To complete the referee appointments for 2024-25 UEFA Champions League KO Play Offs, here the second set of second legs, to be played on 19/02/2025.
18:45 CET - Dortmund (BVB Stadion)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER) - SPORTING CP (POR)
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Howard Webb ENG
UEFA Delegate: Stéphanie Ford BEL
21:00 CET - Paris (Parc des Princes)
PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (FRA) - STADE BRESTOIS 29 (FRA)
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE
UEFA Delegate: Virgar Hvidbro FRO
PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (FRA) - STADE BRESTOIS 29 (FRA)
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE
UEFA Delegate: Virgar Hvidbro FRO
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu)
REAL MADRID CF (ESP) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
REAL MADRID CF (ESP) - MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG)
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA
UEFA Delegate: Charles Schaack LUX
21:00 CET - Eindhoven (PSV Stadion)
PSV (NED) - JUVENTUS (ITA)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Iain Blair SCO
PSV (NED) - JUVENTUS (ITA)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Iain Blair SCO
It seems as committee has clear ideas about the penalty in Bruges. All Méler fault. I agree, impossible for VAR to intervene, can be a careless arm. Now Vincic expected for Juventus.
ReplyDeleteWhy does it seem like that?
DeleteChief, and what will be the committee's next steps regarding Meler? Does this include van Boekel in the process?
DeleteOliver in Paris, Vinci for PSV Juve, logic choice in Madrid with Kovacs, unexpected Massa in Dortmund
ReplyDelete5th game with a German team for Massa this season - in spite of the bad performance in NED-GER.
ReplyDeletekNVB had reported van Borkel and Dieperink as VAR for Kovacs. News immediately deleted... My previous comment was basse on that. Once again thank to KNVB we know everything..
ReplyDeleteGalatasaray - Fenerbahce: Istvan Kovacs (VAR: Pol van Boekel)
ReplyDeleteSure?
ReplyDeleteTFF made an announcement to the press today. They will think about foreign referee if only both teams apply to TFF. It is said that Fenerbahçe will apply but Galatasaray will not.
ReplyDeleteMost probably Karaoglan or Meler will get the derby.
If Karaoglan gets the match,then for sure in build up we will see plenty talk from Fener side against him.
DeleteThere was already press conference where Mourinho was openly talking against him,saying that he was on a break when he did not call ref to check clear penalty im favour of Fener.Also in that match(Trabzonspor) 2 penalties were decided against Fener.
Galata will also say something cause he whistled doubtful penalty for Fener in their 1st derby this season.
So I wont be surprised if we see someone like Marciniak, Vincic,Kovacs or some other elite refs.
Roma VS Porto: Letexier?
ReplyDeleteI think Turpin
DeleteWhy? The appointment was made before Turpin’s game in Manchester
DeleteToday I also learned that not even the federation sites can be considered official source in publishing the appointments. From now on it will be better to wait for the UEFA website in all cases. :)
ReplyDeleteKovacs finds again this game after having officiated it back in 2022.
At that time he was starting with the "very top", but he was already there. I rememebr an excellent, as always, comment by Mikael, about that path, at that time. The games he had officiated before and than that one. Hope he will be strict with benches if needed, as we know him also for that. Clear argument behind Rizzoli, preparation to WC 2026, he Romanian has still to make his "debut" in the very big competition, after having worked as reserve referee in 2022.
About the rest, a rather normal game for Massa, considering the name and the score of first leg (but still, we know, appointments made before), a rather sub-standard, but I think in this choice committee has added an assessment about the very poor game involving Atlético he handled, and they want to be rather careful now, or at least a bit hiding from the spotlights the referee.
Very long injury for Guida and this new couple of assistant referee, Carbone (former with Orsato and often with Guida) and Alassio (always with Massa) seems to be start of a possible new fixed trio. It seems as Meli (the other with Massa in past) was out for a while from serie A, maybe an injury. It's interesting to point out that despite of a not excellent level, let's say, of Italian top referees, there were still two appearances in CL KO play off. One could have guessed just one referee, and maybe this would have been definitely enough for the current standard.
Then, Vincic: here you find logic with Marciniak, identical choices for Milan and Juventus, this gives us further confirmations that appointments were made before, and not only, that they were more worried about these two clashes (I agree, very open Italian - Dutch ties) but definitely less about Atalanta. But they didn't change referee for Atalanta, confirming Zwayer.
Just wanted also to add that at moment for some reasons, Schaerer seems a bit out from the favor of committee, you can describe him as referee in a similar position to Nyberg, and they had some issues in Group Stage, but while the Swedish is now a bit back on his road, the Swiss seems to have lost some credit, you could have expected him in a game. Let's see whether he will appear or not in EL or even ECL. I also think that sometims the work of San was not assessed as the best by committee, but yes, for that they have solution, by easily sending a German VAR, or maybe another from another nation.
For Oliver it's difficult to say whether this is a good or a rather "not good" one, could have got more, but yes, Ialian teams at moment clearly avoided after the focus on Rosetti and PSG always delicate. But clearly after first leg, committee would have made different choice.
Also, another replacement: Šmajc took the role of fourth official in Eindhoven, Matoša was originally appointed.
ReplyDeleteOff-topic: One interesting thing that there were so many times menitoned on the blog that Obrenovic was back in Monaco in round 7th. But actually when Vincic was in charge of that game Matej Jug was the 4th official. Weird that there is a change in Vincic's original appointment againt.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBoth Meler and Van Boekel are out of European competitions imo for this season.
ReplyDeleteYou often speak about Italian press but last week penalty has been named "the worst PK ever awarded" by The Athletic and a very dangerous PK for football ("Que un contacto así acabe en penalti es muy peligroso para el fútbol") by Mateu Lahoz.
Again if there were no chanche for a overrule with an OFR in that case, we really do not need VAR in football.
Btw good luck to Zwayer and his team!
Well said by Mateu Lahoz. And although I agree, it is not easy to find a solution, to “rewrite” the protocol.
DeleteWhat is supposed to be the threshold for a VAR intervention? Something like: "Well, just use your football brain and common sense" isn’t going to work in real time. Moreover, they should keep the threshold for VAR-intervention as low as they can. Too much VAR interventions don’t help to develop a great generation of new referees; VAR rather makes referees lazy.
Having said that, the protocol should not mainly focus on the question: is there a contact (Y/N). To define “a clear and obvious mistake”, they shall take other circumstances into account, and not just the contact. For example, in BRU-ATA:
1) The theatrical act by the attacker;
2) Intensity of a contact;
3) And the penalty being a crucial and potential match deciding incident (in stoppage time).
Add these circumstances to the blender and you have a controversial incident, that should always require a VAR intervention. i) For the future of football and ii) to save a talented official from a controversial (and potentially) a season-ending incident.
I don’t understand how it is possible to enforce such a strict punishment against the referee while also saying that he penalty was not a clear and obvious error…
DeleteDingert not working on Wednesday makes his AVAR appointment on Tuesday (not with Dankert) even stranger. Couldn't they have used Salisbury as AVAR in Milan-Feyenoord?
ReplyDeleteNormally, those mixed country VAR pairs mean, that the AVAR works as VAR the day before or after.
We can't know. They make so many changes.
DeleteOriginal VAR assignment for Real - City was Van Boekel - Dieperink. Then, Van Boekel replaced, but also Dieperink, with the Polish VAR as AVAR.
I think it is more about Borosak learning from Dankert, to be the save VAR for Vincic the committee needs.
DeleteDingert probably simply an experienced AVAR available who I suppose will be VAR in EL or ECL.
Nejc Kajtazović (SVN) was Vinčić's VAR in the CL final 2024 and EURO 2024 semi final . Afterwards, he made (some) crucial mistake(s) in the beginning of this season. Why is Kajtazović (SVN) still completely out of the picture?
DeleteSensible appointment for Oliver, a CL knockout game on paper, but (barring a repeat of PSG’s 2017) a match that will remain out of the spotlight, a welcome gift to Oliver after recent weeks.
ReplyDeleteI’m really interested to see how the committee ranks Kovacs’s work over the past year. This feels like a HUGE game for him, either it could confirm him in the top top echelon (World Cup lock, CL Final candidates) with a good performance, or with a very bad performance it could be extremely damaging to his reputation, especially if UEFA also took a poor view on other matches like Barca-PSG or Turkey-Czechia.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI could understand if Uefa saw his performance in CZE-TUR,too many bookings,lost control and so on.
DeleteMaybe even Bayern-Psg,lost control and other reasons.
But for Barca - Psg come on now..
He did everything by the book and that was one of the finest performances last season.
I agree M, that’s why I used the word IF.
DeleteOT: The CONCACAF seminar for the Women's World Cup Brazil 2027 was held last week in Costa Rica, with the presence of Bibiana Steinhaus.
ReplyDeleteThe list of pre-selected referees (17):
Katia García (MEX)
Karen Hernández (MEX)
Marianela Araya (CRC)
Deily Gómez (CRC)
Tori Penso (USA)
Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
Natalie Simon (USA)
Alyssa Nichols (USA)
Myriam Marcotte (CAN)
Carly Shaw MacLaren (CAN)
Sandra Benítez (SLV)
Janeishka Cabán (PUR)
Vimarest Díaz (DOM)
Crystal Sobers (TRI)
Odette Hamilton (JAM)
Tatiana Guzmán (NCA)
Astrid Gramajo (GUA)
Source: Posts shared by referees through Instagram.
Thanks for collecting and reporting the information.
DeleteMelissa Borjas, big name from Honduras, will not attend after the disappointment of previous tournament, she was candidate for the final, and in my opinion if after that things changed in favor of the US referee, it was also (or mainly?) for this reason.
Melissa Borjas has announced her retirement, posting a communicate on her instagram profile, here reported.
Deletehttps://x.com/tigosportshn/status/1890836486087417971?s=46&t=lcaa8UXQGVrLQDHrWrW09Q
Yes, Borjas' absence is remarkable and I would add Marie Soleil Beaudoin who made a semifinal in 2019 and disappointed in 2023, maybe that's where the thing goes.
DeleteInteresting to see 4 Americans, I bet there will be only 2 in the final list, Penso has his place assured and it will be interesting to see the Koroleva-Simon "fight" for 2027. Nichols I feel it's a 2032 process.
The Mexican duo at a good level, I have seen them in Liga MX and the truth would not surprise me to see both in Brazil.
2 Costa Ricans, Araya was support in 2023 so she has a good chance for 2027 (Araya became the first woman to referee a Male "Classic" in CR on February 9 between Saprissa-LDA).
As I mentioned before, Beaudoin's absence opens the door to Marcotte (who was support in 2023 like Araya) we will see if Mac-Laren reaches her, although I think that together with Nichols it is a process for 2032 and more.
We'll see if Guzman leaves the screen and takes the whistle :)
I have no references about Benitez, Díaz, Gramajo and Cabán.
I wrote 2032, I apologize, it's 2031 ;)
DeleteIt is official, TFF president said that Gala - Fener derby referees will be foreign.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest candidate is Vincic.
Vincic is the referee of Bravo Big Bang - Koper game on 22nd February, Saturday. So he is possibly not the referee of Istanbul Derby.
Deletehttps://www.prvaliga.si/tekmovanja/?action=tekma&id_tekme=388136
DeleteGAL-FEB is already on Monday, "just" 5 days to find a referee. There are domestic games in the weekend and Cup games midweek. Most referees already know their next game and many FA's already published the schedule.
DeleteLatest rumor is Szymon Marciniak.
DeleteIt will be Nejc Kajtazovic. :D
DeleteKovacs.
DeleteWould be a remarkable choice after the infamous last group stage game between Czech Republic and Turkey in Germany.
DeleteChefren,what is your prediction who will be appointted for the Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe match?
ReplyDeleteReally don't know, sorry.
DeleteAre your sure?
ReplyDelete@chefren or anyone here. What could Meler's punishment be and what impact could it have on his career? I would look forward to an answer.
ReplyDeleteAs hugostiglitz wrote below, that's surely not a first mistake with a certain impact by a UEFA referee, I wouldn't be so worried because in past months the Turkish had good performances and he was following a certain path with committee rather trusting him. In my opinion, not a full trust like the very experienced Elite, but that's of course very hard to gain, nevertheless, he was on a very good path, until the chaos started in Turkey. Then, after that rather more careful assignments for him. A mistake can happen, I think in the worst of the cases his KO stage is already over, but maybe that would be already too much. But if so, I think that after the end of club competitions for this season he will start again with UEFA games, without issues. Maybe meanwhile something in Turkey will be solved...
DeleteIn a better case, he could get a KO game in a latter stage of Conference League and that's would be a very good signal.
Having to make a prediction, in my opinion he could not appear again for this season, but we must also say that this happens mostly because committee is worried about media reaction, and not that much for mere technical reasons. Or at least that's what I could notice in past...
Let's see, however he shouldn't be that much worried, I think.
Thanks for the answer @chefren. I hope Meler can referee a Champions League final or a Europa League final at some point if he can continue to match his past performance. Would Meler have the potential to referee one of the two finals?
DeleteTime will tell, as for now, he is on good path, but of course time is needed. A pleasure to answer, but remember it's only my opinion :)
DeleteMeler is not the only referee who has mistakes in Champions League. He is not having great season both in domestic and europe. I don't think he can have another CL game but he will have at least one KO rounds in Europa League or Conference League i guess.
ReplyDeleteIn a very boring game, now penalty to Borussia Dortmund, I think Massa got a confirmation by AR1, the referee looked at him before the call.
ReplyDeleteI’m surprised that penalty in Dortmund did not get overturned. In my opinion the goalkeeper won the ball fairly.
ReplyDeleteGood save though, “ball don’t lie” as they say.
Very soft touch on ball then most of challenge on the attacker, this should be reason why VAR didn't intervene.
DeleteI think BVB - SPO game is the most boring KO game in last years.
ReplyDeleteStandard game in Dortmund and without many emotions with just one YC in the match. I think Massa felt sleepy during the 90 minutes. hahahaha
DeletePeljto in Kuwait at friday, next week in Saudi Arabia.
ReplyDeleteYou talked about Kajtazovic. He was removed from the national list of referees in SVN. He made some big mistakes on friendly U19 match and before he lost his job, because he cheated with travel expenses…firs VAR in SVN is now Borosak
ReplyDeleteRandom question, for you who are the best referees of each confederation today?
ReplyDeleteI’d say:
AFC: Faghani IRN
CAF: Ghorbal ALG
CONCACAF: Elfath USA
CONMBEBOL: Claus BRA
OFC: Here it is an unknown, maybe for having gone to the U-20 and the Olympics I would say Kawana NZL but I have never paid attention to him in a game TBH.
UEFA: Marciniak POL
For me, on the one hand, the question is how you define “today”: In the current season? Within the last twelve months? Since the last World Cup? etc. On the other hand, I would not choose a referee as the best of his confederation who puts himself in the media spotlight by giving "private" interviews because for me this profession should be associated with a certain degree of humility and restraint.
DeleteGood first half by Kovacs.
ReplyDeleteKovacs not in focus but he has had better games. Tecnically not as accurate as we all are used to as he missed a few incidents...
ReplyDeletearound 24' possible YC for step on foot for City #7, at least a strong warning should have followed, I personally prefer a YC here because the tackle is also quite late.
Around 40' missed foul off the ball on Mbappé, also worth of a YC.
And then I think a missed corner kick for city in 42, but not sure here.
The two YC given were good. Kovacs is also not afraid to caution Bellingham early.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVAR intervention to allowing the 1-1 from Juventus
ReplyDeleteVery difficult situation. I would have been okay with offside since the striker did not go for the ball but interfered somewhat with the vision of multiple defenders.
DeleteNo challenge for the ball. No attempting to play the ball. Clear Onside. very good VAR intervention.
DeleteFor me no difficult situation at all, very good and very clear intervention in my book.
Delete“interfering somewhat” is by far not sufficient to make the offside position punishable. There has to be a ‘clear obstruction of the line of vision’ and on top of that attacker must ‘prevent the opponent from playing the ball or being able to play the ball’. IMHO none of these conditions is met.
Absolutely wasted Oliver in Paris. But as we Know, appointment made before First leg. This would have been a game for experience of a low elite referee. Also in Madrid you can discuss about Minor situations but no challenge Easy for Real Madrid. However in this case It was Impossible to predict. Today only Open games in Eindhoven. The rest absolutely not interesting, at least under refereeing point of view. Very boring...
ReplyDeleteI don’t watch the game, but worth mentioning that Oliver has an important observer.
DeleteThe English must be a final candidate, if e.g. the final is played between PSG and a German team.
Yes, Oliver must certainly be number 1 in English to be in the final in Munich. A shame that Taylor buried his chances in GER x SPA at Euro 2024.
DeleteGood VAR intervention in Eindhoven to allow the Weah goal, the player in an offside position did not challenge for an opponent, nor make an obvious action, nor had any impact on an opponent.
ReplyDeleteVery good OFR.
DeleteFor me, also a good OFR in Eindhoven. Punishing the offside is what I call insignificant grounds for arguing.
ReplyDeleteMajor VAR error from Higler in Madrid, clear and obvious penalty missed by Higler which was given FK on field
ReplyDeleteFactual mistake, the foul was clearly in the box, must be a penalty
DeleteThe impression I had was that the City player stepped on the line in the Real area before being hit. And Kovacs' delay in signaling the foul is incomprehensible. Slowness of the Romanian referee.
DeleteIf any game should have zero added time, a 10:0 agg knockout is one of them. A true rarity in modern times
ReplyDelete97’ Juve very lucky that was not considered clear SFP…
ReplyDeleteAfter a hard reckless challenge a few moments earlier too
Yc is ok for me.
DeleteMissed YC ‘97
ReplyDeleteVincic doing Vincic things.
DeleteAlways afraid of clear decisions ...
Now YC simulation.
DeleteInspired by Marciniak :D
That's what I meant. Vincic is strong in decisions, that have no consequences.
DeleteYes, Vinčić keeps getting away with his particular style. In all fairness, he makes refereeing look incredibly easy. Matches are completely under his grasp.
DeleteBut on the other hand, I can write a long list of great decisions made by Marciniak. While I don’t recall any decisions by the Slovenian. The latter is the definition of invisibility, which is in some way a compliment and why Rosetti probably likes him.
In 10-20 years, we will remember the Pole as one of the greatest of all time. But Vinčić...?
@ Ref
DeleteWell, maybe we shall remember Vincic as a ref who would have had another career under different UEFA constellation.
Three Italian clubs in the play-off; all eliminated. I didn't expect that. Now its just Inter. Rosetti could be relieved? Less pressure for him.
ReplyDeleteIt's official. Vincic will take Gala - Fener derby
ReplyDeleteVincic - CL game on Wednesday, Slovenian League game on Saturday & Turkish League game on Monday. Insane...
DeleteCan someone post these incidents from Vincic’ game: ‘93 and ‘97. Curious about your opinions.
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/jeroenkapteijns/status/1892489921954218075?s=46
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteVincic.
ReplyDelete63' VAR intervention for allowing Juventus goal, originally disallowed by AR2
https://streambug.org/cv/508dc5
.
94' Possible RC for SFP, YC given
https://streambug.org/cv/2537bd
97' Possible RC for SFP, no card
https://streambug.org/cv/d6f895
100' Simulation (not a decision you can expect by Vincic, but I think in this case he clearly saw thank to positioning that player fell wihout any contact, so he could be 100% sure)
https://streambug.org/cv/8f80a4
2 RC for 94 and 97 would have been possible
DeleteThanks!
Delete‘94 is in nature a fair duel to win the ball, the ball fell somewhere in between them. Player was lucky not to break his shin. Juve player knew very well he escaped from a RC. Look at his facial expressions.
‘97 is nasty, with studs from behind. Deliberate imo. In nature a frustration foul imo. Not much force or speed though, so I guess YC would be enough under UEFA guidelines?
Well-spotted simulation, I was pleasantly surprised he issued a YC.
The most difficult games coming are the Real Madrid-Athletico round of 16. Should the 1st leg stay close the return match will be the most difficult in the round of 16 in terms of control. Who would you select for these 2 games?
ReplyDelete