if FIFA isn't going to appoint them for a knock-out stage match? That seems a bit strange.
ReplyDeleteTwo reasons:
Delete1. Back-up: What if the chosen ones eat something bad, don`t feel good and can`t officiate?
2. I oreder to keep open scenarios and not be absolutely obvious for fans who will they choose.
* 2. in order to
DeleteJust because FIFA has kept referees in Qatar. It doesn't necessarily mean that they will all be assigned. The Committee has to keep a varied pool of referees to ensure they have options no matter what the matchups are.
DeleteFurthermore now it can be told as: "Taylor and Makkelie belonged to the 12 best referees at the World Cup, who were kept until the end." :)
DeleteVAR/AVAR Kwiatkowski/Fritz were appointed to matches with Marciniak and Taylor (Croatia-Belgium), Fritz was sent home after Argentina-Australia.
DeleteMarciniak and Taylor first matches were with VAR Kwiatkowski and a Spanish AVAR Munuera (Marciniak) and Hernandez (Taylor).
VAR/AVAR Boekel/Dankert/Irrati (Makkelie) were allowed to stay after round of 16, Boekel/Dankert appointed to Argentina-Poland (Group Stage), Boekel/Irrati appointed to QF Croatia-Brazil, and Irrati VAR SF Argentina-Croatia. Dankert has not been appointed yet to a knock-out stage match.
Maybe we will have an indication if we know wich VAR/AVAR.were allowed to stay after the QF.
Maybe 2026 on his teritory Ramos whistles final match?
ReplyDeleteClaus apita a final. Influência de Seneme
ReplyDeleteBrazilian Claus apita Argentina en final? Influencia de Hohoho
DeleteI do not believe that Makkelie will be assigned if ARG goes to the final after what is happen in ARGNED. If the two UEFA teams (FRA and CRO) go on, I do not expect an UEFA referee nor a CONCACAF, after Ramos. So, I expect Brasilian ref. In all other cases ref from UEFA is more likely. Makkelie if ARG is out and Marciniak if ARG is in.
ReplyDeleteGame number 62. Not 61
ReplyDeletewhen will be the final cast?
ReplyDeleteThe appointments will be made on Thursday
Deletehttps://m.goalzz.com/default.aspx?n=1196504&o=n
ReplyDeleteGood for the referee reputation...
#sportswashing
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletei still think makkelie will officiate the final considering his personality and experience. but i understand marciniak is the most safe choice for the final.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to choose between Makkelie and Marciniak but I won't rule out Anthony Taylor (his last chance at WC) though he never got KO games. Maybe he will be given the 3rd place match.
ReplyDeleteTaylor for the final and Frappart for the 3rd if France goes to the ginal
ReplyDeleteFrappart and Turpin both are sent home to avoid bias.
DeleteFunny that some people rule out Makkelie after a (supportable!) penalty to Argentina, with no impact on the standings.
ReplyDeleteNobody's talking about the HUGE respect he had from the Argentinian Players. From minute one, players trusted him and just played football. I barely saw any dissents in his games.
If the final is Argentina vs France, I expect Makkelie. He is the most trusted and has the most experience with such big events.
It's a joke, to put Makkelie with Argentina. After, what happened with Netherlands, I really don't expect Makkelie, if Argentina is going to final. I think it will be Marciniak or Taylor for the final.
DeleteNonsense. At the World Cup 2018, France eliminated Argentina in R16. Guess who refereed the QF of France? Pitana (ARG).
DeleteFIFA broke the confederation neutrality for the first time to appoint Makkelie (MD3) with Argentina. Why? Because he's the top ref. They respected him on the pitch. Leave your conspiracy theories aside. It is well-known that referees are happy when their own country is eliminated.
Sure. Let's just ignore how the ARG_NED match ended. I'm certain that every Argentine will be fully down with a Dutch ref in this climate. Very smart.
DeleteThe way Marciniak and Makkelie have been used by Rosetti is quite different imo.
ReplyDeleteThe Polish has been regularly used in volcano matches, foul games and teams with heated players that have to be managed. Not always the 'best' and most beautiful football games. But for sure challenging ones. The Balkanic clash (Bosnia-Montenegro) in Nations League is a good example. Or - for instance - a game when two south-European sides are facing each other. Typical Marciniak games. The FIFA Arab Cup was also a great fit.
The Dutch on the other hand regularly gets the headline games, with a billions eyes watching. For instance Real-Chelsea after the Super League saga, PSG after the racism incident, the opening game at the EURO, England-Germany (EURO2020) on Wembley, Real-PSG return game (R16) after the 1st draw went wrong and Madrid very angry, Spain-Germany (WC2022). It's often games with a story and/or with a specific attention on the referee.
We will see what is the most important for FIFA: The fitter referee and the most experienced head on the biggest stage, used to extreme spotlights and pressure, or the one with the 'cleanest' reputation, which is imho caused by the fact that he was more in the shadow and not as much "exposed" as Makkelie.
Very good explanation and analysis.
DeleteJust one fun fact: Polish referee is fitter than Makkelie :)
Yes, i guessed that is Ramos for the second semifinal. By the way, I'm not Collina. So, the final is wide open. Makkelie could get the final if Croatia meet France, and Marciniak for Argentina vs France. The others is for another posible finals. Taylor for Croatia with Morroco, why not.
ReplyDeleteTaylor for 4th official final maybe, final referee maybe Marcinak, Elfath, or Jassim
DeleteI guess we can just see who will reach final... If it's Morocco, Elfath is ruled out (though I doubt this will be given to him). Almost impossible for Jassim (only 1 GS game).
DeleteDanny makkiele for the final
ReplyDeleteSkomina for final, confirm by Collina ☑
ReplyDeleteCollina for the final,confirmed by Collina.
DeleteDon't laugh
ReplyDeleteOne thing is certain:
ReplyDeleteThe referee in the middle of the World Cup final 2022 will most likely NOT be in charge of the UEFA Champions League final 2023.
If Marciniak gets the WC final 2022, we can pencil Taylor/Makkelie for the UCL final 2023. And the other way around.
I must be honest - it is a bit lost on me why Makkelie and Marciniak's performances at this WC have been considered on a par with each other.
ReplyDeleteI feel *very* sorry for the Dutchman after the events of the last UEFA season, but it is clear (to me at least) that he hasn't been at the top in the period since, including at this WC. It really wasn't fair what happened and I'm sure that any human being would struggle to say 100% motivated after this... but refereeing-in-paralysis/Čeferin+Al-Khelaifi etc. Probably the location of this WC didn't help Makkelie's motivation either (indeed in one game I saw the camera pan onto our referee-assaulting Qatari friend...).
BUT - analysing the performances, the Dutch ref (and indeed whole crew tbh) didn't do so well this time. I wasn't the only one who saw deficiencies in ESPGER; POLARG was actually an 'easy' game as the Poles sat back just defended, and then there was the dubious penalty given. On the contrary, Marciniak performed excellently in both ultra-dynamic FRADEN and in very tricky ARGAUS (the latter performance was much underrated IMO). Faultless linesmen too in the Polish team's case.
I don't understand so much the argument about UEFA finals being an argument against Marciniak either. He was more at the top than Vinčić in 21/22 (very good in Real vs. Chelsea, unchallenged in Liverpool vs. Villarreal), he would have deserved the EL final more, but Rosetti played another 'blinder' and already promised that Vinčić would to go Seville after the QFs played (he assessed Slavko V. in Bayern vs. Villarreal). If Rosetti made the 'correct' appmnt, then Makkelie and Marciniak would be equal in finals (1xEL). How does Rosetti's well-known troubles to manage UEFA's refs effectively create an argument against the Polish official?
FRADEN and then ARGAUS isn't the most satisfying route to the WC final, I must be honest (akin to older days and Belqola/Collina; Pitana's and especially Rizzoli's were pretty benign but not so much as that...). BUT, if the only foot you put wrong on ANY level is one missed caution in the later game, and both performances are at the TOP, then by the same token one can't really complain either.
My messages to both -
Mr. Marciniak:
After refereeing 'lights out' in the eighteen months since EURO was played, I strongly hope to read your name for the WC final, it would be a deserved appmnt. Congratulations for coming through harder times - after many faultless years in UEFA (2014-17), there were tricky moments, but having missed EURO to (justly) assert yourself as best European referee is a fantastic achievement, testament to your ability as a referee. Delivering so many top clashes in recent months in UNL, CL, WC is a fantastic achievement, ALWAYS being fresh for the games and ALWAYS refereeing them in an excellent way. Enjoy the WC final (I hope), sir!
Mr. Makkelie:
You are an excellent referee and many times you astounded me with the quality of your performances (for most it is in UEFA, but for me personally, Greek Cup semi and UAE title decider were the best! ;)). I'm very sorry about what happened last season. You reported Al-Khelaifi in good faith and Rosetti, though he is a good man, showed to be a spineless leader. I don't blame you for losing motivation. However, work hard, keep at it - and Rosetti 'owes you' a favour anyway about CL2023 final, you more than have the quality to reach this appmnt and I have no doubt that you will make it deservedly with excellent performances, sir!
💪
I disagree.
DeleteMakkelie was the best referee of season 2021/2022 and deserved the Champions League final. That was taken from him, due to a political choice. We know he is already "blocked" for EURO 2024, thanks to his fellow country man Kuipers. How unlucky?! Appointing him to the WC final 2022 is 100% justice, sir.
Marciniak, on the other hand, is a very good(!) referee, but he has a great shot for both the 2023 Champions League Final and EURO 2024. Good luck to the Pole. I'm sure he will achieve this.
The final is given to a referee not for "justice", ever, it is given for MERIT and EXPERIENCE and Makkelie does not "beat" Marciniak in this.
DeletePerhaps the absence of him in the Euro and blah blah blah but TODAY (for me) he is considered the best referee in Europe and Makkelie is below him, indisputably
Anonymous - did you hear anything else about the staggering Blatter/Turpin revelations which you so bravely and courageously brought to our attention?
DeleteConsidering you made them up, I think not... 🤦♂️
@Mikael
DeleteYes. I am still convinced that it was meant to be Turpin's WC final. Until France (unluckily) reached the semi-final and he was sent home. I feel sorry for him.
You love the old school "law enforcers", you dislike referees that don't show mandatory yellow cards... It’s all fine. We know you have a few favourite referees (Mateu Lahoz, Turpin and Marciniak). You obviously don't like Makkelie and have an agenda against him. And I must say, it is really really harsh and unpolite to spread a rumor that a referee "has lost motivation". Danny Makkelie is imho one of the most passionated and determined referees around. I have seen all his domestic- and international games this season (I doubt you did), starting at the 3rd UCL play-off until this World Cup and he is an amazing referee.
Mikael, you wrote that the Pole has been "faultless" for 18 months. Well, that's not true. Juventus-Villareal comes to mind where he was saved multiple times by VAR. Or Real Madrid-Chelsea where he awarded a wrong corner, that ended up in a goal. He was lucky there weren't any (potential) penalty incidents in his recent games, cause that’s what triggers the headlines the most. I respect Marciniak a lot. The way he fought back after missing the EURO deserves nothing but praise. And perhaps, he will be assigned to the WC final. It wouldn't be undeserved.
However, I found Makkelie the better and most consistent referee the last 3-4 seasons. He always delivers in big games, when the pressure is the highest. He deserved the UCL final last season. He has a long record of masterclass performances. Funnily enough, people on this blog are already burning him down if he has one OFR after a very long time. That says enough! 😊
I'm really stabbing in the dark concerning Makkelie. Apart from the penalty incident, I think he did enough to get a knock-out game. Sending him home because of the penalty incident is completely validated for me, but Van Boekel got a quarter final as main VAR. This must mean that FIFA backs the penalty call, but if that's the case, why did Makkelie not appear again (neither as referee nor as fourth official), and why has he not been sent home yet? I'm really struggling to find a logical explanation here.
Delete@Mikael
If Rosetti made the 'correct' appointments, Makkelie would still be one up, as he would have had the UCL final last season
I think it all went wrong in the Round of 16. Those 8 matches were divided between 2 UEFA, 3 CONCACAF and 3 CONMEBOL referees. If they already knew they were gonna divide the quarterfinals equally between UEFA and CONMEBOL referees, then why not appoint a UEFA referee to all UEFA clashes FRA-POL or POR-SUI.
DeleteFor example, Oliver could have been appointed to the Portugal match, then Makkelie could have been appointed to the quarterfinal between Brazil and Croatia and Ramos would have been 'saved' for a semifinal. In that way, they would have had more UEFA referees in the Knock-out stage and more options for a final. Still, of course we don't for sure that Makkelie won't be appointed directly to the final, but that would spark a lot of debate as well.
So, for me, management of UEFA referees went wrong in the early stages of the knockout stage. If they already knew they would get 3 matches max out of QF's and SF's, then why not appoint at least 3 UEFA referees in the Round of 16, to give all well performing UEFA referees the knock-out match they deserved.
It's pretty straighforward now and its down into 2 players in this finale race Marciniak or Makkelie and if tonight Argentina advance into final we already know it will be Marciniak, if Croatia advance then Makkelie is still alive.
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