Tuesday 7 March 2023

Champions League 2022/23 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (Second Leg, I)

Return games of 2022-23 Champions League Round of 16. Matches to be played on 7 March. 



7 March 2023

21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
SL Benfica (POR) - Club Brugge (BEL) 
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mustafa Emre Eyisoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Cevdet Komurcuoglu (TUR)
Fourth Official: Abdulkadir Bitigen (TUR)
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mete Kalkavan (TUR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA) 
UEFA Delegate: Luis Cuervas Del Real (ESP) 

21:00 CET - London (Stamford Bridge) 
Chelsea FC (ENG) - Borussia Dortmund (GER) 
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan De Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Video Assistant Referee: Pol Van Boekel (NED)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Higler (NED) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski (POL) 
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias (CZE) 

91 comments:

  1. All is regular and expected, I would say. Standard appointment for Makkelie in a very open game aftre first leg and KO stage debut for Umut Meler, with Rosetti direcrtly observing him, very important step for the Turkish. The least technical game in the round (on paper...) has been used for this purpose, and we should also underline that committee goes on with selecting particular VARs. Not a Turkish one in this case, but a Spanish. I would draw the conclusion that UEFA relies on both the selected VAR for the course but also the ones from European top countries (Italy, Spain, France...).
    Different in the other two competitions Europa League and Conference, where having a VAR for a game is already "enough"...

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    1. umut meler debut last season was sporting-manchester city

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    2. Sorry I forgot that! You are right!

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    3. After only two low-profile group stage matches, I didn't really expect Meler. I would have preferred e.g. Kruzliak, Grinfeeld, Stieler or Letexier to get a chance in this kind of match.

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    4. Same for me, Umut Meler not the name I was expecting for this game. But judging now, this choice is ok, the match looks suitable for the Turkish ref. I agree with Philipp's proposals, except Kruzliak. He and Sidiropoulos deserve to be demoted. Siebert was my guess, but if didn't received this game, I doubt that he will whistle in UCL in the next 2 weeks. Maybe a first leg QF for him.

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    5. Umut Meler was injured first two months of the season. That's why he didn't get matches earlier. He is in top form this season in the league also. Good luck to him.

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  2. Meler, Gözübüyük, Gil Manzano - it doesn't matter if you aren't that good, if you reach a certain level of competency (and one can actually discuss about that regarding one of the above names but anyway...) and are from a big association, you are in. Does anyone remember when I said Dallas going to see the Spaniard at Juve vs. Chelsea was a signal that he was in danger of demotion - completely wrong, he got a EL SF that season! It is a good microcosm of the whole thing, tbh.

    Probably Roberto will hug Meler before the game too and give him a good mark... ;)))

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    1. Context for the final remark - below, Roberto Rosetti embraces Sandro Schärer before the UEFA boss was about the assess the young Swiss in Real Sociedad vs. Manchester United.

      https://imgur.com/a/vFqH2Ek

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    2. One must agree with most of your remarks.
      About Rosetti, too much human and friendly for being in that role? You will never see Collina in a scene like the one you posted in the picture.
      The fact that Rosetti is a, let's say, less technical head of refereeing than his predecessor is crystal clear...

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    3. I do not see a problem with that to be honest. Oberservers should be the referee's friend, not people you are afraid of. As long as the evaluation is fair and neutral, why not showing the referees that you trust them, that you want them to do well, that they have nothing to be afraid of?

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    4. I agree with you Ref_1707. Quite the opposite of it being a problem imo, warmth, good relationship, trust, respect, and support. Referees are not robots, they're human beings and the positivity that hug will have given him just before he walked out onto the pitch is immeasurable. Rosetti trying to help his referees to succeed is a positive in my book. I have no doubt that it was followed up by an honest assessment of his performance to help him keep continuing to grow and develop.
      Chefren you can never be too human and friendly especially in a profession where 99% of people are against you and simply waiting for you to give them a reason as to why they failed to win... Referee mental health has never been taken very seriously and under Rosetti that is changing and that can only ever be a good thing.

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    5. No - I doubt it did give Schärer "immeasurable positivity". Probably the Swiss just found it a bit funny/awkward. Bulls***ing assessors is, of course, hardwired for all referees who reach even semi-pro football level. I can't speak for all UEFA refs but in general Rosetti is seen as generally a good man (rightly!!) but a bit of a (tragi-)comic figure who isn't a master of his role and whom they don't take tooooo seriously. His instinct to do quite random stuff like this or warm up with (his friend) Karasëv's crew before he assessed them at Netherlands vs. Czech Republic draws much ire. And, to give one of many examples, it seems Çakir's mental health was not a priority for the Italian...

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    6. Çakir's HR management was dreadful. Nobody denies that.

      Mikael, if I understand you correctly: a Chief Refereeing Officer should be a cold, distant and authoritative person? Just like "the man in black?" :)

      I doubt it. The referee chief should be a people manager IMO.
      Whether Rosetti is a good referee chief? Let's leave that to the referees instead of speaking here on behalf of them or try to fill in things ourselves.

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  3. A situation from yesterday game Fiorentina - Milan officiated by Di Bello:
    https://streamff.co/v/F7wLJRBS-B
    He whistled this penalty for alleged handball: among the most blatant mistakes seen in serie A in recent years. It seems as the raised arm deceived him.
    In my opinion an intervention by AR was expected there, he was in a good positioning to say referee that the penalty was a wrong call. Clear view on the header. Unless the same AR confirmed the penalty to referee...
    More generally, after an excellent season one year ago, now Di Bello seems again in trouble, not good in most of the games and a quite poor season.

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  4. Romualdo Arppi Filho, referee of the Mexico 86 final, passed away.
    Report @arbitrointernacional

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  5. Andy Madley is slowly getting bigger and better matches.

    I was very surprised when appointments were made and neither Oliver or Taylor were in charge of Liverpool vs MUtd..

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    1. Yes, he has also done Spurs - Man City, and Spurs - Liverpool, so he can be happy with appointments. Hooper has had the best appointments outside of the 2 UEFA elite's, and has performed fantastically IMO. Attwell has had some good games too, Pawson has been used less on big games than I expected, and Tierney is often called upon. Even Rob Jones did Chelsea - Man City in the cup, and Coote the cup final.

      So in terms of appointments in the PL this season, this is where, imo, credit should be given to the PGMOL as big games have been shared round rather than seeing Oliver/Taylor week in week out. The use of VAR has still been a huge issue and I would fully expect foreign VAR's to be assigned with Oliver/Taylor in European KO games, as the English still haven't proven they can be trusted, especially in the big games.

      I'm still yet to see who will be the next name to follow Oliver and Taylor. Tierney, Coote and Bankes gave up their FIFA badges but to be frank, don't look like being capable of reaching the highest levels anyway. Hooper, as I mentioned, can be happy with his appointments and performances but will never be a FIFA listed official due to his age. Pawson will always be a 'decent' ref but I think he's still leagues below MO/AT.

      Madley is probably the most likely to kick on but needs more big appointments and could be slightly more convincing in his performances (Arsenal - Newcastle springs to mind...). I class Kavanagh and England similarly. Kavanagh looked promising but has struggled with injuries and form, and England seems a safe pair of hands but hasn't had the top games to prove himself. Gillett, Jones and Brooks are too early to judge, however from watching the PL week in week out, none of them have performed so consistently well to suggest that they should definitely be more trusted yet.

      All in all, there's some promising talent and the appointments have been more refreshing this year than in previous ones, but I still feel that Webb has lots of work to do - starting with VAR!

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  6. Vítor Manuel de Melo Pereira has been appointed as the new head of referees at Egyptian FA.

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  7. Maresca in Roma - Juventus: close to perfection.
    To be honest not the expected game in terms of difficulty until 75', but then something happened in the end and he was absolutely ready.
    Fully correct RC for violent conduct immediately spotted. Maybe the only serie A and B referee with a particular attention to added time. Not a single mistake in all whistles and cards issued, always in control. It was not easy after Mourinho and Serra affair. BTW in that regard, difficult times seem to have started for the mentioned referee... all proofs are against him at moment.

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    1. I watched the game, very good Maresca indeed, he has raised his level of performances nicely this season.
      However, I have a problem about what happened exactly before Kean RC. It was a blatant holding by Roma's defender, not whistled. Maresca was pretty far from the duel (bad positioning at this specific moment) and perhaps 4th official advise was required.
      One might say that the Juventus's player's brainless gesture was determined by Maresca missing the foul that happened before. Which is somehow true. Obiously, this is not an excuse for Kean, the RC is absolutely deserved; correct, mandatory. But RC for violent conduct and free kick for Juventus would have been the correct decision for me.
      Worth to mention that given the context, with the touchline ban being delayed, Mourinho was very, very calm tonight, very unusual for him in normal circumstances, of course he knew that all eyes were on him. I read online that there is audio evidence that confirms Mourinho's side of the story against Serra. Difficult times ahead for the ref.

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  8. Orsato em Munique e Turpin em Londres

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  9. OT:
    49'

    Brentford vs Fulham

    Crystal clear 2nd YC that Taylor forgave is unaccaptable.

    I get it,he is managing the game,but this was so blatant that you can not just not give it.

    Sorry but this should not happen to Taylor,one of the best refs in England.

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    1. 45+4 to be exactly the minute.

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    2. Its English way of refereeing. Man U could have had 3 or 4 red cards against Liverpool (Bruno, Shaw, Lisandro, McTominay) with La Liga style officiating. Marca had the stats last week (before this rounf of matches), 94 red cards in La Liga and only 19 in the Premier League this season.

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  10. OT: U17 Euro Elite Round referees.

    Group 1 (SRB, BIH, ISR, BLR):
    Stefan Ebner (AUT, AR Roland Brandner)
    Mikkel Redder (DEN, AR René Risum)
    Jérémy Muller (LUX, AR Rafael Morim)
    Host FO: Dejan Trifković (SRB, AR Marko Djuričić)

    Group 2 (WAL, SCO, ISL, MNE):
    Pierre Gaillouste (FRA, AR Valentin Evrard)
    Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL, AR Hristo Hadzhiyski)
    Dominik Starý (CZE, AR Petr Caletka)
    Host FO: Alex Mcinch (WAL, AR Cilan Aeron Thomas)

    Group 3 (NED, ENG, DEN, NIR)
    Roman Jitari (MDA, AR Vlad Lifciu)
    Jovan Kachevski (MKD, AR Branko Putilin)
    Patrik Kolarić (CRO, AR Ivan Starčević)
    Host FO: Martijn Vos (NED, AR Stefan de Groot)

    Group 4 (TUR, ESP, GER, FIN)
    TBC

    Group 5 (POL, POR, CZE, SVK)
    TBC

    Group 6 (CYP, ITA, IRL, UKR):
    Jasper Vergoote (BEL, AR Michael Geerolf)
    Antoni Bandić (BIH, AR Amer Macić)
    Mohammad Aslam (NOR, AR Aleksander Jæger)
    Host FO: Kyriakos Athanasiou (CYP, AR Iraklis Komodromos)

    Group 7 (NOR, CRO, BEL, SVN)
    Marek Radina (CZE, AR Martin Leska)
    Kyriakos Athanasiou (CYP, AR Pavlos Georgiou)
    Edgars Malcevs (LAT, AR Martins Svipsts)
    Host FO: Marius Lien (NOR, AR Christer Jørgensen)

    Group 8 (ALB, FRA, SUI, LAT)
    David Dickinson (SCO, AR Ross Macleod)
    Oliver Reitala (FIN, AR Olli Jantunen)
    Sivert Amland (NOR, AR Alf-Olav Rossland)
    Host FO: Daniel Vrapi (ALB, AR Elvis Gjoka)


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    1. U19 EURO Elite Round referees

      Group 1 (FRA, NIR, NOR, ROU)
      Miloš Gigović (BIH, AR Damir Lazić)
      Ante Čulina (CRO, AR Dario Kolarević)
      Sven Jablonski (GER, AR Dominik Schaal)
      Host FO: Marc Bollengier (FRA, AR Steven Torregrossa)

      Group 2 (BEL, GER, ITA, SVN)
      Andréas Argyroú (CYP, Mários Kalogírou)
      Ivo Manuel Torres da Rocha Fernandes (LUX, AR Dani Dias Balsa)
      Atilla Karaoğlan (TUR, AR Mehmet Emin Tuğral)
      Host FO: Florian Badstübner (GER, AR Lasse Koslowski)

      Group 4 (CRO, CZE, POR, SWE)
      Robert Jones (ENG, AR Wade Smith)
      Evángelos Manoúchos (GRE, AR Konstandínos Nikolaḯdis)
      Oleksiy Derevinsʹkyy (UKR, AR Oleksandr Berkut)
      Host FO: Carlos André Fernandes Macedo (POR, AR André Filipe Nogueira Dias)

      Group 5 (EST, GRE, IRL, SVK)
      Ívar Orri Kristjánsson (ISL, AR Guðmundur Ingi Bjarnason)
      Sander van der Eijk (NED, AR Dyon Fikkert)
      Luca Cibelli (SUI, AR Matthias Sbrissa)
      Host FO: Kevin O'Sullivan (IRL, AR Eoin Michael Harte)

      Group 6 (ISR, LVA, POL, SRB)
      Elçin Məsiyev (AZE, AR Pərvin Talıbov)
      John Brooks (ENG, AR Daniel Robathan)
      Miguel Bértolo Nogueira (POR, AR Nélson Filipe Vila Pereira)
      Host FO: Patryk Gryckiewicz (POL, AR Michał Sobczak)

      Group 7 (ENG, HUN, ISL, TUR)
      Jakob Alexander Sundberg (DEN, AR Deniz Yurdakul)
      Luca Pairetto (ITA, AR Alessio Berti)
      Adam Ladebäck (SWE, AR Daniel Yng)
      Host FO: Leigh Doughty (ENG, AR Matthew Jones)

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    2. John Brooks and Robert Jones with probably their UEFA debuts. Rules both out as part of the VAR teams for European qualifiers

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    3. U17

      Group 5 (POR, POL, CZE, SVK)
      Antoine Paul Chiaramonti (AND, AR Andreu Vilanova Simarro)
      Menelaos Antoniou (CYP, AR Eraklis Komodromos)
      Mervan Bejtullahu (KOS, AR Fatmir Sekiraqa)
      Host FO: Helder Carvalho (POR, AR Luis Costa)

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    4. U19

      Group 3 (DEN, ESP, LUX, UKR)
      Damian Sylwestrzak (POL, AR Adam Karasewicz)
      David Šmajc (SVN, AR Tomaž Černe)
      Erkan Özdamar (TUR, AR Murat Tuğberk Curbay)
      Host FO: Javier Alberola Rojas (ESP, AR Iván Hernández Ramos)

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  11. Observers for EURO 2024 qualifiers

    Group A
    SCOCYP - Tomasz Mikulski POL
    ESPNOR - Miroslav Liba CZE
    GEONOR - Emil Božinovski MKD
    SCOESP - Marián Ružbarský SVK

    Group B
    FRANED - Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
    GIBGRE - Jan Willem Wegereef NED
    NEDGIB - Asim Xudiyev AZE
    IRLFRA - Stefan Meßner AUT

    Group C
    ITAENG - Frank De Bleeckere BEL
    MKDMLT - Kenneth William Clark SCO
    ENGUKR - Vítor Manuel de Melo Pereira POR
    MLTITA - Milorad Mažić SRB

    Group D
    ARMTUR - Ichko Lozev BUL
    CROWAL - Vladimir Šajn SVN
    TURCRO - Konrad Plautz AUT
    WALLVA - Martin Ingvarsson SWE

    Group E
    CZEPOL - Vladimir Antonov MDA
    MDAFRO - Hannes Kaasik EST
    POLALB - Martin Hansson SWE
    MDACZE - Bernardino González Vázquez ESP

    Group F
    SWEBEL - Miroslav Tulinger CZE
    AUTAZE -
    SWEAZE - David Malcolm NIR
    AUTEST -

    Group G
    BULMNE - João Francisco Lopes Ferreira POR
    SRBLTU - Viktor Kassai HUN
    HUNBUL - Marinus Koopman NED
    MNESRB - Michael Thomas Ross NIR

    Group H
    KAZSVN - Karen Nalbandyan ARM
    DENFIN - Kjell Gunnar Alseth NOR
    SMRNIR - Salustià Chato Ciprés AND
    KAZDEN - Levan Paniashvili GEO
    SVNSMR - Vencel Tóth HUN
    NIRFIN - Konstandínos Kapitanís CYP

    Group I
    BLRSUI - Igor Pristovnik CRO
    ISRKOS - Petteri Kari FIN
    ANDROU - Carlos Clos Gómez ESP
    SUIISR - William Young SCO
    ROUBLR - Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP
    KOSAND - Alan Mario Sant MLT

    Group J
    PORLIE - Draženko Kovačić CRO
    SVKLUX - Fredy Fautrel FRA
    BIHISL - Mehmet Murat Ilgaz TUR
    LIEISL - Plarent Kotherja ALB
    SVKBIH - Volodymyr Petrov UKR
    LUXPOR - Jon Eilif Skjervold NOR

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  12. Kick off delayed for Chelsea X Dortmund

    The away bus arrived late on the stadium.

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  13. Missed offside by AR2 in Lisbon, disallowed goal by VAR.

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  14. What happened to Danny's regular AR1?

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  15. Good first half by Umut Meler

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  16. Makkelie not really accepted by Chelsea players, whistling many small contacts. Also missed YC for Chelsea in 40'.

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    Replies
    1. You mean a YC for Kovacic for SPA, if I remember correct the moment, isn't it? By the book yeah, but considering the standard UCL lenient approach that we saw in Rosetti era, absolutely supportable (and expected) to sum up only to verbal warning.

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  17. I really liked Makkelie's display in the first half, many fouls to whistle but all of them right spotted. However, that YC for time wasting was a little bit too harsh for my taste.

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    1. I agree with you regarding his overall display, it was a good performance so far IMO. However, that YC for time wasting seemed spot on to me at that moment. I'm referring to the context of the whole situation here: Borussia had a positive result, but were under "heavy barrage" of Chelsea attacks at that specific moment of the match. By delaying the restart, Süle seemed to be gaining an advantage because of disruption of game flow (denying Chelsea the momentum they had) and allowing his team to recuperate a bit. Of course, I can be completely wrong, but this was my feeling about this scene when it happened.

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  18. Penalty whistled by Makkelie after OFR (handball). IMO internationally the expected decision. Hand is not close to the body, however, distance and body movement rather speak against a penalty. German commentators disagree.
    And now penalty has to be REPEATED... Commentators do not understand the rules at all.

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    Replies
    1. At least referee expert Wolfgang Stark helps them. Sometimes I wonder why there are some commentators who have no clue about the LotG.

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    2. That was terrible on German TV. Dortmund #6 was 2m inside the half circle and the one clearing it...

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    3. I understand the arguments against a penalty here, but my opinion is the same as yours: penalty is the expected decision here.

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    4. From an Italian point of view about handballs, I think that nowadays distance is never used as criterion, so all is about the position / movement of the arm, natural or not.
      I must say that this handball is very particular, I can understand why Makkelie missed it live, not easy to spot because defender makes a very naive movement while he could have avoided that. Long check by Van Boekel before calling it.

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    5. Yes, I agree with the evaluation, that it is more a penalty than not. The question is, whether that should be enough for a VAR intervention..

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    6. On Austrian TV the commentator got both decisions right - the penalty as well as the repitition.

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    7. I agree, good VAR intervention, I had a feeling handball should be spotted by Makkelie himself on the pitch. Also he forgot to show VAR signal when he went towards the monitor.

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    8. Former German Referee Manuel Gräfe writes on Twitter :

      " Not an intentional handball for me + and not unnatural either. He turns away + this causes the arm to come out slightly, but still close to the body and without tension, which you can see from the arm 'slinging away'. Wrong for me + bad luck for BVB."

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    9. About the VAR intervention for encroachment, let me say that I strongly disagree with this application of the technology after a penalty, because it is a particular use and not a full one.
      I saw many similar incidents in serie A this season and my opinion was always the same: it is not fair, because VAR can control what referee very often can't control on the pitch. This creates always confusion and the acceptance is extremely low. But, making a more general speech, I think a penalty kick should be isolated from the context of the game, and treated like PSO, once kicked one should only wait for the outcome, no involvements from other players. I think that in future we will go in that direction, it is really a logical thing if you ask me, the attacker has always an obivous goal scoring opportunity, and that should be enough.

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    10. I dislike how refs default to VAR for encroachment but Chelsea wouldn't have been punished had the first PK been scored.

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    11. Gräfe's arguments are exactly, why I don't think, it was such a clear and obvious situation.
      I think, there remains an element of interpretation, whether the arm is there as part of the (natural) turning movement or extended a bit more than needed.

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    12. About Gräfe: That quite clearly explains why he never reached European top level. He interprets situations in his own way, often strongly based on football feeling, but ignoring clear guidelines. UEFA’s guidelines with respect to handballs are as clear as they’re strict, whether you agree or disagree. Arm out of the body after an expected ball. Imo a clear-cut penalty in Uefa competitions.

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    13. It feels Gräfe almost always goes against whatever a referee decides... Might be still salty about how he had to retire lol

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    14. Gräfe is always like that @jules with Zwayer he is 2x worse

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  19. Very good performance by both ARs in London. Until now, three goals correctly disallowed for offside, and they were close or even very close.

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    Replies
    1. Now we got the animation, so close. Excellent eye by AR1.

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  20. Correct PK by Meler in Lisbon but missed 2YC for trailing leg tackle :/

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  21. That's easily 2 YCs for Chilwell there: SPA/UB(holding), DtR and UB (pushing the opponent during stopped play)
    But probably not expected at all on UEFA level

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  22. Quite intensive match for Makkelie. Overall good except missed penalty for handball. He must have been tired otherwise there is no explanation of a bad foul detection towards the end, two ridiculous fouls whistled around minutes 80-85. We have seen much better Makkelie in previous years, also from players' management point of view. Maybe lack of motivation because he suspects Marciniak to be in this year's UCL final. 7,9 (8,3) for me.

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  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. He missed a clear penalty for Chelsea in the first half with the push in the back. he was nonchalant and without personality for both teams. Not his fault Dortmund lost.

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    2. I'd be interested if I am the only one here who notices, that referees having reached the top level (just as Makkelie) sometimes tend to forget that they are not any kind of God but part of this game. Some grams of humility would help to move forward from top level to top top level.
      If you refuse to explain your decisions, you won't earn the respect of the players. And explaining IMO has nothing to do with allowing permanent dissent.

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    3. My remark is a general one and not referring to Chelseas (IMO earned) win yesterday.

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  24. Massive criticism on german tv and by Emre Can, more than once citing arrogance by makkelie

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    1. Correct penalty and retake. Both by VAR. One missed penalty for Chelsea. He seems like he isn't interested when he is reffing. You see zero facial expressions so I understand that players get upset about that when they think he is against them. He doesn't show emotion or joy.

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    2. As a Zwayer fan I know pretty well the behavior of BVB players.... rs....

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    3. @zwayerbrazil: You are a Zwayer fan? Don't you feel lonely sometimes? (Just kidding ...)

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    4. @hago why feel lonely? I didn't get it
      Haha he is the only german who keep a good "constant", the others.. think we don't need to say it's obvious

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    5. Well, recalling the bribery case, the game at Leverkusen (including the crucial hands-penalty there) and his performance at Dortmund I have serious doubts that I should join the Zwayer fan club.

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  25. Dale Johnson argues, VAR intervention was wrong and penalty should not have been ordered to be retaken, since the Dortmund Player who cleared the ball did not intervene with a Chelsea player. But only if he does, VAR is allowed to intervene. Pretty big mistake imo, if correct (tho I didn't knew about this rule either) https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1633219953233887232?t=HZkDUb9Rn2dVm51YgUGfEw&s=19

    One could argue tho, that by clearing the ball, he prevents the Chelsea player behind him from playing the ball, therefore the intervention is justified. I guess it depends how the word "prevent" is defined in VAR rule book...

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    Replies
    1. This is the same Dale Johnson that argued that everything was done perfectly with VAR in Tottenham v Chelsea so you'll forgive me if I don't hold his opinion in the highest regard.

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    2. OK, but the cited condition
      "a defender who encroached prevents an attacker playing or being able to play the ball in a situation where a goal might be scored"
      is cleary not fullfilled here (especially as Havertz couldn't play the ball again coming from the post).
      So I would believe, the VAR intervention was actually wrong unless there are other arguments.
      https://twitter.com/DaleJohnsonESPN/status/1633224946955558922

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    3. Hmmm ... doesn't that go too far?
      The Chelsea defender broke the rule by encroaching an had an advantage from that by clearing the ball before any other player had the opportunity.

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    4. That could indeed be discussed.
      And it is surely paradoxical, that a clearly wrong VAR intervention can lead to a clearly correct decision. But we have other examples for that, e.g. if VAR would intervene for a clear 2nd YC to be given.

      However, with this instruction existing, the VAR intervention is a clear and somehow crucial mistake by the Dutch team.

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    5. https://www.docdroid.net/W2cATO8/var-handbook-v8-final-pdf
      (bottom of page 36)

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    6. Thank you for the link.
      There are just two possibilites left:
      a) The VAR team was not aware of 8.11 from the handbook and intervened against the rule, or
      b) the VAR team was well aware of 8.11 and assumed that there was an attacker ready to score.
      Recalling the situation I guess, it is a).

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    7. Well, if I remember correctly it did take them some time to order the retake. If it's just wether or not he's in the box, that should be a quick decision. So they might have discussed the attacker situation.
      But instinctively, I would say a) as well....

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    8. Very interesting discussion, after a long analysis I made, I came to conclusion that indeed, as somebody already wrote there, LOTG are not clear and they collide with VAR protocol, this is even more an argument against the interventions by VAR on penalty executions infringments.
      The defender took an advantage by kicking ball away before opponents, and he started from an irregular position. True that the same penalty taker couldn't have played ball again, but apart from that, one can't exclude the player outside the box. Should we read "preventing" in a very strict and immediate way or can we talk about a SPA scenario, in which you can expect an attacker to reach ball?
      So for this reason I think you must give the benefit of the doubt to van Boekel, extremely difficult situation to read an not even clear according to VAR protocol. As observer, I wouldn't penalize the team for this reason, but surely something must be done to clarify VAR interventions in such incidents (I would abolish it, as already said).

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    9. @chefren
      Fair summary.
      I'm thrilled to learn, which consequences will arise from this very interesting case. And I agree: I would not blame neither the VAR team nore the ref for the decissions they made.
      Thank you for your thoughts.

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  26. Has anyone looked at Benfica Club Brugge and watched Umut Meler?

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  27. Overall good officiating from Meler

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  28. Halil Umut Meler (TUR) in SL Benfica (POR) - Club Brugge (BEL).

    Very intensive game, or at least first half, despite of final score and qualification never in discussion.

    1' Missed offside AR2, disallowed goal by VAR (missed scene by broadcaster live, but you can see for a while AR2 not raising flag aftre the goal)
    https://streamja.com/35wb7

    17' YC for reckless challenge, maybe something more was possible, help by FO/ AR1?
    https://streamja.com/bWbkv

    20' YC for reckless challenge after the shot by attacker, very well seen, extremely dangerous tackle
    https://streamja.com/maAnj

    29' YC for SPA, correct decision, good spot that foul was outside
    https://streamja.com/W4orG

    43' Crucial situation, two fouls, YC for reckless challenge is correct for one of the player involved, but problem is that the first foul by another player from Belgian team was clearly reckless as well and he was already booked, to me this is a crucial mistake by referee who should have booked both, but indeed extremely complex situation
    https://streamja.com/ZBLAO

    48' YC for SPA, OK to book once whistled the foul, but doubts about the foul.
    https://streamja.com/zB90X

    70' Penalty to Benfica, very naive foul inside the box, but the argument of reckless challenge for a foul leading to a penalty seems to have been totally abandoned nowadays...
    https://streamja.com/9b5Gn

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    Replies
    1. 70' is a very good *not* SYC in my opinion - the attacker cleverly puts his leg across the defender to win the penalty. The defender's actions were careless, and not reckless, from my perspective. 17' though should be SFP: running ten yards to make a high intensity tackle with studs-on-calf contact is precisely "excessive force".

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    2. Then do you expect something more for Meler? Having Rosetti as observer gave me a thought that he might be considered for something more, EL QF or SF may be?

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    3. 43' has to be a second YC. Both should be yellow cards. Also, 17' best decision is a red card for me, but its not VAR stuff.

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  29. João Pinheiro
    Bruno Jesus
    Luciano Maia

    Nomeados para o EURO Sub 21 na Roménia e Geórgia entre 21 Junho e 8 Julho

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