Monday, 10 March 2025

Champions League 2024/25 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (IV)

The last set of referee assignments for Champions League Round of 16, second legs to be played on Wednesday 12 March 2025.



Wednesday 12 March 2025

18:45 CET - Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Stade Pierre Mauroy)
LOSC LILLE (FRA) - BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER) 
Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI
Fourth Official: Lionel Tschudi SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Michal Mertinyák SVK

21:00 CET  - Birmingham (Villa Park) 
ASTON VILLA FC (ENG) - CLUB BRUGGE KV (BEL) 
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Foltyn GER
Assistant Referee 2: Lasse Koslowski GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Domenico Messina ITA 
UEFA Delegate: Roxana Berceanu ROU

21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Metropolitano) 
CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID (ESP) - REAL MADRID CF (ESP) 
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE 
UEFA Delegate: Karl Espen Eriksen NOR

21:00 CET - London (Arsenal Stadium) 
ARSENAL FC (ENG) - PSV (NED) 
Referee: Rade Obrenović SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official:  David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alena Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Bertrand Layec FRA
UEFA Delegate: Jaroslav Doležal CZE
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36 comments:

  1. Unknown10 March 2025 at 10:15

    The symbolic appointment! ;)
    A Slovenian. Classic.

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  2. MARIO10 March 2025 at 10:31

    I never saw a first class referee in the R16 CL; it's probably a replacement after the 1st leg result; I guess it wasn't the 1st appointment done

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    1. FlorenVL10 March 2025 at 10:53

      I think it's happened more often, because in R16 first category refs are still allowed, but usually they do 1st legs, not 2nd legs
      from quarter finals on they should be all elite
      I guess his nationality helps....

      Delete
  3. Holly10 March 2025 at 10:32

    Hahahahahahaha, Obrenovic, Ceferin, Rosetti and Sajn UEFA circus

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    1. Unknown10 March 2025 at 10:46

      His performance in AZ-Tottenham wasn’t exceptional either. It says something about the power of a passport. ;)

      They had to find a replacement after the 1-7 in 1st leg - Elite is a waste - and I assume Peljto became a victim of that.

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  4. Ref Fot10 March 2025 at 10:36

    Couple of comments:
    1. Scharer-expected, as someone of you predicted earlier
    2. Obrenovic with regular observer, and I think first in history from 1st category that officiate round of 16. Expected promotion to elite at next update
    3. Siebert- back in the game!
    4. Marciniak- excellent appoitment for him.
    So we can conclude that names like Peljto,Nyberg,Makkelie,Taylor are kept for quarterfinals.

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    1. FlorenVL10 March 2025 at 10:48

      about Obrenovic, I think it's happened more often that a category 1 ref got a round of 16 match, because in the the round of 16 the refs are allowed from 1st category, howerer from the quarter finals on they should be all elite referees, at least in champions league.

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    2. FlorenVL10 March 2025 at 10:49

      But I agree he's a good referee and expected to promote this summer to elite

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    3. Peter10 March 2025 at 11:13

      I also can't remember a non-elite referee ever having handled a Champions League match in the knockout phase. Could it be possible for UEFA to appoint a referee originally planned for this game at short notice for a Europa League match and to appoint Rade Obrenovic for this game, which is most likely rather meaningless in view of the first-leg result?

      Delete
    4. CarlRDM10 March 2025 at 21:16

      As I can remember Pavel Kralovec and Milorad Mazic as Elite Development group referees had KO match in CL long time ago

      Delete
  5. FlorenVL10 March 2025 at 10:45

    Was already hoping Marciniak would be refereeing in the Madrid derby, gonna be a wild match, great appointment
    bit suprised not to see Danny Makkelie or Anthony Taylor on this appointments, but maybe they will have a match in the Europa League or in the Champions League semi-finals

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    1. Philipp S10 March 2025 at 11:12

      Yes, Makkelie and Taylor missing in both CL rounds is quite remarkable.
      I think, there must be more behind that than just "they are protected for the final".
      I would even argue, it would be hard to justify to use them in the following CL stages. Would be unfair against others, who had to "survive" one or two KO games already.

      Delete
    2. Unknown10 March 2025 at 11:49

      Can be justified by experience imo:
      - Makkelie: 52 UCL games, 4x QF, 2x SF. UEL final 2020.
      - Taylor: 38 UCL games, 3x QF, 1x SF. UEL final 2023, Nations League final etc.

      Delete
  6. Ref10 March 2025 at 10:47

    I don’t understand how Obrenovic, only a few months after a disastrous performance under the eyes of Rosetti, can be appointed to a CL R16, and be considered for a promotion to Elite category.

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  7. Philipp S10 March 2025 at 11:13

    Rather unusual, that officials (Borosak and Dingert) work as main VAR on Tuesday and Wednesday. Normally, it is a combination of VAR and AVAR, if they work both days.

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    1. Unknown10 March 2025 at 11:34

      VAR in Inter-Feyenoord is Fedayi San now. They removed Dingert

      Delete
  8. Chefren10 March 2025 at 11:57

    I think that a Category 1 officiated a Round of 16 in CL KO stage many years ago, it was either Karasev or Mazic, I don't remember exactly, but surely one of the two. Maybe both... it's extra ordinary, but already happened, while surely Category 1 can't appear from Quarterfinals onwards.
    So they use the game in London for Obrenovic. The observer, Layec, didn't change. I think it's possible they changed only the referee in this case, because it's hard to think he was already appointed for that, even before his previous game.
    Basically it's good thing that we don't see Elite in London, would be a full waste after first leg score, but we can observe that the Slovenian MUST have a career, despite of some controversial performances. I didn't have the occasion to watch more from his last match in Netherlands, maybe he was good.
    The rest, all expected, with Schaerer together with Kruzliak with a delayed assignment waiting for their EL games before.
    Hard to find different names for Madrid's derby, while Siebert keeps a certain trust by committee, but let's say, if I get his management right, if there is a room, they assign him (clearly Zwayer is ahead as German nr.1, based also on this choice). Always hard to understand about Stieler...

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    1. Chefren10 March 2025 at 12:56

      After accurate search:
      Milorad Mazic was promoted as Elite on June 2013.
      He had already got a CL KO game as Category 1, PSG - Valencia, Round of 16, 6 March 2013.

      Delete
    2. Ref Fot10 March 2025 at 13:40

      You right, but he was not first category ref, he was Elite Development! :)

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    3. Thomas10 March 2025 at 13:47

      Aydinus and Karasev had a R16 in the same season as Cat1 iirc.

      Delete
    4. Chefren10 March 2025 at 13:48

      But this can suggest us also that Obrenovic promotion is close, otherwise no hurry to put him in CL KO stage.
      Elite on June? Well' see...

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    5. Ref Fot10 March 2025 at 14:07

      About Aydinus and Karasev,also Elite Developement :)

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    6. Ref Fot10 March 2025 at 14:15

      And also, Karasev was part of knock out stage at 13/14 Real Schalke, Aydinus at 12/13 he officiate Juventus home game at round of 16.

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    7. Peter10 March 2025 at 14:32

      If I remember correctly, I think Cüneyt Çakır set a certain record in 2010 when he officiated the match Fulham FC - Hamburger SV in the semi-finals of the Europa League. It wasn't the Champions League, but as far as I know, the Turk wasn't an elite referee at that time (but replaced another colleague at short notice).

      Delete
    8. Peter10 March 2025 at 14:46

      Addendum: And without ever having refereed a single Champions League match before, as I just realized ...

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  9. Unknown10 March 2025 at 14:31

    It is worth mentioning that two matches were delayed in the Champions League, but also three in the Europa League:

    Athletic-Roma
    Olympiacos-Bodø
    Rangers-Fenerbahce

    Could be the same approach with Kruzliak/Schärer, thus we can expect some 1st leg referees again. Except for one name, because one of the referees was initially appointed to Arsenal-PSV and moved to one of the open games. Probably Peljto or Nyberg?

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  10. Andrei10 March 2025 at 19:18

    OT: Anyone know (maybe ESF) what happened on the first goal for Legia Warsaw at Ekstraklasa Motor Lublin-Legia Warsaw? I'm confused with the referee gesture. The referee was Jarosław Przybył (48 y.o). Thanks in advance.

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    1. Chefren10 March 2025 at 19:36

      Don't know what exactly happened, but here the video:
      https://streambug.org/cv/f0d605
      Not clear why keeper released the ball in that way as he was about to take a free kick and why referee was about to whistle but then he changed idea...

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    2. Euro Soccer Ref10 March 2025 at 19:42

      Full sequence:
      https://streambug.org/cv/6ff659

      Motor's players were convinced there was an offside but...

      Delete
    3. Philipp S10 March 2025 at 20:39

      One can hear a whistle at the relevant moment - so a dropped ball for outside interference seems the right call.

      Delete
  11. Ref Fan 110 March 2025 at 21:49

    Who is the likely appointment for Man Utd - Real Sociedad? I know we it will be confirmed tomorrow but does anyone have early information? Thanks.

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  12. smala01711 March 2025 at 05:28

    OT: this review for a red card was given as a second yellow in AFC Champions League Al Nassr vs Esteghlal, 4:27 in this video: https://youtu.be/2HiORDB9rEU?si=rwsD3N4oW_bGYxvV&t=4m27s

    Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB),
    Don’t know where to find the VAR

    Crazy that something like this gets sent down as a red card review. It’s barely a yellow card, let alone a clear and obvious red. I guess the VAR decided that second yellows are reviewable now? If this is the standard of VAR in AFC, then the 2026 World Cup will surely not go better for them than 2022.

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    1. Chefren11 March 2025 at 08:20

      Video can't be watched outside Asia.
      Here the full game on AFC official channel:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpi2Wng-Cns
      VAR were from Uzbekistan as well, Norsafarov and Riskullaev.
      Fully unknown names for me but I don't follow AFC recently.
      Incident in 45'+2 of first half.
      In my opinion VAR assessed it was a deliberate action by player (without looking at all at the intensity), but indeed in the scenario where the player was already booked and after the OFR the referee goes for a second YC, you have feeling that VAR has been rather used against the protocol... would have been definitely better to show a direct red card, once rewatched.

      You can see how around the world, there are the most different uses of VAR, and I want to say again that's absolutely not good thing...

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    2. Andrei11 March 2025 at 10:32

      If I'm not mistaken about Uzbek referees, after Asian Cup 2023 (he's not involved), Firdavs Norsafarov (31 y.o) rise as trusted VAR from the region and he is now VAR candidate for FWC 2026 (maybe it's also for CWC 2025), with Irmatov influence IMO Uzbekistan full squad (Tantashev-Norsafarov) we like it or not, it will going far. Uzbekistan right now have 2 young rising referees, beside Norsafarov, they have Asker Nadjafaliev (30 y.o), already have KO game in AFC CL 2 (Jeonbuk-Sydney/big match). They move on from Irmatov-Kovalenko era and now starting with Norsafarov-Nadjafaliev. For me it's very good thing because at the moment the situation in AFC to Arab-centrism, almost all match the VAR is from that region, and at the same time the situation for East Asia referee (China, Korea, and Japan) not good. Beside Uzbekistan, they have rising star from Tajikistan (but I don't think he had enough support), Sadullo Gulmurodi (34 y.o).

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    3. smala01712 March 2025 at 01:11

      Thanks for the detailed information Andrei, always nice to hera updates from lesser-known parts of the world. I watched Gulmurodi (TJK) during his Asian Cup game last year and thought he did a very good job.

      Delete

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