Thursday, 31 August 2023

Europa League 2023/24 - Referee Appointments - Play-offs (II)

Second legs of 2023/24 UEFA Europa League Play-offs, referee appointments.


Thursday 31 August 2023

18:00 CET - Baku (Tofiq Bəhramov adına Respublika Stadionu)
Qarabağ FK (AZE) - NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN)
Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: José Enrique Naranjo Pérez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo (ESP)
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Gómez (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci (ALB)
UEFA Delegate: Roxana Berceanu (ROU)

19:00 CET - Lublin, POL (Arena Lublin)
FK Zorya Luhansk (UKR) - SK Slavia Praha (CZE)
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alexis Auger (FRA) Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu (FRA)
Fourth Official: Thomas Léonard (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier (FRA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT)
UEFA Delegate: Vito Di Gioia (ITA)

19:00 CET - Tiraspol (Stadionul Sheriff)
FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) - KÍ Klaksvík (FRO)
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mustafa Emre Eyisoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler (TUR)
Video Assistant Referee: Mete Kalkavan (TUR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Hakan Ceylan (TUR)
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Milan Janković (BIH)

19:00 CET - Limassol (Alphamega Stadium)
Áris Lemesoú (CYP) - ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Referee: Erik Lambrechts (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Jo De Weirdt (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny (BEL)
Fourth Official: Jasper Vergoote (BEL)
Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche (BEL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nathan Verboomen (BEL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine (NIR)
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev (BUL)

19:00 CET - Prague (epet ARENA)
AC Sparta Praha (CZE) - GNK Dinamo (CRO)
Referee: Tobias Stieler (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Borsch (GER)
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pascal Müller (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski (MKD)
UEFA Delegate: Rotem Kamer (ISR)

20:00 CET - Leskovac (Gradski stadion Dubočica)
FK Čukarički (SRB) - Olymbiakós SFP (GRE)
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Joey Kooij (NED)
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink (NED)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank (NED)
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen (NOR)
UEFA Delegate: Sviatlana Hrynkievič (BLR)

20:00 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
AFC Ajax (NED) - PFK Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Ján Pozor (SVK)
Fourth Official: Peter Kráľovič (SVK)
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Timo Gerach (GER) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels (LVA)

20:30 CET - Geneva (Stade de Genève)
FC Lugano (SUI) - Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)
Referee: Harm Osmers (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal (GER)
Fourth Official: Robert Schröder (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Riem Hussein (GER) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin (SVN)
UEFA Delegate: Myrsíni Psaropoúlou (GRE)

20:45 CET - Aberdeen (Pittodrie Stadium)
Aberdeen FC (SCO) - BK Häcken (SWE)
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn (GER)
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand (GER) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
UEFA Delegate: Oleg Harlamov (EST)

21:00 CET - Mostar (Gradski stadion Mostar)
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) - LASK Linz (AUT)
Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Nuno de Sá Martins (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Ricardo Duarte Brás (POR)
Fourth Official: Ricardo Jorge Antunes Roque Baixinho (POR)
Video Assistant Referee: Fábio Oliveira Melo (POR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:Gustavo Correia (POR) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski (POL)
UEFA Delegate: Claude Runavot (FRA)

99 comments:

  1. Unsure about the rationale to see Makkelie here. Personally, I would bet on a game for Gözübüyük in a UCL play-off. Unlike the French and Italians, it is probably impossible to see two Dutch referees in just 12 play-off games, and the latter never worked on a UCL play-off before (?). It makes sense. I’m not sure whether the Gözübüyük is rated higher than Makkelie at the moment. He did improve a lot in 2023, since he started working with Zeinstra (AR) imho. However, Makkelie was rated as the best referee in Eredivisie by all Dutch newspapers and media platforms in 2022/2023.
    One other option is that Makkelie will be used in a European qualifier next month.

    ReplyDelete
  2. https://x.com/jumadiaminuddin/status/1695474118983139600?s=46
    https://x.com/titipan_mafia/status/1695478335483306445?s=46

    OT: Unbelievable scenes (again) from AFF U23 final Indonesia - Vietnam, how is possible action like that was not RC?

    Referee: Hiroki Kasahara (Japan)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will try to find another videos

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  3. OT: I didn’t watch the game but I read there were 2 penalty awarded in Milan-Torino (ref: Mariani), what do you think? I mean this is just beginning of the season but I don’t think it’s good signal to have 2 VAR intervention, unless it’s difficult to spot, maybe Italian readers can share their opinions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here the incidents:

      1) Handball https://streamable.com/v0d1lu
      2) Step on foot https://streamable.com/zy3fy0

      First one is very discussed even in Italy, because against the spirit of football, most of people disagree. Second extremely difficult to spot live. Both calls were made by VAR Valeri based on objective criteria (position of the arm, step on foot) without looking too much at the "context". For Mariani not a good start, despite one can discuss about the OFRs.

      Delete
    2. To add, in the first incident, Mariani was not convinced during OFR, very long duration. But he didn't dare, my guess, to refuse the VAR call.

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    3. Very difficult situations imo and I wouldnt blame Mariani at all.. I can see VAR reasoning and in a way it is good to make things simple when possible. However, the 2nd situation especially I think almost noone would comment in the case of play on

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  4. Svein Oddvar Moen has been charged with tax fraud and will appear in court in two weeks, risking a prison sentence.

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  5. 2 VAR intervetions already for Hernandez,not even 1st half is done.

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  6. OT: Champions League draw

    Group F is group of death. We’ll see the top refs in this group (although e.g. Orsato is not possible)

    Which group will be used to give a Category1 referee its debut? Last season, Real Madrid’s group was identified as the ‘easiest’ to referee. This year, it might be C or G?

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    Replies
    1. Group F:
      Paris - Dortmund - AC Milan - Newcastle

      No French, German, Italian or English referees. And also Makkelie is probably restricted with PSG.
      Very very difficult! We can expect Gil Manzano, Soares Dias, Vincic, and…?

      Delete
    2. And Marciniak of course. Dias was injured.

      Very limited for sure. Some referees will have to do 2 games in this group.

      Delete
    3. And Kovacs, obviously, how can you let him out? Makkelie should not be resticted by PSG, but even if you want to be cautious you can give him a game not involving PSG without problems

      So: Gil Manzano, Dias when available, Vincic, Kovacs, Marciniak, Makkelie, Herndez/Gozubuyuk, a little bit risky choice could be maybe Jovanovic and I will even fancy predict Umut Meler in MD1. And that should do it, there are enough names. 2-3 referees probably will have 2 games in this group indeed.

      Delete
    4. *Hernandez Hernandez/Gozubuyuk

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    5. I think, we won’t see Kovacs and Jovanovic with Milan and no Makkelie with PSG and Dortmund.

      I won’t be surprised to see Marciniak twice in this group.

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    6. Kovacs with Milan should not be a problem. It was the Napoli fans that were unahappy.

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    7. Schärer also an option if he’s back, maybe Kruzliak as well?

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    8. It’s the group of death. You won’t see Schärer and Kruzliak there

      Delete
  7. OT: I’m curious how Anthony Taylor will be used in UCL. He can’t work in group A-B-F-G (English teams), and perhaps Rosetti wants to keep him away from Italian teams as well (C-D)?
    Potentially some games in group E and H for him?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Italian team in group E as well (Lazio), so I think he could be assigned to group H in full and then in the games of groups with Italian clubs but not involving them.

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    2. Why keep Taylor away from all Italian teams, when it was only Roma he had a problem with??

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    3. Too much negativity and pressure by Italian press before the kick-off.

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    4. If I was in charge Roma’s first game in the EL would have Taylor in charge.

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    5. Can Taylor do Celtic?

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    6. English officials can’t officiate Celtic, but they have no restrictions for other teams in Celtic’s group, unlike the groups with English teams where they can’t work at all

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    7. Personally it makes no sense that English referees can’t do Scottish teams

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    8. Please go and read and do your homework.
      No Engish referee can referee a Scottish team in a European competition .Write to Uefa and they will give an answer.
      This situation has been going on for many years .
      And if you going to make a statement .
      Please do the homework on the subject.

      Delete
    9. It’s not just UEFA though. It’s just a personal thought. In rugby they do Scotland and Wales why not football ( I understand Wales as they share leagues) . The teams can draw each other so why can’t refs do them

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  8. Correct intervention in Aberdeen for Siebert. Exaggerated from the attacker but definitely a foul

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    1. It is ridiculous how convincingly Siebert was explaining at first that it was a dive and still did not show a card for simulation. For me this a clear sign how clueless the referee on the pitch is.

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    2. What do UEFA see in Siebert?

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    3. Siebert is a very bad referee, not enough for Elite!

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  9. Another correct penalty intervention in Aberdeen

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  10. How in earth has siebert booked the guy for diving here. Clueless

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  11. Did the Aberdeen defender not play the ball away from the attacker and then of course he fell down?

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  12. Two correct interventions by Dingert for two very similar situations, attacker takes a long touch and defender to late into the situation. Very suprising that Siebert did not show the yellow card in the first incident considering he clearly signalled that he dived pretty much. Indeed his already falling stocks did not increase their value tonight

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  13. Predictions EURO qualifiers
    GEOESP: Lindhout (NED) CYPSCO: Treimanis (LVA)
    ESPCYP: Savovic (MNE) NORGEO: Kruzliak (SVK)

    FRAIRL: Nyberg (SWE) NEDGRE: Obrenovic (SVN)
    IRLNED: de Burgos (ESP) GREGIB: San (SUI)

    UKRENG: Meler (TÜR) MKDITA: Martins (POR)
    ITAUKR: Collum (SCO) MLTMKD: Klima (CZE)

    CROLVA: Thorarinsson (ISL) TURARM: Letexier (FRA)
    ARMCRO: Hernandez (ESP) LVAWAL: do Nascimento (AND)

    POLFRO: Al-Emara (FIN) CZEALB: Turpin (FRA)
    FROMDA: Aghayev (AZE) ALBPOL: Kruashvili (GEO)

    AZEBEL: Chinkov (BUL) ESTSWE: Petrescu (ROU)
    BELEST: Raczkowski (POL) SWEAUT: Taylor (ENG)

    SRBHUN: Grinfeeld (ISR) LTUMNE: Palabiyik (TÜR)
    MNEBUL: Jorgji (ALB) LTUSRB: Pairetto (ITA)

    KAZFIN: Orsato (ITA) DENSMR: Sabotic (LUX) SVNNIR: Manouchos (GRE)
    FINDEN: Gözübüyük (NED) KAZNIR: Ladebäck (SWE) SMRSVN: Ciochirca (AUT)

    ANDBLR: Schnyder (SUI) ROUISR: Marciniak (POL) KOSSUI: Lukjancukas (LTU)
    SUIAND: Bilbija (BIH) ISRBLR: Saggi (NOR) ROUKOS: Hyttiä (FIN)

    SVKPOR: Makkelie (NED) BIHLIE: Kristoffersen (DEN) LUXISL: Jovic (CRO)
    ISLBIH: Monzul (UKR) PORLUX: Sanchez (ESP) SVKLIE: Athanasiou (CYP)

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    Replies
    1. Come on, Monzul for ISL-BIH simply too much for her, she’s not at men’s level (again) after WC performance same applied with Frappart, UEFA must give another female referee chances!

      Delete
  14. OT: Saudi Pro League foreign appointment
    Al Hilal-Al Ittihad
    Escobar, Ventura, Banjog (all GUA)
    VAR: Meireles (PAR)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Two OFRs in Aberdeen - Häcken

    1) https://streamable.com/h5tzib
    2) https://streamable.com/ac49io

    As already stated by somebody above, we can't understand why Siebert made gestures like he had assessed the incident as dive, but without issuing a YC. Giving YC would at least give more credibility to his decision.
    And indeed, please note (I think that after the first incident he thoughjt exactly about that), he booked the player for simulation, but this was another penalty to be whistled. In this second case, Siebert was less convinced while at monitor (longer OFR than previous one), but we must also mention that it was second OFR and so more difficult to accept. Still, a performance that without VAR would have been a 7.4 for UEFA... very clear 7.4.. especially first penalty...

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    1. Pff below par performance by Siebert, to say the least. Not the most challenging incidents even, clear lack of perception.

      Regarding his colleague Stieler, there were pk appeals in 84' from Dinamo Zagreb, but no reaction from VAR.

      Delete
  16. Cypriot League

    02/09
    Dóxa Katokopiás - AEK Lárnakas
    Referee: Francesco Fourneau ITA
    VAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA

    03/09
    Omónia Lefkosías - APOEL Lefkosías
    Referee: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
    VAR: Francesco Fourneau ITA

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  17. I think UEFA would be easily in trouble this season to make the appointments with limited pool of very trusted elite referees and IMO there are 2 groups of death in UEL, group B and F, B on paper and F for the atmosphere and their ultras.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spain: Mateu and DCG retired, Sanchez Martinez not at the same level.

      Italy: behind Orsato, there is a huge gab. Massa not good enough in top clashes.

      England: many restrictions due to English teams. And not so easy to use Taylor and Oliver with Italian teams as well.

      Germany: Siebert out of form. Zwayer improving though

      Netherlands: Makkelie out of form? Gozubuyuk not reliable in heated games

      Portugal: recently, Soares Dias injured. Pinheiro not promoted to Elite yet

      Switzerland: Schärer has not officiated in UEFA leagues for months

      Romania: Hategan out. Kovacs can look either very good or very bad. Not consistent imo.

      Marciniak, Orsato and Turpin are probably the most trusted referees right now.

      Other referees have to stand up: Gil Manzano, Meler, Letexier, Nyberg, Peljto, Zwayer, Eskas, etc.

      Delete
    2. They cant stand up. When your not Robertos favourite you get thrown under the bus like Makkelie, who deserved much more back in 2021. Not that surprising he got demotivated. Rosetti did everything to get him there

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  18. The audio of Juventus - Bologna VAR's assessment on the missed penalty by Di Bello:
    https://streamja.com/qrEr3
    Simply, Fourneau and Nasca agreed it wasn't penalty, nothing particular is said by both VAR and AVAR You can hear Nasca, AVAR saying "For me, no". Then Fourneau, VAR: "Check complete, you can resume the game".

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  19. Alejandro José Hernández Hernández in Qarabağ FK (AZE) - NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SVN):

    Penalty after OFR
    https://streamable.com/b72nga

    Removed penalty after OFR
    https://streamable.com/icgyq2

    In both situations, referee not convinced at the monitor, especially the second one. He changed decisions, though. Interesting to point out about the first incident that the contact arm - foot can be the reason for the call, because it is impossible to judge whether the tackle is on the ball or not (it seems there weren't different angles...).
    In the second incident, one can have doubts about the call by VAR, but expected decision seems indeed to be play on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1) Indeed, impossible to say whether there was a touch with the defender's leg or not. I only recognised that there was a contact with the arm when VAR zoomed in. You can give the penalty, but still not 100% sure about the impact the contact had on the attacker.

      2) I am even less sure about this call to be honest. Maybe I would even disagree with the decision after OFR. If VAR wanted to show that the attacker initiated the contact rather than the defender, I would disagree. The defender moves his leg in the direction of the attacker, causing a contact. One can argue whether it was enough to give a penalty, but not a (clear) mistake for me. Penalty seems to be supportable.

      Delete
    2. Var interventions? Never! Both times not correct. This is unbeliavable...

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    3. My first feelings seeing both situations (regardless outputs after OFR):
      1. No penalty.
      2. No penalty.

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    4. 1. Never penalty.
      2. Never penalty, defender got the ball first.

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    5. IMO great job by VAR in 2 very difficult situations for the referee on the pitch.

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  20. Disaster in the Budersliga !!! Referee gives a penalty, VAR rules offside, abs referee disallowed the penalty the player who supposedly made the foul is substituted, then referee still waits to still go see it after disallowing the penalty then gives penalty after OFR, then goes to give yellow card to the player who committed the foul who is already on the bench … when you think you have seen it all

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    Replies
    1. Agreed, absolute madness.

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    2. Referee was Reichel, VAR Winkmann (retired as referee, specialized VAR). I think Winkmann is clearly at fault here; if he announces his decision as factual to Reichel, he would obviously call that and allow the substitution

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  21. 94' Interesting no handball in the PL (Tierney, VAR Brooks). I think the argument from VAR would be it isn't clear and obvious, but I would expect that to be given, elbow away from body, shoulder-height

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    Replies
    1. The VAR didn’t want to cause any grief for the referee. ;)

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    2. That's it! ... The more I see it, the less nuance I see and the clearer it gets. Has to be another apology phone call

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  22. Yet another blunder by a couple of Webb disciples. There are zero factual and/or logical reasons to not call that crystal clear PK for handling. Maybe the VAR didn’t want to cause any “grief” for the referee.
    All that blustering by Webb about improving the level of officiating in the EPL now seems like a lot of hot air and nothing more.

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  23. No one Luton player claim for Ward Prowse handball, but IMO it’s crystal clear handball, VAR must intervened and again Webb really need to step down if every week his officials always making crucial error.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The no reaction by the players doesn't automatically excuse the referee and VAR from making the call. They shouldn't need the players to yell, scream, and mob the referee each and every time they want a call to be made.

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    2. Yeah but if Luton react it I think it would be different story because they are the home team and that was historic match for them.

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    3. Oh please! The "minnows" were going to get a "big call" to go their way if they protested? Keep dreaming.
      The statistics show that VAR much like the human referees on the pitch favor the "big" or in this case, the "bigger" club.

      Then again, like someone else posted. Maybe the VAR didn't want to cause the referee any "grief" by intervening for an OFR. Thanks to Mike Dean, that's going to become the default excuse/reason each and every time VAR fails.

      Delete
    4. All media in England saying no penalty as too harsh, so correct decision over there

      Delete
  24. Borussia Dortmund - Heidenheim, the incident discussed above:
    https://streamable.com/m82oab
    Really a mess by VAR, at first he assessed the touch by defender as deflection so he was sure about offside, then he changed idea and invited referee to OFR. No redsponsibility at all for referee who could only wait for updates from the Video Assistant Referee.
    And luckily they had to issue only YC to the player who had been replaced. What would have happened in case of red card? Terrible management, in my opinion this VAR should be out for a very long time. The assessment deliberate play or not (offside or not) becomes a secondary argument... less important at this point!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I‘ll say something more later, but: Winkmann will have another match today in Second Division as planned before.

      Delete
    2. Thanks a lot Chefren for the video clip.

      @Chefren, I'd like to post a question to you and other experts in this blog. Just for educational purposes, what would have been the proper course of action in case this was a RC or 2YC offence?
      Would it be it possible for the ref to cancel the substitution and issue RC?

      In this hypothetical situation, if it was 2YC and Dortmund ends the match with 11 players, I am pretty sure Heidenheim would have gone for an appeal and re-match request.

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    3. Since the game hasn't restarted, yes he can give a 2YC or RC and cancel the substitution.
      In my personal opinion this is a DOGSO situation and the decision should be RC.

      Delete
    4. I don't think you can cancel a substitution. In the LOTG there is nothing about restarting a game. The substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play; from that moment, the replaced player becomes a substituted player and the substitute becomes a player and can take any restart.

      Delete
  25. Luton - West Ham:
    https://streamable.com/juyq12
    Sorry but another shocking miss from English officials, I really don't understand what's the problem with them. Unbelievable sequence of inexplicable decisions, what are the criteria? Who controls them? At a certain time, one must give up...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UEFA already communicated new handball guidelines. Especially for corners kicks and when players are jumping, the arms are not expected to be close to the body. You have to look at the context and ‘football action’ as well to assess handballs

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    2. Yes -another correct decision based on the expectations from the EPL

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  26. UCL Group Stage Predictions
    Milan-Newcastle: Halil Umut Meler
    Young boys-Leipzig: Davide Massa
    Feyenoord-Celtic: Sandro Schärer
    Lazio-Atletico: Francois Letexier
    Paris-Dortmund: Istvan Kovacs
    ManCity-Zvezda: Orel Grinfeeld
    Barcelona-Antwerp: Irfan Peljto
    Shaktar-Porto: Ivan Kruzliak
    Galatasaray-Copenhagen: Serdar Gözübüyük
    Bayern-Manchester United: Danny Makkelie
    Sevilla-Lens: Daniel Siebert
    Arsenal-PSV: Felix Zwayer
    Braga-Napoli: Srđan Jovanovic
    Real Madrid-Union Berlin: Espen Eskas
    Real Sociedad-Inter Mailand: Anthony Taylor
    Benfica-Salzburg: Michael Oliver

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    Replies
    1. Serdar can’t officiate Turkish teams :)

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    2. Galatasaray-Copenhagen: Jose Maria sanchez

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  27. UCL GS predictions
    Milan-Newcastle: Clement Turpin
    Young boys-Leipzig: Irfan Peljto
    Feyenoord-Celtic: Orel Grinfeeld
    Lazio-Atletico: Danny Makkelie
    Paris-Dortmund: Istvan Kovacs
    Man City-Crvena: Erik Lambrechts
    Barcelona-Antwerp: Espen Eskas
    Shakhtar-Porto: William Collum
    Galatasaray-Copenhagen: Radu Marian Petrescu
    Bayern-Manchester United: Glenn Nyberg
    Sevilla-Lens: Anastasios Sidiropoulos
    Arsenal-PSV: Ivan Kruzliak
    Braga-Napoli: Jose Maria Sanchez
    Real Madrid-Union: Michael Oliver
    Real Sociedad-Inter Milan: Anthony Taylor
    Benfica-Salzburg: Jesus Gil Manzano

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    Replies
    1. You missed the restrictions:

      - Spanish referees can’t work in group C + D (Real Madrid & Sociedad 🇪🇸)
      - Dutch referees are not possible in group E (Feyenoord 🇳🇱)
      - Turpin is not possible in group F (PSG 🇫🇷)

      Delete
  28. I’m not even trying to make predictions cause its quite puzzling with all those nationalities and restrictions. I guess the Italian, English, Spanish and German referees are always the first names on paper, because of their restrictions.
    I wonder who are responsible for drafting the appointments within the UEFA ref com. It can’t be a one man job given the amount of games and competitions :) And how to take meritocracy in consideration in a tight schedule with so many games?

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  29. Fans replaced injured linesman at Portsmouth-Cheltenham.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66482419

    Anyone can explain the rule if that incident occurs?

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  30. Correct decision by Tony Harrington to not annulled Ake goal, but it’s better for him to send Oliver to the monitor.

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    Replies
    1. How is it correct? Attacker in offside absolutely had influence on keeper. He was in clear offside, jun led and the ball goes under/through his legs!

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    2. You can see on the replay that Leno move first and he had clear view of Ake header, the question it’s not Akanji in offside position or not, but did the ball touch Akanji? As you can see the replay there was no change of direction from the ball and how can you deemed Akanji interference to the play when he can’t avoid the ball except try to do like that?

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    3. The player in an offside position doesn't "have to touch" the ball to be guilty of an offside offence. In this case, the players offside position clearly influences the goalkeeper's actions.
      But I'm not surprised by the end decision. Yet another decision from a "top" referee goes in the direction of a "big team".

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    4. Harrington should've intervened in my opinion. Akanji clearly influenced Leno by standing in and then jumping away from the path of the ball. Should go under ”interfering with an opponent by: making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball” in law 11. If I remember correctly, a similar situation can be found in one of UEFA's RAPs

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  31. Ahahahah this is just incredible to confirm City’s second goal against Fulham!

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    1. Yeah terrible decision, Akanji clearly was interfering with play. Leno would have jumped earlier if not for him. https://twitter.com/Dobbo0107/status/1697987633287213116

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    2. I think your analysis more terrible anty, I remember your FIO crystal clear handball correctly whistled by Simovic that deemed as wrong.

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    3. Even the English commentator said Leno react first

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    4. But I thought that Howard Webb had come to save English refereeing. It must have been all talk just to get the job. Because so far, I've seen no improvement only worsening. Every matchday has multiple inexplicable blunders by Webb's disciples. Webb probably spend more time making apology phone calls than actually instructing his disciples.

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  32. Referee change in Madrid? In soccerway initial referee was Villanueva and then in sofascore Melero, I didn’t watch the game who is correct?

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    1. Melero. Iglesias Villanueva was the referee on the previous game, Real Sociedad-Granada.

      RFEF appointments for this week: https://rfef.es/es/noticias/oficial-estos-son-los-arbitros-designados-para-dirigir-los-partidos-de-la-jornada-4-en

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  33. PSG vs Newcastle in the UCL has to be Marciniak and who knows for the other leg. Newcastle May as well be Athletico Madrid

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    1. Yes. Orsato, Turpin, Oliver, Taylor and the Germans are not possible group F, so this indeed screams Marciniak indeed. And PSG vs Milan as well. Other names are Gil Manzano, Vincic and Kovacs.

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    2. I just realised, there are 5 Spanish teams in UCL. Therefore, the available games for Spanish referees limited: group A-F-G. The good news is, they are available for the group of death (F) where many top names can’t work. So, quite likely to see Gil Manzano twice in that group, e.g. a Milan vs. Newcastle or Milan vs PSG. And I can see the Spanish referee in something like Bayern vs Man Utd (A) as well.

      PSG vs Milan/Newcastle screams Marciniak as well.

      The English referees can work group C-D-E-H, but no game that involves Celtic. The biggest clashes on paper: Real Madrid vs Napoli, Inter vs Benfica, Atletico vs Lazio. These games can be very heated. And do not underestimate Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid. Their head coaches already had an argument after a friendly game.

      Orsato is restricted to group A-B-G-H. No real top clashes in there, except Bayern vs Man U. Perhaps they will use him in lower profile games that will be very tight.

      Plenty of options for Turpin, just 2 French teams, although he unfortunately can’t work in the toughest group (F).

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    3. I think we can’t exclude referee like Nyberg, Kruzliak, Peljto, especially the first name.

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  34. DFB have reacted to the Dortmund - Heidenheim scene:
    - “Not optimal” cooperation between referee (Tobias Reichel) and VAR (Guido Winkmann)
    - Referee allowed substitution as he thought the situation was cleared (since VAR told him offside)
    - YC is defendable, but RC would have been the optimal outcome
    - Had the referee shown a YC, Dortmund would have continued with 11 players, as the referee allowed the substitution (normally players involved in a VAR check cannot be substituted, so VAR really messed up here)

    No words on possible consequences for the referee and VAR, but this is usually not communicated publicly in Germany anyway, so we’ll have to see in the coming weeks

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    1. It should of course be “had the referee shown a RC” for the last point, but it’s interesting to know that, since we weren’t sure on this blog either

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    2. To me Reichel isnt to blame here. The only one who really should face consequences (if there will be any) should be the VAR in question

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