Thursday, 30 January 2025

Europa League 2024/25 - Referee Appointments - Matchday 8

2024-25 UEFA Europa League, MD8 appointments.


Thursday 30 January 2025 

21:00 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
AS ROMA (ITA) - EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER)
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Clos Gómez ESP
UEFA Delegate: Kim Hallberg DEN

21:00 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA) 
AFC AJAX (NED) - GALATASARAY (TUR)
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: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro Hernández ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski POL
UEFA Delegate: Mark Blackbourne ENG

21:00 CET - Glasgow (Ibrox Stadium) 
RANGERS FC (SCO) - ROYALE UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (BEL)
Referee: Damian Sylwestrzak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Karasewicz POL
Fourth Official: Marcin Kochanek POL
Video Assistant Referee: Piotr Lasyk POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA 
UEFA Delegate: Eduard Dervishaj Nelaj ESP

21:00 CET - London  (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) 
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (ENG) - IF ELFSBORG (SWE)
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel AUT Santino Schreiner AUT 
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner AUT Alexander Borucki AUT
Fourth Official: Walter Altmann AUT
Video Assistant Referee: Alan Kijas AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dragomir Draganov BUL
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
UEFA Delegate: Damien Mollard SUI 

21:00 CET - Prague (Eden Arena)
SK SLAVIA PRAHA (CZE) - MALMÖ FF (SWE)
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig NED 
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Sander van der Eijk NED
Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:Richard Martens NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH 
UEFA Delegate: Rotem Kamer ISR

21:00 CET - Donostia/San Sebastián (Estadio de Anoeta)
REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL (ESP) - PAOK (GRE)
Referee: John Beaton SCO 
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie SCO
Fourth Official: Calum Scott SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI
UEFA Delegate: Róbert Agnarsson ISL

21:00 CET - Braga (Estádio Municipal de Braga)
SC BRAGA (POR) - SS LAZIO (ITA)
Referee: John Brooks ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Peter Bennett ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Robathan ENG
Fourth Official: Thomas Bramall ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED 
UEFA Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai HUN
UEFA Delegate: Claude Runavot FRA 

21:00 CET - Piraues (Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis)
OLYMBIAKÓS SFP (GRE) - QARABAĞ FK (AZE) 
Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu ROU
Fourth Official: Marcel Birsan ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sebastian Colţescu ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Gediminas Mažeika LTU
UEFA Delegate: Mario Đuran BIH 

21:00 CET - Décines-Charpieu (OL Stadium)
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRA) - PFK LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL)
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis GRE
Fourth Official: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Angelos Evangelou GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:Dennis Johan Higler NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Petteri Kari FIN
UEFA Delegate: Patricia González García ESP

21:00 CET - Belgrade (Stadion FK Partizan) 
MK MAKKABI TEL AVIV (ISR) - FC PORTO (POR)
Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE
Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE
Assistant Referee 2: Srđan Jovanovic MNE
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE
Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Cortus GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Michal Beneš CZE
UEFA Delegate: Angelo Chetcuti MLT

21:00 CET - Budapest (Ferencváros Stadion)
FERENCVÁROSI TC (HUN) - AZ ALKMAAR (NED)
Referee: Nenad Minaković SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Nikola Borović SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Boško Božović SRB
Fourth Official: Milan Mitić SRB
Video Assistant Referee: Momčilo Marković SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Novak Simović SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Bakar Jordania GEO

21:00 CET - Hamburg (Volksparkstadion)
FK DYNAMO KYIV (UKR) - RFS (LVA)
Referee: Orel Grinfeeld ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Roy Hassan ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Idan Yarkoni ISR
Fourth Official: Gal Leibovitz ISR
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martin POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Sars FRA
UEFA Delegate: Þórir Þormar Hákonarson (ISL)

21:00 CET - Herning (Arena Herning) 
FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) - FENERBAHÇE (TUR)
Referee: Luis Godinho POR
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Teixeira POR
Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Almeida POR
Fourth Official: Miguel Nogueira POR
Video Assistant Referee: Helder Malheiro POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fábio Oliveira Melo POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER
UEFA Delegate: Raili Ellermaa EST

21:00 CET - Bilbao (Estadio de San Mamés)
ATHLETIC CLUB (ESP) - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (CZE) 
Referee: Matej Jug SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SVN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antič SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Asmir Sagrković SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: John Ward IRL
UEFA Delegate: Colin MacDonald SCO

21:00 CET - Nice (Grand Stade de Nice) 
OGC NICE (FRA) - FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR) 
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja ALB
Assistant Referee 1: Arber Zalla ALB
Assistant Referee 2: Rejdi Avdo ALB
Fourth Official: Albert Doda ALB
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Paweł Gil POL
UEFA Delegate: Styrbjörn Oskarsson FIN

21:00 CET - Brussels (RSC Anderlecht Stadium)
RSC ANDERLECHT (BEL) - TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM (GER)
Referee: Giorgi Kruashvili GEO
Assistant Referee 1: Levan Varamishvili GEO
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgi Elikashvili GEO
Fourth Official: Irakli Kherkhadze GEO
Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
UEFA Referee Observer: Neale Barry ENG
UEFA Delegate: Ewa Gajewska POL

21:00 CET - Enschede (FC Twente Stadion) 
FC TWENTE (NED) - BEŞIKTAŞ JK (TUR)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL 
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL 
Fourth Official: Wojciech Myc POL
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pawel Pskit POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Emil Ubias CZE

21:00 CET - Bucharest (Arena Națională)
FC FCSB (ROU) - MANCHESTER UNITED FC (ENG)
Referee: Harm Osmers GER 
Assistant Referee 1: Dominik Schaal  GER
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp GER
Fourth Official: Florian Exner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Shmuel Shteif ISR
UEFA Delegate: Dušan Gelić SRB
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62 comments:

  1. Unknown28 January 2025 at 11:49

    If the referee observers at the EURO are considered by UEFA as the best and most trustworthy observers (which I suspect), then Gil Manzano (Mikulski), Gishamer (Borbalán) are under a certain focus by the RefCom.

    Obrenovič keeps getting his chances. First back as 4O in Monaco after a horrendous game, now back with an Italian team and on top of that, gets the best VAR in Europe. Has his nationality anything to do with it? 😉 Mind you, for refs from other countries this is a non-existing path. I guess, there is still pressure to promote him next summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CarlRDM28 January 2025 at 13:59

      @Ref00

      Maybe you are right

      If we follow your logic than some other referees like Minakovic (Srb) are definitely in the focus. For example he had both observers you mentioned (Mikulski,Borbalan) and big refereeing names like Cakir and Rocchi

      We'll see

      Delete
    2. Unknown28 January 2025 at 14:11

      Yes, Minakovic is under focus as well, since Jovanovic has been injured. The observers mentioned by you should confirm that.

      Delete
  2. Chefren28 January 2025 at 12:14

    It will be interesting to watch Obrenovic in Rome, to see whether he has recovered or not after the performance in Monaco.
    Gil Manzano with a crucial game in Amsterda, not difficult to predict.
    Sidiropoulos and Grinfeeld don' get Champions League and this would have been a rare occasion with some chances. They are kept in Elite but no major competition for them, treament by committee is clear.
    Still about Slovenia, you can see how much regularly is appointed Jug, a very experienced Category 1, yes, but you can see the focus is never over, while for other referees there can be periods without many assignments.
    Quite good game for Xhaja, one could have expected more but Norwegian team definitely with excellent path and it sounds strange they will be the favourite in Nice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Skominafan28 January 2025 at 12:42

    Chefren but focus on Italian is over right hahahahah...common...you have nothing now after Orsato!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter28 January 2025 at 13:13

      I can't follow your argumentation: In the Champions League, three referees will have been used six times each in the group stage: Oliver, Vincic and Massa. The latter comes from Italy and this time he will officiate the decisive game in the fight for the intermediate round of the Champions League between VfB Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain.

      Delete
  4. Elliot28 January 2025 at 13:26

    No appointment at all for Kruzliak during the two gameweeks in January is very surprising to say the least. I know he hasn't refereed for over a month (last game on 23 december in the UAE) but that should just be due to the Slovak league having a winter break. Does anyone know anything?

    ReplyDelete
  5. anty7528 January 2025 at 13:48

    Decisive match for Mourinho's Fener with Portuguese ref, for me its not ideal...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Philipp S28 January 2025 at 16:14

    Interesting that there are some referees in important games, who are not on the published list for the winter course, namely Godinho, Minakovic and Osmers.

    Vice versa, no game in January for Brisard, Papapetrou, Treimanis and Fesnic in spite of being at the course.

    Also remarkable, that the two least important games go to referees, who had a CL game this season - Grinfeeld and Lindhout.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nikart28 January 2025 at 18:55

      About Papapetrou, he is injured therefore no games in Greece and in UEFA Competitions. He is only operating as VAR in Greece.

      Delete
  7. diego61229 January 2025 at 04:31

    OT
    -While the AFC/CAF/OFC World Cup seminar takes place in Doha, the CONCACAF winter seminar is taking place this week in Costa Rica.

    -Argentina will host the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL seminar for the World Cup in April/May.

    -The list of preselected CONCACAF referees is 15.

    Information from Leonel Leal (former Costa Rican FIFA assistant referee and FIFA instructor)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MARIO30 January 2025 at 23:36

      Do you have the names of the 15 pre selected? Can u publish them?

      Delete
  8. FrederikH29 January 2025 at 09:54

    OT: What can be the reason for Michael Oliver to black out the FIFA logo and name on his cards?

    See: https://citisportsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Oliver-896x1024.jpg
    And see: https://i2-prod.football.london/premier-league/article30872113.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/4_Wolverhampton-Wanderers-FC-v-Arsenal-FC-Premier-League.jpg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter29 January 2025 at 11:36

      According to Microsoft Copilot:
      "Referee Michael Oliver blacks out the FIFA logo on his red card to comply with regulations that restrict the use of FIFA branding in domestic competitions. The FIFA logo is reserved for international matches and tournaments sanctioned by FIFA. However, he wears the FIFA badge on his uniform to signify his status as a FIFA-listed referee. This badge indicates that he is qualified to officiate in international matches and has met the standards set by FIFA."

      Delete
    2. Mr. W30 January 2025 at 20:19

      You couldn't find any less flattering pictures of Oliver? 😂 But I would have said thé same reason

      Delete
  9. Holly30 January 2025 at 14:04


    Chefren, do you know why Jovanovic was not invited to the UEFA winter course? He is not injured, he has a match on Saturday in the Super League of Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren30 January 2025 at 17:18

      I don't know, this situation with the Serbian is going on by long time. Maybe he gets injured regularly and so in the times when UEFA makes calls for games and courses, he can't join, then after that he recovers, or maybe in Serbia they accept him to officiate game even if not 100% fit. Can't know more.

      Delete
    2. Ref Fot30 January 2025 at 18:34

      Actually, it was expected that Srdjan would not be called, becouse he was injured. In Serbia,they give him chance to be prepared for officiating at high level, and to try to recover fast,becouse he need to be in top form. I belive he will be back soon, stronger. There are still 6-7 years of top officiating in front of him. Remember what has happened with Marciniak in 2021. And where is he now.

      Delete
  10. Peter30 January 2025 at 15:24

    In the match TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (ENG) - IF ELFSBORG (SWE), originally planned Assistant Referee 1 Roland Riedel (who is expecting a baby these days) will be replaced by the originally planned Assistant Referee 2 Santino Schreiner and the latter in turn by Alexander Borucki, who most recently supported Alan Kijas in the U19 qualifiers internationally and who is to be born in 964 years, according to weltfussball.at:

    https://www.weltfussball.at/schiedsrichter_profil/alexander-borucki/1/2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Artito8630 January 2025 at 19:14

      A. Borucki is ex football player, born in 1989

      Delete
  11. TC02100230 January 2025 at 20:51

    Bit random but i've noticed lots of german assistants do european games even after leaving the fifa list. Borsch Lupp and Achmuller have done games in the last two weeks despite all not being on the list anymore. Makes having a fifa badge a bit less important surely?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. max9631 January 2025 at 10:35

      Well most have been part of their team for years and almost every team works together also domestically. So I guess they didn't want to change the teams mid-season and will do so after the season is finished.

      Delete
  12. TC02100230 January 2025 at 21:25

    Good advantage by Manzano for Ajax goal.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Marco30 January 2025 at 21:50

    Not the best first half for Obrenovic with at least 3 missed YC and inconsistent foul detection

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marco30 January 2025 at 22:14

      And two more in just 10 minutes. It’s shocking

      Delete
    2. Marco30 January 2025 at 23:51

      15 fouls, zero cards for Eintracht. Obrenovic got almost any minor decision wrong, luckily for him no big impact on the game

      Delete
  14. hugostiglitz30 January 2025 at 21:58

    Marciniak, Manzano and Godinho did good job at first half.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jojo30 January 2025 at 21:59

    First Half in Anderlecht - Hoffenheim with Kruashvili (VAR: Manschot):

    5‘ PAI Handball: Controversial situation since there is an active movement but maybe still supportable from VAR to stay silent
    18‘ Goal scored, excellent onside AR1
    23‘ yc for high, reckless kick + SPA: IMO this was DOGSO and OFR should have followed
    39‘ yc for unsportsmanlike handball + spa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jojo30 January 2025 at 23:21

      56‘ correct yc spa
      72‘ goal disallowed by AR1 for Offside: again very precise decision
      81‘ correct yc spa
      83‘ correct yc spa/Lack of respect holding + good management

      What an exciting finish of the game with away team winning with very tight scoreline and very loud audience!!

      Generally, Kruashvili allowed a lot of roughness and kept the game running whenever possible during the whole game, also in the quite hectic atmosphere towards the end. I like that he didn’t just change his style but kept going with whistling only the very clear fouls. However, I think he did miss some fouls which created some frustration among the players.
      The game was pretty easy until the last 15 minutes where it became quite challenging actually and I want to point out his good alertness in some hectic situations which prevented at least two mass confrontations.

      IMO there was indeed one crucial mistake in 23‘ where IMO there was a (clear) DOGSO by Hoffenheim player if foul whistled.

      Delete
  16. hugostiglitz31 January 2025 at 00:24

    There is a late tackle by Ajax defender. I think it is a foul but i cant decide if the incident is in the box or not by these angles.

    https://x.com/trtspor/status/1885074474426417593

    ReplyDelete
  17. ScotRef31 January 2025 at 09:37

    Rangers v Union St G

    I thought referee Damian Sylwestrzak had a very poor game, a lot of decisions were unclear due to poor signalling and it was very start stop the game had little flow to it at all. Any others thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Andrei31 January 2025 at 09:48

    OT:
    I have a question regarding the VAR checking protocol (thanks in advance).

    In the first incident, there was a 50:50 duel between player X1 and player Y1, which the referee did not consider a foul. Still within the same attacking phase, in the next sequence, player X2 was brought down by player Y2 inside the penalty box, but the referee also did not consider it as a foul.
    Following input from FO, the referee then issued YC to player Y1 (which was 2YC=RC) for the first incident.
    Subsequently, the VAR initiated a check for a possible penalty, leading the referee to OFR. During OFR, both incidents (the 50:50 duel and the possible penalty) were visible in the same camera angle.
    Initially, the referee reviewed the possible penalty situation. After completing that review, the referee proceeded to assess the 50:50 duel incident.
    As a result, the referee awarded a penalty and rescinded 2YC.

    My question was nullified of 2YC in accordance with the protocol?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren31 January 2025 at 10:03

      Very complex scenario you are describing.
      Hope I got it right, but there are two important things to say before all.
      First incident outside the box, right?
      And second incident happening after the first? Or simultaneously? Because this can make a difference.
      According to what you described, if the field officials assessed in a way the first challenge (card reported by fourth official) then the game should resume with a free kick at that moment (as main referee didn't see and didn't give advantage), so for this reason easy to say all happened later shouldn't be considered by VAR as it didn't exist.
      It seems just a result of mismanagement between what pitch officials should have done and VAR.
      More communication between VAR and referees before an intervention, can fully avoid such scenarios.

      Delete
    2. Andrei31 January 2025 at 14:55

      Yes, the first incident was outside the box and then the second incident happening after the first. From what I saw, the referee had a clear view for second incident, for the first incident the referee just look at glance because the X team was in attacking phase that leading to second incident. In fact, for the second incident inside the penalty box, he even made a "get up" gesture, indicating no foul. As additional context (though I'm not sure if it's relevant), the on-field referee is a newly promoted official making his debut this season, the fourth official is a senior referee, and the VAR referee is the oldest active referee (46 yo) and was named the best referee last season.

      Delete
  19. Chefren31 January 2025 at 11:20

    Obrenovic in Roma - Eintracht Frankfurt.
    It wasn't a poor performance, but yes, definitely some occasions in which yellow cards should have been shown and a lack of consistency with the early choice of the match, where the AS Roma player was booked for a SPA. The Slovenian referee decided to keep a certain approach, he was better than other games, I think, but still something missing to describe him as consistent.

    6' YC SPA
    https://streamable.com/hzjsln

    26' Play ON - Even possible penalty, but correct decision by referee, Roma player going against defender and not the contrary
    https://streamable.com/yn01rk

    27' Possible YC for SPA. In this case I think mistake, once an attacker is stopped at the very edge of penalty area, you can't whistle without booking.
    https://streamable.com/27511z

    30' Possible YC for reckless, could have been given but intensity is not clear.
    https://streamable.com/ncj21z

    43' Possible YC for SPA, Holding. I think missed card, very evident action by Roma player during the counterattack. The short whistle of referee allows me to think he didn't detec the exact nature of the challenge.
    https://streamable.com/4kthzu

    55' Possible YC for SPA / reckless. Here one can agree with referee, not a promising attack, not a clear reckless action.
    https://streamable.com/i8f8i3

    78' Possible YC for SPA / reckless
    https://streamable.com/7h4qgr
    I think this one should have been given as well. Once you whistle foul, rather expected, with Roma player quicker and then being fouled. One argument in favor of Obrenovic was that he didn't like Roma player looking for the foul, putting himself between ball and opponent, but in that case, he shouldn't have whisted foul :)

    In addition another penalty area incident in the early minutes (4'), but not even worthy of a video clip, as ball clerly didn't hit arm at al.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Chefren31 January 2025 at 12:27

    Brest - PSG
    Manchester City - Real Madrid
    Feyenoord - Milan
    Club Brugge - Atalanta
    Borussia Dortmund - Sporting
    Juventus - PSV
    Monaco - Benfica
    Celtic - Bayern M.

    We have already a final here: City - Real.
    Letexier will get one tie, either first or second leg.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. crn.ple31 January 2025 at 14:44

      Do you tink UEFA gonna appoint a french on Brest-PSG ?

      Delete
    2. Philipp S31 January 2025 at 14:48

      Early predictions:
      Brest - PSG: Taylor / Meler
      Manchester City - Real Madrid: Makkelie / Vincic
      Feyenoord - Milan: Siebert / Bastien
      Club Brugge - Atalanta: Pinheiro / Turpin
      Sporting - Dortmund: Mariani / Oliver
      Juventus - PSV: Eskas / Zwayer
      Monaco - Benfica: Schärer / Stieler
      Celtic - Bayern M.: Sanchez / Peljto

      Delete
    3. MARIO31 January 2025 at 15:10

      Mine:
      Brest - PSG: GIL MANZANO / OLIVER
      Manchester City - Real Madrid: MARCINIAK / TURPIN
      Feyenoord - Milan: BASTIEN / SHARER
      Club Brugge - Atalanta: PINHEIRO / KRUZLIAK
      Sporting - Dortmund: MARIANI / SANCHEZ MARTINEZ
      Juventus - PSV: EKSAS / NYBERG
      Monaco - Benfica: STIELER / TAYLOR
      Celtic - Bayern M.: MELER / PELJTO
      I would save the other Elite (like as Makkelie, Kovacs, Vincic, Letexier, Massa) for the 16th

      Delete
    4. Andrei31 January 2025 at 15:16

      Just for having fun, my predictions:
      Brest - PSG: Zwayer/Turpin
      Manchester City - Real Madrid: Letexier/Vincic
      Feyenoord - Milan: Peljto/Marciniak
      Club Brugge - Atalanta: Eskas/Taylor
      Borussia Dortmund - Sporting: Massa/Gil Manzano
      Juventus - PSV: Nyberg/Kovacs
      Monaco - Benfica: Stieler/Sanchez
      Celtic - Bayern M.: Meler/Makkelie

      Delete
    5. Alfie7531 January 2025 at 16:27

      Brest - PSG: Taylor / Manzano
      Manchester City - Real Madrid: Letexier / Vincic
      Feyenoord - Milan: Kovacs/ Marciniak
      Club Brugge - Atalanta: Pejito/ Zwayer
      Sporting - Dortmund: Meler/ Scharer
      Juventus - PSV: Nyberg / Turpin
      Monaco - Benfica: Massa / Oliver
      Celtic - Bayern M.: Eskas / Makkelie

      Delete
    6. Peter31 January 2025 at 17:44

      In my opinion, Sandro Schärer should be left out for matches with Sporting Lisbon and Benfica Lisbon as he will probably be appointed together with his regular Assistant Referee Stéphan De Almeida who has Portuguese roots.

      Delete
    7. Alfie7531 January 2025 at 18:22

      Argh yeah - completely forgot about that, I'll swap him with Manzano

      Delete
    8. Philipp S31 January 2025 at 21:24

      Fenerbahce - Anderlecht: Jug / Fesnic
      Twente - Bodo: Krogh / Lambrechts
      Saint-Gilloise - Ajax: Sozza / Balakin
      PAOK - FCSB: Visser / Kabakov
      Alkmaar - Galatasaray: Brisard / Grinfeeld
      Midtjylland - Sociedad: Kavanagh / Obrenovic
      Ferencvaros - Viktoria: Kruashvili / Lukjancukas
      Porto - Roma: Rumsas / Gil Manzano

      Topola - Bialystok: van der Eijk / Beaton
      Molde - Shamrock: Al Hakim / Glova
      Celje - APOEL: Delajod / Godinho
      Reykjavik - Panathinaikos: Barbu / Minakovic
      Omonia - Pafos: Jorgji / Stegemann
      Ljubljana - Banja Luka: Berka / Xhaja
      Gent - Betis: Berke / Brooks
      Copenhagen - Heidenheim: Masiyev / de Burgos

      Delete
  21. Lincoln31 January 2025 at 19:37

    I don't understand. Turpin refereeing Brest x PSG? Is it possible for the referee from the clubs' own country to referee in this play offs phase?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philipp S31 January 2025 at 19:42

      I guess, it's technically not forbidden, but I don't remember any occasion, where that happened in an European competition.

      Delete
    2. Lincoln31 January 2025 at 19:48

      I remember that until mid-2012 or 2013, CONMEBOL allowed local referees to referee matches between clubs from the same country in the final stages of South American competitions. Shortly after, this rule was changed.

      Delete
    3. MH_svk1 February 2025 at 08:00

      I don´t think so. For example in 2022/23 UCL season were multiple occasions to Italianans to referee games like Inter-AC Milan or AC Milan-Napoli, but none of that 4 matches was refereed by Italian referees (Kovacs, Marciniak, Manzano, Turpin) even if the same matchday Orsato was referee in Chelsea-Real Madrid game

      Delete
    4. Peter1 February 2025 at 11:09


      I think that the main purpose not to award derbies between two teams from the same country to referees from that country is to protect the officials. Most of them will have whistled the teams involved already dozens of times, probably even directly against each other, possibly with crucial decisions that would be warmed up in the media in advance. And in the case of a wrong decision during this international game, this referee, including his assistants and VARs, would then only be able to be appointed nationally to a limited extent for a long time

      Delete
    5. Artito862 February 2025 at 00:22

      IMO to enhance the prestige of the match is also the important reason - players can feel that it is not the same an usual league match when the referee is from another country ;) so no chance Brest-PSG for french referee in UCL

      Delete
  22. peterszky1 February 2025 at 14:47

    Minakovic had a great game @ Budapest, maybe the best ref performance this season that I saw live.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CarlRDM1 February 2025 at 23:27

      Have you been live at the stadium? Can you share more with us? Thanks

      Delete
    2. peterszky2 February 2025 at 10:47

      Yes, I'm a Ferencvaros supporter 🙂 He managed the whole game very well, he clearly showed the limit about fouls with the yellow cards for both sides. After VAR review, he called the captains to explain the decision (it was important especially after the review in the 70th minute - it seemed a clear penalty because of handball, but there was an offside before).

      Delete
    3. RefM2 February 2025 at 20:16

      With 2 ofr, first one clear from the Moon...

      Delete
  23. Anass2 February 2025 at 00:05

    The KNVB's referees had an intense meeting on Wednesday and agreed that they needed to be sharper. But crazy thing is happening this weekend too.

    Eredivisie:
    sc Heerenveen - Fortuna Suttard
    In the 88th minute, Fortuna made two substitutions at once. The player who had at first left the field was sent back onto the field by trainer Danny Buijs, without the 4e official noticing.

    Fortuna plays with 12 players for 20 seconds! Heerenveen's trainer Robin van Persie notices it immediately and points it out to the 4e officials (in play). They start to check it out, but play continues 20 seconds.

    At the timing when Fortuna gets the throw-in, the referee removes the player who should have left the field. How they restart the game? A throw-in for Fortuna. They get a corner kick in a few seconds. From there, Fortuna made it 2-2 and the game ended in a draw.

    In fact, should they have restarted from the substitution 20 seconds earlier? At least, I don't want to have this kind of experience in my own country's top league.
    The highlights will probably be available on YouTube tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacques2 February 2025 at 13:35

      Please, refer to IFAB LotG, Law 3, Par. 7.
      IMO, the restart of the match was not correct and should be assessed as a ‘referee failure’.

      Delete
    2. hugostiglitz2 February 2025 at 14:51

      I believe there were two major mistakes here. The first mistake is that they allowed 12 players to remain on the field for about 20 seconds. The second mistake occurred when they realized the situation and removed a different player from the field. When the substitution process was completed, two players were off the field and two players were on, one of whom was Edouard Michut, who had received tactical instructions from the assistant coach. In my opinion, he should have been the player taken off once they realized there were 12 players on the field. Because according to LOTR;

      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
  24. Chefren2 February 2025 at 10:40

    Big thank to Jojo for his report about Kruashvili game.
    I made clips.

    5' PAI Handball
    https://streambug.org/cv/45395b
    I think penalty should have been whistled for the movement made by arm, naive but clear action arm toward the ball. Dutch VAR with different assessment, quite sure that the most experienced UEFA VARs would have called it.

    18' ONSIDE AR1
    https://streambug.org/cv/0dfd3b

    23' SPA or DOGSO, reckless kick
    https://streambug.org/cv/4cb41f
    I think one can agree about reckless and nothing more (not a clear SFP) but discussion about SPA or DOGSO. For me, supportable by VAR to stay with YC, because attacker wanted to hit the ball by head and after that he should have controlled it but unclear if success or not. Of course, RC wouldn't have been questioned by VAR, but I think not a situation in which you can say black or white.

    39' YC SPA, handball, LoR
    https://streambug.org/cv/de47c8

    56' YC SPA
    https://streambug.org/cv/96fa35

    72' Disallowed goal AR1, Offside
    https://streambug.org/cv/99246c
    Very good performance by AR1 including also the previous ONSIDE.

    81' YC SPA
    https://streambug.org/cv/63cbe7

    83' YC SPA Holding, LoR, prevention
    https://streambug.org/cv/70f5fe
    Very good alertness by referee here, without having watched the full game, I can understand what Jojo described by just watching this clip. Referee looking for the detail, frequently moving his head and ensuring a visual control, knowing that something particular could have happened.
    I rarely saw the Georgian so attentive, it looked like he had a definitely better appearance in this game than many of the previous ones.
    For me supportable about the YC for reckless kick in 23', while clear penalty for handball at the beginning (but mostly, VAR stuff, no consistency in UEFA games and that's Rosetti issue).

    ReplyDelete

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