Tuesday, 11 March 2025

Europa League 2024/25 - Referee Appointments - Round of 16 (Second Legs)

The referees in charge of 2024-25 UEFA Europa Leage Round of 16, second legs. 


Thursday 13 March 2025 

18:45 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico) 
SS LAZIO (ITA) - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (CZE)
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal NED
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED 
UEFA Referee Observer: Drago Kos SVN
UEFA Delegate: Hristo Zapryanov BUL

18:45 CET - Piraues (Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis)
OLYMBIAKÓS SFP (GRE) - FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR)  
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER 
Fourth Official: Matthias Jöllenbeck GER
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Robert Schröder GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen DEN
UEFA Delegate: Vakhtang Bzikadze GEO

18:45 CET - Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt Stadion) 
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER) - AFC AJAX (NED) 
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH 
Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigovic BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
UEFA Referee Observer: Lucilio Batista POR 
UEFA Delegate: Dane Jošt SVN

18:45 CET - Bilbao (Estadio de San Mamés)
ATHLETIC CLUB (ESP) - AS ROMA (ITA) 
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA 
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: Mathieu Vernice FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman NED
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI 

21:00 CET - London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadiium)
TOTTENMHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) - AZ ALKMAAR (NED) 
Referee: João Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: João Gonçalves POR
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU
UEFA Delegate: Anna Bordiugova UKR

21:00 CET - Manchester (Old Trafford) 
MANCHESTER UNITED FC (ENG)  - REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL (ESP) 
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: Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER
UEFA Delegate: Rita Bagdonienė LTU

21:00 CET - Décines-Charpieu (OL Stadium)
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS (FRA)  - FC FCSB (ROU) 
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Sam Barrott ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB
UEFA Delegate: Marcin Stefański POL

21:00 CET - Glasgow (Ibrox Stadium)
RANGERS FC (SCO)  - FENERBAHÇE SK (TUR)  
Referee: Espen Eskås NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official:Rohit Saggi NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER 
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Targo Kaldoja EST
at

15 comments:

  1. Unknown11 March 2025 at 10:25

    Anthony Taylor is very hidden which I find suspicious. I still think there is a chance for him to get the UCL final in case of for example a PSG-Barca final.

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    Replies
    1. Chefren11 March 2025 at 10:53

      He has just many games that he can't officiate, but committee continues to appoint him when possible.

      In this set:

      RANGERS FC (SCO) - FENERBAHÇE SK (TUR)
      Scottish team

      MANCHESTER UNITED FC (ENG) - REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL (ESP)
      English team

      TOTTENMHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) - AZ ALKMAAR (NED)
      English team

      ATHLETIC CLUB (ESP) - AS ROMA (ITA)
      Italian team

      EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (GER) - AFC AJAX (NED)
      German team

      OLYMBIAKÓS SFP (GRE) - FK BODØ/GLIMT (NOR)
      Possible, but not a real difference with the one he got.

      SS LAZIO (ITA) - FC VIKTORIA PLZEŇ (CZE)
      Italian team

      In Champions League clashes even more difficult because many spotlights and other games that he can't officiate.
      In my opinion, if they wanted to assign him to CL final, it would have been more than easy when Vincic got it.. Vincic as Slovenian could have waited without problems all the years, while the English had his perfect occasion at home, without English and Italian teams, but he was not rewarded.
      Then, you have to talk about performance and you can add that in some cases, he hasn't shown best officiating, but yes, Rosetti still supporting him for rather decent / good games.

      Delete
    2. FlorenVL11 March 2025 at 11:26

      apart from marciniak, uefa selects the referee for the CL final already at the beginning of the season, with a back up in case of a country clash in the final between the referee and a team(s)

      during the season the appointments by UEFA are never the biggest matches, maybe 1 almost big match, it's exactly what happened to Vincic, Turpin, Lahoz and Skomina(the hidden appointment with skomina wasn't that hidden in the end)

      the last appointment before the final is normally a 2nd leg R16 match with some prestige, or a lowkey QF, will need to watch the QF appointsments when they come

      Delete
    3. Philipp S11 March 2025 at 11:47

      I think, if they wanted to give Taylor a big game, it could have been one of the Benfica-Barcelona legs.

      Delete
  2. MARIO11 March 2025 at 10:37

    Big names for the Europe League matches; I was expecting more 1st class referees despite double engagement

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  3. Philipp S11 March 2025 at 10:51

    Nyberg, Meler and Mariani are the missing big names.
    Also Visser, Grinfeeld and Kavanagh with no game after getting EL in the play-offs.
    Maybe UEFA was unhappy with their performances in the previous round.

    On the other hand, we have 8 referees (if I counted correctly) working 1st and 2nd leg, so only 40 different referees are used in the R16.

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    Replies
    1. Chefren11 March 2025 at 10:56

      Surely this selection must suggest something, good remarks, not a case that in the games wit Nyberg, Mariani and Meler there were discussions. I think one can draw conclusion that the red card Mariani issued in Monaco, among other things, was not the best presentation at this level for the Italian referee. He would have surely got another game, too many referees repeating in these weeks...

      Delete
  4. Philipp S11 March 2025 at 10:52

    Pinheiro immediately repeating Alkmaar seems very avoidable.

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  5. FlorenVL11 March 2025 at 11:13

    I'm starting to get the feeling that UEFA have Anthony Taylor to referee the champions league final if no english team make it that far, his appointmets are very lowkey, hidden, this season compared to last season

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  6. Chefren11 March 2025 at 11:14

    Starting with Makkelie, a classic appointment with an Italian team. First leg for Rumsas was very challenging, this can be similar, so I think the Dutch will be very careful. After that, a CL quarterfinal would be possible, I think, given how committee is managing.

    Zwayer with a second assignment on this week like other referees, as we are discussing. The fact that you wouldn't expect a very experienced Elite for the game in Greece, can suggest us once again what Philipp said, committee didn't want to appoint other referees, even if in some cases this was possible. Choices based on previous performances by missing referees.

    Peljto: regular path for him, another good game, this time in EL, accoding to some readers who wrote one week ago, this can be presented as the most sonorous tie of the round, I can agree, but Real Sociedad - Manchester United is maybe not that less. Possible an appearance in CL Quarterfinals for him, accoridng to what he did so far and before knowing about the performance in this game. Still impossible for me at moment to think about a CL semifinal, but I can be wrong.

    Turpin for Roma, nothing to add, only a few referees can handle Italian teams in such games. One can point out the difference between first leg in which in my opinion committee decided to take a "small risk" by using the Swiss (experienced, but not at the level of Turpin and the others), then the very safe choice for this second lg in Spain, and, more generally, given that assignments are mostly made based on Italian teams in the games in which they are involved, away game is surely on paper potentially more difficult than home-game (this is in my opinion how Rosetti thinks).

    Pinheiro with another appointment after Rosetti observation, still keeping a certain degree of difficulty in his games, not very challenging ones or top games, but medium level. Making experience for becoming a more trusted Elite, so far OK his path.

    In Manchester, Bastien with a renewed trust by committee, following also the observation by a committee member in recent times, the French school at moment is the top of UEFA refereeing. Bastien added himself to Turpin and Letexier. Let's remember that at the times in which Bastien was getting a game like the famous Olympiacos - Milan, he was even close to demotion, if you ask me...

    About Taylor, you can read above my opinion, still trying to give him some games due to the extremely big experience, but in reality a referee who can't have big dreams at moment, given also the age and the long career so far.

    Last but not least Eskas, well, very liked by Rosetti, as it seems, following good development in UEFA, but games such as this one in Scotland can be something hard for a referee coming from his culture, another very important test. To me, the problem of Nordic referees, and I would also include Nyberg (and maybe Rumsas for some aspects) in their games, is that you can see clearly which kind of games they are used to officiate in domestic leagues, and very often they try to do the saem with potentially heated clashes in UEFA, this is not possible. You must scream and give cards. But yes, so far the development of the Norwegian is quite positive and we have to wait before possible final judgments.. we will see this one in Scotland..

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  7. Unknown11 March 2025 at 11:50

    I agree Chefren about Taylor, there were not many options. In the QF, there could be one in UCL: Barca/Benfica vs Lille/BVB.

    And somehow I still think Taylor has a chance to get the UCL final, for one reason — What else could be his motivation to continue? Rosetti appreciates him. And sure, last year was a chance at Wembley, however I assume that the final was already promised to some Slovenian powers ;)

    Turpin is a busy man. This is his second double appointment. Indeed, very few referees can officiate Roma and survive that without any scratches. Says a lot about Turpin's status.

    Makkelie would’ve been an option with AS Roma too, after all he had Roma in the UEL semi-final last season without major problems. The fact they keep him away from AS Roma could indicate something. Lazio vs Plzen is a bit more low key. Nevertheless the game can be challenging, depending on the scoreline.

    Is it possible that some VARs are at the stadium? For example Dieperink, he is AVAR on Tuesday and on Wednesday he is off. So, in theory he could travel to Rome on Wednesday.

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    1. Unknown11 March 2025 at 12:00

      I appreciate the treatment Makkelie is finally getting from UEFA. Five Champions League matches, and now in the knockout stage, a fairly low-key Europa League match, although an Italian team always adds extra pressure. We’ve seen this route before with Turpin and Vincic, and he would truly deserve it. The same goes for Taylor, but the English teams are strongly represented.

      Delete
  8. Eric van Marwijk11 March 2025 at 12:30

    I don;t like the fact that nowdays in both matches home/away in the same round, the VAR can be from the same nationality.....Ajax again now with Italian VAR, although Bosnian referee, but still it can effect results.

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  9. diego61211 March 2025 at 16:02

    Regarding the fact of Taylor and the UCL final, I agree that if they had wanted to give Taylor the final it would have been last season, but we know that Rosetti owes favors to the Slovenes. This season I see it very difficult, tbh.

    For me, Makkelie is and will continue to be the number 1 candidate.

    The Spanish press talks a lot about a Real-Madrid-Barcelona final, assuming it is, who do you think will be the referee? Curiously, I see this scenario in Munich on May 31 very likely ;)

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    1. Unknown11 March 2025 at 17:53

      This comment has been removed by the author.

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