2024-25 UEFA Champions League KO Play-offs, second set of referee assignments, games to be played on Wednesday 12/02/2025.
18:45 CET - Bruges (Jan Breydelstadion)
CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL) - ATALANTA BC (ITA)
Referee: Halil Umut Meler TUR
Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Ibrahim Çaglar Uyarcan TUR
Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler TUR
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate: Diana Bulgaru MDA
21:00 CET - Rotterdam (Stadion Feijenoord "De Kuip")
FEYENOORD (NED) - AC MILAN (ITA)
Referee: José María Sánchez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra ESP
FEYENOORD (NED) - AC MILAN (ITA)
Referee: José María Sánchez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iñigo Prieto ESP
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
UEFA Referee Observer:Martin Atkinson ENG
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson SWE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: César Soto Grado ESP
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson SWE
21:00 CET - Glasgow (Celtic Park)
CELTIC FC (SCO) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Angel Nevado ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgios Bikas GRE
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen NED
CELTIC FC (SCO) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Angel Nevado ESP
Fourth Official: José Luis Munuera ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgios Bikas GRE
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen NED
21:00 CET - Monaco (Stade Louis II)
AS MONACO (FRA) - SL BENFICA (POR)
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Pairetto ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović CRO
UEFA Delegate: Andrew Shaw ENG
AS MONACO (FRA) - SL BENFICA (POR)
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Pairetto ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović CRO
UEFA Delegate: Andrew Shaw ENG
The Austrian Petru Ciochirca caused a stir in Cyprus after his work as VAR in Turkey end of January (3 interventions that were criticized by all experts and assessed as incorrect). Last weekend in the match between Aris and AEK, he corrected himself after OFR from red to yellow at 82.30 and gave a red for violent conduct at 53.54 and continued with IDF for offside. However, the offense of the defender took place before a possible punishability of the offside position and should have been penalized. Summary of the game on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKpJVhSs7io
ReplyDeleteI agree, the outcome here should be penalty
DeleteUnsurprising appointments... I expected Sanchez Martinez in the Milan game and we got him .
ReplyDeleteProbably expected a more experienced elite in Monaco Benfica as the game looks difficult .
Good game for Sanchez Martinez in a hot atmosphere in Rotterdam with Milan. Since gil Manzano is appointed too, what can we say about the current status of the two Spanish referees. Who is under more focus by the committee at the moment? Who has better chances to participate in Club-WC and WC?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely in term of performances, Sanchez Martinez is doing very well this year, very little mistakes. Manzano however, is just not as consistent, was also injured this year, had a disaster performance in the Classico supercup, and for me, he was given the least challenging game of the lot.
DeleteBut I don't know how the committee are looking at it, I guess we'll see who will go further in the UCL.
Good question on spanish referee race; I guess that right now Uefa Ref committee considers both Gil Manzano and Sanchez Martinez at the same (low) level and it's still testing to understand who could improve and be selected for the next two WC tournaments; By the way, Feyenoord-Milan is more difficult and sonorous than Manzano's appointment
DeleteAlberola Rojas has been having very positive performances in the national championship. I believe he can gain focus in the coming years.
DeleteA bit strange and OT question:
ReplyDeleteCan a ref who got a FIFA badge only as a women football referee wear the badge while refereeing domestic men football competitions ?
In Belgium, they do wear the FIFA badge while refereeing (lower class) men competition.
DeleteYes, here an example: https://ibb.co/7JWT5nRR
DeleteMarta Huerta De Aza in Spain's Men Second Division.
All FIFA referees can wear the badge, it's related to their status that they can officiate international games, and it's not about the domestic league in which they handle games.
Only Italy stays as the unique country with referees not wearing FIFA badge :D
In Germany it's also common that female FIFA-referees will wear their badges for lower class male matches. Except for FIFA assistant refs, they will be wearing their DFB-badge.
DeleteFourth official
ReplyDeleteGuillermo Cuadra ESP
Video Assistant Referee
Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Cesar Soto Grado ESP
according to uefa.com
Thanks, sorry, very likely my mistake :D
DeleteNot the best moment while I was adding appointments!
Starting with Mariani, this appointment is another confirmation that very often it's about giving a game to a certain country and not a specific referee. Indeed, after Massa who got two games (very likely appointed at the same time for both) in MD7 and 8, now it was the turn of another Italian, and with Guida injured, you have Mariani. One is allowed to say that because the use of the Italian by committee so far, didn't talk absolutely in favor of such a possible assignment.
ReplyDeleteInteresting also to point that this will be the "Obrenovic" game again, after the very famous one in group stage. Maybe Rosetti will be able to check carefully the performance of his countryman (in Monaco together with the Croatian observer?).
To follow, time for Spanish referees, Sanchez Martinez in Feyenoord - Milan is to me similar choice to Siebert for Juventus- PSV. These Italian - Dutch clashes seem to be seen in a certain way by committee. Not very big matches involving Italian teams, but something in which you can make a certain different choice.
But the Spanish could have been definitely more predictable than the German, even though not and never as first option, at least for me.
Gil Manzano follows, back in CL, after having skipped it on both last matchdays, and he will officiate a rather closed tie on paper, with German side very favorite team. Then, everything can happen, but I find this one, considering also that it will be a first leg, an OK choice for the Spanish, who must re start again with good performances. Very often Spanish referees have got Bayern in CL KO Stage, given the many Spanish teams always present and that's indeed something not totally new...
Last comment about Meler, very good for him, I wasn't expecting the Turkish in this stage, but clearly he got the least sonorous among the eight clashes, least experienced Italian team in CL, and the Belgian side. All the other seven are "major" games for a reason or another (names of the clubs, history...). Still, very good for Meler, committe doesn't want to "abandon" him, despite of Turkish situation, and that's positive.
Forgot to add about Mariani, he should be the referee for Juventus - Inter on Sunday, after having been assigned so far in rather medium-low serie A clashes for a long period. With many referees out, he will be selected for that clash.
DeleteSo, an extremely important week for him.
- Fun fact: the first 8 games are assigned to referees with 4 games or less in groupstage. With the exception of Peljto, he had 5.
ReplyDelete- Indeed, the referees with Juventus and AC Milan are not the biggest names in Elite category. While the Dutch and Italian teams were actually close to each other in the table. Will Roma get the same treatment? I think Roma vs Porto requires an experienced Elite. Hot game.
- Regarding the Spanish refs, Sánchez Mártinez and Gil Manzano. They are difficult to compare, because they are used in a different way. Gil Manzano is in my opinion often used in high paced games with teams that play a high backline, where he should run his tail off. While the former, his compatriot, is more used in hostile atmospheres (e.g. Balkanics), hot games and teams with a rough or physical playing style.
- Turpin in Manchester rules out in my opinion the best referee (Letexier) atm in the return which is a pity. Very unpredictable what game Turpin will face on Wednesday, given the current form of Man City. Moreover, remarkable observer in Madrid, Rizzoli (ITA). Correct me if I’m wrong, Rizzoli still has a UEFA/FIFA double role? Would this indicate a referee under focus on his way to the FIFA CWC 2025/WC 2026? In that case: perhaps Vinčić. Unless it is a reunion with a certain Pole who Rizzoli knows very well from WC 2022... :)
- Another name that stands out is Velasco Carballo as observer for the return in Bayern. In prior years, we often saw the RefCom members attending at 1st legs, with less experienced refs. This time, a return which could suggest a referee under focus for one of the finals. On the other hand, given the nature of the game it is possible to see a less experienced ref. My first thought was Glenn Nyberg. Or Davide Massa, as he’s extremely pushed lately. But then again: why would you send a RefCom member in München, where Bayern is "on paper" the dominant side? The game in Scotland could be more challenging, fun and useful to make an assessment.
- Vassaras (GRE) is at the return in Paris, an important observer and close to the RefCom. A full French tie would be the ideal moment to assign Makkelie to PSG again; little/no room for bias, conspiracies and other nonsense in advance. However, I don’t think UEFA will make such choice as they like to give us the impression that PSG can reject referees. Compare that to Monaco/Obrenović who was in no-time back in Monaco as 4O after a car crash. A Slovenian can “clear the decks” immediately? Does that say something about Monaco or the power of a Slovenian passport? :) Such appointment would easily be avoided if the referee wasn’t Slovenian or Italian, just saying.
- Any predictions for next week? I’m going with Kovács, Nyberg, Letexier, an English, Zwayer, Vinčić, Marciniak, Massa.
Delete*Side note, I don’t predict a Dutch referee (Makkelie/Göz) in the UCL play-offs, as there is a lot of NED "involvement" already: 2 delegates, 1 observer, 3 VARs and besides, two active clubs teams (Feyenoord and PSV) as well.
My predictions:
ReplyDeletePSG - Brest: Zwayer GER (Vassaras)
Atalanta - Brugge: Pinheiro POR (Filipovic)
Real Madrid - Manchester City: Nyberg SWE (Rizzoli)
PSV - Juventus: Letexier FRA (Messner)
Milan - Feyenoord: Marciniak POL (Deaconou)
Bayern - Celtic: Schärer SUI (Velasco)
Dortmund - Sporting: Makkelie NED (Webb)
Benfica - Monaco: Taylor ENG (Sippel)
Waiting for EL and CL appointments tomorrow.
Leaving Vincic, Kovacs, Oliver and Massa for the next round.
DeleteMine are
DeletePSG - Brest: Taylor (Salisbury)
Atalanta - Brugge: Vincic (Borosak)
Real Madrid - Manchester City: Kovacs (van Boekel)
PSV - Juventus: Schärer (San)
Milan - Feyenoord: Zwayer (Dankert)
Bayern - Celtic: Bastien (Millot)
Dortmund - Sporting: Makkelie (Dieperink)
Benfica - Monaco: Oliver (Gillett)
@Philipp, based on the latest domestic appointments, I would rather predict Gozubuyuk and not Makkelie.
DeleteThe former has a game next Saturday with a full international crew, while Makkelie is entirely out.
EL:
DeleteAnderlecht - Fenerbahce: Obrenovic (Borosak)
Bodo - Twente: Lambrechts (van Driessche)
Ajax - USG: Kabakov (Draganov)
FCSB - PAOK: Lukjancukas (Chiffi)
Galatasaray - Alkmaar: Massa (di Paolo)
Sociedad - Midtjylland: Gözübüyük (van Boekel)
Viktoria - Ferencvaros: Hernandez (Martinez)
Roma - Porto: Letexier (Delajod)
ECL:
Paphos - Omonia: Lindhout (Higler)
Olimpija - Borac: Kavanagh (Attwell)
Betis - Gent: Sidiropoulos (Evangelou)
Heidenheim - Copenhagen: Sylwestrzak (Lasyk)
Bialystok - Topola: Krogh (Pairetto)
Shamrock - Molde: Brisard (Wattelier)
APOEL - Celje: Beaton (Dallas)
Panathinaikos - Reykjavik: Jug (Sagrkovic)
I am very happy about Meler. Because this year is not going well for Turkish refereeing.
ReplyDeleteAny opinion on fiorentina penalty versus inter?
ReplyDeleteCalled after OFR:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/0b29c4
Did they check offside here?
DeleteAll players in regular position on the cross, then at the moment of the header, I don't think that the other Fiorentina player is punishable anymore, he is behind the player who commits handball, but without influencing him.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/2gd68glj5s8?si=luZT4B-lawfe8ZOT Czech first league - YC/RC? For me SPA
ReplyDeleteYellow is correct. Not enough speed. Seems obvious that the opponent from behind would catch up before he is close to the goal.
DeleteAgree. For me it is RC for DOGSO on own half, only if GK is not in goal.
DeleteAnd After a very Fair game, not even YC, big call in the end... Very controversial. Bergomi from SKY Sport Is shocked.
ReplyDeleteThis penalty is INCREDIBLE!!! I can’t believe who the ref is today. And this VAR - what is it for? If there is TOUCH, little tiny touch - it can’t react. Absolutely ridicolous!
DeleteTerrible mistake in Brugge: PK after a simulation at 91'. Marciniak next week?
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most ridiculous penalty we have ever witnessed. But please keep talking about favouritism with Italian teams
ReplyDeleteA totally fake penalty
ReplyDeleteNever a penalty IMO. Of course there is contact, but very light, and it's a clear simulation. I'm surprised that VAR does not intervene, it is a clear and obvious mistake.
ReplyDeleteUEFA must speak out against what just happened, this cannot be accepted in VAR era
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHe did very well till 90th min. I am so sorry for Meler. I think CL is over for him.
ReplyDeleteToo much fans here.
ReplyDeleteDecision is not the best, but come on guys!
Personal insults are not what this should be about...
I must agree with this comment. This is a referee blog not a fanzone.
DeleteThis is a growing problem in modern refereeing, where slight contact to the head is being disproportionately punished. As more calls are made for this type of contact, more players are faking contact to the head to create situations.
ReplyDeleteThis incident highlights the main problem with VAR that has existed for years now since its introduction: Whenever there is even the slightest contact, VAR is completely useless and supports any decision, even a ridiculous decision such as this. I hope UEFA/FIFA wakes up soon and changes this, but it is unlikely :-)
ReplyDeleteUnder the VAR point of view, I think no options, you must support this one, because it can clearly belong to a careless arm in face. But well, the intensity... if Rosetti said to referees that soft penalties must be avoided and VAR intervention could be allowed, one should have thought about this one. But as said, hard to blame van Boekel in reality.
ReplyDeleteIf VAR cannot fix such a blatant simulation, VAR is dead. We spend minutes looking at millimetres for an offside, and then this happens. Come on
DeleteAgree Marco 100%. Also if the arm had slightest contact with the ball, the goal is annuled! But when there is slightest contact with the player and tef give PK - VAR justified it! But if there is much stronger contact, push from behind etc and ref did not give PK, then VAR looks for INTENSITY and in many times remain silence! This is funny and ridicolous from the first day of VAR, everyone sees that and nothing changes. In this cases VAR should call the ref for an OFR and if he stays with the decision, then the Committie should decide about the mark and sanction for the ref.
DeleteThe problem with intensity is that unfortunately this situation involved a codified case such as hands / arms to face, about which UEFA has shown big sensitivity over the years, for example this is by far more than in Italy, at least from what I can tell, where even obvious situations are left to referee's discretion and the fans never perceive these incidents as obvious fouls, unless it is something from "orange" above.
DeleteIf a penalty had been given for any other contact (but also excluding step on foot, codified as well), VAR would have had more room for action.
Having said that, this penalty shouldn't have been awarded for an almost zero intensity, but for me more responsibility from the field than VAR, van Boekel was sent to troubles after the call of the Turkish referee.
If Van Boekel calls Meler for OFR, nobody complains. It’s similar to the simulation by Mertens in Turkey. Is there a contact? Yes! Was it a penalty? Not in a single match in 160 years of football
DeleteYes, it is a soft penalty, I agree with that.
DeleteBut it is also clearly careless behaviour by the defender to have the arm so much stretched out against the opponent and so high, that it can hit/touch his face.
You aren't really allowed to do that and are risking a foul when doing it.
Therefore IMO no clear mistake and correct by VAR to stay silent.
@Marco Comparing it to the Mertens situation is quite ridiculous tbh. The problem in that situation wasn't that the contact wasn't impactful or anything, it was because it was completely created by the attacker. Completely different to this situation
DeletePhilipp S ok Gasperini just said that players are defending like penguins (to avoid PK for hand balls) and they will now start running like penguins to avoid such "no clear mistakes". Is that still football?
Delete@Elliot but this contact here is trifling at most and the attacker simulates. No way this contact makes him throw to the ground.
DeleteBrugge-Atalanta: True the VAR is in principle not allowed to intervene because there is a slight touch on the face of the attacking player, therefore, the judgement on intensity of the touch is left to the referee on the pitch. However, there is a clear discrepancy between the lightness of the touch from the defender and the reaction of the attacking player falling to the ground like he’s been electrocuted by a lightning. This discrepancy is clearly visible also to the untrained eye of a lay person therefore, this should have alerted the VAR team of a clear and obvious mistake from Melen, aka simulation from the attacking player.
DeleteI hope this is the occasion for UEFA and FIFA to act and change a ridiculous protocol that is killing VAR, losing any credibility. A slight touch can never justify a penalty and no OFR, this is not football
ReplyDeleteI think the penalty decision was the wrong decision.
ReplyDeleteCrucial decision by AR1 in Glasgow, disallowed goal for active offside.
ReplyDeleteCorrect by Spanish to raise the flag, he was ready.
Great desision.
DeleteGood decision to disallow Celtic goal on-field
ReplyDeleteThe storm by Atalanta fans has started. It's interesting to point out that this was, in my opinion, a week in which committee had started with a very different management regarding Italian teams, we discussed it when assignments were released, one couldn't have expected Siebert, Sanchez Martinez and maybe even Meler (but in this case, as said, the least sonorous game in Bruges). A decisive moment in which committee finally decided to assign diffferent referees for Italian teams, and not always the same ones. Well, now Rosetti will have to face again such issues. We can't know about the appointment for Bergamo on next week, should be already made like all the others, the Serbian observer indicates a rather very experienced Elite, a safe choice for committee without interest in checking him. But in my opinion now it will be now either Marciniak or Vincic, there is already a Polish delegate in Bergamo, so maybe Marciniak? :) Committee would just give a strong signal by making another different choice in that case, but it will rarely happened... we we will see.
ReplyDeleteAtalanta manager Gasperini, furious after the penalty for Brugge: “Football is going in a direction that isn't football, led by I don't know who”.
Delete“The players throw themselves in to steal, they all try to get a penalty. This is not spirit of football. The rules are crazy”.
At least he is complaining about footballers.
I just looked at the penalty Meler gave. All in all, it was the right decision in principle. The defender wanted to block the opponent's running path. But for Rosetti to make such a decision against his country would be against Meler. He will close the season in the Champions League.
DeleteI am atalanta fan still a bit shocked with that penalty. Sad for Meler for such a big mistake, champions league is over for him this year for sure. But Van Boekel c'mon you can send your colleague to check the penalty, send hom to the video and save him! This is not about a RC for a second YC, you can send him to check it, do it!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteToo much hiding behind a protocol
Indeed, also here somebody is looking for an excuse, to justify one of the most blatant errors in VAR era. I don’t care about Atalanta, but I really feel their players and fans
DeleteCeltic - Bayern: OFR for Gil Manzano. Ball clearly played but then after that, step on foot. Very long time in front of monitor, the final decision was NO PENALTY. Then this one should be a mistake by VAR to send referee to monitor...
ReplyDeleteHe made a dropped ball gesture but i hope they started with offside.
DeleteWhy? It wouldn't have gone to an OFR if it had been offside so the AR was wrong to flag.
DeleteBut he didn't change his decision. And the on field decision was offside.
Deleteimo clear penalty in Glasgow, Upamecano does play the ball but afterwards clear stamp on the foot
ReplyDeleteVery interesting penalty OFR in Glasgow. Would be interesting to hear people's thoughts
ReplyDeleteIMO no foul is the better decision. Normal movement by the defender, who clearly plays the ball first. The following contact is more an accident than a foul. It seemed, that they analysed exactly that during the OFR: Was there anything unnaturally targeted against the opponent in the defender's action? And I think, the correct answer is no.
DeleteSo the VAR intervention would be wrong IMO, if Gil Manzano had decided no foul and the VAR wanted to convince him of a penalty.
However the on-field-decision was offside, therefore it is also possible that the referee had seen a foul and the OFR was required, because it was no offside, but also no penalty.
Very interesting indeed. Gil Manzano probably interpreted it the way that Bayern Player played ball and then Celtic player put his foot there.
DeletePersonally I can’t really agree with this and think this should have been a penalty.
And also i think showing point of contact first in such cases is very wrong. Everyone focus on penalty because first we see the contact without the ball.
DeleteGood decision by Manzano in my opinion
ReplyDeletePenalty for me, touched the ball then followed through on to the players foot which was dangerous
ReplyDeleteUpamecano clearly touches the ball first and then unintentionally steps on the Celtic player's foot. This can be considered an unavoidable contact. Play on is correct for me and never VAR stuff.
ReplyDeleteMariani showed second yellow card to Musrati just because he wanted a yellow card for an incident.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a legit first YC
DeleteWe could have expected better management for a SYC, unless this is repeted infringement
Excellent decision by Gil Manzano in my book! Just a normal football action where the ball is clearly played and then the foot has to land some place. Also the attacker moves his foot in the direction the defender puts his foot. Wrong intervention for me and very good decision by the referee. Apart from my technical arguments this solution should also be in line with ‘what foot aal expects’ (contrary to the Bruge penalty earlier tonight).
ReplyDelete‘what football expects’ of course
Delete+1
DeleteChefren or someone who knows where you can find the delegates for next week of CL? Or if you can share it, I appreciate it
ReplyDeleteOnly the delegates? Or maybe you mean observers?
DeleteYes, delegates Chefren :)
DeletePSG - Brest: Virgar Hvidbro FRO
DeleteAtalanta - Brugge: Miroslaw Ryszka POL
Real Madrid - Manchester City: Charles Schaack LUX
PSV - Juventus: Iain Blair SCO
Milan - Feyenoord: Christian Kofoed DEN
Bayern - Celtic: Danilo Filacchione ITA
Dortmund - Sporting: Stéphanie Forde BEL
Benfica - Monaco: Peter Oskam NED
Thanks Chefren!
DeleteCalm game for Oliver... just the three RCs after the final whistle in the Merseyside derby. Given he only has a VAR role on Saturday I'd imagine he'll be seen in Europe next week
ReplyDeleteNo problems with the PCs but the way he managed this game is a cause.
DeleteThis style of game he was once excellent at managing. I don't think he would have shown 2 or 3 of his first half YCs 3 years ago. There were lots of small whistles and both teams did seem further angered by his management. It was strangely poor
DeleteI was wrong, there were four rather than three RCs
DeleteMariani's second YC is shocking... For a SYC for dissent you need much, much more than that. Sorry but big mistake for me. 2 months after the infamous Obrenovic show, Monaco will hane the right to complain... again.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can point out about this decision by Mariani is that in serie A this would never happen. Referees allow players and coaches to do everything they want, by years and years. Nobody would accept a second YC and a RC just for demanding a card against an opponent after a foul. I find that very crazy and unacceptable because indeed a referee totally changes his style according to the context in which he is officiating the game. Maurizio Mariani himself would never think about a second YC for a Juventus or Inter player in the next game he is about to officiate on Sunday. Would be a scandal for Italian culture, being prone to tolerate everything. That's something that should be solved, in my opinion, it is not possible for us to see two different worlds.
DeleteThis one in Monaco was very strict and also his body language was so strong, as you never see in Italy. Why? Because here he knows that he is under exam, while in domestic games they are allowed to go what they want with very weak heads of refereeing....
+1 - Fully agreed.
DeleteThe decision is correct in essence if we only consider the Laws of the game, however a ridiculous one in the Spirit of the game, never enough for a 2nd YC.
Nonsense, if you can get a first yellow card for it you can get a second yellow card for the same offence. More referees should be handing out yellow cards for this sort of thing.
DeleteYep,Mariani in Serie A and Mariani in Uefa competitions is totally different person.
DeleteIn England, any gesture asking for a card is a clear YC in any game. Players shouldn't be asking for others to be booked
DeleteToday is not going well for top level refereeing i guess.
ReplyDeleteNeutral fan here. Oliver lost control of the game in the first minute. Game was not allowed to flow and small fouls given consistently with no advantage. His performances this season have not been good. He will not be involved in liverpool and everton games for a long while.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteOliver's foul detection was all over the place today, whistling small fouls while also missing some blatant ones, most notably on Salah's counter attack in stoppage time: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1io2nc0/mo_salah_run_no_foul_given_91/
Agreed that he won't be involved in Everton and Liverpool games for a while, same as for Arsenal games after the ridiculous RC against Wolves, so his options will be quite limited. Extremely poor season domestically for Oliver, lots of controversies already and we're only in February.
This is quite a disturbni clip. I can't imagine why Oliver would let this continue. Clear violation
DeleteAnother very harsh YC for literally nothing from Mariani to Monaco captain, who will miss return leg...
ReplyDeleteSorry, but even harsh is an understatement Imho. This can never ever be considered a reckless foul, to the contrary, and very unfortunate. And another player missing the return. This has nothing to do with top level refereeing…..
DeleteA very hot set of Champions League games, one must admit.
ReplyDeleteMany things to be reviewed. Tomorrow I will post some clips here, if not anticipated by other readers.
Not to be intrusive, but here is my post on this blog dated 11 December 2024:
ReplyDelete"Players have learnt how to cheat the VAR system. They see some referees get scared and start blowing the whistle for the slightest of reasons. Absurd penalties like yesterday's from Meler are becoming more common."
That's true. About the specific incident, hand / arm to face, it's veeery easy for players to deceive referees, even without VAR involvements. Indeed they can simulate a reckless action and it can be a second YC issued. Or maybe even both YC to an opponent, and in that case VAR can do nothing. Also in this case, the Belgian player did scene as if he had been hit definitely with more intensity in face.
DeleteOn the other hand, referees rarely punish careless strikes, if the player doesn't react strongly. So the players have learned, that they need to demonstrate the contact to the referee to get something.
DeleteTrue Philipp, if you make scene you win the foul, and the careless actions are very often played on by referees because not perceived as fouls. It's a very difficult situation to solve.
DeleteVAR ruins football. Yesterday at FEY-MIL in 1st half: small incident with Leão in the box, the game continues. Leão stays on the ground, there is a VAR check. After the VAR check is completed (no PK) the ball comes near him, he quickly gets up and walks like a lapwing again.
ReplyDeleteIn the pre-VAR era a player would never stay down for so long. I wish they could hand out cards for such unsportsmanlike behavior.
About the PK against Atalanta: Van Boekel is a VAR of whom we know that he does not intervene in the event of a light contact, even if 99% do not consider it a penalty, even when it is a CRUCIAL moment.
ReplyDeleteYou have one task as a VAR, to save your colleague who cannot always see everything (or can easily be deceived). But he didn’t save Meler from a controversial incident. I would go further and call that UNCOLLEGIAL.
I know that the 2nd legs have already been appointed, however Rosetti should perhaps reconsider his choices:
- The return in Bergamo requires a top referee.
- The Italian/Dutch ties are also closer than initially thought. Do not take any risks there. Especially with the “Italian style” of winning matches ;)
- PSG and BVB are playing at home with a 3-0 lead, that should not be a problem; send an average referee. No idea what Vassaras will do in Paris, really.
- Bayern and Benfica are one goal up and should normally be dominant at home… And so does Real tbf. Although strange things can happen in football.
In Bergamo, Milan and Eindhoven, top Elite are expected.
DeleteMore flexible choice for Munich, but rather for Celtic the big one was yesterday and not in Germany.
I think no issues for Dortmund and Paris, before all the rest.
My idea is that, reading the names of the already appointed observers for second legs, committee already planned to make very different choices, with the very big Elite kept for next week. So if true, no need to change. Otherwise...
Especially in Paris they can definitely send a less experienced referee in my opinion, the same Brest team has in a way declared itself just already happy to be there.
If Gozubuyuk has to get a game, the most sensible is in Paris or München. Or UEL. Most curious thing is whether Van Boekel will be his VAR or not.
DeleteI just realised, there is a chance to have 4 Italian teams in R16. If I were Rosetti, I’d probably have a instant stroke if that happens…
Gil Manzano incident in Glasgow.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/1820a3
The referee didn't have any perception of what was happening and fully relied on the judgment by his assistant referee, who had a frontal view but worked only in terms of offside assessment.
Very complex situation.
At first committee could say to Gil Manzano to be more attentive about the particular action, but then to me, most of the evaluation here can be required to AR2.
It's a very particular case in which you can maybe justify the OFR to make field officials aware of what exactly happened, but staying as protocol, one could still say not a clear penalty so no need to call referee. Del Cerro decided to make Gil Manzano aware.
The official assessment by UEFA is:
Bayern München's player, No2, played the ball in a fair manner before the contact between players.
So the argument of the ball clearly played before is enough in that case, but in my opinion it can't be always valid when the touch on opponent is more significant.
About 50/50 on votes on TikTok. Even though everyone who votes isn’t a referee. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd1L8RUh/
DeleteWell, if you trust the opinions of common TikTok users, better to close everything :) Said with respect.
DeleteTo bring TikTok poll into the conversation is a new level of frivolity. If the idea was to show us what the average football fan thinks that's ok but otherwise...
Delete@Chefren
DeleteDefender played the ball and after that there is a contact. Is the contact careless or reckless? To add, of course this is natural leg movement after playing the ball
Actually, there are thousands of referees there and many of them are voting and commenting.
DeleteAnd yes, it’s to show what fans think. Not what the ”correct decision is” obviously. I am an instructor and referee so of course not.
DeleteCarlRDM, in my opinion defender was already making his action of fairly playing ball when attacker entered the path, and that's the problem of such situations, basically you would never deem them as reckless, because the defender can't know, he is focused on kicking and then the attacker is coming. In my opinion better no penalty in this case because the original action by defender is clearly fair and after that he can't do nothing for avoiding contact, but I think not a 100% situation, and if a penalty is whistled, you have to support.
DeleteMonaco - Benfica, it happened again...
ReplyDeleteAfter the famous game in league stage, officiated by the Slovenian referee Rade Obrenović, now it was Mariani turn to take the whistle.
41' First YC to Monaco player then sent off
https://streambug.org/cv/7e7f90
A fully correct and accepted decision, evident SPA.
52' Second YC for asking referee to book the opponent
https://streambug.org/cv/53732a
Immediate reaction by Mariani with a YC for this action. One can only praise this decision, but for me, with the Italian point of view, it's unacceptable to see a referee officiating in this way at international level and then being mobbed every game in serie A by all players and coaches. Isolated actions, required by UEFA, the protocol about captains has made things every stricter than before, but how many referees apply this rule? I can't bear to see two totally different styles, honestly. The yellow card sounds as harsh, but as said, in that regard, it's impossible to blame referee. Rather, one should expect him to officiate all games in the same way he did yesterday.
90' YC for reckless action from behind
https://streambug.org/cv/50e1f1
I think this was a perception mistake by referee, who thought about a more intense touch from behind, even with studs, but the replay shows it was just a low touch without any intensity, you can easily deem as careless trip. No arguments for talking about reckless action.
Very good 2nd yc for Al Musrati. As a referee you cannot and should not ignore such an unsportsmanlike gesture straight to your face
Delete"Impossible to blame the referee."
Delete"Cannot and should not ignore."
I blame him. I'd ignore it.
This happens all the time. Much worse happens all the time. Think of all the dissent that is said and goes unpunished. And we want this to be a caution--nevermind a 2YC--in a Champion's League knockout match? It was the most innocuous lobbying you can possibly imagine. There was no malice or anger. It wasn't even aggressive.
This decision was a joke.
I agree with usaref here. Very harsh decision, rather absurd imo.
DeleteI think a misinterpretation of the VAR protocol has led to serious mistakes like the one in Brugge-Atalanta. If we ask 100 people, “In your opinion, is the penalty right?”, 95 answer no: so it is a clear and obvious mistake. UEFA's idea that “if there was contact, VAR cannot intervene” is just a choice, not the absolute truth: in the competitions managed by Collina we have seen a very different use of VAR (I remember the penalty given after OFR by Sampaio in England-France, for example), so the problem is not the too strict protocol, but our interpretation.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question is: Is this clear and obvious mistake for FIFA line of intervention. For UEFA we know it's not
DeleteIn my opinion this double standard FIFA - UEFA regarding the VAR approach, apart from the specific and particular discussion involving yesterday penalty in Bruges, is not acceptable.
DeleteAt international level, one should clearly know how VAR works, but it's indeed impossible and you have everything but also the contrary.
Given that the current UEFA interpretations about clear and obvious mistakes are by far more appropriate for the nature and the origin of VAR protocol, something must be done to have consistency. Otherwise, people will be always allowed to think that VAR can intervene on everything.
But the different use of VAR, depending on the nation of the referee in charge, it's already an issue within UEFA, without going so far, so the discussion would be very, very long...
In my opinion VAR as it is used now, will never fully solve the discussions when about grey areas and not 100% black or white situations.
But you can't think to use it as you want, and to intervene in all situations just because people expect a certain decision...
I understand your point: limits must be set to prevent that of using VAR in every dubious situation. However, I was not referring to the “gray area,” but to blatant errors that are obvious to all. I give an example: the EURO2020 semifinal between Denmark and England was decided by a nonexistent penalty whistled by Makkelie. Not a single person in the whole world, seeing the action, thought the penalty was fair, but because Sterling during the simulation hit the defender's leg, “a contact occurred: VAR cannot intervene.” So there is a paradoxical situation: a match ruined by a clear mistake that is not corrected even though it is possible to do so. This is offensive not only to fans, but also to common sense. I think that for such clear situations, something in our interpretation of protocol needs to be changed
Delete@Bluesky Your example is very good for this discussion. I think for UEFA RefCom this was simulation. Clear and important mistake for referee and for VAR as well. It is simply not true that if the contact exists then in case of penalty decision VAR could do nothing.
DeleteI think it could go in this direction:
ReplyDeleteMilan – Feyenoord: Zwayer
Atalanta – Brugges: Letexier
Bayern – Celtic: Nyberg
Benfica – Monaco: Taylor
BVB – Sporting: Kovacs
PSG – Brest: Gozubuyuk
Real – Man City: Marciniak
PSV – Juventus: Vincic
I forgot Massa though. If he’s up for game, in München (with Carballo) is most logical I think.
DeleteDo the referee and var agree before the match on the degree of intervention? Can some referees dull their egos and treat var as an assistant rather than an executioner?
ReplyDeleteAbout UEFA, with most of games having VARs from Nyon and not on site, the possible match preparation before the game doesn't exist at all, and in some cases, field referees and VAR don't know each other at all... that's another big point for discussion, if you ask me. All is rather "centralized" in UEFA refereeing, at least for the game with VARs from Nyon, is that a good thing? And indeed then you have the VAR crews sent on site, very often making totally different assessments if compared to what UEFA expects...
ReplyDeleteAbout the second question, it's just your personal opinion, and it's impossible to answer, one must think that all referees welcome VAR because it is a big help for them and indeed a solution in case of need.
Attwell must he involved somehow on VAR next week, as he's been replaced as referee for Aston Villa v Liverpool next Wednesday by Craig Pawson.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was, it may be a replacement of Van Boekel.
DeleteRef, you went definitely very far with your mind :)
DeletePossible but maybe more likely explanation is that committee changed something and then they had to call another VAR.
Nevertheless, we will understand definitely many things by looking at the next games assigned to the experienced Dutch VAR, if appointed again of course :)
No problem Chefren :) Sure, there can be a replacement for several reasons. But let me put it another way: I doubt we can see v.Boekel as main VAR next week, after the fuss. I assume Rosetti is not going to take that risk… You know how he operates :)
DeleteHe has swapped games with Pawson and will now do the Leeds Sunderland game on Monday. Could be something to do with Pawson being from Sheffield rather than Attwell doing VAR...who knows
DeleteGood point!
DeleteI believe that the UCL season for Meler is over. But perhaps he still has appointments of little or medium importance in the UEL or Conference League. Ending a game like yesterday going from heaven to hell seriously affects the referee's motivation.
ReplyDeleteJosé María Sánchez Martínez in Feyenoord - Milan.
ReplyDelete19' PAI Handball
https://streambug.org/cv/0be2f7
Correct decision.
25' Possible YC for reckless, knee to face
https://streambug.org/cv/a69a75
In my opinion player to be booked, reckless action (but of course absolutely unintentional)
30' PAI - Management
https://streambug.org/cv/c848f3
A very interesting and long sequence. Leao goes down and asks for a penalty, in my opinion he could should?) have been booked by referee, evident attempt to win a penalty by creating a contact. Then the attacker from AC Milan remained on the ground for a very long time, until he recovered the ball possession (possible offside?) in another attacking action and players were more agitated. Still, game was never stopped even after that. The Spanish referee had the situation under control, but in my opinion trying to join in a way with players and making things even clearer would have been better.
32' PAI
Live https://streambug.org/cv/7d1177
Replay https://streambug.org/cv/23fdf0
I think a reasonable choice by referee to play on (he made clear gestures), without whistling penalty. Would have been rather sofr, but of course, if whistled, to be accepted.
41' PAI - Management
https://streambug.org/cv/a9057f
Another situation in which you can say good decision by referee, definitely OK for me to think this was normal collision. In case of foul to be whistled, for me more foul by Leao and his classic attitude to go against opponents in penalty area (in this case the keeper) to win something. Maybe one could even read his action as dangerous for the keeper, indeed it was explained to AC Milan coach by Fourth official Cuadra, that game had been stopped for the head involvement. Sanchez Martinez making gesture and asking player for being calm. Also interesting to note the reaction by AR2, once the incident happened, he reported something to referee standing still (very likely to stop the game for the collision, but not a penalty, as said).
45' Play On Decision
https://streambug.org/cv/4728f8
The contact seems to be outside the box, so in case free kick, but again, there is an attitude by attacker (this time a Feyenoord one) to create something to make referee whistle, in my opinion. So, OK. I don't see this one as mistake.
49' Offside AR1
https://streambug.org/cv/d392e2
Hard to say whether correct or not, at the very border. Maybe wrong, but it's interesting for the timing. AR waited for the cross by player, then he saw the action returned back or didn't progress and he called it. I think OK.
51' YC after advantage
Live https://streambug.org/cv/4c2f8a
Replay https://streambug.org/cv/cdfa91
Very good decision and management by referee.
57' YC for SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/684292
I think supportable decision, if not for other reasons, but couldn't have been given.
58' Referee gestures and style in the game
https://streambug.org/cv/1f6ddc
62' Kicking ball away - YC
https://streambug.org/cv/a3781a
Too evident to be ignored.
I think this was a very good performance by the Spanish, focused on a very challenging game, especially first half with many penalty area incidents, as you can see from the clips. Playing on after every situation had surely a strong argument behind. Nevertheless, I think that in the first half the Spanish relied too much on his presence to mantain the control, he was in some cases at the very edge, but he succeded. So, he can't be blamed and the appearance was definitely positive. I also think that the cards in second half were given (especially the one that can be maybe discussed) because the Spanish was aware that after an extremely intense first half, things could have changed.
I would say, very well.. good to continue in this way.
The best performance of a Spanish referee in recent times, since a very long time, I would say.
The Manzano situation is so difficult to judge ... Curious to see what the committee thinks about it ..
ReplyDeletePlayer gets the ball and plants the foot completely naturally with no intention to make contact with the opponent. The opponents sticks out the foot to get the ball but is just too late and therefore gets stamped. Accident. Football wants play on.
DeletePredictions for 2nd leg :
ReplyDeleteMilan – Feyenoord: Marciniak
Atalanta – Brugges: Letexier
Bayern – Celtic: Massa
Benfica – Monaco: Oliver
BVB – Sporting: Gozubuyuk
PSG – Brest: Scharer
Real – Man City: Kovacs
PSV – Juventus: Zwayer
My predictions for the second leg:
ReplyDeleteMilan – Feyenoord: Marciniak
Atalanta – Bruges: Letexier
Bayern-Celtic: Kruzliak
Benfica – Monaco: Nyberg
BVB-Sporting: Kovacs
PSG-Brest: Massa
Real – Man City: Vincic
PSV-Juventus: Zwayer