2024-25 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, First Legs, games to be played on 21 August 2024.
21 August 2024
FC Midtjylland (DEN) - SK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
Referee: Alejandro Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Pascal Pierre Garibian FRA
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI
21:00 CET - Malmö New Stadium, Malmö
Malmö FF (SWE) - AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Gómez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Haim Jakov ISR
UEFA Delegate: Alexander Miescher SUI
Malmö FF (SWE) - AC Sparta Praha (CZE)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Gómez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Haim Jakov ISR
UEFA Delegate: Alexander Miescher SUI
21:00 CET - Arena Lublin, Lublin (POL)
FC Dynamo Kyïv (UKR) - FC Salzburg (AUT)
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Jonas Erni SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Susanne Küng SUI
Fourth Official: Lionel Tschudi SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Johannes von Mandach SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias CZE
FC Dynamo Kyïv (UKR) - FC Salzburg (AUT)
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Jonas Erni SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Susanne Küng SUI
Fourth Official: Lionel Tschudi SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Johannes von Mandach SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias CZE
21:00 CET - Stadion Wankdorf, Bern
BSC Young Boys (SUI) - Galatasaray SK (TUR)
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Cortus GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB
UEFA Delegate: Kris Bellon BEL
BSC Young Boys (SUI) - Galatasaray SK (TUR)
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Cortus GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB
UEFA Delegate: Kris Bellon BEL
Midtjylland - Slovan Bratislava: Hernández Hernández
ReplyDeleteMalmö - Sparta Prague: Gil Manzano
Dinamo Kyiv - Salzburg: Schärer
Young Boys - Galatasaray: Siebert
Siebert in UCL was sort-of expected when Zwayer appears in UEL, but I didn’t expect Siebert in Bern. Good game for him!
DeleteThe others, no surprises there. All regular names
Well, maybe Hdz Hdz is not so regular.. :)
DeleteYes, Hernandez is quite surprising after only one CL game in each of the last three seasons.
DeleteNot sure, whether he can challenge the struggling Gil Manzano and Sanchez for the Spanish top spot - also considering he is slightly older.
Schärer again one week after the Supercup also not so expected (but I think, it happened before).
Will be quite interesting, which Elite referees don't get any games in the play-offs.
Normal names for 2nd legs are Turpin, Makkelie, Oliver, Massa (and/or Guida?), Vincic, Meler, Letexier, Nyberg.
So already among those, someone won't get a game.
Nyberg has a Tuesday game - Eskas & Gozubuyuk are the other names in the mix who's not been appointed in a POff or QF round
DeleteLetexier last season did the same as Scharer this season I believe.
DeleteMy 7 predictions in the return legs:
Delete1. Turpin (Brisard). Is back from summer break and no French appointed yet
2. Oliver (Attwell). Taylor works with Coote in UEL
3. Italian crew. Massa?
4. Peljto: has been active in Bosnian league and 3rd round
5. Makkelie: is back at work
6. Vincic: he always gets a game, but it’s worth noting he didn’t return in domestic league yet. Perhaps he returns next weekend.
- 7. Meler: did not return in Turkish Süper Lig. Not sure this is a dealbreaker. Manzano also didn’t work in La Liga yet.
Other names
- Letexier and Eskas: both had a long summer and in all fairness, they deserve a break :)
- Kovacs: not likely, unless his UEL game is a replacement
- Gozubuyuk: unlikely, he missed the first domestic rounds
- Guida and Sanchez for obvious reasons
Meler will officiate Eyüpspor-Bodrum FK match in Turkish Super League today, as a result he probably has a duty in return legs
DeleteI think so too. It would be strange to leave him out tbh, after being a candidate for the Supercup
DeleteAll regular observers in the returns. Although Galatasaray-Young boys is Rocchi, which could indicate a bit more focus by the Refcom. I thought perhaps Oliver? He’s a candidate for everything and could take the English #1 spot this season. Another name is Peljto
DeleteDe Almeida out again? Female assistant Susanne Kung (WCL final, 2xWWC, 1xWEuro) accompanies Scharer instead.
ReplyDeleteFirst remark is about Schaerer, indeed as Philipp said it already happened but not many times: the appointment for both Super Cup and a CL play off is very rare. Most of the times, the two competitions have been always considered as a single set by committee. This also means the Swiss has a big trust, and I'm sure UEFA was aware that he didn't perform in the best possible way to EURO because he was coming from that long injury. But in terms of style of refereeing he is very, very liked. Given the relatively short time between Super Cup and this game, one could have guessed him for a second leg.
ReplyDeleteTwo Spanish with Hernandez Hernandez back in Champions League but unexpected: I think it's easy to say that after the management of Spanish referees in recent times (one can't remember such a treament for the officials from that country), now it's time to give something back, so here two assignments to start. Sanchez Martinez at moment is not in the best shape, he got the Champions League game on previous round in which one could say he did rather well, but I think committee just doesn't want to be hurry and they want to check him carefully, so this should be also the reason why they appointed the referee from Canary Islands. .
Regular assignment for Siebert and also in this case one can say that at moment committee prefers him over Zwayer after EURO, then time will help people to forget about ENG - NED performance, but in my opinion it wasn't a poor one, of course not excellent but it could have been better.
Also in this set we have all the AVARs that should be free choice of the federations and not UEFA assignments (maybe they indicated only main VARs) Possibly, the same with some assistant referees and here you have Susanne Küng with the Swiss.
In terms of Zwayer, we have an interesting interview with Bastian Dankert on Instagram (DFB Schiedsrichter). Dankert was VAR in the SF. In the video, he speaks very positively about the tournament and the SF, being happy that everything was going so well in the match.
DeleteI cannot imagine that he would have spoken like this if UEFA was unsatisfied with Zwayer‘s performance. So, I would not read too much into Siebert‘s performance. It seems rather clear to me that the duel for the next WC has begun.
I agree Ref_1707, I have spoken with other people as well. All very satisfied with the performance.
DeletePossible that Eskas and Letexier will not get a CL Play Off for having some rest, after having attended Olympic tournament, especially the French had a very busy, maybe too busy summer (and the tournaments for him should have occurred in the contrary order...). For sure the Norwegian would be fully expected as name, as well as the French.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had the same idea before, but as Nyberg was already appointed, the argument isn't too strong anymore.
DeleteI don't think, Eskas would be fully expected as he isn't among the top Elite referees IMO (with only 4 CL games and not refereeing at the EURO).
Chefren,what are your opinions about Daniel Siebert who was appointed to the Young Boys-Galatasaray match?Is it an expected selection or will his selection be consired a surprise?
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2:Which referee do you expect for the second leg of this match?It is also said that Rocchi appointed as the referee observer for the second leg match?What are your opinions on the issue?
It seems you are very worried about this game.
DeleteSiebert appointment is 100% a normal one, also predictable but difficult because there were other options. A referee with the needed experience to handle this Champions League play off. For second leg, with Rocchi as observer, one could think again about Peljto, or maybe Eskas. We'll see.
No brother.I'm not worried about this match.I'm writing from Türkiye.I'm a Galatasaray fan.Also,I haven't seen UEFA trust German referee 100 percent and they are given to critical matches.Which one do you think Stieler,Zwayer,or Siebert is the best? But do you think they can be listed among Rosetti's favorites.Also's did FIFA or UEFA's perspective on.Siebert change after the Gana-Uruguay match in the last World Cup?Finally speaking of UEFA,what are you opinion on Rosetti's performance as the Committe chairman,which lasted for 6 years?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely hard to answer to last question in a few words!
DeleteLet's start with the first one.
As I often wrote on the blog, the situation about German Elite referees has been particular by years. Zwayer has been generally considered seen as Germany nr.1 but then Rosetti has started with Siebert after EURO 2020. Also, Stieler with more than big expectations and an excellent treatment by committee before getting Elite, then that game in Bergamo, Atalanta - Real Madrid, meant very likely the end for him.
Back to Siebert he started to attend big tournaments before Zwayer, having officiated at EURO 2020 and World Cup 2022, while Zwayer has started only now with "EURO 2024" in big tournaments. In my opinion, Zwayer has been always the first option due to his experience and I think that what was wrong with Siebert was surely the management. At a certain point he was literally thrown into the hottest matches without any care.
Nevertheless, he survived in a way and when in a good day I think he is good referee, with a wise disciplinary management of a game, but he can suffer when the context becomes challenging, and when he takes a very big decision without being accepted. But he has all the experience to referee that game. I think at the end committee clearly sees Zwayer ahead right now, but they use Siebert more carefully.
Now we will see which referee of the two will attend World Cup, if again both, I don't know about the FIFA reputation of Siebert, but surely Zwayer seems to be in a good position.
Second answer (I try to be short but I would write very long post).
DeletePersonally, overall I am disappointed with Rosetti's work in these six years. If Collina left UEFA, being in difficulty and having no more names to appoint for the finals, the management from a technical point of view has definitely decreased in quality with the nomination of the Italian compatriot. In my point of view, regardless of the talent of a referee, which in any case is difficult to develop on an international level because there is less interaction with him, compared to a domestic committee, what I can undoubtedly say against the former Turin's international referee is that he doesn't care too much about the technical side compared to Collina but he cares a lot about everything around him to make always a good impression, and before anything else, he's satisfied if a match goes away without problems (this can't be enough). It also seems that he is willing to give opportunity to everyone than really believing in talented referees. In my opinion we have seen too many talented referees treated in a negative way, see the various Marciniak and Makkelie before anyone else. The Pole gets to referee a World Cup final but on UEFA level he hadn't officiated anything very big, then suddenly Rosetti liked him with CLfinal assignment. One absurd appointment among others, but still my opinion, when the Polish was perfect name for EL final, but it went to Vincic. Again, nothing against the Slovenian but that choice was simply impossible to understand. Then, Makkelie. Always assigned to really hot matches and then no reward for him. He saved the committee many times, other referees would have struggled. To sum up, I don't see very often a real merit in Rosetti's choices but rather appointments on the basis of urgent opportunities. I know, it is not possible to be perfect and I am the first to admit that, but I notice obvious faults in the work of this committee. They are not linear in rewarding quality and make many political choices.
Another thing I noticed about Rosetti is that he doesn't care about the real status of a referee, but if he is in very good moment, even if he is not suitable for a certain game, he is appointed also for a very challenging / too big match for his palmares. And this has created most of the worst performances in UEFA recent times.
Obviously all this is to summarize, but for me the concepts are these. And it is clear that there are also positive aspects such as the new age of elite referees... it is very pleasing for them, now the challenge with the withdrawal of some elite is certainly to try to create a new reliable pool. We will see.
It seems Rosetti will go on, after EURO one could have had doubts, we will try to follow him on this blog as long as possible. Simply, for the passion about refereeing.
Thank you so much for your detailed answers.I have a few more questions in my mind.I would like to ask them in the order:
ReplyDelete1.We know that the referee committee,apart from Rosetti of consists of Dagmar Damkova,Savjn,Velasco Carvalho,and Bjorn Kuipers.When the members of this committee appoint the matches,does Rosetti have the final say in determining which referee will be appointed to which,or do they decide with the total votes of the committee members?This do you have knowledge on the subjects?
In this case, I can't help you in detail. I don't know how they work about that. For sure, even if Rosetti is the head, I guess he can't decide by himself for all the appointments and the committee members must agree. But I don't know how they do.
DeleteChefren,Have the referees for the Champions League rematches been appointed?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean second legs on next week? Yes, they have been appointed, before knowing first legs results / facts. We will know them, as always, two days before the games.
DeleteGreat display by Siebert so far,excellent performance.
ReplyDeleteFully agree, a really positive performance for me in the 1H. He is in full control over the game and players, all the cautions were correct and beneficial to establish a clear disciplinary line, his foul detection has also been optimal so far. He seems to be in good form ahead of the new season, that's very good. Let's hope for a similar performance in the 2H.
DeleteI watched a bit of Hernandez Hernadez, let's say not a "polite" first half, players rather aggressive. The control was ensured but it looked to me the Spanish referee was at border, without having effects on them.
ReplyDeleteA penalty area incident, possible penalty for handball in minute 16' - 17', I think one can accept the decision by VAR to stay silent, but if whistled, should have been supported as well. Arm in the middle position between being too open and close to body, then the following movement was an attempt to remove it (I think Del Cerro assessed that).
I think whistling fouls in some circumstances would have helped the referee to ensure more control. So far I would describe it as a performance close to a satysfying level, but with something missing.
Game rather challenging.
What a terrible caution minute 69 from Gil Manzano.
ReplyDeleteSiebert has made an error. VAR can't give second yellows unless it's for something said
ReplyDeleteAnd there is no chance, that you are wrong and the UEFA Elite referee knows the VAR protocol better?
DeleteBut of course he can intervene for missed penalties. Correct decision, almost impossible to spot live. And the new handball rule was applied: Dogso hands in the penalty area, but not blatantly deliberate, therefore only second YC and not direct RC.
DeleteI'm going to quote IFAB rules then: VAR can check
DeleteGoal/no goal
Penalty/no penalty
Direct red card (not 2nd yellow card/caution)
Mistaken identity
So, what‘s wrong then? He intervened for a missed penalty.
DeleteThe 2nd yellow
DeleteIt might be penalty and YC by the book but it's not with nature of the game...
DeleteObviously you're allowed to also give the appropriate sanction in case of missed penalty... also the referee is free to make whatever decision he wants at the monitor, the protocol mostly applies to the VMO and not on-field referee
DeleteDunning-Kruger in action here...
DeleteGood (but not excellent, imo) firsthalf by Siebert, which was quite challenging.
Then, the second half was on a normal level but the German officials reacted correctly in the two PAIs at the end: first the penalty for handball, last-ditch block and the touch on the legs didn't sufficiently take the pace off the ball, detected by the VMOs; and then no penalty in added time after a deliberately heavy touch in order to generate a 'crash' with the adjacent defender.
David Crammond, after so many years of VAR in use it's surprisding you still don't know... the intervention was just for the handball, so for the penalty, then related to that, a referee can take all the other decisions he wants, to punish under the disciplinary point of view an incident.
DeleteBeing like you described, would lead to absurd situation, referee called for a missed penalty but in case of card to give, not possible to give it if second because VAR don't allow you? Please think in this way... it's different from when VAR calls for striaght red card, this was a call just for the penalty to be assigned, one of the four subjects of VAR.
@davidcrammond - if it is a penalty book says it is yc. He didn't go to VAR because of 2nd YC, he went for penalty. Is it clear?
ReplyDeleteMore importantly, VAR should have intervened a second time for that tackle afterwards. Clear touch on the calf, no ball, Young Boys were denied a second penalty
ReplyDeleteIf he whistled that no arguments against that call could be made.
DeleteBut of course,he choose wiser approach for him.
Of course, turkish fans will be mad with Siebert and his decision.
ReplyDeleteBut that penalty decision and VAR intervene was spot on,YC was also correct cause the ball was going through the goal.
Disciplinary control was excellent ,his 1st half set the tone and therefore we saw calmer 2nd half with only 2 YC's with 1 of them being 2nd YC to GAL player.
Siebert is slowly on the path to becoming Germany number 1.
After he had couple of years of insecurity in big matches where teams were uncontrolable like Uruguay,Atl.Madrid and some others.
Since those years he has definitely improved,he and Kovacs have similar style where everything is by the book and that's why I like their refereeing style.
Hopefully he continues like this.
Relatively calm match for Hernández Hernández, some minor mistakes but nothing serious. Though you can say one of those mistakes made an impact, he missed a corner for FCM and 30-40 seconds later Slovan scored...
ReplyDeleteYesterday, no penalty was given in this position. Because that team is a French team. But today a penalty was given. Because it's a Turkish team. In both positions, the ball hits the body and goes into the hand. But as usual, different decisions are made. We Turks are used to these double standards.
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/c0hie6
Thanks for the comment; I appreciate the incidents are very similar but there are key differences between the two plays.
DeleteIn Valenciennes:
-> the block is a standing one, not a 'goalkeeper-style' last ditch jump
-> most of the pace has been taken off the ball by the initial block
In Bern:
-> more of a 'deflection' on the ball than a 'deliberate play', ball still moving like a shot towards goal
-> goalkeeper-style block, when it then hits an outstretched arm
The arm is still soooo out in the Lille-Slavia incident that a penalty would be supportable imo (do you think it should be an intv if penalty given & ref hasn't detected the deflection?!)... but, in my view, the correct outcomes were reached in both episodes.
Keynote, how can you comopare these two situations and talking about the nationality of the teams, it's very poor under a refereeing point of view, apart from the unacceptable speculation.... I think you are intelligent enough to understand that incidents are very different.
DeleteSorry but completely different situations, look at the hands positions and movements. Also it would have been a goal if not for Galatasaray player's hand.
ReplyDeletePredictions 2nd legs
ReplyDeleteGalatasaray - Bern: Oliver (Attwell)
Sparta - Malmö: Makkelie (Dieperink)
Salzburg - Kiev: Eskas (Higler)
Qarabag - Dinamo: Letexier (Brisard)
Bratislava - Midtjylland: Turpin (Delajod)
Crvena - Bodo: Massa (di Paolo)
Slavia - Lille: Vincic (Kajtazovic)
If we think that the referee assigned to a CL game in earlier round will not get a play off (like Kovacs, Sanchez Martinez and so on), and ruling out other Elite for various reasons (Gozubuyuk still out from domestic assignments) I think that indeed we have exactly these referees for next week second legs. I think we should only add Bastien as third French option, still not appointed, if I'm not wrong, then about the rest, considering also the retired officials, the list of Elite should be complete... but the doubt can remain about choices such as two French or maybe two Italians...
DeleteConsidering the remaining referees, it seems like you forgot Meler.
DeleteIt is worth noting that Letexier has not officiated any games after the Olympics while Ligue 1 has already started. I can be plain wrong but that does not indicate him being appointed. The same applies to Eskas. Although Nyberg also went straight into a play-off before handling a game in his domestic competition, so… It’s not a certain thing.
DeleteVincic will be back next Sunday, so he’s probably appointed on Wednesday indeed. I expect Meler as well.
Michael Oliver with Rocchi makes sense, given the situation/form of Taylor last season. Another name would be Eskas I think.
Here the clips from Siebert game:
ReplyDelete82' OFR
https://streambug.org/cv/459472
90'+2 PAI
https://streambug.org/cv/5e4c97
I think you can't blame referee for the missed penalty for handball, impossible to see for him, one should be very sure about the touch by hand and only VAR was able to check that.
Fully supportable no penalty in the added time. If the rest was good, I think positive performance by German referee.
The mentioned handball incident from Hernandez Hernandez game:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/76552c
Here the YC by Gil Manzano in 69':
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/06ba91
Well, definitely not the best decision. Even the attempt to give advantage before (this was why he didn't whistle for the foul), then a backward pass and he stopped the game for the foul (should have refrained as he had indeed given the advantage...), then the card for nothing, absolutely fair tackle...
What do you think about the penalty awarded by Scharer in Dynamo Kiev vs. Salzburg?
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/7ec835
okay decision IMO. attacker is in better position and hit from behind. due to the nature of the challenge (like a collision) a play on call should be backed as well.
DeleteYes, on a basic level it is a careless kick by the defender, who has the wrong timing to get the ball. So at least supportable decision.
DeleteThen you can debate, whether there was some unfair behaviour, who misses the ball as well. Therefore maybe not a clear penalty. However the attacker's movement is not directed towards the opponent, therefore I don't think, this argument prevails.
Supportable decision, but not a clear penalty, and I think it was rather for other reasons that attacker fell. Possible that the Swiss referee had a different perception of the incident, but VAR can't intervene. After watching it, I wouldn't have whistled.
DeleteIMO simply wrong decision and misunderstood context, but Im not sure VAR could have ntervened.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOT : @chefren whats your call on this play ? https://vimeo.com/1000638976/10eabceaf5
ReplyDeleteClssic case about a very likey violent conduct, but without 100% evidence. In my opinion player falling down was aware of the presence of opponent and he left the leg here to hit him. I would like to see red card for this reason, but it's very rare in modern football, all the benefits of doubts are always given before taking a decision. So possible to call the foul before (not very clear because camera is too far away) and then to punish this action, but maybe some people will not understand you and will say you are harsh.
Delete