2023-24 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, First Legs, games to be played on 22 August 2023.
22 August 2023
Royal Antwerp FC (BEL) - AEK (GRE)
Referee: François Letexier (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger (FRA)
Fourth Official: Lukas Fähndrich (SUI)
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San (SUI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lionel Tschudi (SUI)
UEFA Referee Observer: Matteo Simone Trefoloni (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Michael O’Brien (ENG)
21:00 CET - Sosnowiec (ArcelorMittal Park)
RKS Raków Częstochowa (POL) - FC København (DEN)
Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
Assistant Referee 1: Davor Beljo (BIH)
Assistant Referee 2: Damir Lazić (BIH)
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović (BIH)
Video Assistant Referee: Nejc Kajtazovič (SVN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Asmir Sagrkovič (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kýros Vassáras (GRE)
UEFA Delegate: Milovan Đukanović (MNE)
21:00 CET - Glasgow (Ibrox Stadium)
Rangers FC (SCO) - PSV (NED)
Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwan Finjean (FRA)
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Éric Wattellier (FRA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Riley (ENG)
UEFA Delegate: Peter Palenčík (SVK)
How come that the VARs were announced today? If my memory is right, until now the VAR in UCL was announced a day later.
ReplyDeleteHuge chances that Letexier replaced Scharer in this game I would say.
VAR were announced later than original appointments when original appointments were not confidential and released a long time before the game. Starting from this round, all appointments are confidential and so two days before games you have everything, referee and VAR, together.
DeleteOk. I know about what you wrote in the first sentence. Perhaps I formulated unclear; I wanted to ask if usually it was referee and VAR all two days before or referee 2 days before and VAR 1 day before. For some reasons I thought that it was the second way but I guess that I remebered wrong. Thanks for clarifications.
DeleteI don't think a replacement of Schärer is that likely. He has worked in Switzerland recently, so shouldn't be injured.
ReplyDeleteMaybe UEFA just doesn't see a second reliable VAR from France at the moment. Delajod and Millot have only been used sparsely last season - and Brisard works with Turpin.
And it's quite likely that a Swiss referee speaks French well enough to communicate with Letexier in that language.
Finally, Supercup on Wednesday plus play-off on the following Tuesday should be OK, especially with no domestic game in between.
Peljto rather surprising as normally the PO referees have KO stage experience. Probably he is planned to be prepared for the EURO this season.
Yes, the AVAR‘s (Lionel Tschudi) mother tongue is French, so IMO the VAR selection isn‘t really a big hint for a replacement. However, I think that Fähndrich as a FO is indeed a strong hint, as it‘s very unlikely to have MO and FO of different countries in the qualifiers.
DeleteRandomly came in my mind today: UEFA didn't release any article about the Pre-Season Preparatory Course for Top Referees this summer, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd consequently here on the blog there was not any post regarding the participants, date or location.
I'm wondering why. It is not excluded that the Women World Cup postponed the course.
Why is Cyril Mugnier not in Turpin team or what happened?
ReplyDeleteCyril Mugnier works with Letexier.
DeleteIf you're talking about Cyril Gringore, he recently retired on January 1, 2023. He works as an AVAR in the French championship.
I know that all fitness coach in federation, must recorde, fitness test and send for elite and first cat referees to the Werner Uefa fitness coach
ReplyDeleteSchärer has been out for some time now in UEFA competitions. Has been replaced a few times, IIRC. Feel sorry for him, but tbh it would be madness to assign him instantly to the Champions League after the injury issues. UEL is the better option. Especially when the domestic league isn’t a Top5 competition. But looking at the 4th official and VAR, it was probably their planning to assign Schärer here 🤔
ReplyDeleteFor the returns, there are 6 spots. Could be Marciniak, Orsato, Gil Manzano, Soares Dias, Kovacs, Gozubuyuk, Jovanovic, Oliver, Vincic ??
ReplyDeleteWhere is Nyberg btw?
I don't think Oliver will be appointed considering Taylor's appointment seems like a replacement for him. Nyberg refereed Kalmar-Hammarby in Allsvenskan last Sunday so he can absolutely be a candidate for a game next week
DeleteTo mention that Oliver is also out from Prem Appointment this week, probably injured?
DeleteYes, Oliver could be out for some reasons.
DeleteStill, there are many referees available and there are only 6 games. At least 3 will be disappointed
I’ve had confirmation that it’s “always been Tayls on this game but his normal AR team aren’t available”
DeleteThat would make sense, with Stuart Burt appointed on Friday night in PL with Rob Jones.
DeleteSo the FA have decided the red card to Mac Allister was clearly wrong, and the suspension has been lifted for the Liverpool midfielder. I know some here thought that it was never VAR stuff or a clear error, but part of me thinks in England, where force is rather more highly considered and point of contact less so, that it possibly was. (In Europe I would understand the opposite view, however).
ReplyDeleteBut this doesn't help referees, when disciplinary decisions like this one are taken on the pitch, a judge outside can't question on the topic. In Italy this never happens: must be a technical mistake to rescind a card, following an appeal. Acting in this way means removing power to referees on the pitch. I wouldn't be happy. Must be something very clear to call an extra ordinary decision after the game has been played... but yes, also for this reason, PL is a different world.
DeleteSo you feel it’s then right for a player and a Club to face the consequences of a wrong decision just to keep the Ego of the referees??? That’s utter nonsense!! It was a clearly wrong decision and it had to be rescinded and that’s how it should work, unfortunately the referees involved where not removed from appointments as was done to the the officials involved in the man United ve Wolves game
DeleteMy opinion is that this can be valid only in case of very clear mistakes, but as long as you talk about such situation, not a clear and obvious mistake, you are going to change a pitch decision when you have at first referee and then VAR judging on it, just because people want it. The officials were not removed exactly for this reason, not an evident mistake.
DeleteIf English referees don't make progress at international stages, in my opinion this can be among the reasons, if not the main one! They should be more backed by federation. But the latter seems to be more interested to teams. I'm not saying that referees must be above all the rest, but corrected only in very extra oridnary cases, otherwise for each game you can have a long list of appeals, this can't work!
Trust me I just feel we have to agree to disagree, but I feel this is a very clear serious mistake, it is clear abs obvious and I guess it’s a point of perception… but would you give a red card for that Chefren? He leading with his studs is an excuse anymore and it infuriates me!!! Most action on the field now involves leading with studs and there by endangering the safety almost every damn time, we have to take everything into context not just one side because someone and a club would suffer.. there is an example I would love to give you, there is a red card that was given to A player in Everton vs Newcastle last season that was identical to this particular challenge but the appeal was rejected, do you know why? The took a lot of the play into context, reason given was that he was off the floor, like in a jumping motion and leading with studs although contact was very minimal…. Mc Allisters own was not like that and they said he was just contesting for the ball regularly and it was only reckless because he missed the ball, which means and we see it a lot of times , even if you go in endangering safety of a player but win the ball you are good
DeleteOne thing that justifies England working differently in these cases is that SFP and VC are a mandatory three game suspension, in contrast to other countries where a red card usually only results in a one game mandatory suspension and then added on to that on a case-to-case basis. If the comission in other countries disagree with a referee's decision, they just decides to not add any games after the mandatory one
DeleteThat's a very good point, Elliot. I didn't think about, indeed I can confirm that for SFP in Italy most of the times it is only one match of ban for the player involved and all cases are analyzed in particular. So this could maybe explain why in such situations they are more flexible, but stil....
DeleteWhy would Macalisters tackle ever be a red? It ticks not a single box for SFP
DeleteWhat an atmosphere in Sosnowiec!
ReplyDeleteI decided to watch this game, good Peljto so far but not really challenged.
DeleteNow VAR intervention for disallowing a goal scored, but absolutely impossible for AR1. Human eye can't see the part of the player in offside...
DeleteNot challenging so far but IMO he little bit too passive, lack of body language in certain situation like penalty appeal from the home team that clearly not punishable and situation at the end of the 1st half.
DeleteIndeed, one can say impossible to detect. A pity as the game would be more entertaining and Raków deserved to equalize, from Polish point of view ;)
DeleteTo add: good quick reaction to head injury (25'), interesting incident with delaying the offside for very loooong time (45+2'), overall good management of dissenting behaviour (although Raków players could've been cautioned - 16', 32', 45+1') and conflict (45+4') and imo not enough time added (five instead of six, even seven minutes).
He also got more respect from the players, that’s very good for him.
DeleteA good Turpin so far in Glasgow.
ReplyDeleteI'm watching Rangers - PSV.
ReplyDeleteWell managed 1H by Turpin: 9 fouls and 1 mandatory YC (SPA holding) given.
Excellent straight RC by Letexier, studs to the ankle with high force.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent refereeing by Letexier in Antwerp - AEK : RC, YC, advantage, management...
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.me/v/e864d3a9
ReplyDeleteFor me thats just a normal YC.
DeleteI (rewatched) the match on two different channels in Belgium. And all 4 commentators agreed with the descion after seeing the second replay. The first one is a bit desieving. It looks like just a touch on his foot. But it is studs into ankle at high speed and with force. The commentators even said they had nothing negative to note about the referee. So if even 4 biased commentators and the coach agree with the red card, I'm a bit confused on what basis you think it is just YC? Would you like to argument your point?
DeleteCouple minor issues with foul detection for Turpin in Glasgow
ReplyDeleteReferee was excellent.
DeleteNo referee gets every foul right
Overall an excellent referee display .
Could have been a penalty in favour of FCK in the last minutes, a bit surprised that VAR didn't interfere.
ReplyDeleteI dont think this was a penalty. Very little contact not enough for a penalty IMO
DeleteVery good job by Turpin in Glasgow.
ReplyDelete4 correct yellow cards (2 SPA, 1 illegal use of arms and 1 reckless pushing).
An excellent onside call by AR1 before Rangers 2-1.
Turpin actually cautioned 5 players (there were 3 SPA YCs in 36', 48' and 57', the latter being a reckless challenge as well.). Apart from this minute detail, I agree, good performance, always in control and respected by players.
DeleteAgree, Turpin was excellent as always. Was very pleased to see him speak to Rangers player Cantwell when he dived in a little bit and was already on a YC. Others would have just flashed the card. Overall, great display, well received by players as usual and that’s why in my opinion he is one of the best.
DeleteI also watched Turpin's game. Excellent performance. And a very good, inspired choice by the Ref Com.
DeleteI found Turpin very enjoyable to watch tonight. Very elegant referee.
ReplyDeleteVideo clips from Raków - Copenhagen
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-ghkECPsYaz
Overall a regular performance I think, one of the most interesting incidents is surely the delayed offside flag in 45'+2. We can maybe say this was a record in terms of delayed flag. I can understand why Peljto did that, but the risk of getting some troubles was evident, this was a too long time and also a penalty appeal for handball occurred during the waiting.
DeleteThe situation in 88' is nothing for me, I would even liked VAR intervention in case of call by Peljto, so correct decision to play on.
Video clips from Rangers - PSV
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-pnDQkuOTat