The referees in charge of 2025/26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, second legs, second set to be played on 15 April 2026.
FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER) - REAL MADRID CF (ESP)
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas SCO
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev BUL
ARSENAL FC (ENG) - SPORTING CP (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: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Gylfi Þór Orrason ISL
UEFA Delegate: Angelo Chetcuti MLT
I just saw the penalty awarded by Massa to Como last night. Originally, he had awarded the free kick outside the penalty area after a short time (not fully convinced, I think), then VAR changed the decision to penalty without asking to review it, so supporting the decision. But that's a clear and obvious error! How can you justify the penalty? The Inter player performed his move while remaining within his own area and not touching the opponent at all, but attempting to block the shot, and was then kicked by the opponent himself.
ReplyDeleteIt's very questionable to see a foul: fortunately, the penalty didn't influence the final result, but once again, hard to understand about certain technical evaluations, at least as far as I'm concerned.
Tomorrow, however, the committee should reveal more about this decision by publishing VAR clip.
Video of the incident:
https://streambug.org/cv/ce8cbe
Vincic no surprise he gets this match so he should be out for the semi finals, And in London it shouldn't be the other French (Letexier) probably an experience ref will be trusted
ReplyDeleteLast season, Vincic officiated the second leg of the QF between Bayern and Inter, then he officiated the first SF match between Arsenal and PSG. I am sure that if everything goes well on Wednesday, he will officiate the SF again.
DeleteEven if not goes well he is officiate
DeleteFirst time I agree with you, Abdiaziz (!)
DeleteUEFA has no other options for SF.
But it's not so much a choice as it is pure personal desire
DeleteAbdiaziz i think for SF will be Pinhero😁 common
DeleteEredivisie:
ReplyDeletea) FC Utrecht - SC Telstar
Referee: Makkelie/ VAR: Higler
No foul in APP and goal decision
https://youtu.be/6xLpUBc9HOs?t=183
Makkelie seemed unfazed, but Didden placed his foot on top of his opponent's ankle and applied some weight to inflict damage.
Higler did not intervene. Makkelie is still not back to his usual form. If something like this happened at the World Cup, they'd probably have to return home
b) NEC - Feyenoord
Referee: Gözübüyük / VAR: Van Boekel
No DOGSO decision
https://youtu.be/Rfi_3hI76QM?t=31p
It was very logical for Gözübüyük, who has the complete trust of the KNVB this season, to referee the game between third and second place at this stage. Feyenoord, who have been having a disastrous season, put up an unexpected fight, making it a hard-fought and challenging match for the referee.
Ueda (Feyenoord-forward)controlled the ball well, but it wasn't perfect. It left his feet and went slightly to the right, not towards the goal. Seeing this, Crettaz also starts heading towards the ball. Ueda has a running start, while Crettaz doesn't have much. Where will the two of them reach the ball? If Ueda reaches it first, how wide is the goal for him?
Van Boekel called Gözübüyük over to the screen. Frankly speaking, I get the impression that Van Boekel (He has not taken charge of any matches in the Eredivisie this season, but has been working as a VAR official in every round) has become a little easier to intervene in this season than before.
It's unclear whether Gözübüyük made the original decision on the field regarding the DOGSO situation. Was he already thinking on the field, "Even if it's a foul, it's not DOGSO"? In any case, the final decision was YC.
I support that. Fortunately, even in the Netherlands, not everyone believes this is 100% RC.
c) Sparta Rotterdam - PSV
Referee: Bos / VAR: Teuben
The goal was disallowed due to an attacking handball(?) by a player who did not score.
https://youtu.be/ax9txaGDSuQ?t=28
PSV are already champions, so this isn't a major event. But it's been a while since I've seen such a strange decision. The ball did hit Til's arm, but it was Gasiorowski who scored the goal. Bos canceled the score based solely on audio from Teuben, without even watching the video himself.
Hi Anass, nice clips.
Delete1. The ball is clearly played first, and then the contact occurs in the challenge. The player gets up immediately and does not protest. I understand why Makkelie did not award a foul live, and since the ball is played, there is no intervention from the VAR.
2. An interesting situation in terms of DOGSO. The ball does go slightly to the right, and the question is whether the goalkeeper would have reached it before the Feyenoord attacker. Because he falls, he completely loses speed in his action. I understand that this is a difficult decision, but Gözübüyük did not even award a foul.
3. The handball by the attacker is not deliberate or punishable, and he does not score himself. This should be a valid goal, as the teammate scores.
Today, KNVB will announce the referee for the cup final. Danny Makkelie officiated it last year, and I think Allard Lindhout will get it this time.
Excellent decision from Makkelie, as always.
DeleteAbout the discision of Gözübüyük: it surprised me he didn't blew the wistle. Is that the VAR-mentality?
DeleteAnd: VAR Van Boekel wanted Gözübüyük to watch the incident, so it has te be a clear and abvious mistake. And Van Boekel thinks it's a RC, otherwise he cannot intervene (its ooutside the box). The Feyenoord-attacker cant reach the ball juist by the fault. I think it's a big fault of Gözübüyük.
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DeleteProbably the first time, that the same VAR is used in both legs of a match.
ReplyDeleteGood appointments for Slavko Vinčić and François Letexier, as expected.
ReplyDeleteAbout the semifinals and the final: committee must be very careful.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have a vast choice, given that big games are always assigned in a certain way and all 5 (semifinals and final) will be big games for sure.
We have Marciniak out, Kovacs very likely out (but we can't know for sure about thim), no Spanish referees, hard to see a German (maybe Siebert in case, but rather astonishing for Zwayer).
We should also consider the nationality of the clubs that will be there: Arsenal and maybe Liverpool can make it hard for Oliver, then PSG in case could rule out the French (but they already get many assignments). Then, we have only Mariani about Italy, but after a sonorous clash in quarterfinals, maybe hard to think that he will get a semifinal as well.
The big very neutral option for all games at moment is represented by Makkelie, but apart from him, all the other referees have to wait for something before getting a possible assignment.
So in my opinion committee could even prepare or open to some surprises, at least for semifinals: the first name, given how he has been managed so far and the performances, for a possible semifinal assignment, would be Eskas. Nyberg and Schaerer would follow, but we know what about the Swiss (nevertheless, still possible, but surprising in case, with a few games during the season due to injury) and about the Swedish, in my opinion, there is always a small doubt.
No other names after that, and, despite of what committee thinks, they are in this condition also because they used always mostly same names for big games. There isn't a real development.
However, we will see how things will go. Now it's early, we could say more after knowing the names of the teams that will qualify for semifinals.
+1 there's been no outstanding development for sure, Early today I wrote that Letexier was not suitable for the clash in London but it was already going to be him confirmed which means the likes of Nyberg did a mistake somewhere that we swept under the rug, consecutive UEL matches does look good for him hence going to the World cup
DeletePlease allow me to disagree with you in the way we see it is easy to expect that the semi final will not beyond for the France, slovenia, Italy referees
DeleteAhmed, it all depends on nationality of semi finalist that's French and English hopes will be lying
DeleteI don't believe we will see some thing new in semifinal
ReplyDeleteI do believe it will be an extremely hard game for Vincic, and no matter the result I do feel like he will find his name in the press, after all the proof is is in the pudding with the Spanish media slating Kovacs.
ReplyDeleteOr how German media handled Marciniak 2 years ago… Bayern fans are still (!) talking about him… for what? Only they know…
DeleteMy reading is that Letexier is a lock for a final, UEL or UCL, because otherwise they would compensate Letexier with the SF2, between Barcelona/Atletico and Arsenal/Sporting.
ReplyDeleteSF1 PSG/Liverpool - Bayern/Real
Delete1st: Hernandez, Scharer
2nd: Vincic, Marcinaik, [Kovacs]
SF2 Barca/Atm - Arsenal/Sporting
1st: Mariani, Nyberg, Eskas, Mackelie
2nd: Vincic, Turpin, Marciniak
Why are people unironically picking Hernandez Hernandez for a UCL SF (or even F!!) is beyond me. Surely the “controversial” WC selection is enough? God forbid.
DeleteScharer observed by Carballo is more realistic maybe
DeleteHi Odin. I like your profile picture! I think it will be difficult for the credibility of the UEFA referees committee to award the Champions final to Letexier for the following reason - his appointments display that he is not the referee from his own country that savours the most trust in terms of level. Here are the latest two sets of relevant désignations:
DeleteWORLD CUP
Letexier to Turkey-Romania SF
Turpin to Bosnia-Italy Final
CHAMPIONS
Letexier to Arsenal-Sporting leg2
Turpin to Atletico-Barcelona leg2
It is not to say that Letexier has been given 'easy' games, indeed no Champions League quarterfinal is easy and Turkey-Romania could be identified as one of the two most difficult playoff semifinals, but the difference in treatment is quite clear. If UEFA wanted to prepare Letexier for the Champions League final, I think they would have given him a match in a different competition like NottsForest-Porto with an important assessor, in order to signpost that. Giving Letexier what one could describe as 'the same sort of appmnt as Turpin but (probably) not as difficult' twice in a row is probably the sort of impression that UEFA would want to avoid before a final.
In WC2010, Viktor Kassai did have a genuinely outstanding match which forced a necessary recalibration of his level (Uruguay-Mexico); this is rather different to Letexier, who won the Euro final appointment after three good and expected level performances, but no 'WOW!' factor match. I don't think it is unfair to say that Rosetti appointed Letexier for that final partly to upkeep his own credibility, given that the mark he personally would have awarded Turpin for the opener cannot have exceeded 7,4. Here, the shoe is on the other foot: it probably come across as excessively favourable towards Letexier if he were to be awarded the Champions final in 2026.
In the history of the Champions League, no referee from a country still involved in the Champions League has ever taken charge of a semifinal second leg. I don’t think this rule will be broken in 2026. One can suppose it is likely that PSG will still be in the competition in forty-eight hours time. I also don’t think that Letexier will referee the same team in Europe two matches running. In terms of eligibility, the same factor that would rule out one of the other main candidates (qualification to the final of PSG) is the same for Letexier. In case of a non-PSG final, I still think UEFA would rather appoint Letexier than Siebert, if circumstances were to arise in such a manner.
So, insofar as it matters, I would change the preference tier list to look like this:
1) Oliver vs. Makkelie
2) Letexier
3) Siebert
Thank you. Interesting backgrounds. Can the French be a candidate for the UEL final? UEL final can be a bridge or sort of compromise between rewarding Letexier for reputation and the way he influenced modern refereeing. At the same time keeps him motivated to still aim for the UCL. The French VAR Jerome Brisard hasn't done the UEL, too.
DeleteIs there really any scenario where Siebert has a chance, I believe that a referee who officiates a CL final must have huge experience, because it is one of the biggest achievements in a refereeing career?
Delete@Odin: I think you have to be careful with statements like "influenced modern refereeing". Letexier is very (very) good but stylistically, he isn't doing anything new or that revolutionary (again, one can contrast to Kassai in 2010 here). Where he does stand out 'refstoriographically' is in his outstanding use of facial expressions, to earn fellowship/understanding from the players, but I would say that is it. About the EL final: Letexier must be in the running for that appointment but, in my personal opinion, he would only get it if PSG qualify for the CL final, because otherwise it flies too close to acknowledging the point 'Rosetti only gave Letexier the Euro final to save his own credibility'. It is easy though to overthink things!
Delete@Pro: I can't see any other candidate in terms of credibility/possibility to handle a PSG-Arsenal final. Any other constellation would make Siebert's chances as low/zero; his would be the weakest appointment to the CL final in thirty-one years (imo).
Mikael, I'm curious to know who you thought was the weakest referee in a Champions League final. When you mentioned 31 years, I thought you might be referring to Craciunescu, who handled the 1995 final.
DeleteI barely remember the 1995 final. Perhaps the lowest-level final I recall is Terje Hauge's.
I think Siebert is a very good referee, but he still has to prove himself to referee a Champions League final.
There are excellent referees who didn't officiate a Champions League final, for various reasons, and who, in my opinion, deserved it: Rosetti, López Nieto, Frisk, Van der Ende, De Bleeckere, Melo Pereira, Dallas...
PSG-Arsenal, Maybe I have a simple mind. The clubs deserve the best official and if that is currently Mackelie, they should go with it. He is a cool head, I don’t see him buckle under extra pressure. It helps that PSG overcame their UCL trauma last year with the win. . Rosetti's reputation is at stake, he knows he takes a bigger risk with Siebert, Guida or a Spanish.
DeleteGood question Xabi, I want to know this too.
About the old finals: the weakest referee in terms of final performance was definitely not Craciunescu - he did well back then and his refereeing was good. His appointment stands out as being the most 'off the wall' in the Champions League era I think, in the same manner that a PSG-Arsenal final would force this time round (this is what I meant when talking about the appointment). I don't think Siebert getting the CL final would be much different in expectation to Letexier doing the last Euro final, and the Frenchman's performance in that game was very good. However, this is one specific matchup for this season's final and we shouldn't get too ahead of the situation (and the same is true for my EL final remarks above).
DeleteI'd agree that Hauge stands out as having made the most negative contribution to his CL final as a referee, but you have to remember that there was a big drama before the game where his linesman, Borgan, was taken off the match at very late notice and understandably it must have unsettled the Norwegian a lot. The two CL finals which stand out as having featured a very high level of refereeing in my view are those handled by Kuipers and Clattenburg in the 2010s. The most outstanding performance I've ever seen in a European final was Joel Quiniou's in the second leg of the 1991 UEFA Cup final between Roma and Inter Milan.
Thank you, Mikael, I understand. I apreciate a lot your comments.
DeleteI agree that Kuipers and Clattenburg were excellent in their finals. I didn't see Quiniou's match in the UEFA Cup final. I will try to find it. IMO Joel Quiniou was a superb referee. I remember him in the 1994 World Cup.
Javier Alberola Rojas will referee the Copa del Rey final.
ReplyDeleteAlfredo Rodríguez and Jorge Bueno will be Ar1 and Ar2 respectively. Adrián Cordero will be the fourth official and José Luis Martínez the fifth. Jorge Figueroa will be the VAR, Daniel Trujillo the AVAR, and Luis Mario Milla the AVAR2.
DeleteAfter the big missed penalty for real madrid?
DeleteOne can only sit and be in disbelief about how Soto Grado missed out on this, I know he refereed the Semi but surely we can all agree he deserved the final. The young Rojas could have been saved for the future, why so early? Why after such a big mistake a few days before the announcement?
DeleteThe CTA and RFEF cert atdo themselves no favors…. And this is not the first time they “reward” someone with the final in this manner… I also wonder what they hope to achieve, especially in this climate in Spain…
DeleteBtw with the same VAR too! This time will be AVAR!
DeleteIt seems some refs are allowed everything while others are punished for every mistake. It stinks.
DeleteWell,all of us spoke about Arbeloa as a frontrunner(excellent season), for this. Infos said that Soto Grado will remain for one more season,so we can expect him next year!
DeletePretty sure I remember reading somewhere that they only choose current FIFA listed referees for the final (Soto grado left last year). That doesn't apply to assistants though as both this year and last year the AR2 hasn't been on the FIFA list.
DeleteCould Mariani be a candidate for a PSG-Arsenal final?
ReplyDeleteIf he gets it, I might as well go start my career as a referee
DeleteIndeed that would be a bit ridiculous.
DeleteDanny Makkelie has been appointed by the KNVB as the referee for the Eurojackpot KNVB Cup final between AZ and NEC. It will be his fourth national cup final, having previously officiated the finals in 2017, 2022 and 2025.
ReplyDeleteThe match marks the 107th edition of the competition and will be played at Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam.
He will be assisted by Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, while Rob Dieperink and Robin Hensgens will serve as VAR and AVAR.
Source: https://www.eurojackpotknvbbeker.nl/nieuws/eurojackpot-knvb-beker/danny-makkelie-leidt-finale-eurojackpot-knvb-beker-tussen-az-en-nec
Makkelie in charge of the Dutch cup final for two years in a row is quite remarkable. Lindhout or Gözübüyük would have been more logical appointments, or 'coming man' Van der Eijk perhaps. This Makkelie appointment fits very well in a (somewhat hidden) path towards the UCL final.
DeletePL gives Barrott a PL appointment on Sunday less than 48 hours after his Youth League semi. As expected Taylor gets City/Arsenal. Although like on the weekend just gone he has a different AR2 so Nunn must be injured.
ReplyDeleteOne must admire England because they can send a referee from Manchester to officiate such a game between City and Arsenal with the current league table situation. A culture that will never reach Italy.
DeleteBig for Taylor.. expected to see Oliver but Taylor also had a good sesson
DeleteOliver did Arsenal on Saturday so he wasn’t going to do them next weekend as well.
DeleteThe best referees in England is Anthony taylor but it's different in Europe
ReplyDeleteInteresting night so far in Liga 5;
ReplyDeleteRC for Martinez,hair pulling,maybe soft but obviously guidelines is RC.(P.Tierney)
In Fiorentina -Lazio game very complex decision given by Fabbri.
Simulation and YC for Noslin,then gets called by VAR but he stood with his decision where many refs would change their original decision.
I think Fabbri made the right call by not awarding a penalty, because the contact was very light. I really don’t understand the OFR, but the simulation call was wrong (Fabbri, who always has a hard time admitting his mistakes, probably didn’t want to change his decision). Overall, a typical Serie A match: very boring, slow-paced, and full of fouls, called somewhat randomly by Fabbri, who follows no consistent criteria
DeleteAs for ManUtd-Leeds, how you can allow this goal...
Deletehttps://x.com/Blissfullnotes/status/2043769637691613530
I don't think that meets the bar to overturn the referee's call. Probably supportable for natural contact in the English game. As for the RC, clear VC, Brooks had to intervene
DeleteI fail to understand how people deem the no-foul decision acceptable - it's clear illegal use of arm...
DeleteRound of 16
ReplyDeleteTurpin: no penalty after clear holding on Mbappé in City-Real (and no VAR intervention).
Letexier: no penalty live and only a YC after OFR for blatant holding in Barcelona-Newcastle.
Both appointed afterwards as nothing happened (WC play-offs, second legs of UCL QF)
Compare that to the treatment of Peljto, Siebert, Stieler and others in the past.
We'll also see whether Oliver is going to be treated in the same way as Kovacs after their performances in QFs (missed crystal clear penalty by the Englishman in the added time of Real-Bayern vs. OFR for problematic DOGSO (imo, wrong OFR) and potential penalty for that weird goal-kick incident by the Romanian)...
Refereeing isn’t based on performance. Everyone in the business knows that. The best aren’t out there.
DeleteYou have that treatment where we all know what refs and what feferations can never be wrong.
DeleteIf Peljto or someone else makes that no call,he is completely out.
Then you have VAR,which looks like when you make mistake and VAR corrects you,that is not treated as mistake.
Unless you are Kovacs.
I mean the point of VAR was to make right calls,but also refs can't get away with VAR intervetions when they call them and correct them.
That should not be positive grade for any ref,especially these top refs that have every benefit they can get.
This era belongs to French referees and it’s well deserved. We’ve seen periods where Italian and English referees dominated and now it’s France turn
DeleteAt the elite level, having two referees from the same country competing to be among the very best in the world consistently and delivering top performances in uefa is not something built on politics or favoritism. That might help someone reach a tournament but it doesn’t sustain excellence over several years. Turpin and Letexier have shown that level of consistency with outstanding performances.
Disagree with that, For me you can not compare someone who has been part for now nearly 10 years of the biggest games and new referees that we still haven’t seen on the bigger stages. So yes when they made a mistake we talk more about it especially when it’s happening often. For me the style matter, even if it’s not great from the technical point of view but it has always been Like this and how the different commitees are working.
DeleteImo experience is way too important when this time of the season arrive and yes the commitee will prefer someone who have more OFR but better management of the biggest games or more experience than a less experienced one.
The topic is very complex. Clearly, if we look at it from a purely technical refereeing standpoint, without considering everything else, the argument is absolutely valid because there are evident differences in treatment that are obviously there for everyone to see. But beyond the federation of origin, which obviously plays a fundamental role, as we unfortunately know for those who don't come from major countries or strong federations, the issue is very much about how the element in particular is regarded at the moment. There is nothing you can do about that: it depends on their journey, their path, and their past record. This is one of those unwritten rules of refereeing that honestly could also be questioned. In other words, referees should be treated the same way when similar mistakes occur, putting on the same level someone who may have a decade-long career full of major successes and someone who is just starting out and perhaps has only 1–2 years of international experience. This is the big question.
DeleteCertainly, for referees like Turpin, beyond the great trust he has, we must also say that they are used in a certain way. We should be careful not to underestimate this. Turpin officiated the Play-Off final involving Italy, and has now been assigned to this very heated Spanish match where, in my opinion, the committee already knew that the second leg could become very complicated. So they also do this because they know that in case of mistakes essentially, nothing happens to referee (he already reached everything), so they don't care at all about recent mistakes, rather, they are in a way "good" for committee...
Therefore, behind every appointment there is a very sophisticated dynamic.
If we want to reduce everything to saying that referees should be treated the same way, it becomes very complicated given how refereeing is understood nowadays. However, it is true that if we make comparisons that might be more similar, for example, take Sánchez Martínez, whom they tried until the very last moment to send to the World Cup, and also Hernández Hernández, who was then selected instead of him, if we compare these two referees with the Bosnian referee, then in this case we can certainly say that the treatment of the Bosnian referee is absolutely unfair.
But in this case, with the names I am mentioning, the federations' prestige comes as main argument (a Spanish must go to WC). Behind all the choices we see there is, of course, an explanation. Unfortunately, this has to be accepted. However, the important thing for Peljto, we use him as an example, but the same applies to all referees who are stopped immediately after mistakes, is that if he consolidates his position over time, with experience, and enters the circle of the highly trusted referees, let's say those 6-7 elite names, then he too, despite the federation he comes from, would be treated in the same way.
It seems to me that, more or less, this is how it works.
It is difficult to withdraw unconditional trust from these referees, also because if you do take it away, given how the committee itself operates, they would no longer have anyone left to appoint, because they struggle to develop new referees.
But yes: Siebert had been a very strange case in this context, because coming from a strong federation, should have meant for him to be protected even in case of serious mistake, but for a certain period this didn't happen and they were very disappointed with him. In this case, we can't find explanation, for sure, in the years, there also have been different approaches by committee, they didn't keep always same attitude, and this made it even more confusing, at least for us, trying to find always a logic, but indeed it's impossible :)
DeleteSo the dynamic is that refs with a strong passport and major final and good reputation, like Turpin, get away with mistakes more easily. However Refs are penalized if they have a tricky situation in grey area with heavy disadvantage for the losing side and impacts the score. That is crazy in a sport where the rules are not black white. No wonder it is difficult to find good referees in many countries. It seems an OFR for crystal clear situations is not a big deal, even if blatant and the incident is right in front of them, unless it becomes a pattern in multiple games like Zwayer
DeleteThis narrative that "refs with a strong passport and major final and good reputation, like Turpin, get away with mistakes more easily" is short sighted in my opinion.
DeleteWhat about everything they have done before that game.
Turpin, Marciniak, Orsato, Vinicic(too now to some extent), and more have been in more heated 2nd leg highly scrutinized and incredibly difficult games than someone like Peljto.
If I'm Rosetti and I'm given a choice between someone like Peljto who has had a stellar season so far or someone like Turpin who just made a big mistake in his previous game for a highly consequential 2nd leg game, I'm picking Turpin every single day of the week. Nyberg, Oliver and others will get there one day too and people will be saying this about them then.
Seems like UEFA has rulled Barcelona’s appeal as inadmissible. We might just see Kovacs again this season? In l’equipe for example he was rated a 6, while Alvarez the MVP was a 7….
ReplyDeleteI don’t fully understand the appointment of Letexier in Arsenal vs Sporting. A Europa League assignment would have made more sense based on two possible paths:
ReplyDelete1) If Letexier is a candidate for a final, it would be more logical to keep him slightly under the radar in the UEL.
2) On the other hand, if Letexier is not a final candidate, I would still place him in the UEL to make sure he is an option in the UCL semi. Yes, one Spanish club would then get a French referee twice in a row, but that is not a big issue right?
Right now, the RefCom has effectively shrinked the semi final pool by giving both French officials a QF return, while PSG is probably active on the other side of the bracket. This creates a risk that e.g. Hernandez, Eskas, Massa or Guida are pushed into a semi final. Not sure that’s really deserved.
Regarding the red card in Barcelona versus Atletico Madrid, Turpin’s nonchalant style shines in moments like these. It’s as if he knows that everyone knows he’s the best ref in the world, and that he therefore doesn’t even need to do the regular things referees need to in order to look convincing, because simply “being Clément Turpin” is enough. It would even be counterproductive if he were to look as though he was “trying to hard”, because his whole brand centers around making everything look easy. Very few referees can make this style work! It relies on the predisposed trust he has accumulated over the years, without which the whole approach would fall apart.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, I did think Turpin’s team more or less lost the plot in the final 15 minutes. Turpin shouldn’t be pulling out a yellow card for the clear DOGSO; indeed he’d have avoided the problem altogether if he confirmed with his assistant referee whether the attacker was onside first.
In the 85th minute he missed a clear foul in the attacking third for Barcelona.
Then in 90’+1’ there was the very strange play where the Barcelona GK handled the ball fractionally outside the penalty area (remember that the IFAB has stated that the point of contact between the hand and the ball is the relevant location, even if part of the ball is inside the penalty area). The only reason this wouldn’t be a red card was like that the attacker was likely offside, and therefore there was no OGSO. Granted, this was very hard to see in real time so the crew cannot be faulted.
Where they can be faulted, however, is on the pass back in minute 90+2. Unfortunately, this is not an area where the IFAB has permitted VAR to intervene (a rather significant oversight instead of an intentional choice, I would say).
OT: Does anyone what's happened to Simon Hooper (ENG)? Hasn't had a game since February.
ReplyDeleteWhat a game that awaits us and Vincic in Munich, he’s in all the black kit that looks stunning, let’s hope all goes well.
ReplyDeleteLetexier too. Rather a long time ago that this has happened, a CL evening in full Black:)
DeleteWell Vincic needs to be at his best 2-2 after 30 seconds
DeleteGoal already in Munich, tied aggregrate might pose problems for Vincic. This will be fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteMissed RC for Vinicius. Bad from VAR
ReplyDeleteNever Red card for this kind of match and management of top player. But is oral warning sufficient is a good question : IMO should be a YC for foul + pushing.
DeleteVery well managed by Vincic. Good for him to have a word after. Nothing more needed
DeleteVinicius incident: https://streambug.org/cv/b99d80
ReplyDeleteYour thought Chefren ?
DeleteThe doubt remains about having stepped on the opponent even if for a very short time, he certainly was aware and could have avoided. According to the rules, a red card would not be out of the world, but in reality very difficult to give.
DeleteAgree but YC for you or you prefer clear warning as Vincic did ?
DeleteI can accept warning by referee.
DeleteCan agree too ! 👍
DeleteGood no penalty decision by Vincic.
ReplyDeleteGood no penalty decision by Vincic as Turpin yesterday. Good spot and very clear gestures communication !
ReplyDeleteAs yesterday, I bet some readers will say this is a penalty. But you don’t want soft penalties like this in such matches. That’s why Turpin and Vincic are the best.
Delete+1
DeleteVideo of the situation?
DeleteHow much holding couls it be before freekick/penalty? Min 23 Munich.
ReplyDeleteSoft?? If you bring a player out of play it is never soft!!!!
ReplyDeleteSoft FK leading to Madrid goal imo
ReplyDeleteVery soft free kick leading to Real Madrid goal.
ReplyDeleteSoft? Invented by the ref, never a foul
DeleteAgree Juan. Far from action and obvious very wrong assesment.
DeleteMinute 34 and already a nightmare, how on earth an allegedly "World Class" referee trio cannot detect a dive like that. If Bayern gets eliminated, things will get so so bad for Rosetti.
ReplyDeleteNo foul for me too…Late whistle by Vincic who seemed to be a bit far from action.
DeleteVincic chose the completly opposite as yesterday whistle a lot ang giving soft fouls to over controlling the game imo
ReplyDeleteVincic has given a correct yc 40’ but missed the Real Madrid player being pulled back for a prolonged period of time just a minute before that should have also resulted in a booking.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely stunning game of football.
Delete+1 Scot ref ! Exactly the same thought !
DeleteVinic foul detection is completly off, how can he not detact this action from Rüdiger
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Militao YC but IMO can also (must?) cautionned Kimmich with a blatant and obvious persistant holding…Good advantage but without disciplinary line here.
ReplyDeleteClear foul by Rudiger missed live but i think impossible for VAR to say something as the goal was scored in a new phase of play
ReplyDeleteI pretty think that Vincic let an advantage here but bad no communication if it was the case…
Deletethen should have come back on it imo
Delete28' Free kick leading to a goal scored:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/1801f4
From this angle this is terrible for Vincic
DeleteSo confirmed that was a big mistake by Vincic here :(
Deletecynical kick by Rudiger, no chance to play the ball at all. No reaction whatsoever by the crew.
ReplyDeleteSoft, if not wrong, FK leading to 1-2.
But for UEFA Vincic masterclass, right?
Extremely bizarre half the least i can say
ReplyDeleteThis is an utter scandalous performance, no other word could be use it, 2 of the 3 goals of Real Madrid have come from referee's mistakes and Vincic seems completely lost in the pitch, foul detection is atrocious. Things could get very very ugly in the second half. Just imagine this performance against a "latin" team in their home, Vincic would be already in deep trouble.
ReplyDeleteRelax, maybe not the best performance but utterly scandalous is ridiculous. Both decisions are mistakes for a top 10 ref in europe but understandable decisions otherwise. Vinicic will be fine as long as he doesnt get a dodgy game altering decision wrong, everyone will talk about how great the game was not the referee.
DeleteSo true
DeleteBut the goal of the blog is to talk about the referee, agree there is never a scandalous decision but this is not great for Vincic.
DeleteNot atrocious but agree with mistake on phantom foul given and foul detection / disciplinary management not as his best…
DeleteThere are no words to say what Vincic is doing. His performance, feeling of the game, and some important decisions are difficult to understand on this stage
ReplyDeleteStrange position of cameras brings additional chaos to perception
ReplyDeleteThe comments of some people on this blog between yesterday and today have been quite spectacular. With Turpin "scandalous" to miss 3 corners, but what about the big decisions? Same tonight. Well we all have an agenda I guess.
ReplyDeleteComments are exaggerated for all referees, during the games somebody lose the contact with reality. I can understand that some decisions appear to be either questionable or wrong, but there should be always the context behind. This is also one of the reasons why it's not easy to talk about refereeing today: people always go 100% on one side or the other, there is no nuance anymore, discussion doesn't attract...
DeleteI hope you assess FK prior Real goal as clear dive ? Do you ?
Delete+1
DeletePenalty area incident, 23'
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/174c47
51.52no freekick!! My God!
ReplyDeleteOkay, one has to admit that this decision is a good example of the ‘Vincic avoiding headlines’ factor that is often spoken about on Law5!
DeleteVincic foul detection is passing from so-so to a but lost. Wrong FK destroying a real opportunity and after foul forgotten on Kane…Not the best Vincic tonight…
ReplyDeleteBit *
DeleteHe is not taking any risk by letting the game flow, but at the end this is just poor foul detection and it's probably frustrating for players.
ReplyDeleteLetexier is also not convincing so far in London just want to see the game through IMO
ReplyDelete65' penalty area incident, Sporting, two-hands push from behind, but very clever defender, he was at the very border of an evident foul but then he stopped. Still, arguments for penalty, but in reality not a clear and obvious mistake. The French waited for VAR, it was confirmed to play on.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteNow, you have to say that Vincic clearly underperforms. With a blatant elbow kick by Musiela not detected - again and again - and wrong FK consequently against Arda Guler. Plus YC for words to Rudiger after…chaotic foul detection by slovenian ref…
ReplyDeleteBlatant elbow kick... drama
Delete+1 I agree with referee analyst
DeleteWhat is that foul on Arda Guler? Going to need to watch that one again.
ReplyDeleteVincic what have you done 😲!
ReplyDeleteWhat is about the red card in Munich
DeleteHuge personality by Vincic there
ReplyDeleteIf he would have remembered he would never issue
DeleteTrue 😂😂😂
DeleteWhat a surprise! Vincic shows signs of courage!
ReplyDeleteHe didn’t he forgot the player was booked!
Deletenah, he would have never given SYC had he realized Camavinga was already on a yellow. The same he had done in Nations League time ago. I am totally speechless.
DeleteMaybe that's even worse compared to his usual scaredy cat refereeing
DeleteClear 2nd yc for not giving ball back
ReplyDeleteVincic forgot he was already on a yellow.
ReplyDeleteSeems so yeah 😂
DeleteClearly Vincic didn't realise it was his second yellow…
ReplyDeleteVery stupid reaction by Camavinga with yellow already
DeleteFoul-+refusing to give ball back in same action. Yellow probably fair but Madrid will complain.
ReplyDeleteVincic just did a Makkelie in the 2023 EL SF (Sevilla - Juventus), giving a correct 2YC for DtR but without knowing tha player was already booked.
ReplyDeleteGood decision, but (very) bad optics.
I don’t agree the decision was good. Even in case of no YC on Camavinga, his action was not as blatant as many others in this same match.
Deletehe forgot he already give him a YC so correct 2nd but doubt he would have done the same with knowing he will sent off th eplayer
ReplyDeleteSecond yellow cards given in this manner pose the following questions:
Delete1) Should referees implement a higher threshold for sanctioning a player with a second yellow card than for sanctioning the same player, committing the same actions, with a first yellow card?
2) If the answer given above is "yes", should a referee, upon realizing the player had already been booked, choose not to rescind a second yellow card given for an offense reaching the threshold of a first yellow card but not the threshold for a second?
Even if yes to the first question, the optics of rescinding would be beyond poor, that it can't happen
DeleteRidiculous harsh second YC for Caminvaga and RC. Seems Vincic not aware of the first one. You can’t exclude a player for nothing like that after the very lenient line he adopted before…Nightmare under performance by slovenian umpire.
ReplyDeleteCorrect 2YC by Vincic, but signs similar to when he sent off a Northern Ireland player in a first half for delaying a throw in. Forgot it was a 2nd yellow and similar feeling here. But it was DtR, it's a YC
ReplyDeleteNobody can complain this is a very blatant yellow card, but one must say that it’s a champions league quarter final, the referee would have warned the player if he knew he was booked but he forgot. This can’t be considered wrong but it’s so unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteSo true but the player is also so stupid with yellov slready
DeleteDon't know why but Vincic is showing 2 times with fingers, probably Camavinga did it earlier.
DeleteAfter Barcelone, we can expect a lot of Real complaints from this RC…
ReplyDeleteSemi finals confirmed Arsenal vs Atleti PSG vs Bayern
ReplyDelete52' the mentioned free kick
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/09ec0b
Second YC
https://streambug.org/cv/1d4c28
The Slovenian referee didn't remember, what a face when he realized!
Impossible to act like that for a top class referee. Unacceptable dismanagement.
DeleteUnacceptable behaviour by Madrid players after the final whistle
ReplyDeleteIs not possible that in Champions League a referee gives a YC for a small delay. Unbeliavable
ReplyDeleteUnacceptable By madrid player hope UEFA will work on this and take some decisions, at least 2 or 3 RC needed here. Correct RC for Guller.
ReplyDeleteWell well well. Red cards flying about, Vincic won’t be near Madrid for a while!
ReplyDeletePolicy of being focused to satisfy big teams instead of defending and protecting their referees strongly backfired in those quarter-finals. Well done...
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
Delete+1 !
DeleteRoberto Rosetti won’t be happy with YC decisions. I am sure he is very Angry NOW!!! even if seems right one but not right occasions
ReplyDeletePity but he can only blame himself
DeleteI am pleased to see Vincic sanction some Madrid players (including a red card to Guler) for their aggressive and unbecoming behavior after the match.
ReplyDeleteImo, they shouldn't have run away so quickly. Stand there and issue cards one by one. Of course, difficult if your bosses care only about not messing with big teams...
DeleteLet me guess, Real will say nothing about the phantom FK they scored after in the first half?
Thats Vincic done for the year
ReplyDeleteRefereeing is very incredible, now we can say that this blackout about the booked player by Vincic was reason why Bayern scored 2 goals and passed the turn, but well, the problem is that YC is a very clear one and it should have been issued in all circumstances.
ReplyDeleteSo, we can say that if Vincic had been aware of first YC, he would have forgiven player, allowing the game to go to extra times? :)
Poor old Vincic!! The only crucial decisions he takes right (even if he did not want) this night and is the one who "ends" everything for him. Absolutely pathetic behaviour by Madrid players, they are used to be the "spoiled child" of Europe's football and cannot take a lose.
ReplyDeleteI’m really sorry but can we all not agree that the Vincic we know wouldn’t have sent off Camavinga if he had known he had booked him? He’s caused his own problems merely based on his body language after producing the card, Madrid players have lost their only chance at a trophy hence the anger. Not a good look if you ask me! Rosetti must be struggling to think.
ReplyDeleteSemi finals will be very difficult to assign now
ReplyDeleteNo, with the way things are going expect Massa and Guida for the first legs and then Mariani for the two second legs and the final.
DeleteSounds great. Or Rosetti will whistle the final himself.
Delete:)
DeleteIn the end, even the highly-rated Slovenian ends his appearance today with something controversial. It's certainly not a mistake, in fact, quite the opposite, but honestly, it makes one of the worst impressions, because it makes you realize how a referee decision is weighed too heavily depending on the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteWhoo ! What a chaos after final whistle. The overall behavior of the players and executives of the two major Spanish clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE, and UEFA MUST clearly impose very severe sanctions—whether it concerns the disgraceful statements made by Raphinha after the match in Catalonia, or the attitudes of several Madrid players such as Arda Güler toward the referee and Jude Bellingham toward the fourth official. Shameful! Yes, there are mistakes and clumsy decisions, but these kinds of behaviors must stop!
ReplyDeleteSTAND UP FOR YOUR REFEREES, or let them fall and let refereeing itself die.
DeleteAt least Marca and the rest of the Spanish press have days of material... For the English broadcaster, all the blame is going to the player, none to the referee, it's seen as a clear YC. Safe to say I don't think it's being seen the same in Madrid
DeleteThat's true.
DeleteBut these two clubs aren't going to give up.
If you doubt it, they'll unite to demand Rosetti's resignation. kkk
Soooo, who's left to officiate in the semifinals? 4 names needed, hard to find them without turning a blind eye to something (teams repetition, performances this season, media controversies, nationality, potential availability for final)
ReplyDeleteVery difficult situation indeed. A nightmare second leg of quarterfinals for Rosetti.
DeleteReferees are placed in categories for a reason. At the elite level, decisions like that are not expected from Vinčić Even in the worst case scenario, forgetting that a player was already on a yellow card is a serious error At this level, that simply cannot happen.
ReplyDeleteUnacceptable is a top referee who forget that Camavinga has been booked 10' before. You never sent off a player in this situation.
ReplyDeleteYes you can say it is a correct caution. Anyway when you have a referee without any really leadership, this happens. The players only see him to take decisions without any real contact with the players at any time. When he talks with players before for example cornerkicks he is so stressed that he has no confidence among the players.
ReplyDeleteMariani will be an absolute safe name for one of the first leg semis
ReplyDeleteHow was letexier if someone watched?
ReplyDelete