Friday 24 January 2020

FIFA Seminars for Elite referees - February / March 2020

FIFA has planned some seminars for Elite referees, to be held on next weeks. 
The seminars will be used as preparation for the next FIFA tournaments.
Please find below the list of UEFA participants.

Lisbon, 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07/02/2020


MEN

Artur Manuel Ribeiro Soares Dias (POR)
Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Andreas Ekberg (SWE)
Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Ovidiu Alin Hațegan (ROU)
Srđan Jovanović (SRB)
Georgi Kabakov (BUL)
Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Danny Makkelie (NED)
Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Michael Oliver (ENG)
Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Andris Treimanis (LVA)
Clément Turpin (FRA)
Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Felix Zwayer (GER)


WOMEN 

Eleni Antoniou (GRE)
Ewa Augustyn (POL)
Cheryl Foster (WAL)
Marta Huerta de Aza (ESP)
Lina Lehtovaara (FIN)
Ivana Martinčić (CRO)
Tess Olofsson (SWE)
Rebecca Welch (ENG)
Olga Zadinová (CZE)


AFC - CAF - OFC Seminar will be held in Doha, Qatar, 9-10-11-12-13 March 2020

AFC Men

Chris Beath (AUS)
Abdulrahman AL Jassim (QAT)
Alireza Faghani (IRN)
Ma Ning (CHN)
Adham Makhadmeh (JOR)
Mohammed Mohammed (UAE)
Ryuji Sato (JPN)
Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)

AFC Women

Thi Thu Trang Bui (VIE)
Mahsa Ghorbani (IRN)
Kim Yu Jeong (KOR)
Edita Mirabidova (UZB)
Abirami Naidu (SIN)
Oh Hyeong Jeong (KOR)
Pak Un Jong (PRK)
Ranjita Devi Tekcham (IND)

CAF Men

Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
Amin Omar (EGY)
Bakari Gassama (GAM)
Maguete N'Diaye (SEN)
Victor Gomes (RSA)
Bamlak Tessema (ETH)
Ndala Ngambo (COD)

CAF Women

Vincentia Amedone (TGO)
Dorsaf Ganouati (TUN)
Jonesia Kabakama (TAN)
Bouchra Karboubi (MAR)
Ndidi Patience Madu (NGA)
Maria Rivet (MRI)
Fatou Thioune (SEN)
Letticia Viana (SWZ)

OFC

Matt Conger (NZL)
Nick Waldron (NZL)
Abdelkader Zitouni (TAH)

191 comments:

  1. Informations about the other confederations will follow soon.
    There will be different dates, for UEFA everything will be held before the start of KO stage, I guess that this is because after that there will be big focus on CL/EL KO stage and then EURO.
    Also, if we compare the list published one year ago for the first seminar ever after 2018 WC:
    Referees
    1. Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR, 1979)
    2. Georgi Kabakov (BUL, 1986)
    3. Michael Oliver (ENG, 1985)
    4. Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP, 1984)
    5. Benoît Bastien (FRA, 1983)
    6. Daniel Siebert (GER, 1984)
    7. Davide Massa (ITA, 1981)
    8. Andris Treimanis (LVA, 1985)
    9. Srdjan Jovanović (SRB, 1986)
    10. Ivan Kružliak (SVK, 1984)
    11. Slavko Vinčič (SVN, 1979)
    12. Andreas Ekberg (SWE, 1985)

    VARs
    1. Craig Pawson (ENG, 1979)
    2. Paul Tierney (ENG, 1980)
    3. Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP, 1976)
    4. Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP, 1982)
    5. Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP, 1982)
    6. Marco Guida (ITA, 1981)
    7. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA, 1979)
    8. Pol van Boekel (NED, 1975)
    9. Serdar Gözübüyük (NED, 1985)
    10. Danny Makkelie (NED, 1983)
    11. Paweł Gil (POL, 1976)
    12. Paweł Raczkowski (POL, 1983)
    13. Artur Soares Dias (POR, 1979)
    14. Hüseyin Göçek (TUR, 1976)

    We should point out that the following referees are missing now in this new call: Bastien (FRA), Kulbakov (BLR), Massa (ITA), Siebert (GER).
    FIFA continues to work with both male and female together, the women in this new list should be considered big hopes for Women WC 2023.
    Good luck to them as well.
    A final remark: FIFA has removed the years of births also from their official documents.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1) A little surprise for me to see Orsato instead of Massa, considering the former's age and potential 'ineligibility' for next FIFA tournaments.

    2) Gil Manzano is nowhere near FIFA elite level atm, he still needs to improve a lot on decision making, having an outstanding physical condition is not enough.

    IMO he won't ever be in risk of demotion but I easily see him stagnated in the role that other ESP referees like Fernández Borbalán, Daudén Ibáñez or even Undiano Mallenco after 2010 WC used to have, a reliable referee for big UEL games and potentially dangerous UCL games (like those in e.g. Greece and Turkey), but not enough to be in consideration for big national teams touraments.

    On Tuesday he made (IMO) a crucial mistake in Recreativo de Huelva-Osasuna Copa del Rey game by allowing Osasuna's second goal (at the end of the day it was decisive because Osasuna won after ET).

    https://streamable.com/oq63w

    3) UEFA clearly sees Ekberg, Treimanis and Jovanovic as future prospects and I wouldn't be surprised to see them promoted in June. I guess commitee also has referees like Dabanovic, Peljto, Schärer etc on mind for future seminars (not for 2022 WC like these ones, that would be too early)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why skomina and cakir are out of the list ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they were asked by FIFA and their answer was negative.
      Let's remember this tournament will be held on November - December 2022, in the middle of 2022-23 season. Both would be 46 years old. They already attended some big tournaments, so I guess their international career will be already over at that time.

      Delete
    2. You "think" or you have information that this is the case, Chefren?

      For me, I could see an argument from FIFA that Skomina and Cakir need not attend an event like this without that, in turn, meaning they are not 2022 WC candidates.

      Delete
    3. Just my idea, but if not, why Turpin and other big names are there? Clearly, we have all the big names for 2022. Only Skomina and Cakir are missing, there should be a reason for that. Orsato is a very particular case because there aren't other options for Italy. Gil Manzano is the Spanish choice, Zwayer the German, and so you can easily understand that in this list there are all the names for 2022.

      Delete
    4. Do you know when brych is going to retire?

      Delete
    5. No Frappart???

      Delete
    6. Maresca will be the elite referee from Italy

      Delete
    7. Brych will be 45 this August. So, in 2022 he will be 47 which is the retirement age in Germany.

      Delete
  4. If I am not wrong this should be a shortlist for World Cup 2022? So Cakir, Skomina and Mateu Lahoz not on the list which would mean they plan to retire by 2022? I must say that I am surprised not see Karasev since he will be 43 in 2022, he has World Cup experience but he was left from the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mateu Lahoz should retire due to age limit in summer 2022. A pity that the tournament starts in November...

      Delete
    2. And I would add that this is a huge disappointment for Sidiropoulos and Collum, who are both eligibile for World Cup regarding their age, but obviously FIFA is not convinced by their performances. Moreover, they selected 4 first category referees over two, now very experienced, elite referees.

      Delete
    3. Said with all the respect for Collum and Sidiropoulos one could never think that they are at WC level.

      Delete
    4. I agree with you Chefren, I just wanted to point out that they must be very dissapointed since first category referees are considered more on WC level then two of them.

      Delete
  5. OT: Two South Korean international referees, Daeyong Kim and Woosung Kim, participated from January 14 to 17 at the CNF Clairefontaine in the FFF Elite referees' course:
    https://www.fff.fr/actualites/188286-arbitrage

    ReplyDelete
  6. Valencia C.F - FC Barcelona
    min 82

    Take a corner kick
    scored a goal
    The game has been suspended
    VAR intervention
    Restore a corner kick

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A corner kick was taken. Busquets had fallen to the ground but Gil Manzano did not whistle immediately, and a goal was scored by Paulista. After the goal was scored, Gil Manzano whistled the "foul" and waited for VAR intervention. After no OFR, Gil Manzano asked to retake the corner kick. As he had initially whistled the foul, it was a VAR intervention to change a foul for a corner kick (via a goal scored). Is this a correct procedure considering the VAR protocol? I have many doubts.

      Delete
    2. Wrong, wrong. All against protocol. VAR must be blamed.

      Delete
    3. But if there was some pushing before corner, he must show YC, right?

      Delete
    4. It was not exactly a push, it was a blockage.

      BTW, on the first half there was a very clear advantage for Valencia denied by Gil Manzano, who publicly apologized.

      Delete
    5. If the referee thought, the foul happened before the corner kick, the referee should not have waited with the whistle and the VAR should not have checked the situation.
      If the referee thought, the foul happened after the corner kick, the delayed whistle and the VAR check was OK, but play should have continued with a free kick (if no OFR takes place).
      At least, that's my understanding of the VAR protocol.

      Delete
    6. https://ok.ru/video/1860959013478 The situation is shown from 35:51 on the link!

      Delete
    7. I agree with Philipp S. I think what Manzano did was incorrect.

      Delete
    8. Maybe I’m wrong, but in either case according to the Laws the goal should have awarded in my opinion.
      Whatever the referee thought, and whatever the VAR assessed, in fact there is no foul after the execution of the corner kick. So the VAR-check should be limited to what happened after the corner kick was taken. As there was no foul after the execution of the corner kick the only possible decision should be to award the goal?
      Or am I missing something?

      Delete
    9. I think the referee judged the incident as an offense. This is important to keep in mind.

      Then he was probably a bit uncertain when the foul occurred, but he intuitively made the (in hindsight bad) decision to give a free kick.

      VAR probably confirmed that it was a foul, but happened before the ball was in play.

      As such, probably Gil Manzano's initial judgment remained because it would have prevented the corner kick from being executed. In other words, he would not have let the corner kick taking place because he saw an infringement in the build up, which made one defender suffer a disadvantage.

      In my view, the procedure itself can be supported, but the decision to give a free kick based on an assumption when it took place is the actual, big mistake that should not happen.

      Delete
    10. The final decision is correct, although I think in this situation maybe the goal should have stood, because the incident happened when the ball was not in play so its really peculiar for VAR to check that.

      Delete
  7. Southampton FC - Tottenham Hotspur

    min 58
    min 80

    ReplyDelete
  8. Orsato masterpiece in Fiorentina - Genoa:
    https://streamable.com/pdf21
    I must say that at moment he is at the full top of his career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe some lip-reading for us who don't know italians :P

      Delete
    2. I don't understand what is so special in this situation. OK, yellow is right decision but there are at least two opponent players who "signalling" the referee to show a card.
      For masterpiece solution i would expext a ref to show a reaction also on this kind of unsporting behaviour.

      Delete
  9. AFC, CAF and OFC

    Doha, 09-13/03/2020
    Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
    Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
    Amin Omar (EGY)
    Bakari Gassama (GAM)
    Maguete N'Diaye (SEN)
    Victor Gomes (RSA)
    Bamlak Tessema (ETH)
    Ndala Ngambo (COD)

    It's a seminar for men and women, I only have it for men from Africa, whoever has the others, please share.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CAF - Women
      Vincentia Amedone (TGO)
      Dorsaf Ganouati (TUN)
      Jonesia Kabakama (TAN)
      Bouchra Karboubi (MAR)
      Ndidi Patience Madu (NGA)
      Maria Rivet (MRI)
      Fatou Thioune (SEN)
      Letticia Viana (SWZ)

      AFC - Men
      Chris Beath (AUS)
      Abdulrahman AL Jassim (QAT)
      Alireza Faghani (IRN)
      Ma Ning (CHN)
      Adham Makhadmeh (JOR)
      Mohammed Mohammed (UAE)
      Ryuji Sato (JPN)
      Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)

      AFC - Women
      Thi Thu Trang Bui (VIE)
      Mahsa Ghorbani (IRN)
      Kim Yu Jeong (KOR)
      Edita Mirabidova (UZB)
      Abirami Naidu (SIN)
      Oh Hyeong Jeong (KOR)
      Pak Un Jong (PRK)
      Ranjita Devi Tekcham (IND)

      OFC
      Matt Conger (NZL)
      Nick Waldron (NZL)
      Abdelkader Zitouni (TAH)

      Delete
    2. Any info for CONMEBOL and Concacaf?

      Delete
    3. I had planned to publish this info about AFC, CAF and OFC later on next weeks, however the date for this seminar involving the three mentioned confederations is from 9 March to 13 March in Doha, Qatar. I didn't get info so far about CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.

      Delete
  10. A couple of games from Greece:


    PAOK Thessaloníki - AEK Athína, Orel Grinfeld (Roi Reinschreiber)

    55' Penalty (holding) to PAOK
    75' Penalty (tripping) to AEK? No VAR intervention
    83' Penalty (handling) to AEK? No VAR intervention
    +91' Red Card (DOGSO) to AEK no.23
    +94' 2nd Yellow Card (SPA/LoR) to AEK no.10

    Overall: So-so foul detection; great disciplinary control / presence; excellent movement


    Olympiakòs Pireás - Panathinaïkòs, Mattias Gestranius (Anastásios Sidirópoulos)

    9' Penalty (tripping) to Panathinaïkòs? After On-Field Review, referee confirmed play on
    51' Penalty (tripping) to Panathinaïkòs? After On-Field Review, referee confirmed play on

    Overall: adequate fitness, foul detection; good disciplinary control, presence

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @OLY-PAN: A bit worrying, that two CL referees have such different interpretations about penalty situations. I'm more with the Greek in both cases.
      Also I don't understand why they show the possible offsides to the referee during the OFR.

      @PAOK-AEK:
      Not completely sure in the VAR situations, but I can't detect a clear error there, too. The other decisions are (also) correct IMO.

      Delete
  11. https://twitter.com/IndoSport/status/1221164788182593536?s=09

    Sad situation for referees in the Republic of Ireland.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A bonus game from Greece: Cretan Derby between Platanias - Ergotélis handled by Eleni Antoniou (SL2, UEFA W1st), attendee of the upcoming FIFA course in Lisbon.

    2' Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? No sanction
    21' Penalty (tripping) to Ergotélis
    31' Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? Yellow Card given
    59' Deliberate pass to the goalkeeper? Referee played on

    Overall: too lenient impression with dangerous tackles going un(der)punished.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 59' is a purely theoretical situation after the incorrect offside given by AR1 Timoléon Georgakópoulos.

      Delete
    2. 2' - no replays available, but at least YC must be given here for reckless tackle. No card is a significant mistake.

      21' - I agree on the penalty, slight tripping, enough to bring the attacker down.

      31' - IMO, this type of fouls should be considered as SFP and RC. That was quite a cynical tackle, the only intent here being to stop his opponent, no chance to play the ball there.

      59' - Deliberate backpass for me, defender is in control of the ball and tries to kick it away, he knows exactly what he's doing. The wrong offside given by AR1 is also quite a blatant mistake if you ask me, AR had the line of the box to help here. Situation should have been: play-on for the offside call, then indirect free kick for a deliberate backpass.

      Delete
  13. Mateu Lahoz completely lost control in the last two minutes of extra time in Atlético - Leganés. He sent off Leganés' goalkeeper for delaying the restart of the game (correctly, he was arguing with the ball picker, went to the ground behind the goal, was warned and ignored the warning. He was cautioned before for dissent). Leganés didn't have more substitutions, so a field player had to take its place. Cuéllar (the sent-off GK) delayed his exit from the field of play for about 4 minutes, provoking Atlético players on his way out, so a mass confrontation took place. Very ugly images and situation, which IMO was not entirely Mateu's fault, but he failed to calm things down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pichu Cuéllar does this kind of flagrant time wasting sooo frequently.

      I'm glad that he got sent off at last.

      Delete
    2. Yes, indeed. Actually, I think Mateu got all major decisions right. Maybe a card missing for an Atlético player for an off-the-ball push, but all penalty appeals were correctly rejected, and I can live with the YC for Eraso instead of RC. But in the end, things got out of hand, and he will be/is being blamed for that. MARCA, in their post-match qualification has already given him 0 points:
      https://e00-marca.uecdn.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2020/01/26/15800458111213.jpg

      Delete
    3. I dont think Mateu could have done anything more.
      Pichu Cuellar behaved like an absolute idiot provoking everybody who was on Atleti side today, so I dont think Mateu could have calmed things more quickly.
      But, Mateu alone is not calm so how can we exoect that from players. 😀

      Delete
  14. I got the info that the original list of UEFA referees for this FIFA seminar has been updated some days after the first release and another name has been added: CARLOS DEL CERRO GRANDE from Spain is the 26th referee there. Very particular because according to Spanish rules he should retire at the end of 2021-22 season and WC will be in 2022-23 season.
    So we must add Del Cerro to this list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He has to retire by the end of the 2020-2021 season (he turns 45 in March 2021). Spanish rules, however, allow retired referees to perform VAR duties for two more seasons after retirement. Some options: either Velasco Carballo has realised Gil Manzano will not make it to the WC on his own (that is, without political influence) given his level and will therefore abolish age limits and send del Cerro Grande instead (that would open the door for Mateu as well, but he has already been to a WC), or he is included on the list with VAR duties in mind. Also, it could be because of the 2020 olympic games to which del Cerro Grande might be appointed.

      Delete
    2. I think it's unlikely to see Del Cerro Grande in Olympic Games as Spain is qualified.

      Delete
    3. Maybe, but I think the first option (abolishing the age limits) is even more unlikely...

      Delete
  15. Eredivisie: PSV - FC Twente
    Referee: Siemen Mulder

    It is often said, "Is the referee forgetting cards?", but it is rare to actually forget.
    https://twitter.com/FOXSportsnl/status/1221467438728065024

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shocking from a top division referee.

      Delete
    2. Well, that happened just 3-4 months ago to Carlos del Cerro Grande in Ireland-Switzerland Euro Qualifiers game.

      Delete
  16. why are foreign referees doing the games in Greece? Are the greek referees not up to scratch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IIRC they are only doing top/critical games.

      Delete
    2. Because of the toxic environment there is in Greece. Of course greek referees have played their part on that since most of them are afraid and are doing tremendous mistakes. So most of the SL teams simply don't trust them.

      Moreover Melo Pereira and his choices (well not actually his) has also played a part on that. He came here to improve refereeing but after 3 years things are getting worse.

      Delete
    3. And btw Matej Jug (AEK-Olympiakos) showed yesterday that he should have been an Elite referee. His management of the match, the fact that he earned the respect of all players and his correct decisions, contributed to a really good performance. Noone can speak about refereeing on a rather boring match.

      Delete
  17. LIGUE 1 CONFORAMA - MATCHDAY 22

    Friday (31.01)
    Rennes - Nantes, 20:45 CET, referee: Benoît Millot [UEFA 2nd] (VAR: Willy Delajod [UEFA 2nd])

    Saturday (01.02)
    Paris - Montpellier, 17:30 CET, referee: Jérôme Brisard [UEFA 2nd] (VAR: Willy Delajod [UEFA 2nd])
    Dijon - Brest, 20:00 CET, referee: Olivier Thual (VAR: William Lavis)
    Nîmes - Monaco, 20:00 CET, referee: Mikael Lesage (VAR: Hakim Ben El Hadj)
    Angers - Reims, 20:00 CET, referee: Amaury Delerue [UEFA 2nd] (VAR: Karim Abed [UEFA 2nd])
    Strasbourg - Lille, 20:00 CET, referee: Stéphanie Frappart [UEFA W-Elite] (VAR: Christian Guillard)
    Amiens - Toulouse, 20:00 CET, referee: François Letexier [UEFA 1st] (VAR: Florent Batta)

    Sunday (02.02)
    Nice - Lyon, 15:00 CET, referee: Benoît Bastien [UEFA Elite] (VAR: Johan Hamel)
    Metz - Saint-Etienne, 17:00 CET, referee: Antony Gautier (VAR: Karim Abed [UEFA 2nd])
    Bordeaux - Marseille, 21:00 CET, referee: Ruddy Buquet [UEFA 1st] (VAR: Thomas Leonard)

    Happy to see Benoît Bastien returning from his injury that he picked up during the warm-up in Saint-Etienne v Nantes a couple of weeks ago, meaning that he should also be available for the upcoming UEFA KO matches. Extremely delighted to see Benoît Millot handle the derby between Rennes and Nantes, indeed he has currently a very good season with some good appointments this season, including the most recent Coupe de la Ligue semifinal between Lyon and Lille (including the excellent penalty call at the very end of the game). A shame that he didn't get any EL group stage this season after his debut last season (IIRC, he did very well in a challenging match). To be honest, in case PSG do not qualify for the Coupe De France Final (Millot lives in Paris), he should get it this season, in a different case, there aren't many options...

    ReplyDelete
  18. OT:

    Appointments for Copa del Rey round of 16. First round with VAR. Due to UEFA seminar in Mallorca this week, there are only two FIFA referees.


    Tenerife (2) - Athletic. Referee: Pablo González Fuertes, VAR Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva.

    Cultural Leonesa (3) - Valencia. Referee: Valentin Pizarro Gómez, VAR David Medié Jiménez.

    Rayo Vallecano (2) - Villarreal. Referee: Eduardo Prieto Iglesias, VAR Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo.

    Badajoz (3) - Granada. Referee: César Soto Grado, VAR Javier Alberola Rojas.

    Zaragoza (2) - Real Madrid. Referee: José Luis Gonzalez González, VAR Adrián Cordero Vega.

    Real Sociedad - Osasuna. Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero, VAR Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva.

    Barcelona - Leganés. Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández, VAR Mario Melero López.

    Mirandés (2) - Sevilla. Referee: Santiago Jaime Latre, VAR Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, it's confirmed that Xavier Estrada Fernández will handle Madrid derby (Real Madrid - Atlético de Madrid) on Saturday 1st of February.

      Delete
  19. AEK Athína - Olympiakós Pireás, Matej Jug (Stéfanos Koumparákis)

    1' Careless, Reckless or Violent Conduct? No foul given
    85' 2nd Yellow Card (reckless) AEK no.8; management
    +91' Accidental SFP incident - foul given, no sanction

    Overall: sovereign impression - effective talks with players; empathically distant, aroused respect; good foul detection / disciplinary control -> very good performance.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Any news or photo from Majorca?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UEFA article about assistant referees in Majorca:
      https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2638154.html

      Some photos from UEFA twitter account:
      https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1222120085504122880

      Delete
    2. I didn't manage so far to get the full list of participants for that course on past week, but according to Rosetti words, it was a meeting not only for EURO preselected but also for the assistant referees who will officiate in KO stage. More than 70 officials. I can guess that all the names assigned to the referees who are attending now the course, have been called there.
      Moreover, according to some pictures, it looks like, among others, Gavrilin and Kostaras (respectively Karasev and Sidiropoulos assistant referees) are presented as EURO officials.

      Delete
    3. @Chefren it is called stalking :D

      Delete
    4. I think, I identified Seidel and Gittelmann. They are team members of Siebert and Stieler, i.e. they should be there for the KO stage and not for the EURO.
      On the other hand, Foltyn, who was in Aytekin's team recently, has a domestic appointment tomorrow...

      Delete
    5. The assistant referee seminar took place last week Philipp, so tomorrow’s domestic appointment doesn’t exclude the possibility Foltyn also having attended.

      Delete
    6. Thanks, I somehow thought, it would be the same dates as for the referee seminar.

      Delete
  21. ROUND 20 CROATIAN FIRST LEAGUE

    INTER-ZAPREŠ. – ISTRA 1961
    Ivan Bebek (UEFA 1) VAR: Fran Jović (UEFA 2)

    VARAŽDIN – HAJDUK
    Tihomir Pejin (UEFA 3) VAR: Igor Pajač (UEFA 3)

    LOKOMOTIVA – RIJEKA
    Damir Batinić VAR: Dario Bel

    SLAVEN BELUPO – DINAMO
    Mario Zebec (UEFA 3) VAR: Ivan Bebek(UEFA 1)

    GORICA – OSIJEK
    Duje Strukan (UEFA 2) VAR: Goran Gabrilo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. First round with VAR!
      Games are played 31.01.-02.02.

      Delete
  22. Video by RFEF
    https://twitter.com/rfef/status/1222211488741502979

    ReplyDelete
  23. I think Cuneyt Cakir will retire after the season 2019/2020 or maybe even before.

    Turkish media is reporting that FIFA Referee Committee deleted him due to "catastrophic games with big problems in decision making especially in cooperation with VAR system in his domestic Turkish Super Lig".

    I am pretty sure 2020 will be the last year in his amazing carier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even his privileged position in Turkish Referee Comittee is disappearing...

      Delete
    2. Dear Ref545,

      I strongly recommend you to do not believe what you read in the Turkish media!! If you have source from FIFA you can share with us but if not you can not share this news in this blog

      Dear Chefren and Mikeal If you can let them to share this kind of unreal news you can also be part of this dirty game here.Please consider about this again

      For your information,Cuneyt Cakir did 12 matches as a referee and 4 matches as a VAR in 18 week in Turkish super leauge.He has the most number of matches as a referee at the ranking

      There is also no need to talk about how respectable referee in UEFA and FIFA

      For sure he will continue another 3 years both for UEFA and FIFA.

      Delete
    3. Dear Anonymous,

      If you had read my posts carefully, than you had see that it is only my opinion and feeling that Cuneyt will retire after this season.
      And I think I can share my opinions on that blog!
      I am pretty sure that he will stay no longer at FIFA list when he won't attend WC 2022.

      I know that he had many games in Süper Lig this year but actually he is in a "crisis" (and I am saying that as his biggest fan).
      In Turkey he had many controversial and bad matches with too many VAR interventions and corrections for an Elite referee like him.

      In his last game (maybe you know it) Kayserispor vs. Ankaragücü he had 4-5 VAR reviews. This is too much for such an excellent referee like Çakir!

      Delete
    4. ...then we will see what will happen.We will watch all together how to make history one more time

      Delete
  24. Tenerife - Athletic.
    Referee: Pablo González Fuertes, VAR Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva.
    Minute 2': Rerd card.
    Minute 70: Penalty for handball.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The situations mentioned are in this highlights clip:
      => http://livetv.sx/frx/showvideo/789995_tenerife_athletic_bilbao/

      0:27: no choice for the referee here, goalkeeper goes in awkwardly and denies a goal scoring opportunity. Correct RC for DOGSO.

      0:48: extremely difficult to spot and good use of VAR here. Elbow is in an unnatural position, defender is taking a risk here and the elbow clearly deflects the ball and changes it's direction. Penalty to be given for handball and YC, since it would be blocking a shot on goal.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the video clip, Stake.

      I agree with your assessment of the penalty, but I think 2' is actually a very interesting situation.

      While all non-refereeing people would expect a RC there, I am not actually sure the GK prevents commits a RC offence:

      1) Attacker has already taken his shot (did the GK impede him? IMO, no)
      2) Attacker doesn't have a good chance to reach the ball
      -> No DOGSO

      3) While the jump is pretty reckless, I don't see the scope to evaluate that as excessive force
      -> No Serious Foul Play

      I don't blame González Fuertes / I. Iglesias Villanueva (that) much, for choosing / supporting the 'sensible' option of a Red Card (you touched on this perfectly: "no choice for the referee here").

      On a theoretical level though, the correct solution is to issue a Yellow Card (reckless) to the goalkeeper, I think.

      Delete
    3. I completely agree with Mikael here.

      Delete
    4. The red card is absolutely not DOGSO. The ball would never had gone in, and he would never have made it to the ball before the defender beside him since he was in the air and the defender not. Yellow card.

      Delete
    5. I agree it's not DOGSO. But what makes everyone so quick to say it's "reckless" instead of "excessive force?" You can commit a charge with "excessive force." You can jump at someone with "excessive force."

      Reckless means a player has acted in complete disregard of the danger to or the consequences for his opponent.

      Excessive force means the player has far exceeded the necessary force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.

      I don't think there's an easy answer here. But given the way the goalkeeper jumps at the attacker who is in mid-air and vulnerable and the goalkeeper makes no attempt to actually win or challenge for the ball... a red card for Serious Foul Play is not a bad decision, in my opinion. It's particularly not a bad decision when the participants almost expect the red card for a different reason.

      Delete
    6. I can confirm (it is in the public match report) that the reason for the RC is DOGSO.

      Delete
  25. Chefren, UEFA has recently published a post with an interview with Rossetti about assistant referees' course in Majorca. I can't find the list of participants. If I'm not mistaken on your blog there was only the list with main referees. Do you have one for assistants?

    Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you read above, you can see that we already discussed about that, unluckily I didn't manage to get this list!

      Delete
    2. Sorry, I didn't spot it at firtst) thank you!

      Delete
  26. OT

    Aliyar Aghayev (UEFA, 1st will handle the SL derby between Panathinaikos and PAOK (02/02 18:30 CET). His Assistants will be Zeynal Zeynalov and Akif Amirali. VAR will be Diamantopoulos (UEFA, 3rd).

    ReplyDelete
  27. Olympiakós Pireás – PAOK Thessaloníki
    Jose María Sánchez Martínez (David Medié Jiménez)

    27’ Penalty (holding) to PAOK?
    31’ Careless, Reckless or Serious Foul Play? Foul given, no sanction
    49’ Penalty (tripping) to Olympiakós?
    63’ Penalty (tripping) to Olympiakós given
    79’ Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? Yellow Card given
    89’ Reckless vs. Violent Conduct? Yellow Card given

    VAR Interventions: -

    Overall: excellent presence, self-presentation; disappointing foul detection, okay disciplinary control (please don’t card players who reasonably act against DtR!); prepared for such matches? Sth to ponder: how far are UEFA ready to tolerate (his) technical weaknesses in light of (his) huge skills in soft skills?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In my opinion all 6 decisions are supportable (although mostly in a grey area). I think, it's good to not have VAR intervention in any of those.

      Delete
    2. I agree with you in all cases besides 49', which is a missed penalty / intervention in my eyes.

      Delete
    3. OK, my argument there would be, that the attacker deliberately puts his leg in the defender's path to initiate the contact.

      Delete
    4. That was the view of the Spanish refereeing team, I think Sánchez Martínez even tries to explain that to a player with gestures.

      If you ask me, sth went wrong if we deny attackers the chance to defend their position (ie. it is not unreasonable to put your leg between the defender and the ball because you want to keep control of the ball, and it is their fault if they kick through you trying to play the ball).

      To not punish such situations complicates refereeing more than one needs to, in my opinion.

      Delete
  28. OT: Australian referee appointments
    Hyundai A-League Match-day 17 -

    Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar -
    Friday, 31 January 2020
    Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
    Kick-Off: 7:30pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT))
    Referee: Chris Beath (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 2: Matthew McOrist
    Fourth Official: Kurt Ams (FIFA)
    VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones

    Newcastle Jets v Western United FC -
    Saturday, 1 February 2020
    McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
    Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Local) (5:00pm (AEDT))
    Referee: Jonathan Barreiro (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 1: Ryan Gallagher (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 2: Scott Edeling
    Fourth Official: Katie Patterson
    VAR: Kurt Ams (FIFA)

    Melbourne City v Adelaide United -
    Saturday, 1 February 2020
    Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
    Kick-Off: 7:00pm (Local) (7:30pm (AEDT))
    Referee: Alex King (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo
    Fourth Official: Daniel Cook
    VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones

    Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory -
    Saturday, 1 February 2020
    HBF Park, Perth
    Kick-Off: 6:45pm (Local) (9:45pm (AEDT))
    Referee: Stephen Lucas
    Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
    Assistant Referee 2: Arvin Shanmuganathan
    Fourth Official: Adam Fielding
    VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones

    Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers -
    Sunday, 2 February 2020
    Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
    Kick-Off: 4:00pm (Local) (4:00pm (AEDT))
    Referee: Shaun Evans (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 1: Ashley Beecham (FIFA)
    Assistant Referee 2: James Cleal
    Fourth Official: Tim Danaskos
    VAR: Kurt Ams (FIFA)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yesterday I noticed that the referee showed a yellow card towards the 3rd coach, AFTER the final whistle and WITHIN the dressing room area.
    IMO, this is not correct.
    IFAB LotG, Law 5: takes action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner and warns or shows a yellow card for a caution or a red card for a sending-off from the field of play and its immediate surrounds, including the
    technical area; if the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction.

    ReplyDelete
  30. PAOK Thessaloníki – Panathinaïkós
    Slavko Vinčić (Athanásios Tzílos)

    53’ Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? No Foul given
    55’ Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? Yellow Card given
    76’ Offside or Foul? If foul – what sanction? (very interesting LotG scene)
    81’ PAN no.44 on PAOK no.9 – sanction needed? [ REPLAY ]
    +96’ Penalty (charging) given to PAOK

    VAR Interventions: +96’ No Foul -> Penalty (OFR)

    Overall: proactive, good verbal warnings in the 1H; some missed yellow cards, but on the whole very good rigorous disciplinary control; good foul detection; aroused respect.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Offside at corner kick in Concacaf:
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1222340988687060992

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Are you sure that offside was the reported offense there?

      Delete
    2. Do you see anything else in the video clip?

      Delete
    3. They called offisde. You can see the AR raising the falg and the HR showing the indirect sign. It's embarrassing.

      Delete
    4. It was an Olympic qualifier and the AR who signalled offside at a corner kick is Princess Brown, from Jamaica, who attended the Women's World Cup last year. She was sent home the next day, but somehow the other members of that referee team were retained and appointed again.

      Delete
    5. In this case referee has big responsibility as well.
      It is not acceptable to confirm the call.

      Delete
  32. Incident from Cyprus Cup. 2nd leg of the big derby. APOEL NICOSIA-APOLLON LIMASSOL.
    Incident at 0.44. Penalty?,play on?, simulation? Opinions?
    Referee Timotheous Christofi(UEFA 3rd)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkLEZ_h8614&t=89s

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Play on or simulation but in my opinion it's never a penalty. The attacker is looking for the contact.

      Delete
    2. Simulation YC because he tries to deceive the referee intentionnally.

      Delete
    3. In my opinion it is the attacker looking for contact there, so I agree simulation would be best solution. Not a clear penalty for sure, so referee was right in his decision. Maybe he was a bit too aggressive against players after that to explain his choice...

      Delete
    4. i agree. a bit aggressive. i guess this is the mediterranean mentality. italian,greek,cypriot etc

      Delete
    5. Do you have the full match record anywhere?

      I liked Christofí a lot when I watched him and was surprised he missed out on U17 EURO / promotion to 2nd Cat. (and Cyprus has a decent lobby in Nyon, too).

      Delete
    6. This is the year he can promoted because he can be promoted only after 2 years in 3rd category. so in the summer he will be 2.5 years on the 3rd category. As far as we know he was Hugh Dallas chosen one when he was working in Cyprus.

      Delete
  33. UEFA article about referees in Majorca:
    https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2638278.html

    Some photos from UEFA twitter account:
    https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1223236163588304900

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://twitter.com/UEFA/status/1223237149161676804

      Delete
    2. The AFC guests, you can see them in some pictures, are the same of one year ago, I didn't report them previously: Zhang Lei and Shen Yinhao (both from China).

      Delete
  34. https://twitter.com/ParisFC/status/1223565753401692160
    Some interesting situations from Ligue 2 game Chamois Niortais - Paris FC
    Referee: Nicolas Rainville.
    Four penalties whistled.
    In my opinion the last one, missed by home-team, is wrong.
    I noticed a certain tendency by Rainville to whistle very easily.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Today, Tobias Stieler whistled the top game Leipzig-Gladbach in German Bundesliga:
    There was a situation that is discussed by media now: Stieler cautioned a player for protesting who made 2 disrespectful gestures and gave a second YC in quick succession.
    The advise by DFB in the winter break fo stop disrespectful behaviour is put into practice not for the first time over the last week. Stieler mentioned in the post game interview that UEFA will be strict in these situation in KO-Stage. I personally very like that attitude!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have to praise Tobias Stieler for this decision. It is completely correct and deserved for the player. Plea did not end his disrespectful gestures, so that this was the correct reaction by the referee to end this behaviour.

      Delete
    2. The truth is also: until that Y/R card (60’) it was a totally fair match with only one YC.
      After that incident 4 YC followed and minimum 2YC missed in very hectical match!
      So this time only the referee changed the atmosphere in a negative way.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous 2219 - if a player committed a reckless tackle and was sent off with a second caution then one would not blame the referee but the player; it is just different ways of thinking.

      If DFB issued an absolutist directive, a good thing in my eyes, it is only correct and fair that referees act according to that (clubs and players were informed too, let's not forget). You could also say that in such a fair match, it was even more stupid of Pléa to repeatedly use dissenting gestures.

      To be honest it makes me a bit sad that some refereeing people are supportive of such aggressive closing-of-eyes, supported by empty truisms such as "football is about the players" et al.

      Delete
    4. Stieler's statements:
      "Basically there is not so much to discuss. The player wanted a free kick, he didn't get it. Then he waved down [=signaled his refusal] strongly. Then he received the YC. And he did not accept this YC and has repeatedly, derogatorily shown his disrespect with many gestures and consequently got his 2nd YC.
      I can't understand, that a player still makes derogatory gestures after he has received a YC. I can't understand that. Can you understand that?
      There have been worse scenes [in the past]. But the clubs have been informed, they have a role model function - just like the players. We referees are required to consistently punish this unsportsmanlike behaviour in the second half of the season. Such behaviour is unacceptable, it has absolutely no role model function for football - especially not for grassroot level.
      It is a consequence of the stricter interpretation since the winter break. I have just come from the UEFA winter course. We have seen exactly these scenes and UEFA doesn't want to see anything like that. It's about the image of football."
      And regarding a YC for Gladbach's coach:
      "[He earned it because] he complained with many gestures and left the coaching zone. He then endured the YC like a man and did not complain again - unlike his player"

      Delete
    5. "Great" new instructions by DFB. They think maybe that referees are faultless, or they think that player should accept the possibly clearly wrong decision in an important game calm and happy.
      Especially that is very good idea for 2 consecutive YC...

      Of course, that doesnt mean everything should be tolerated, just that some people should IMO rethink what is the priority here.

      Delete

    6. So, you think if a decision is wrong it is ok to make respectful gestures?! Btw just as a reminder, players never think it‘s their fault so basically they would always protest. Plus, do referees also comment each wrong pass or missed penalty by the players?

      Delete
    7. The problem is that it will happen sooner or later that players will get sent off for protesting against wrong decision. And then this mistake will be emphasized as a decisive moment in game, something that could so easily be avoided. Disrespectful behaviour should be punished (Aytekin recent example with kicking the ball is good example) , but here also comes referees management, gestures and verbal explanation and warnings. Football is not western with shooting duels at 12 in front of the saloon and cards other than stepping, DOGSO, SFP etc. are never a simple technical rule.

      Delete
    8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDtk7LIe4xI

      Delete
    9. DFB supports Stieler:
      "We have defined and communicated a clear line of action against unsporting behaviour in the run-up to the second half of the season. Both YCs against Plea were based on clear unsportsmanlike behaviour. First the Gladbach player made a strong complaint, that there was no whistle. After the caution had been issued, disrespectful gestures followed in front of the referee. We therefore expressly support Tobias Stieler's decision and continue to encourage our referees to act consistently against unsporting behaviour towards the game, the opponent and the referee. Of course, players' emotions are always allowed, but the limit to unsporting behaviour must be observed." (Peter Sippel, head of training and qualification)

      Delete
  36. Some clips from PL yesterday:

    Liverpool vs Southampton - a couple of penalties missed by Kevin Friend, no VAR overrule: https://streamable.com/87rio

    Bournemouth vs Aston Villa - a rather soft 2nd YC for Bournemouth in min 51 and a possible missed penalty for Villa, from the resulting FreeKick (ref. A.Taylor): https://streamable.com/814lh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All clips are clear penalties.

      Delete
    2. And now another controversial decision, only YC for this challenge from Sterling in Tottenham - Man. City (ref. Mike Dean).

      https://streamable.com/jc158

      VAR checked but did not consider this as Serious Foul Play.

      Delete
    3. I would consider that this challenge was worse than Aubameyang's against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago (Aubameyang was sent off after VAR (only) review, and the challenge was quite similar.

      This is 100% SFP, 100% a red card, and I think if Mike Dean was given the chance to make an OFR here, he would change this to RC. VAR must be blamed here.

      Delete
    4. Game has just descended into madness. VAR took way too long to make the decision - game wasn't stopped. Penalty save and then possible penalty again. Massive argument which prompts Dean to go on the march with his yellow card and give two seemingly arbitrarily. Taylor, Oliver, Tierney and Kavanaugh all had games this weekend, but Dean is given the big one - maybe this will stop him getting appointed to the most important matches above younger, better referees. And Kevin Friend has also been very poor. Just a disappointing game.

      Delete
  37. Meanwhile, VAR in Croatian league is in the fifth gear :)

    3 Pk-s after OFR and one goal disallowed for offside.

    All reviews can be seen here:
    https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/var-prelomio-utakmicu-u-varazdinu-tri-penala-za-hajduk-ponisteni-gol-i-napokon-pobjeda-bilih-u-gostima-foto-20200202

    ReplyDelete
  38. Interesting situation in Spanish 2nd Division match Fuenlabrada-Girona. Referee is Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos (1989, candidate for promotion).

    Fuenlabrada player gets a RC for SFP, 'downgraded' to YC for reckless tackle after VAR review. The player comes back from the dressing room and immediately confronts another player. YC for both, and the 2nd RC for the player in 2-3 minutes.

    Thoughts?

    https://twitter.com/andreu24x/status/1223949738946502656

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For me the link doesn‘t work here‘s another one (mentioned scene is around 1:29:20)

      https://youtu.be/dpF8cng_bLA

      First, IMO the red card should never have been overturned. That was clear SPA for me. And secondly, how stupid can a player be. Absolutely correct to give a YC to both players after the review

      Delete
    2. Good job by VAR. The contact was with the thigh, it was reckless. Then pure comedy that the player got a yellow right after coming back.

      Delete
  39. Eredivisie: Ajax - PSV
    Referee: Björn Kuipers
    VAR: Bas Nijhuis

    Clear penalty seemed, but Kuipers did not think it was a foul and VAR did not intervene.
    https://twitter.com/FOXSportsnl/status/1224039772773126144

    Kuipers: I prefer a penalty kick, but that is different from the fact that I think it is a hundred percent penalty. On the images from behind the goal you can see a leg outstretched by Boscagli. And then it seems that Dest falls over that leg. It is a doubtful situation. But if I had watched the images, I would have given a penalty.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Al Hilal Omdurman - Al Ahly Cairo, Rédouane Jiyed

    2’ Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? Yellow Card given
    18’ Careless, Reckless or Violent Conduct? Foul given, no sanction
    25’ Reckless vs. Serious Foul Play? Yellow Card given
    27’ Second Yellow Card (standing leg tackle)? No Foul given
    67’ Penalty (tripping) to Al Hilal? Referee played on
    +98’ Goal correctly disallowed for offside by Mostafa Akrakad

    ** Match suspended after Al Hilal spectators entered the field of play; referees protected by armed forces

    Overall: WOW! What an incredible (winner-takes-all) game for the Moroccan refereeing team, whose safety I was genuinely fearful for.

    Given that Al Hilal had publicly tried to remove Jiyed from the game and the safety of the protagonists was, at best, very much in doubt – it was actually impossible for Jiyed to regularly officiate this game. I fear that if he followed the LotG he would have struggled to have safely left Khartoum…

    He managed the game very well; excellent foul detection and very good soft skills (especially for CAF).

    To improve: no excuse to not punish two absolutely reckless fouls from Al Hilal with cautions (final warning; advantage, not later sanction) who played in a very, very rough manner; generally good advantages but a couple of times it was better to whistle; better calculation of additional time.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Obviously for Adrian Cordero Vega the rules of the game concerning bookable offences do not exist when players from Barca or Real Madrid are playing... That's how you make a career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the other matches he booked the players in normal way?

      Delete
  42. VAR in Premier League is such a joke. Ridiculous non following of protocol in Tottenham v Man City. 100% every day of the week red card challenge that they didn't have the guts to overturn. Then a penalty where Mike Dean clearly signals the ball was played. It wasn't but this is where he should be sent for an OFR because it just looks ridiculous when he points to the spot 2 minutes later without seeing it himself. Then the penalty is saved by the gker who was off his line and protocol clearly says the VAR should intervene. Then there is another potential penalty. Utter madness. And IMO if you simply follow the correct VAR protocol, you avoid at least half the problems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If Mike Dean explains to the VAR that he didn't award the penalty because the player got the ball, but then the VAR says no they didn't - why would you need to send the referee for an OFR? That would just be a waste of everybody's time.

      Other goalkeepers have been off their line far more and not been penalised so at least they are consistent.

      Delete
  43. Milan - Verona
    RC for SFP after OFR.
    Referee had not issued any card for that foul.
    Fourth official with some responsibilities there (at least he could have suggested YC).
    https://streamable.com/xypu1

    ReplyDelete
  44. Strange that referees for Euro 2002 are not yet known

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Collina
      Frisk
      Stark
      Meier
      Riley

      Etc

      Delete
    2. @Anonymous: I think your sources are wrong ;) Stark did not join EURO 2002

      Delete
    3. Obviously Stark wasn't in the Euro 2002. Because there was no Euro 2002. It was 2004.

      Delete
  45. OT
    The 134th Annual General Meeting of The IFAB will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 29 February 2020.
    The agenda is now confirmed. Check which topics will be discussed by clicking here.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Panathinaïkós – PAOK Thessaloníki
    Əliyar Ağayev (Aristotélis Diamantópoulos)

    2’ Penalty (tripping / charging) to Panathinaïkós?
    39’ Violent Conduct (stamping)? No sanction
    +46’ Goal disallowed (handling) [VAR Protocol Broken]
    48’ Penalty (tripping) given to Panathinaïkós
    58’ Yellow Card (simulation) to PAOK no.18
    81’ Careless, Unsporting or Violent Conduct by PAN no.2? No sanction

    VAR Interventions: +46’ Goal -> Defensive Freekick, handling (NO OFR).

    Overall: diligent style, stayed in the background -> overview-based style; not the most confident optic: late whistles, phantom fouls, unnecessary balancing; good warnings for smaller dissents; ARs used delayed flag well; okay presence / soft skills -> an area for long-term development; on his début with VAR - protocol broken!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not see that the VAR Protocol was broken because a handball before scoring a goal is a factual decision. In Germany these situations are also managed without OFR.

      Delete
    2. Thanks - my apologies to the Azeri-Greek team if they followed the instructions of the HFF in the scene at +46'.

      Delete
  47. Another incredible mistake by a referee in a top league. Federico La Penna disallowed goal after a handball in the BEGINNING of an attack. IFAB already two times have explained that an undeliberate handball from the attacker is punishable only in very short time space before the goal - either if it goes directly in the net from the hand or the handball turns into an assist. Is it so difficult to be understood this rule... Referees without a simple comprehensive ability drive me mad. It is an insult for our profession.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I must correct you, this handball was assessed as deliberate according to the previous rules, so not as unintentional touch before scoring. You can see that attacking team never lose ball before the goal. One can discuss but it wasn't a decision according to new rules, just the old ones.

      Delete
  48. OT: Referee appointments for Copa del Rey round of 1/4.

    Granada-Valencia: Referee José Luis González González, VAR Adrián Cordero Vega.

    Mirandés-Villarreal: Referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea (FIFA 2nd), VAR Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo.

    Real Madrid-Real Sociedad: Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz (FIFA Elite), VAR Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (FIFA 2nd)

    Athletic-Barcelona: Referee Juan Martínez Munuera (FIFA 2nd), VAR Alejandro Hernández Hernández (FIFA 2nd)

    ReplyDelete
  49. OFF TOPIC:
    I red that Aguilar is going to retire becoming the head of Referee in El Salvador.
    Great carrier !!! Best recognition to him and his carrier.
    In the last year we miss a lot of good FIFA referees: Irmatov, Geiger, Kassai, Rocchi, Undiano mallenco, Aguilar and probably Kuipers and PItana are close to it.
    It's a pity but I hope that new genrartion will eb able to replace them.

    Coming back to Uefa Euro 2020 (sorry for my typo mistake - in any case I remember well WC 2002 and from referee point of view was a mere disaster !!!)), I don't know but I cannot wait anymore to know the list of the officials.
    I'm curious to know, on behalf of the names, how many will be appointed as main referees, how many as IV official and how many as VAR. If VAR will act in a unique common central room or if VAR will travel with the teams in the different stadiums.

    Thinking about the performances and the logistic (which will ask long movements in Europe), I would select the following names, based on 36 group stage matches:

    - MAIN REFEREES: 16
    Soares Dias, Mateu Lahoz, Del Cerro Grande, Turpin, Oliver, Taylor, Kuipers, Makkelie, Brych, Zwayer, Orsato, Skomina, Marciniak, Hategan, Cakir and Karasev

    - IV OFFICIAL: 6
    Grenfeeld, Vincic, Kovacs, Kulbakov, Kruzliak, Sidiropolus
    - VAR: 9
    Bastien, Gil manzano, Aytekin, Gil, Hugo Miguel, Irrati, Buquet, Gocek, Guzuboyuk

    What do you think ?

    P.S. Collum and Kralovec could be rewarded with Olympic game 2020 in Tokyo with Jovanovic, Gil Manzano and Bastie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We will know UEFA EURO 2020 referees names only after March play-offs:(
      It’s more interesting to read thoughts about UCL/UEL finals referees
      My idea:
      UCL: Lahoz (SPA)/Turpin(FRA)/Taylor(ENG)
      UEL: Makkelie(NED)/Oliver(ENG)/Zwayer(GER)

      Delete
    2. Concerning UEFA Euro 2020, assuming that there will be the same number of officials, I have trouble of finding 18 names, but if I have to make a selection based on appointments and performance principle, these would be my choices:
      Brych (GER), Çakir (TUR), Del Cerro Grande (ESP), Grinfeld (ISR), Hategan (ROU), Karasev (RUS), Kuipers (NED), Makkelie (NED), Marciniak (POL), Mateu Lahoz (ESP), Oliver (ENG), Orsato (ITA), Soares Dias (POR), Skomina (SVN), Taylor (ENG), Turpin (FRA), Vinčić (SVN), Zwayer (GER).

      (I am well aware that Grinfeld and Vinčić have only been promoted to Elite in January, but I'd rather have both of them at a tournament than referees who have shown to be far too permissive and passive, e.g. Kulbakov and Kruzliak most recently).

      Delete
    3. Concerning both finals in UEFA competitions, it will be really interesting. Without any doubt, the number one candidate HAS to be Antonio Mateu Lahoz, but of course he will be dependent on Spanish teams in both competitions. Also keeping in mind the recent retirement rumours (Spanish readers: were there any confirmations on that or just simple speculations?), it would be a shame if Mateu Lahoz leaves the international stage without any international final (let's just remember his EPIC performance in ManCity-Monaco and Lyon-Besiktas in 2017!).

      In case of a Spanish club in CL Final, I believe the long-term plan was to have Szymon Marciniak ready for 2020, but it seems not realistic to me yet, as the Pole has had two seasons where he was not that good (2018, 2019). Yes, the "old" Marciniak with excellent game-reading and player management is back (see SUI-IRL in October, for me 8.5 level), but I think he's not quite ready yet for CL Final. Keeping in mind that he's got already the UEFA Super Cup under his belt (where he did well in a partly challenging game), I think Europa League Final could be a realistic goal this season.

      The third possible name for Champions League Final, given that the current trend in the past years was to appoint very experienced referees, would be Daniele Orsato. Chefren just expressed it last week and I agree, Orsato at the moment is in a very good form and also he received some very good international assignments (most recently: the crucial qualifier between Romania and Sweden).

      Clément Turpin could also be a choice for CL Final, however I tend to say that the Frenchman is not ready yet for that call (despite a very good performance in Barcelona-Dortmund, under the eyes of Roberto Rosetti). He's still got plenty of time in his career. Undoubtedly, Turpin's international development however has been HUGE since his promotion to Elite in 2015 (Turpin in M'gladbach-City is not Turpin in Ajax-Bayern) and he's become one of the most reliable referees in Elite. Domestically, his season is quite average (the VAR chaos in Brest-Rennes, where players forced him to make an OFR, otherwise they would delay play, is not yet forgotten). I would wait with the Frenchman.

      All those candidates are also possible for Europa League Final, but to that list we must add IMO:
      => Carlos Del Cerro Grande: his rise in UEFA has been spectacularly fast, but very deserved. Very elegant style of officiating, very lenient and consistent, manages to have a balanced line between being close/friendly with players and being very firm (see Frankfurt-Chelsea EL semifinal).
      => Danny Makkelie: undoubtedly one of the most "polished" referees in the world, who convinces in every of his matches ever since he has been promoted to Elite and performs well in big games (e.g. ATL-JUV). Given his current development, the final call for Gdánsk seems logical in his development.
      => Cüneyt Çakir: If there is any referee currently in Elite who deserves another final, it has to be Çakir. It looks quite odd for one of the greatest referees in history to have "only" Club World Cup Final and Champions League Final in his palmarès as final matches. Personally, I would directly reward him with EL Final as a recognition for consistently refereeing on such a high level for so many years.

      Sorry for babbling my thoughts here, this got longer than I was expecting! :D

      Delete
    4. Triple post, because within all of these names, I forgot one: Ovidiu Hategan has to be also considered for Europa League Final, his development over the past years (especially in 2018-19, where he was unlucky that he was without VAR experience), cannot be ignored.

      Delete
    5. The thing about Mateu Lahoz's retirement was actually a misunderstanding, as far as I know. What happened was that, on December 28th (Spain's equivalent to April Fools Day), a twitter account published a message with a video stating that Mateu Lahoz had announced his retirement and had received a farewell party. This was all false. The video was actually uploaded by Valencian Football Federation months before, and it featured the inauguration of a sports center in Mateu's village which had been given his name.

      So no, as far as I'm aware, there are no official or unofficial plans for Mateu to retire before it is time for him.

      Delete
    6. My bet:

      UCL: Taylor if teams permit it, otherwise Marciniak
      UEL: Makkelie
      SC: Hategan

      Delete
    7. For the CL final, I see Turpin, Makkelie, Mateu and Orsato as favourites with small chances also for Hategan, Taylor and Marciniak.
      As all of them have not had it yet, we also don't need more candidates for the EL final. It should be also someone of those seven.
      Good to have so many candidates this year, so it is possible to choose the referees, who are in the best form / perform best in the KO stage.

      Regarding EURO, I think, the 16 names by f are indeed the favourites. If 18 referees are chosen, there are several options for the other 2 places. My guess at the moment would be Kruzliak and Sidiropoulos (also to increase geographical diversity...)

      For VAR, I think we will see those, who are regularly appointed in CL - maybe as fixed VAR/AVAR teams, e.g.
      Dankert/Meshkov, van Boekel/Higler, Attwell/Tierney, Kamphuis/Nijhuis, Irrati/Alassio, Gil/Borkowski, Hernandez/de Burgos, Letexier/Brisard, Dingert/Fritz, Stegemann/Siebert, Valeri/di Bello

      Delete
  50. Europa League final: Danny Makkelie (NED)
    Champions League final: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
    EURO final: Felix Brych (GER)

    ReplyDelete
  51. For final matches, I think that mateu, Turpin and Makkelie are the only three candidates.
    So, according to age, performances and carrier, I would say:
    CL: A. MATEU LAHOZ
    EL: C. TURPIN
    SUPER CUP : D. MAKKELIE
    EURO 2020: C. CAKIR, if he recover and demonstrates to be back at his glorious days

    ReplyDelete
  52. UEL: makkelie
    UCL: Orsato
    SC: Taylor

    ReplyDelete
  53. what Schalke coach Wagner was red carded for? was OFR needed there? imo too harsh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Physical or aggressive behaviour (including spitting or biting) towards an opposing player" must be the reason, I think.

      Delete
    2. The referee explained, it was for "delaying the restart of play by the opposing team e.g. holding onto the ball, kicking the ball away, obstructing the movement of a player."

      Delete
  54. Please tell me if the IFAB rules allow for this strange case that actually happened in Japans schoolteames match.
    Team A entered the keeper of bench as a fieldplayer just before the end of the match.
    Into penalty shootout (kicks from the penalty mark), this player became another keeper of Team A,
    Team A defended the goal during the penalty shootout with two keeper alternately.

    https://twitter.com/yt_soccer_yt/status/1223556074239754240?s=21

    ・"An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper"
    Does mean this rules that the two keeper of one team alternately defend the goal?

    ・Can two keepers of one team wear different shirts?

    ・Can two keepers of one team are together on the goal line?
    "All eligible players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand that a fieldplayer becoming a keeper is not a substitute (It'is written below).

      Any of the players may change places with the goalkeeper if:
      • the referee is informed before the change is made
      • the change is made during a stoppage in play

      The question is that one team can switch between the keeper and the fieldplayer many times in the penalty shootout.

      Someone please help me.

      Delete
    2. If you are asking if you can switch goalkeepers for each penalty in the kicks from the penalty the laws of the game says:
      ''An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper''.

      Delete
    3. Thank you very much, victor.
      I understood that wo players are replaced many times.

      but can two keepers of one team are together on the goal line?
      "All eligible players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle"

      Delete
  55. OT

    Fran Jovic (UEFA, 2nd) will handle the Athens derby between AEK and Panathinaikos. VAR will be Zahariadis.

    Urs Schnyder (UEFA, 3rd) will handle the Atromitos - Olympiakos match on Sunday. VAR will be Koumbarakis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, huge game for Jović. Hopefully he will be ready for the challenge. In Croatian league he is often very active in stopping massive confrontations, going straight to the spot with short whistles and trying to solve it. I dont know if it is so good idea in Greece, but lets see, maybe there wont be any incidents.

      Delete
  56. Read about are OG basketball referees prediciton from Europe at :
    https://basketballofficiate.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  57. Today‘s quarterfinal of the Greece cup between PAOK and Panathinaikos will be handled by a Swiss quintet + a Greece 4th Official:

    SR: Sandro Schärer (UEFA 1st)
    SRA1: Sladan Josipovic
    SRA2: Bekim Zogaj
    4th: ? but Greece
    VAR: Fedayi San (FIFA 2nd)
    AVAR: Alessandro Dudic (non-FIFA)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aléxandros Tsamoúris is FO.

      Fedayi San is 3rd Cat, though I would find your categorisation more agreeable :)

      Delete
    2. Game will be streamed here:

      https://vk.com/wall-154719835_18654

      Delete
    3. Of course, sorry for the mistake, I would like my countryman to be in second category maybe that‘s why I already put him there ;)

      Delete
  58. Granada CF – Valencia CF,
    José Luis González González (Adrián Cordero Vega)

    10’ Careless, Reckless or Serious Foul Play? Foul given, no sanction
    14’ Goal (1-1*) disallowed for Offside
    56’ Violent Conduct? Missed by the officials, play on
    +91’ Penalty (handling) to Granada

    VAR Interventions: 14’ Goal -> Offside (No OFR); +91’ No foul -> Penalty (OFR).

    Overall: good game-feeling evident in card selection; very good, even excellent, dissent warning of the uncooperative school in 1H; a bit too passive in general re. cards / warnings – brought back well at the end of 1H, in the 2H missing a YC that was tactically valuable (balancing) forced him to close his eyes in another scene; aroused respect, see above; perhaps more dynamic sprinting needed, generally good fitness -> 8,2/3 area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Valencia supporters are complaining about the intervention in 91', and the no intervention in this situation: https://twitter.com/Jonas_Arcos/status/1225032318118699009
      https://twitter.com/saryonnn/status/1224829380163182592
      Unfortunately, no further replays were shown, and I have trouble in determining whether the ball hit the arm or not.

      Delete
  59. https://twitter.com/FootballOranje_/status/1225197333501153281

    ReplyDelete
  60. OMG! How is this possible? So one of the Dutch attended referees in Mallorca has apparantly spoken with the Telegraph? I assume someone with good contacts and is protected by this newspaper? Any more information about this topic Petchovschi?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It’s an open secret that one of the Dutch FIFA refs has strong and good connections to this specific tabloid for many years. Probably not coincidentally the same referee seems to not really progress in UEFA lately.

      Delete
    2. Also no really progress domestically. Everyone knows but nobody dares to do anything about it! But he starts making mistakes, also on his closed Instagram account.

      Delete
    3. Who are we talking about? This is very cryptic.

      Delete
    4. A referee always in contact with Dutch Telegraph!

      Delete
    5. Name please?!

      Delete
    6. Name please?

      Delete
  61. Aliaksiej Kuĺbakoŭ awarded five (!!) penalties in his game in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

    Al Hilal – Al Raed
    Aliaksiej Kuĺbakoŭ (Dennis Johan Higler)

    40’ Penalty (handling) to Al Hilal + YC (SPA)
    +49’ Penalty (tripping) to Al Hilal; Reckless? No sanction
    59’ Penalty (handling) to Al Raed
    86’ Penalty (tripping) to Al Raed
    +95’ Penalty (tripping) to Al Hilal

    VAR Interventions: 86’ No foul -> Penalty (OFR)

    ReplyDelete
  62. Penalty whistled yesterday by Grinfeld. VAR didn't intervene or was ignored by the ref.

    https://youtu.be/grOt7lNeP10 (from 0:57)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like clear simulation

      Delete
    2. Just look at ref's position. Can't believe that Elite FIFA ref could miss it.

      Delete
  63. "A referee always in contact with Dutch Telegraph!"

    Name please?!

    ReplyDelete