2024-25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, second legs, games to be played on Tuesday 11 March 2025.
18:45 CET - Barcelona (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys)
FC BARCELONA (ESP) - SL BENFICA (POR)
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Metin Kazancıoğlu TUR
21:00 CET - Liverpool (Anfield)
LIVERPOOL FC (ENG) - PARIS SAINT GERMAN (FRA)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
LIVERPOOL FC (ENG) - PARIS SAINT GERMAN (FRA)
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Horațiu Feșnic ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Stijn Hutsebaut BEL
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - FEYENOORD (NED)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee:Christian Dingert GER Fedayi San SUI
FC INTERNAZIONALE (ITA) - FEYENOORD (NED)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kralović SVK
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav BIH
UEFA Delegate: David McDowell SVN
21:00 CET - Leverkusen (BayArena)
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
UEFA Delegate: Philippe Prudhon FRA
Overall a rather predictable and logical set of appointments.
ReplyDeleteFor Barcelona-Benfica we discussed recently, that there are arguments against nearly everyone. So UEFA decided not to care, that the winner might play Lille in the next round. Personally, I like that decision, because otherwise Letexier makes a lot of sense in that game. And the Kuipers observation should confirm, that he is considered for another final this season.
For Kruzliak, the late observer appointment actually meant, that we see a referee from last week. IMO, only two group stage games should not be enough to get a R16 2nd leg. Also his last CL game, was in October (and not really a good performance as well...).
Kruzliak was twice ill/injured during winter, that´s why he hadn´t any matches since October
DeleteYes, I am aware of that.
DeleteHowever, I think, that referees should also qualify for the KO stage during their GS games. And as Kruzliak didn't have the chance to do that, I would have preferred, if he stays in EL in this season.
He is also not an established name at this stage. I just realized, that this will even be his debut in CL KO games.
So for Wednesday, most likely Makkelie and Marciniak considering the AVARs.
ReplyDeleteFor Arsenal-PSV, Peljto stays the most likely option, but Bastien, Mariani, Nyberg and Siebert are also possible.
And if the late observer again means a EL R16 referee, it has to be Schärer (because Hernandez and Stieler are not possible in this game).
Marciniak then is much more likely than Makkelie in Madrid, if we consider their recent form and appointments.
Makkelie will get Lille Dortmund i guess
DeleteMarciniak the Madrid clash
Bastien with Arsenal maybe
Schaerer, Makkelie, Nyberg, Peljto, Marciniak, Mariani and Bastien should be all names possible we can expect for Wednesday's games... we'll see.
DeleteMakkelie’s domestic appointment (with Erwin Blank as AVAR) does not indicate a Champions League match.
DeleteI think it will be Nyberg with Dieperink.
OK, but wouldn't it be strange, if Makkelie isn't appointed for a play-off or R16 game (unless there are some fitness issues).
DeleteBTW, the same counts for Taylor.
Well… Let’s say, I would have made different choices.
ReplyDeleteGood that committee doesn't care about the possible next opponent of a team, this is an argument I never liked. And one must start from the consideration that, at the moment of the appointment that's not a factual situation, with second legs still to be played.
ReplyDeleteKuipers will meet Letexier: it's easy to say that knowing how committee treats the French, another final is possible for him.
But if you give him everything, one should wonder how many motivations a still relatively young referee can keep in the years at UEFA level, for a career that can be still considered as very long.
Vincic in Leverkusen a regular appointment, and one can also understand Kovacs in Liverpool - PSG. Which style will be used by the Romanian? How much difficult the game at Anfield will be?
And, as it was easy to understand, committee was waiting for Kruzliak EL game before confirming him for CL. I think the game in Milan will be a relatively calm one, don't see any chance for Feyenoord for a comeback, honestly. Looks like Rosetti has certain admiration for the Slovakian referee, even when he is not at his best. Maybe included in the WC selection? We will know soon.
So, I think we can predict quite easily at least three assignments for tomorrow: Marciniak in Madrid's derby, only choice remaining (and indeed his VAR will be AVAR on Tuesday) and Schaerer in Lille (the other delayed assignment after EL).
The curiosity remains about Arsenal - PSV, unluckily appointment made before first leg, and Club Brugge -Aston Villa. In the latter maybe Nyberg with Messina, as somebody predicted.
@Chefren
DeleteThe selection for WC will be made to Collina and Busacca not to Rosetti?
I think Kruzliak his style, is not good enough to go to the WC
Yes, Collina and Busacca.
DeleteThere is now a clear disconnection between UEFA and FIFA, compared to the past, but still for officiating at World Cup, a European referee must always go through big Champions League matches, it seems obvious to me...
A bit of a surprise for me that after last week's poor intervention, another German VAR is appointed for Internationale-Feyenoord again. But they probably don't care about that.
ReplyDeleteWell it’s not just another German VAR. It’s exactly the same one (Christian Dingert). Just with another AVAR. IMO such appointments should not be made, especially after a controversy in the first game. It adds extra pressure to the VAR IMO.
DeleteYou are right.... A fault of Rosetti.
DeleteThat indeed looks like a mistake. I don't think, it has happened before, that the same VAR works in both legs.
DeleteSwapping Dankert and Dingert would also make sense, because Dingert worked with Kovacs more often.
Let's say that committee has shown not to have a big interest in Inter - Feyenoord clash... same VAR in both legs, despite of a potentially controversial call in first leg and the delayed appointment in second leg.
DeleteI guess Letexier is in focus to get one of the smaller UEFA finals. I don't think he will get the Champions League final given his age. Furthermore, the argument that Jérôme Brisard already had a Champions League final as VAR in 2022 can be a strong one (unwritten rule?)
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that Vincic is not in Liverpool or Madrid. He had a very good performance in PSV-Juve. Maybe his connection with Ceferin (who has "friends" at PSG) is an issue? Or is this a way to keep the Slovenian ‘clean’ in his road to the semi-finals?
I think Kovács in Liverpool is a risk. This is a pre-final and the Romanian has a reputation to ‘kill’ games with a too authoritative and harsh disciplinary management. Pretty much the opposite of Massa and Vincic. I sincerely hope Kovacs can withstand the pressure from certain French directors.
Very good post, just two remarks: I don't think that Vincic had to be kept clean for semifinals, according how he is now managed by committee and it stays indeed as relatively surprising not to see him in Liverpool, but in the German derby. Still a normal assignment for him, but one could have easily guessed Liverpool.
DeleteThen, about Kovacs, being on paper a candidate for CL final, he has indeed only to lose in that game, especially if he will keep his approach and the game will present controversial situations, but, let's also say, this big attention for PSG must be over soon or later! I think if committee had planned the Romanian this year for CL final (possible candidate), they wouldn't have appointed him for the one in Liverpool!
The other perspective on Kovacs would be, that he is simply UEFA's current pick of the bunch, given all the top games he gets this season.
DeleteAnd if he deals well with Liverpool-PSG, he should be the big favourite for the final, I think.
On Vincic, I agree, he was also possible in Liverpool and Madrid, but the German derby is similarly big (ignoring the 1st leg result), so nothing too weird about this choice IMO.
Overall, it seems the current top5 for UEFA are quite clear at the moment: Kovacs, Letexier, Marciniak, Turpin, Vincic
And those 5 were distributed to arguably the 5 biggest games of the R16 (assuming Marciniak in Madrid).
@ Chefren,
DeleteAgree with you. Kovács is a candidate for the Champions League final, but normally not a #1 candidate. Indeed, what you said: they wouldn’t give him the game in Liverpool. And it would be his 3th (!) UEFA final in 4 years.
Another detail to consider: if Kovács is appointed to a Champions League final, he needs a foreign VAR. Unless they start to prepare and train Cătălin Popa. Like they did with Vincic/Kajtazovic.
Again, I echo the argument that a VAR is probably allowed to do a Champions League final only once. The German FA won’t lend their best VAR Dankert. They are aiming for a Zwayer/Dankert final.
Makkelie/Dieperink is a fixed couple as well. Marco Fritz retired.
To conclude, who could be Kovács’ VAR when he is assigned to the UCL final? It can be Popa or Van Boekel, I think? The latter is still lurking in Nyon, waiting for his chance. Or perhaps Dingert or one of the Italian VARs?
Van Boekel, Higler and Dingert should be the top options as VAR for Kovacs. They are all among the top UEFA VARs and have worked with Kovacs this season.
DeleteYou know how there is a term "sacrificional game"..
DeleteThis might be that for Kovacs,cause I dont see how he can win in this match.
On one hand you have Liverpool and english media that constantly complain about refs whenever they lose and were consistent in that for years whenever City was leading Premier League.
On the other hand,you have PSG,and we all know histiry with them and refs in CL.
Barcelona,Real,Bayern,every time they feel that they are harmed by refs decisions.
This season,he already had PSG match,against Bayern and there were lot of critics of his style and him sending off Dembele.
Yes,he had them last season against Barcelona and all major decisions went PSG's way(rightfully)and then there was not any complaints.
But this time I dont see how he can win unless he has some extraordinary performance like he had when City played Real 3 seasons ago.
Also,if we notice his style,maybe he changed it a little bit,more leniency as we saw in most recent Real-City match.
He also had Bucharest derby after that and that leniency was still present.
So maybe he changed his style and became modern no card giving ref.
If he did that,that's such a shame.
But like I said,I dont see how he can win in that match.
Maybe he can win if Liverpool blow PSG out and game does not have any competitive spirit.
Hopefully we'll see great match and great performance by Kovacs.
I agree with Phillip. However, I do think we shouldn’t rule Makkelie out for the UCL final. This season, he has been assigned relatively low-profile matches, similar to Turpin and Vincic in the seasons they officiated the final. It wouldn’t surprise me if, for that reason, Makkelie gets a less high-profile match in the UCL or even a UEL/UECL match.
ReplyDeleteOT: Which referees will be selected by FIFA from UEFA for the Club World Cup? And when will this be announced?
ReplyDeleteIt has been reported that this selection will be made after the FIFA seminary for UEFA referees at the end of this month in Zurich. Very important days for knowing more about the referees who are in contention for WC 2026.
DeleteUnacceptable gesture by Sané against fourth official. Quite amazing no card here…
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/mauritaniefoot/status/1898503121992585234?s=46&t=Ok5OCp_U1mZPFDKlm4EOGQ
Incredible that fourth official doesn't report anything.
DeleteThat's the paramount example of "modern refereeing" where the officials have to accept everything from players.
The Romanian is TERRIBLE choice for the Anfield game. He will KILL the flow of the game.
ReplyDeleteI believe siebert will be at villa park
ReplyDeleteNow San is VAR in the Inter-Feyenoord game instead of Dingert.
ReplyDeleteAnd Schärer with Higler. What a show :)
DeleteIt's strange they make all these changes and unpredictable choices with VAR, why not San with Schaerer?
DeleteMy idea is that they want all referees to work with different VARs to be more flexible and to make such choices in case of big games or tournaments, otherwise it wouldn't make sense.
While San and Schaere can have the best communication each other in terms of language, it's definitely not the same for Schaerer - Higler and so on... but it seems this is not an issue for committee.
Nope, this is an emergency measure.
DeleteUEFA made a mistake repeating Dingert with Feyenoord/Inter again. And now, they are fixing it, with a VAR musical chairs. ;)
OT: Referees appointed for U17 EURO qualifiers
ReplyDeleteGroup A1 (CRO, ITA, UKR, SVK):
Mathieu Vernice (FRA, AR Florian Goncalves)
Stefan Ebner (AUT, AR Manuel Undesser)
Gal Levi (ISR, AR Tuval Koltunoff)
Host FO: Antonio Melnjak (CRO, AR Dario Kolarević)
Group A2 (ESP, GER, AUT, NOR)
Benjamin McMaster (NIR, AR John Doherty)
Alexandros Tsakalidis (GRE, AR Michail Papadakis)
Florian Lata (ALB, AR Xhulio Mani)
Host FO: Francisco José Hernández Maeso (ESP, AR José Francisco García Lozano)
Group A3 (FRA, DEN, GRE, FIN)
Rareș Vidican (ROU, AR Alexandru Corb)
Dalibor Černý (CZE, AR Marek Malimánek)
Oguzhan Çakir (TUR, AR Bersan Duran)
Host FO: Marc Bollengier (FRA, AR Thomas Luczynski)
Group A4 (POR, NED, SRB, HUN)
Mikkel Redder (DEN, AR René Risum)
Ross Hardie (SCO, AR Alastair Taylor)
Kevin O'Sullivan (IRL, AR Eoin Harte)
Host FO: José Bessa (POR, AR João Morte)
Group A5 (SUI, SWE, TUR, CZE)
João Gonçalves (POR, AR André Dias)
Oliver Reitala (FIN, AR Olli Jantunen)
Matthias Jöllenbeck (GER, AR Jonas Weickenmeier)
Host FO: Zrinko Prskalo (SUI, AR Christophe Loureiro)
Group A6 (POL, BEL, IRL, ISL)
Seth Galia (GIB, AR Fausti Guerrero)
Danilo Nikolić (SRB, AR Milan Šutulović)
Dmytro Kubriak (UKR, AR Oleksandr Korniyko)
Host FO: Karol Arys (POL, AR Marcin Janawa)
Group A7 (ENG, SVN, NIR, ISR)
Karel Rouček (CZE, AR Lukáš Machač)
Patryk Gryckiewicz (POL, AR Bartosz Kaszynski)
Jasmin Sabotic (LUX, AR Rafael Morim)
Host FO: Lewis Smith (ENG, AR Craig Taylor)
Group B1 (SCO, ROU, MKD, LIE)
Matteo Marchetti (ITA, AR Giuseppe Perrotti)
Sven Wolfensberger (SUI, AR Marco Zürcher)
Bence Csonka (HUN, AR Norbert Bornemissza)
Host FO: Ryan Lee (SCO, AR Ross Nelson)
Group B4 (CYP, MDA, KOS, AND)
Mateo Erceg (CRO, AR Alen Jakšić)
Florian Badstübner (GER, AR Philipp Hüwe)
Wojciech Myc (POL, AR Bartosz Heinig)
Host FO: Andreas Tsampalas (CYP, AR Lambros Lambrou)
Group B7 (KAZ, GEO, LTU)
Jakob Semler (AUT, AR Matthias Hartl)
Márton Rúsz (HUN, AR Gergő Vigh-Tarsonyi)
Artem Gasparyan (ARM, AR Mesrop Ghazaryan)
Under 19s:
DeleteGroup 1 (HUN, DEN, AUT, ISL)
Pavle Ilić (SRB, AR Marko Djuričić)
Snir Levy (ISR, AR Daniel Ben-Hur)
Mohammad Aslam (NOR, AR Jørgen Valstadsve)
Host FO: Marcell Derdák (HUN, AR Ákos Berényi)
Group 2 (GEO, POL, SVK, MNE)
Ante Čulina (CRO, AR Luka Pušić)
Sayat Karabayev (KAZ, AR Dmitry Belogradov)
Jovan Kachevski (MKD, AR Kristijan Djonov)
Host FO: Bakari Bregadze (GEO, AR Boris Jvania)
Group 3 (CZE, NED, CRO, LUX)
Antoine Chiaramonti (AND, AR Ainhoa Fernández)
Menelaos Antoniou (CYP, AR George Kontemeniotis)
Kamal Umudlu (AZE, AR Namik Huseynov)
Host FO: Ladislav Szikszay (CZE, AR Adam Beneš)
Group 4 (SRB, BEL, NOR, ISR)
Damian Kos (POL, AR Marek Arys)
Mihály Káprály (HUN, AR Theodoros Georgiou)
Dominik Starý (CZE, AR David Zoufary)
Host FO: Nikola Petrović (SRB, AR Nemanja Jovanović)
Group 5 (ITA, ESP, FRA, LAT)
Bulat Sariev (KAZ, AR Sergey Vassyutin)
Zorbay Küçük (TUR, AR Furkan Ürün)
Antoni Bandić (BIH, AR Nebojša Žugić)
Host FO: Luca Zufferli (ITA, AR Alessio Berti)
Group 6 (GER, SVN, FIN, IRL)
Henrik Nalbandyan (ARM, AR Atom Sevgulyan)
Patrik Kolarić (CRO, AR Luka Pajić)
Mervan Bejtullahu (KOS, AR Granit Hyseni)
Host FO: Lukas Benen (GER, AR Eric Müller)
Group 7 (WAL, ENG, POR, TUR)
Granit Maqedonci (SWE, AR Fredrik Klitte)
Edgars Malcevs (LAT, AR Deniss Ševcenko)
Christos Vergetis (GRE, AR Andreas Fotopoulos)
Host FO: Benjamin Williams (WAL, AR Ethan Goatley)
Interesting nominations for the U17 tournament: From an Austrian point of view, in addition to newcomer Jakob Semler (who will officiate just ONE game in the sole group with only 3 teams), Stefan Ebner - and some other referees - with experience in the Conference League, which I would have expected more at the U19 tournament.
Delete3-1 by Barcelona, wrong flag by AR1, putting in trouble Letexier.
ReplyDeletePlayers didn't understand but he had to return back due to AR call, then offside corrected by VAR and goal, no need of free kick. He didn't wait for VAR before issuing YC for the foul, and that's good under the aspect that he officiates a game without thinking always to VAR and being corrected.
Very quiet and fair game so far.
DeleteAbsolutely fantastic management from Letexier with Barca’s third goal. He did everything right. For me he is the best ref at the moment.
ReplyDeleteYes, Letexier’s handling of the third goal was a moment of officiating perfection, showcasing unmatched precision and authority.
DeleteWithout a doubt the best referee of the last decade. Will go down in history as the GOAT (alongside Makkelie).
talking about the best referee of the last decade, letexier is for sure one of the best, but don't forget Marciniak, Skomina, Orsato, Cakir, Brych and Kuipers
Deleteand don't forget to look outside of europe
and of course the only GOAT of refereeing will always be pierluigi collina, the only referee that was used as a cover for the PES football game
However, looking for an argument, the foul at the edge of penalty area before 3-1 was for me reckless, in addition to SPA.
ReplyDeleteLetexier could have therefore confirmed YC even after the VAR correction, confirming the goal, but more difficult to explain to non-experts.
For the rest, nothing to say with Kuipers in the stands who perhaps expected to watch a very different match.
Letexier is a refereeing mastermind. His decisions are impeccable, guided by an almost supernatural understanding of the game. With unmatched authority and calm under pressure, he effortlessly controls the flow of the match. Every moment with Letexier on the field feels like a display of pure brilliance, raising the game to its highest standard.
ReplyDeleteKovacs with wrong foul given in first 30 seconds in paris match. No contact on player and ball won. This will be a Tough match
ReplyDeleteAlways a "european" foul, high foot, lacking control (although you're right there was no contact)
ReplyDeleteShould never be a foul but will always totally be given
DeleteGood on-field decision by AR2 for opening PSG goal.
ReplyDeleteOFR for Kruzliak, penalty to Feyenoord, a contact from behind.
ReplyDeleteCorrect PK of course, however not that difficult to see live IMO... OFR shouldn't have been necessary...
DeleteNot a good performance from Mr Kovacs at all far. Many missed fouls not given
ReplyDeleteYup, absolutely! This is what you get, when a referee gains experience and management skills as opposed to just simply blindly following the letter of the Law... 🤷♂️🤷♂️
DeleteMistaken identity by Kruzliak, VAR intervened
ReplyDeleteIMO very good 1H by Kovacs in a clean and football-focused game. Very few fouls given, and a correct no PK call in the last minutes.
ReplyDeleteNow a (quick and very efficient) VAR check/advice for mistaken identity from Kruzliak... Not the best impression from the end od the 1st half...
ReplyDeleteAnd a missed advantage as well, the same happened in previous EL game. Not the best moment for the Slovakian, but still...
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a missed advantage. He tried to give the advantage but Frattesi on the ground tripped a Feyenoord player, so he had to go back to the original foul. He looked like he is explaining that to Inter players afterwards
DeleteDylan Morgan-Longfield 11 March 2025 at 21:41
ReplyDeleteNot a good performance from Mr Kovacs at all far. Many missed fouls not given
________________
Ref 11 March 2025 at 21:47
IMO very good 1H by Kovacs in a clean and football-focused game. Very few fouls given, and a correct no PK call in the last minutes.
So? :)
Wrong PK for Inter, but "there is a contact, VAR couldn't do nothing"
ReplyDeleteThis penalty to Inter... well, a clear simulation by Taremi, he used the contact with defender, but he was already falling down. You can see it very clearly frame by frame.
ReplyDeleteNever a PK the one in Milan. Poor performance by Kruzliak so far
ReplyDeleteDisgraceful PK. No foul committed.
ReplyDeleteAnother simulation by Thuram, but now OFR. Finally VAR is useful, wow!
ReplyDeleteNow another penalty to Inter. In this case OFR. Honestly the worst performance One Can Remember at this level.. Thuram booked for simulations but where Is the difference with previous Taremi call....
ReplyDeleteEvidently no VAR has any idea what interpretation of the protocol Rosetti wanted
DeleteIn the first situation, there was a clear movement by the defender into the attacker's path. Even if he missed his foot, he is partly culpable for the contact, I think.
DeleteIn the second situation, the defender acts completely fair, stopping his leg movement early enough. So the contact is only created by the attacker, who also starts falling too early.
Comparing the two penalty moments, it is understandable why VAR did not intervene in the first moment. In fact, how can you say for sure that 'he has already fallen' at the first?
DeleteHe was not seeking contact. Can you also see that the opponent's foot is reaching towards it and making contact in an attempt to cross it?
Easily the worst UCL KO stage performance in a long time by Kruzliak. Missed a 100% penalty live and now misjudged two blatant dives. But this is what you get, when the pressure on referees to whistle in favor of Italian teams is so heavy...
ReplyDeleteIt has nothing to do with the fact that the teams are Italian. Many of the worst refereeing mistakes in the history of VAR (Taylor in Roma-Sevilla, Pinheiro in Juventus-Nantes, Strukan in Lazio-Ludogorets, Meler in Brugge-Atalanta) were committed against Italian teams
DeleteWhat was Taylor's mistake on Roma - Seville?
DeleteNo penalty whistled, lost control of the match,missed potential RC to Sevilla player..
DeleteList could go on and on...
IIRC the penalty was a 50-50 call. VAR stayed silent so definitely not a clear and obvious mistake.....
DeleteIt's been 3 years soon, and I'm still gobsmacked that people, even on this blog, believe that handball was ever a penalty
DeleteWhat a game so far in Liverpool, and one should definitely give props to Kovacs for letting the game flow. Great management so far, minimal fouls and cards given.
ReplyDeleteYeah but on the other hand some YC's that old Kovacs would have issued .
ReplyDeleteThis new version of him is new modern typical lenient ref.
Yup, absolutely! This is what you get when a referee gains experience and management skills, as opposed to just blindly following the letter of the Law... 🤷♂️🤷♂️
DeleteYep,refereeing by the book is not appreciated by public.
DeleteWhy should ref behave like that? 🤣
Because then a computer could do the job easily... 40-50% of the match is manageable though... And yes, one of the most important things to achieve the flow of the game, as well as keep the game "interesting" is to keep 22 players on the field of play, if possible... Without proper management, strictly by the book, you'd get 10+ yellow cards and 2-3 red cards in almost EVERY match... So that's why 🤦♂️
Delete114' Do we put that down as, a foul anywhere except the penalty area? Hand clearly in face, but I don't think many expected a penalty
ReplyDeleteA foul nowhere including the penalty area in the 114' minute. The ball absolutely cleanly taken away by the foot and a super slight touch to the face, that had no influence on anything whatsoever. If anything, a YC for embellishment.
DeleteDecent game for Kovacs overall, tried to let the game flow and didn't give soft free kicks. AR2 Tunyogi was quite busy and seemed to get most decisions right. If a remember right he didn't start the season as part of Kovacs team and only started working with him after a few mistakes by the AR2 that started the season with Kovacs.
ReplyDeleteGood performance by Kovacs tonight. Only a few mistakes by AR2 (including a quite incomprehensible one around 78’). But Kovacs let the game flow, and that is what was expected of him tonight. Well done !
ReplyDeleteThink the one in the 78th minute was an offside for Quansah from the second phase but the replay didn't show it so made it look like he gave it for something else.
DeleteKovacs was ok nothing more a little inconsistent but ok nothing major.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Foul detection a little inconsistent, Liverpool players including Van Dijk clearly rather frustrated in the first half. Also a little fussy at times, very particular about where an offside free kick was taken that annoyed the players. But big picture, PSG won't be upset, and it was an okay performance that won't harm his future chances
DeleteSuper impressed by kovacs. Let the game flow unlike his usual style. Kruzliak meanwhile big joke. How can a ref manage to get every single call incorrect. His european season is over.
ReplyDeleteInter - Feyenoord turned into the most challenging game of this set, and it was definitely impossible to predict. Evident responsibility for the Slovakian referee who was, and this went quite unnoticed, at his debut in CL KO stage. So maybe you can read the choice by Rosetti also in this regard, for what he did quite well in recent times, giving him finally such a game. But now, after that, hard to think something more will follow soon... among the worst performances in Champions League in VAR era. And I must blame Marko23 following the post he wrote. Nothing to do with pressure about Italian team, just mistakes by the Slovakian. You can talk about a certain attitude by Italian players in geting penalty and I can agree, but it wasn't Kruzliak looking for a decision in favor of a team, this can't be accepted on the blog.
ReplyDeleteApart from the penalty area incidents, a more than inexplicable management decision, with game stopped wihout booking player for very unknown reasons....
17' PAI Handball
https://streambug.org/cv/252c12
23' PAI Holding
https://streambug.org/cv/a26f20
38' Penalty after OFR, possible YC for reckless?
https://streambug.org/cv/e04423
45' Mistaken identity, revealed by VAR, but it was possible to be deceived about who had committed the foul.
https://streambug.org/cv/c3b302
45'+2 Missed advantage
https://streambug.org/cv/f3e8c3
Here absolutely no explanation. The absurd thing is also that referee had time to understand because he hadn't whistled immediately after the foul,and he saw Inter player continuing the attack, coming to a central position, but he whistled.... without booking the opponent (at least, this would have explained something...).
49' Penalty to Inter
https://streambug.org/cv/cd119c
The movement with right leg by Feyenoord defender seems to be the argument for VAR staying silent, but if you look at the incident in full sequence, you see attacker running into the path of defender who was already holding his action, then falling in a very tehatrical way. For me, referee had elements to give YC for simulation and, despite of the argument for supporting penalty, a YC for simulation wouldn't have been questioned as well. You can call it very poor call from the pitch.
67' OFR for removing a penalty for simulation
https://streambug.org/cv/ee7720
At that point of the game, one should maybe be allowed to think that players noticed the attitude of the referee and continued to act in that way, very sad to say but possible. Here attacker clearly falls before without contact, but then there is also a touch while Feyenoord player trying a tackle. More evident simulation than previous one, but still, we are analyzing very particular details.
Kruzliak was too easy in whistling without having a good read and view of the incidents, and in the missed penalty live in first half, he was absolutely not aware that something like hat could have happened (but this one not being 100% easy to see if you ask me).
I have a soft spot for Kruzliak but last night he really went down. Multiple (big) mistakes where you can also look critically at VAR San for the 1st penalty of Inter which was a clear simulation. And indeed even after VAR review a missed yellow card in minute 38. I don't think Rosetti was happy with what he saw today from the VAR but especially from Kruzliak. I would be surprised if he again whistles in Europe this season
DeleteIMO very bad performance by Kruzliak, many mistakes, unacceptable at this level.
Delete67': I think there's a technical error. Play restarts with a dropped ball, instead of an indirect free kick.
This referee never belongs in CL. Bad referee.
DeleteNot an elite referee.
Euro in germany was bad and this match a lot of mistakes
First time I ever saw a penalty cancelled and then yellow for simulation. All other times I have seen it’s just been a drop ball even though it’s been simulation.
DeleteGentelmans, almost excellent Kovacs last night. He let the game to flow, call only clear and obivous things, change his strict approach what was showed as good last night,and this was one of best performances in this UCL season Hope to see him in QF. Remain as one of CL final candidates.
ReplyDeleteYou're right: Kovacs perfectly implemented Law 18 "Only call clear and obvious things".
DeleteI agree with you that Kovacs did a really good game
Deletehowever, referees who get appointed for those big matches normally don't show up in the final
apart from marciniak, the uefa gives referees lowkey matches in the season they officiate the final to protect them
this treatment is given to makkelie and taylor this season, so probably they are the ones looking for a champions league final