Second legs of 2024-25 UEFA Champions League KO Play Offs, first set of games (18/02/2025), referee appointments.
18:45 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
AC MILAN (ITA) - FEYENOORD (NED)
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: Christian Dingert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed DEN
Fourth Official: Wojciech Myc POL
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed DEN
21:00 CET - Bergamo (Stadio di Bergamo)
ATALANTA BC (ITA) - CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB
UEFA Delegate: Miroslaw Ryszka POL
ATALANTA BC (ITA) - CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL)
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB
UEFA Delegate: Miroslaw Ryszka POL
21:00 CET - Munich (Fußball Arena München)
FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER) - CELTIC FC (SCO)
FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER) - CELTIC FC (SCO)
Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Danilo Filacchione ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Danilo Filacchione ITA
21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)
SL BENFICA (POR) - AS MONACO (FRA)
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam NED
Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderkvist SWE
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam NED
Marciniak, Zwayer, Bastien, Nyberg
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to think that these could be the original assignments, without changes.
ReplyDeleteMarciniak in Milan: after the first legs one could have expected him more in Bergamo, in case of change, but no doubts it will be a very open and challenging game for the Polish.
Zwayer with a big test in Bergamo, if the appointment was made before firs leg, as one could think, there is the particular to add that committee wouldn't have imagined such a first leg, so maybe under this aspect, still a certain appointment for the German. But yes now, he will be definitely in the spotlight (so for this reason committee could have changed if they didn't want that).
Nyberg in Lisbon a regular one, important game for him, with Monaco a bit in focus after the first leg.
And finally, Bastien. There is always a reason why a committee member is there, in this case easy to think that after having forgotten him for years, and now following some good games he handled, they want to understand more about a possible change and maybe final change of consideration, turning into a closer position, let's say, to his two countrymen Turpin and Letexier. Big achievements for French refereeing recently, unless Frappart disappeared from Men's football (but more generally now this trend seems rather over for women of all countries in Men's games).
And tomorrow there will be Vincic in a game.
DeleteWe have the Slovenian VAR as AVAR in this set.
He will turn into main VAR on Wednesday.
Big chances that the Slovenian will meet Rizzoli in Madrid, and this will be an important meeting on the road to WC 2026.
We can see the Slovenian has a big reputation inside UEFA, but different in FIFA, time (and it seems he is less liked by Collina for what I can see).
Nyberg's first time in Portuguese team games and stepping into a majestic stadium such as Estádio da Luz, the stage for major finals such as Euro 2004 and the 2014 and 2020 UCL finals. Whether in Lisbon or Porto, matches in Portuguese lands tend to be quite fierce with a lot of physical contact and a high rate of cards depending on the specifics of the games. A test for the Swedish judge be prepared.
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DeleteVincic
ReplyDeleteOliver
Gozubuyuk/makkelie
Kovacs
For the wednesday cl matches?
Makkelie is unlikely with Dieperink already appointed, isn't he?
DeleteTaylor and Letexier would be other candidates.
Yess Letexier i forgot him... good candidate.
DeleteScharer and Kruzliak should also be considered, especially in games where the tie is practically resolved like in Paris and Dortmund. Or perhaps some category A judges will be nominated for these two matches.
DeleteAs for Taylor, I don't know what UEFA's plans would be for him in a possible final in Munich after everything that happened at Euro 2024 in Germany.
I wonder what spoke against nominating AVAR Christian Dingert with Felix Zwayer to form an all-German team at ATALANTA BC - CLUB BRUGGE KV.
ReplyDeleteYeah, VAR appointments are really weird and unpredictable some times
DeleteEarly first goal in Milan equalising the first leg
ReplyDeleteNot so difficult 1stH,but there were some tense moments for Marciniak and his crew at the end of 1st half.
ReplyDeleteHernandez pulling player's shirt and that player wanted to escalate sitiation and Marciniak was there to deescalate.
Except that booking,1 other booking for reckles foul on Leao.
That action by Hernandez... Marciniak had to really stand his ground there
ReplyDeleteVideo of Theo Hernandez:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/07ebb7
Really dislike the provocing ''get up'' gesture that some refs do. It only makes players mad and creates situations.
DeleteExcellent Marciniak with this second YC for simulation.
ReplyDeleteEn now 2yc for Hernandez. What a decision from Marciniak!
ReplyDeleteBravo Szymon.
ReplyDeleteExcellent refereeing,very impressive from him.
Excellent Marciniak as usual
ReplyDeleteA few inaccuracies by Marciniak in the second half (a wrong foul for Milan, two missed Feyenoord handball), but overall a very solid performance
ReplyDeleteWhy rc for Feyenoord #26?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think that Marciniak is the best referee of modern times.
ReplyDeleteOnce again we saw a masterclass in terms of control of the game, technical decisions, authority, players management and firmness in making calls. He is never afraid. He talks to player just thank to his body and gestures. He is one of the few modern referees paying attention to added time, first minute was lost so he added another one. A pure example of how it should be. To me, it's still incredible to think how UEFA committee has treated him so far, being even almost obliged to give him the CL final, and only after the WC final, a nonsense. Not appointed in the Europa League final when Vincic got it, it was another decision without any explanation. I think we will remember the Polish among the best European referees forever.
PS and the concentration after final whistle with clear decisions, including red cards, I really think it's impossible to ask for more
Masterclass, control of the game perfect.
ReplyDeleteVery good Marciniak in Milan!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen what happened after the last wistle: red en yellow card?
To me: one of the best refertes of this decade.
Early goal in Bergamo as well, and this can make the game even more challenging for Zwayer, because Atalanta will still fight for a comeback.
ReplyDelete#helpme
DeleteCorrectly disallowed goal by AR1 for offside, 17'.
DeleteNow 0-2 by Club Brugge. Possible careless arm before, VAR didn't intervene. The game can turn into easier, very surprising score and great performance by Belgian side so far.
DeleteHow on earth this punch in the head prior Belgian second goal is not foul, and the slight touch in first game was penalty for Club Brugge? There is no justice in this World.
DeleteTechnically it should have been a free kick for the Italian side, Bruge player clearly hits the opponent to the face before heading the ball. Very clear in the close replay.
DeleteA lot of mistakes by Nyberg in the first 15 minutes
ReplyDeleteIn 3. there was a penalty claim by Embolo, going down in a challenge with goalkeeper Benfica. Seemed to be a tight one.
DeleteWow, what a scene for Zwayer, including an OFR. In the end PK is the correct decision imo.
ReplyDeleteOFR for Zwayer. Very long check by Dankert before calling him to monitor. It was a "suffered" decision, I think. You can see a rather evident holding but not an extremely blatant one. To me, another VAR maybe wouldn't have intervened, but for the UEFA holdings are very serious things. One can agree. No DOGSO, ok YC.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not about the holding. He clearly tripped his leg.
DeleteI think it is more the trilling too
DeleteI think VAR showed the contact on legs also.
DeleteOne must say, amazing detection to see the handball live by Zwayer . Agree with max96, after OFR, Zwayer came to the correct decision
ReplyDeleteCorrect penalty after OFR for Nyberg, feel like he should've seen it live tho
ReplyDeleteBastien has been doing a great job so far, remaining in the background in a game that is very football focused. However he suddenly becomes very fussy at every corner (without added time to compensate in 1H). Other than that, I'm liking his performance, rather Turpin-esque
ReplyDeleteWow Zwayer with a very heated game, now a correct straight red for an Atalanta player
ReplyDeleteZwayer almost got himself killed there tbh. Is it smart to go and run in there?
DeleteProbably not but it's kinda his style. Also with RC tackles, he often protects the player that gets the RC from the other players by hugging him and walking away with him
DeleteHe always does that. #helpme
DeleteOh yes you are right, I have seen him doing that indeed. Didnt think of that here, it just doesnt seem smart here
DeleteNot convinced with the redcard
ReplyDeleteClear red card for me.
DeleteNah that's clear violent conduct
DeleteHe first trows a balk at and opponent = red (but it doesnt really work out so I guess you could neglect that) but then he goes for a rugby charge out of play. Which is clear VC. I don't think you can discuss this
DeleteAttempting to strike by throwing the ball is with excessive force. Already a clear red. Then the tackle like Kobe Bryant vs Pau Gasol in 2008 Olympics. Another red card.
DeleteTolói completely lost his mind. An imbalance that becomes hilarious
ReplyDeleteInteresting incident. We know that pushing opponente tò ground Is often YC rather than RC. But.... In this case the player ignored referee's physical intervention. So it was Impossible for Zwayer tò be rather lenient. Very poor by player Who Indeed Lost his mind.
DeleteUnderstood.The main point is a player ignoring referees interaction.Thank Chefren
DeleteClear penalty from Diatta on Dahl. Great conclusion from Nyberg when pointing out the infraction
ReplyDeleteNot a good thing for Nyberg to have 2 VAR intervertions to correct him.
ReplyDeleteThe VAR is checking something in Lisbon. Nyberg went to the monitor.
ReplyDeleteYet another bad game for Nyberg, this just isn't his season. Zwayer on the other hand with a very good performance today imo
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely unconvincing performance by Nyberg tonight, not only because of the two OFR
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought Nyberg had found out about the penalty. But watching the replay, the Monaco player touches the ball first. It's not a 100% night for the Swede, even with the game close.
ReplyDeleteNyberg Is not officiating as committee expected. Poor season for him. Rather a disappointment so far.
ReplyDeleteFor a game as fierce as today's in Lisbon, expect the referee to be discreet. But that's not what happened. Maybe Nyberg will get a game in the next round and leave it at that. One name that has left the committee overjoyed is Pejlto and I wouldn't rule him out for the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
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DeleteDisappointing season so far perhaps, but I think the assessment of yesterday's game is a bit too harsh from some posters here. Given the context of the game (very open game, evenly matched teams, heated crowd, tough rainy conditions - it was very slippery), I never felt during the game - or now after the game - that the main focus or talking point is about the referee. Sometimes we put too much focus on KMI's without looking at the overall performance/discussion after. It would have been a different story if he lost control of the game but that didn't happen.
DeleteWas it a good game to get two penalty decisions wrong? No, but did VAR work just the way intended? Yes, and so in the end what people remember is a very entertaining game with the right decisions being made in the end.
The discourse on the forum is interesting, some referees can do no wrong or get wildly praised for normal, very expected calls, meanwhile others get way too scrutinized for acceptable mistakes.
About the 2YC in Milan earlier this evening.
ReplyDeleteI think we all agree that Turpin or Vinčić would never issue it. Surely not as 2YC. They would turn a blind eye and point to the corner flag, to not draw attention on themselves.
To be frank, Feyenoord or Dutch media wouldn’t be angry at all, had Marciniak ignored the situation. However, simulations undermine the authority of a referee. They try to fool him. Players know they should not mess with Marciniak. And that is why the decision is credible. He certainly is one of a kind, within the current refereeing climate.
@Chefren: was the decision well-received in Italy? I guess in Serie A most referees would not punish it :-)
Decision totally accepted and exactly what I said to other people here when it happened: this would have never been done by Italian referees, allowing Italian teams everything in serie A.
DeleteNow Theo Hernandez is taking the blame: not easy to happen, but maybe that's also because he is a player used to do that very often, but indeed without being punished.
The ability of Marciniak is also to make almost all his decisions accepted.
OT: After observing the pattern from the UECL finals, compare Kovacs' pattern to the DCG/Dias pattern.
ReplyDelete1. Would you say Peljto's performance this season is on par with Kovacs' 2022 level, or is it still too early to make that judgment (waiting for the first leg of the UCL semi-final)?
2. Would we see DCG/Dias again for Taylor? Any info about him (still hunting for WC2026?)
3. New pattern for the final?
I can't see Taylor doing the conference final having already done the Europa.
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DeleteClip of the reason why Read got a RC read after the game. Missed RC for Pavlovic for spitting in Read his neck. Ultimately no perfect score for Matciniak
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/FR_Tokam/status/1891955204372701428?t=0OV3KZWvYM_5iQ9TBb2PFg&s=19
If there is indeed a spit there, that's not on Marciniak. How would he or his assistants see that and be sure in real time?
DeleteIf there is spitting, that falls on Kwiatkowski. One hopes that everything was fully checked before the teams left the field.
Do we know if there is a better angle of this?
Gullit vs Beckenbauer vibes :D
DeleteRijkaard vs Völler ;)
DeleteI just watched the AC Milan VS Feyenord match, Szymon Marciniak's great evening, as always, he was called up for high-risk matches, the Italian team (Rosetti) vs the Dutch team (Kuipers), just like at Euro where they gave him the Italy vs Switzerland match, Szymon once again put a finger on the committee, showing how his treatment by the committees sometimes goes beyond control. Congratulations Szymon!!!
ReplyDeleteSzymon was excellent. The link with Kuipers is a bit exaggerated imo. Björn Kuipers has zero connections with Feyenoord.
DeleteThe Dutch media does not put any pressure on Kuipers; he is never blamed when a referee does a poor job with a Dutch team — unlike Italian media, they blame Rosetti. I wonder how different things would be with a non-Italian head of referees.
Perhaps more sensitive would be a game of FC Twente, because of Kuipers’ residence. He owns a supermarket in Enschede and never whistled games of FC Twente.
Btw, it is curious that Marciniak was also assigned to the decisive FC Twente-Besiktas MD8.
DeleteThe possible foul before 0-2 by Club Brugge, this remains as the only possible controversial decision of the game (nothing to say about the OFR in second half).
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/3cf92d
https://streambug.org/cv/52e990
By far more foul than the penalty by Meler in first leg, but one can agree no clear and obvious mistake. Rather a quick check by Dankert.
Nyberg, situation in the early minutes.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/f449d3
Offside, correct flag by AR1 (in my opinion deflection by opponent and not deliberate play), Nyberg allowing game to continue, you can see him making for a moment the advantage gesture with arm. But then immediately lost ball and counterattack, possible penalty in favor of the team who committed offside before.
Looking at the replays it looks more penalty than play on, with attacker touching ball before keeper.
Maybe VAR was in trouble due to the advantage following offside?
I find this one rather a poor management.
The advantage after the offside is correctly handled IMO. He waits for one controlled action by the attackers and when that happened there is definitely an advantage situation to be allowed. The following bad pass is their own fault.
DeleteAbout the possible penalty, it seems possible that the attacker goes down before the contact. So no clear error without better angles, I think.
I like this sequence.
DeleteCorrect flag by AR (not deliberate play by defender), but advantage given as defending team gains full control (they would've hated for Nyberg to whistle for a IFK, they wanted this opportunity).
Regarding the penalty situation, I think this is correctly not given as a foul as the attacker gos down before the contact. You could also argue that the attacker initiates the contact.
I dislike the advantages after offside because it can lead to such situations, yes, one can't blame referee, but under the eyes of fans always discussions. Better to whistle for me, and nobody can discuss.
DeleteAnd the OFRs in second half:
Delete1 https://streambug.org/cv/1ea6ad
2 https://streambug.org/cv/329621
Extremely long check in the second case, unless offside matters, VAR was in doubt about that until the end.
But you're also actively looking for things to criticise him about, as per usual. It's blatantly obvious how you build a narrative regarding certain referees, unfortunately. If fan favourite Makkelie or Marciniak makes this call, it's praised and celebrated by everyone.
DeleteThis is perfectly handled.
I write my opinion on everything, as long as I can.
DeleteI don't write against Nyberg, if you go read in the past, I wrote many praises, I write what I see game after game. I
The problem of people like you and others, writing that we are always in favor of a referee or another one, is that indeed you write nothing but you criticize who writes trying to cover everything. Fully allowed to do so, but please at least read before and don't make such judgments.
In case of excellent performance in the game I would have reported it with videos, same as I did now... these sistuations from the games were discussed, don't want to put Nyberg in negativ focus, you can't have doubts about that.
I can't do more than that, this is a free blog and day after day I'm always disappointed to read that people think we are against referees. Honestly one could also think it's time to close everything and maybe after so many efforts, you will understand that a discussion is better than nothing.
Three difficult situations for Nyberg last night.
DeleteOffside situation is more than fine I think. Advantage from correct offside is unlucky but then is in a very good position to decide no penalty. I think penalty could be whistled but big argument that attacker falls into the GK. I'm happy with this decision.
1st OFR. Clear penalty. Nyberg in excellent position so this is a disappointing decision. At this level I'm sure UEFA expect this to be called onfield.
2nd OFR. Very tough decision. I think penalty is totally understandable onfield but we know that UEFA looks at foot position and who is making the contact onto who regardless of who has possession. Good intervention from VAR but no criticism of Nyberg here.
@Chefren It's not reviewing single performances that is the problem, but when one performance is surrounded by negative comments in the predictions, appointment announcement, mid game and then in the post-game discussion. That's a narrative, when you let a mistake confirm your prediction. If you say today that referee X is in bad form, you'll naturally start to look for reasons to confirm this in their appointments and performances and then make a whole case from it. Nyberg is indeed a prime example of this, as evidenced by yesterday's game and comments including yours here.
DeleteI disagree. @Chefren is one of the very few who is always visible in the comment section, reporting about all incidents, no matter if the referee is Italian or not.
DeleteI do think there are a few others who have an agenda and certain preferences. Users who come here to praise or defend a favourite referee or to criticize their “competitors”
About Nyberg. I don’t think he had a poor season so far? I just recall the incident in the PSG game, it was a clear mistake by Attwell to make an intervention. Furthermore, I agree with Jaime. Nyberg could have whistled the 1st penalty. The 2nd penalty, he can be easily deceived by the nature of the contact. Advantage after offside is fine. Nyberg can't interrupt Benfica's attack. He could have whistled the penalty in '3, but I also understand the comments about attacker looking for a contact with the keeper.
@MQ feel free to think that, I really can't add more to what already said.
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