Saturday 29 May 2021

2020/21 UEFA Champions League final Manchester City FC - Chelsea FC - Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) - Discussion

2020-21 UEFA Champions League final, English derby between Manchester City and Chelsea,  is about to be played. Antonio Mateu Lahoz is ready to take the whistle. Good luck! 

29 May 2021, 21:00 CET - Porto (Estádio do Dragão)
Manchester City FC (ENG) - Chelsea FC (ENG)
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) 
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrián Devis (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar (ESP)
Fourth Official: Carlos del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP), Íñigo Prieto López de Cerain (ESP), Pawel Gil (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas (SCO)
UEFA Delegate: Gijs de Jong (NED)

100 comments:

  1. Kits for tonight?

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  2. Germany:
    Deniz Aytekin (FIFA Elite) is appointed for today's Second Leg of the Bundesliga relegation play-off Holstein Kiel - FC Köln. The outcome is crucial for the participation in the first division next season.

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  3. anyone knows when UEFA will announce the new referee charges

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  4. OT: Italy - Norway (Bernd Heynemann) and Brazil - Chile (Marc Batta) are today's games from FIFA World Cup 1998.

    wc98refs.blogspot.com

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  5. basketballofficiate.blogspot.com/ EuroLeague final nominations.

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    1. Stop spamming with your basketball.

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  6. only 5 mins away from kick-off! Best wish to Mateu Lahoz tonight!

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  7. Good luck, Antonio!

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  8. Who are they even kneeling for? What's the point of it.

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    1. This stupid story should end soon!

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    2. I guess that as it is an English duel and English teams still do this in PL... In MUN-VIL United took the knee but Villarreal and Turpin stood, so it's voluntary (I personally would NOT do it btw)

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    3. Sorry but what is the use and should we do that forever?

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  9. 30' and zero comments so far :D

    Both teams focused on playing football, good/expected performance for now

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  10. Correct YC for reckless challenge to MCI#8

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    1. Yes correct YC. Good advantage By Lahoz.

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  11. Lahoz has got every decision right so far imo. Excellent advantage played and correctly bringing back for YC to Gundogan.

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  12. MCI's goalkeeper escaped the RC. Clearly touched the ball with his right hand outside the box before the goal.

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    1. Once the goal was scored, YC to be shown afterwards (failed attempt to DOGSO), but this would have been a piece of 100% topclass refereeing, impossible to happen.

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    2. I do not think it was necessary, because it wasn't a deliberate handball IMO.

      In case of deliberate handball (DOGSO offense) then according to the Laws of the game, a YC must follow.

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    3. Difficult to say that it was a deliberate handball!

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    4. Upstylon, you are not correct. There is no such thing as a deliberate handball being a yellow card offence for anything.
      A punishable handball is just a foul. Depending on if it's a promising attack or DOGSO advantage it's a yellow card.

      Nothing else. A yellow card here would be unnecessary because that's not what anybody would expect.

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    5. Not only would it be now what anyone expected, but in some ways it would even be technically wrong. The handball did not DENY an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in any way whatseover. It actually slowed the ball down and made the goal-scoring opportunity EASIER.

      From a technical standpoint, could you argue for the yellow card? Of course. But from a common sense perspective it's laughable. No one wants or expects a yellow card there.

      However, as the larger question of "deliberate"--I think one has to assume that when a goalkeeper charges out of his penalty area, goes to ground to stop a shot or the attacker from advancing past him, and the hand makes contact with the ball.. well, you'd have to have a very, very good excuse to say it's not a punishable handball.

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    6. You are right Anonymous, it should be a YC no matter what strictly by the law.
      My point was that Lahoz didn't show a caution because in my opinion Ederson didn't commit a deliberate handball (assuming referee spotted the offense), and it was common sense.
      If it was clearly deliberate, then Ederson would've been booked.
      I should have explained myself better.

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  13. Good 1H from Lahoz in a very good game of football, both teams focused on playing. One correct caution and a few good advantages. Well done!

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  14. Expected level performance by Mateu Lahoz in normal difficulty first half, we have both teams focused on playing football and nothing more. A correct yellow card was shown.
    So far, surely less challenging than Turpin's game. We will see second half.

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  15. Correct YC now for blocking the player. I'm not sure if I liked the card showing procedure - but good that Lahoz didn't let himself be influenced by the injury.

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  16. It is for sure interesting the way of issuing this YC, given the situation, Mateu Lahoz wanted to enter in full empathy with the player, before booking him. This is his style.

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  17. Very good management of Rudiger YC for challenge off the ball on De Bruyne. Well spotted from Mateu Lahoz and team, caution delivered with expert poise whilst helping Rudiger up from the ground.

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  18. That YC showing procedure was so Mateu style :D

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  19. Correct Play on IMO. No handball. Like He Showed first the chest

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    1. Very top level communication through body language by Mateu Lahoz to explain his decision to all in a clear and confident manner. Superb

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  20. Replies
    1. Be so kind and explain to everybody else on this blog how is that situation a penalty?

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  21. Good no penalty decision, Lahoz was sure and clearly explained what he perceived with his body language.

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  22. I must say I am impressed with Mateu's style tonight. Just perferct for this match. If everything will end well tonight and group stage matchea in EURO will go well, for sure one of the candidates for the EURO final.

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  23. This should be a YC IMO

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  24. Should have been a yellow card to Fernandinho. Reckless stamp, studs on top of foot. Mateu played advantage but didn't come back and caution.

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  25. 7min is a bit Too much IMO. 5 or 6 would have been enough.

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  26. 45 comments in CL final of which 9 not related with this match. I think everything is clear :).
    Congratulations team Lahoz!

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    Replies
    1. Fully agree. Very good. performance and good communication.

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  27. I must say very good performance by Mateu Lahoz, I would like to rewatch again the penalty appeal for handball, but it should be a supportable decision. All the rest was almost faultless, he applied his very well-known style for this game. Players accepted his decisions, no troubles. Committee can be satisfied, and what I like more is that he doesn't renounce to be Antonio Mateu Lahoz, not only a referee like other ones! Maybe somebody will disagree...
    He deserved this final and he can be very proud about his performance.

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  28. Overall a very good performance! Nothing More to say

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  29. TOP Toño!! Very good performance tonight. Congratulations to the whole team!!

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  30. Havertz and Lahoz best men on the pitch

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  31. Brilliant performance by Mateu Lahoz!
    Faultless match in his complete own (somewhat chaotic) style. Never has been a subject of complaint, completely invisible today. Well done team Lahoz!
    IMO real possibility for EURO final, together with Kuipers and Brych

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  32. Good performance by Mateu Lahoz with good advantage ! Well done, Mateu !

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  33. Verrry minor details - would have liked to seen a YC for mobbing at the big penalty appeal, Fernandinho should have been cautioned for his stamp (66'), and then he committed two further tactical fouls (83', +92').

    Otherwise, EXCELLENT. Genuinely faultless - respect.

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  34. Bravo,Gracias Mateu. You show them how to officiate. Perfect, brilliant, great, Goat performance. Contender for Euro final.

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  35. Congrats to team Lahoz! An excellent masterclass!
    I had a very pleasant evening to see their performance.
    Lets start Euro 2021...

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  36. What a ref(team)! One of the best referee in the world!

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  37. What a great human, first my colleagues, than me. This is signal who is masterclass!!??

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    Replies
    1. Out of curiosity, was the former UEFA referee manager Yvan Cornu the person who handed the medals to Ceferin?

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  38. 1 can't describe how good Mateu Lahoz was tonight. Unless a YC forgotten for Fernandinho, his performance has been outstanding.
    His style was just perfect for this game, and he justified a thousand times his appointment tonight. Sincere congratulations.

    With such immense referee performances in CL KO stage (Brych, Orsato, Lahoz, etcetera), Euro will foresee a very high level of officiating, without doubts.

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  39. I am so happy that Mateu Lahoz made himself the biggest gift with a brilliant masterpiece, which can be a historical highlight in refereeing finals of CL. I criticized him quite often, but tonight I can only praise him and his team. Thx!

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  40. Wonderful performance by Matéu Lahoz. I have really enjoyed it. Congratulations to the entire referee team. My team is always the referee team, so today I am very happy.

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  41. Very good performance by Mateu Lahoz. Bravo!

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  42. Congratulations to the referee team tonight. Very good performance!

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  43. Other than the reckless stamp and the crazy simulation at the end= two missed yellow cards there were no issues.

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  44. From uefa.com interview a few daya ago:

    One important person in Mateu Lahoz’s life will definitely occupy his thoughts on Saturday, especially at the moment when the two teams line up ahead of the match… his father, who died when his son was a youngster. “I'll look up and think of him,” he says.

    Just take a look when they entered the field, before taking the ball. You will have a frame to be kept in your memory forever, although you are not Mateu Lahoz, you can understand how much emotion there was in his heart.

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    Replies
    1. Also in the post-match pictures, there were some shots of Mateu with tears in his eyes, hugging several people.
      The German commentators even stated, it looked like a farewell.

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  45. Mateu was in tears, I am really pleased for him!!!!! He has achieved one of his biggest dreams if it’s not the biggest, I hope the tears doesn’t mean anything bigger but just tears of Joy.. and I would like to add, that I would have rather officiated in this years champions league final compared to last years own. Maybe all in all the wait was good for him, and his family could see him and this Final in truth is more memorable than last years empty final

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  46. Excellent performance of Mateu !!! Congratulation

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  47. Absolutely brillient reading of how to handle a match of this intensity,I would think that this would result in a mark of 8.5/8.6 His assistants were also outstanding, the teamwork also outstanding

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  48. Wow, what a match by Mateu Lahoz! I really loved his management of the handball situation. He is so charismatic, players completely accept his leadership. A real inspiration.

    It obviously depends on which teams, but I would say after this season Brych, Kuipers and Lahoz should be THE three candidates for Euro semi´s and final. IMO they are way ahead of the other top refs but ofcourse anyone can think different about that.

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    1. Totally agree with this. One of these 3 should get the EURO final depending on who will be in it (and maybe performance in the tournament). I dont see any other ref capabele of delivering such high level performances at high pressure games ATM. Maybe makkelie, orsato and cakir but they are not at the top level of Kuipers, Brych and Mateu IMO. Last year I was somewhat pissed of that Orsato got the final ahead of Lahoz. I think yesterday Lahoz showed why he should have had it already last year, but im glad that looking back now Orsato got the "filler final without spectators" and Lahoz got one with some public. Lahoz really should be proud of this final. Bravo!

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    2. Yes officiating a final without spectators is still something bad! Better this year for Mateu.

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    3. Officiating final is great. Definitely there is no bad or good in way of spectators. Final is final. For Mateu, better was to be in Porto, but I think that he wouldn't have anything to be in Lisboa a year ago. But this year, his officiating in final was GOAT.

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  49. Fantastic performance of Lahoz! I honestly dont remember when were last time normal fans commenting on social networks that the referee was POM, showing how the football match should be officiated, how he handled the players perfectly etc. Although it wasnt the hardest game, he managed to get in focus of public for good, which is really remarkable.

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  50. My first comment on this blog since I learnt about it some 6 months will be to join others in praising the fantastic performance of Senor Antonio Mateu Lahoz and the rest of his team. He gave a textbook example of what top officiating is about especially in the biggest matches. To be honest, having watched him for years in La Liga I was half expecting an essentric performance from him. There was none of that last night and he certainly didn't make it amount himself. Even the instances where he had to explain to the players, the crowd and the TV viewers about some of his decisions, it was a delight to see. I think the only thing that stands between him and officiating the Euro 2020 final is if Spain makes it all the way.

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  51. Slightly OT:

    Kevin de Bruyne had to leave the field of play substituted and go to hospital because of a face-to-face clash with Rüdiger yesterday. Now it's confirmed that he broke his nose bone and left orbit and will have to wear a mask in EURO matches.

    My point is: I believe that the face injury wouldn't have been that serious if Rüdiger wasn't wearing a mask, making the contact between 'naked' face and mask rather than an 'equal' collision. Do you think that those kind of maskes might be deemed as dangerous equipment according to Law 4 in the mid-long term?

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    1. I fully agree with your arguments, in my opinion these masks can be a problem, even before yesterday and the incident occurred in CL final, this was my opinion. A player shouldn't be allowed to be in the field with a mask. There should be other solutions, and if not possible, the player shouldn't play. All started with Edgar Davids glasses many years ago, but now in my opinion there are too many masks allowed, without analyzing the real impact of them during collisions.

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    2. But it isn't it checked already, which masks really increase the danger for the opponent? And only those masks are allowed.
      I mean a human head itself is quite hard and heavy and therefore a dangerous "weapon", which can cause bad injuries. I am not convinced that those masks really make things worse.

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    3. If I’m not mistaken, the contact was shoulder/face

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    4. Yep, the contact was face to shoulder. And also these masks have exactly the opposite effect - they absorb the impact pretty much like the boxer's gloves. But I would also like to underline the immediate and alert reaction by Lahoz in this situation who energetically called the doctors realizing the severeness of the injury pretty much before anybody else.

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    5. If you care to watch a replay you would see the contact wasn't face to face. It was shoulder to face.

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  52. Germany:
    Today's Second Leg of 2.Bundesliga relegation play-off VfL Osnabrück - FC Ingolstadt was handled by Tobias Stieler (FIFA Elite). The outcome of the duel was decisive for the participation in the second division next season.

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  53. Sovre from Hategans team retired this week from refereeing.

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    1. I'm sorry for him. The combo of two unlucky incidents destroyed his career. His only fault was that he showed lack of self-preservation and had to pay for it. IMO he did nothing wrong as a person.

      Octi, you have worked hard to reach the highest European level. Good luck in whatever you do next!

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    2. Two incidents:
      - calling a team member by his skin color while advising the referee to send him off from the bench (he was the only black man on the bench)
      - asking Håland for a shirt in a tunnel after the game

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    3. After the first incident, he was still sure to attend EURO, if you ask me, so I think it is very difficult to say that UEFA was harsh with him. It was his fault to skip the big tournament as great end of careeer... for sure a pity. He had been confirmed on the FIFA list mostly for that, being already 47 / 48 y.o.!

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    4. All this time I was under the impression itvv bc was Coltescu the fourth official who used racist language?

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  54. Bastien with a terrible performance in the French play-off final. Missed RC compensated with a wrong RC.

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    1. We can argue about missed RC but the RC given is certainly not wrong.

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    2. I must say I saw just one replay but there it seemed like the ball was played

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  55. No awareness from Toulouse #29
    RC should be given 53' to Toulouse #9 (foot above ankle)

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  56. Re: comments about play-offs, I wonder if in Spain we'll ever see top referees handling play-off matches from lower divisions. Here categories are absolutely hermetic, 2ªB to Segunda play-offs are handled by 2ªB referees and Segunda to LaLiga play-offs are handled by Segunda referees. I don't know which option is better.

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  57. Hi everyone,

    does anyone know which watches Mateu uses?

    Thank you!

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  58. OT: France - Paraguay (Ali Bujsaim) and Nigeria - Denmark (Urs Meier) are today's games from FIFA World Cup 1998.

    wc98refs.blogspot.com

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  59. According to Japanese media, Kozo Tashima, one of the FIFA members, said that “Wenger offside rule” will be applied from July 2022.

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