Saturday 26 February 2022

2021/22 UEFA Youth League - Referees appointments for Round of 16

These referees will officiate 2021/22 UEFA Youth League Round of 16 games. 



1 March 2022

18:00 CET - Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Stade Georges Lefèvre)
Paris Saint-Germain FRA) - Sevilla FC (ESP)
Referee: Nicolas Walsh (SCO) 
Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor (SCO) 
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie (SCO) 
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue (FRA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)
UEFA Delegate: René Siegrist (SUI)

21:00 CET - Leigh (Leigh Stadium) 
Manchester United FC (ENG) - Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Referee: Kaspar Sjöberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Robin Wilde (SWE) 
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Kristensson (SWE) 
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kevin Parry (WAL) 
UEFA Delegate: Bart Van Soest (NED)

02 March 2022

13:00 CET - Wijdewormer (AZ Training Centre)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) - Juventus (ITA)
Referee: Julian Weinberger (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Maximilian Weiss (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Obritzberger (AUT)
Fourth Official: Erwin Blank (NED)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jan W. Wegereef (NED)
UEFA Delegate: Antanas Popiera (LTU) 

14:00 CET - Ikast (Ikast Stadion)
FC Midtjylland (DEN) - SL Benfica (POR)
Referee: Enea Jorgji (ALB)
Assistant Referee 1: Ridiger Çokaj (ALB)
Assistant Referee 2: Nuri Rrapaj (ALB)
Fourth Official: Morten Krogh (DEN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen (DEN)
UEFA Delegate: Sonja Van Geerenstein (NED) 

15:00 CET - Liverpool (Liverpool FC Academy Training Ground)
Liverpool FC (ENG) - KRC Genk (BEL)
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Gevork Arakelian (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Dainius Raudys (LTU)
Fourth Official: Benjamin Speedie (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kenneth William Clark (SCO) 
UEFA Delegate: Haraldur Haraldsson (ISL)

16:30 CET -  Žilina (Štadión MŠK Žilina)
MŠK Žilina (SVK) - FC Salzburg (AUT)
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Portelli (MLT)
Assistant Referee 2: Duncan Spencer (MLT) 
Fourth Official: Michal Očenáš (SVK)
UEFA Referee Observer: Ladislav Gádoši (SVK)
UEFA Delegate: Stéphanie Ford (BEL) 

21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) - Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Referee: Harm Osmers (GER) 
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Thorben Siewer (GER) 
Fourth Official: Álvaro Rodríguez Recio (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP) 
UEFA Delegate: Andy Ambler (ENG)

09 March 2022

16:00 CET - Kyiv (Stadion Dynamo im. Valeriy Lobanovskiy)
FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) - Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official: Al
UEFA Referee Observer:
UEFA Delegate: Ahmet Erzurumlu (TUR) 
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155 comments:

  1. M27 February 2022 at 00:52

    OT:

    I know this is off topic, but I have to say it.

    I know Di Bello has recovered and all, but why are they appointing him for the same match he had problems year ago(Lazio-Napoli)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MikeM28 February 2022 at 08:36

      Di Bello made a great performance yesterday night in the match Lazio-Napoli

      Delete
  2. ESTref27 February 2022 at 11:26

    OT
    Hot game yesterday for Kirill Levnikov [Aleksei Matyunin] in Khimki - Dynamo with 3 red cards

    First red for Khimki - https://streamable.com/zezxx5
    Second red card for Khimki - https://streamable.com/zsgbpw
    Unfortunately, I couldnt find a first yellow card for Dynamo player so here is only second yellow - https://streamable.com/7y9mnb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David27 February 2022 at 17:14

      2nd and 3rd clip I'm good with. But the first clip, I have doubts about a VAR intervention. The force is not high and a rather unlucky contact, I would go yellow.
      Thanks for sharing!

      Delete
  3. JD27 February 2022 at 17:12

    Anyone watching the Sevilla Derby? Very hot game which was at First handled quite well by cdg. But then in minute 28 i think He misses in my opinion a clear red card to acuna who was angry that betis did not play ball Out after gomes laying on the ground. Acunas only perception was to hurt His opponent in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous27 February 2022 at 18:51

    any thoughts on why no red card for liverpool #8 challenge on chelsea #14 at min 59?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mathias Roels27 February 2022 at 19:46

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1498002162219110400
    Is the red card justified?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous27 February 2022 at 19:50

    OT: Stewrt Atwell in Liverpool-Chelsea at about 60' no RC after extended leg studs up going into Chelsea player's upper thigh or even a foul called!!! And then no handling against Man City (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVB3mnJIqjs). Refereeing in the Chaampions League, or I should say the expected level of performance, is night and day compared to
    Preniere League. And with the retirements of Kuipers and Brych, who do you think will be their heir apparents? I always liked Çakır and his by-the-book approach, but I think we've seen how that can backfire at times if a referee isn't reading the nuances of a particular situation in a particular game, as there is the rule, the intepretation, and the implementation, and perhaps Brych's more laissez-faire attitude is often expected of referees these days and has simply gotten taken too far in the Premiere League.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lde27 February 2022 at 20:20

    Spain suggests that the EU exclude Russian teams from European competitions, said the country's Foreign Minister.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lde27 February 2022 at 22:10

    https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/bureau-of-the-fifa-council-takes-initial-measures-with-regard-to-war-in

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous27 February 2022 at 22:17

      Laughable...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous27 February 2022 at 23:27

      In a couple of days Russia and Russian teams will be suspended completely.

      Delete
  9. Nole28 February 2022 at 00:13

    OT Excellent performance from Srdjan Jovanovic in very important match for the title and obe of the biggest and hotest derby matches in national championships in front of full stadium - Serbian Eternal Derby Red Star-Partizan (2-0). Both managers said nice words about his performance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 08:17

      That's nice. Its a sound you don't hear very often. Normally a manager only complains when things go wrong.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 08:15

    OT:
    IMO Makkelie did a great job in a hot derby yesterday. Great management and feeling for the game. I was simply amazed by him.

    Certainly one of the best referees when it comes up to pro-active player management (together with Marciniak).

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 11:06

    So, they expected names for CL return games are:
    - Taylor
    - Turpin
    - Makkelie
    - Kovacs
    - Probably one or two new promoted referees

    I’m afraid that we won’t see Karasev… Also Cakir and Mateu had some controversies in EL. Maybe Soares Dias or is it more likely to see him in EL?

    That leaves at least one or two spots empty.

    I won’t be surprised to see Marciniak, Orsato or Vincic in the 2nd leg again. Especially for the Man United – Atletico game, it can be likely to see one of these names again? I don't know who else is possible...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 11:30

      Stieler is reported as injured.

      Delete
    2. Chefren28 February 2022 at 14:23

      The names for second legs should be: Makkelie, Taylor, Turpin, a new Elite in Manchester (maybe Massa), Kovacs (given how committee is now appointing him) maybe in Munchen, a Spanish, maybe Cakir and I think Karasev was quite surely planned for a game as well, but now they will have to change.
      It is indeed possible to see again a referee from first legs, I concur, despite of the fact that now with so many Elite referees, this shouldn't happen.
      Soares Dias had an extremely poor game in EL Group Stage, I think he will start again from EL in this KO stage.
      The name for Manchester United - Atlético is indeed difficult to find, if committee wants to avoid Makkelie for the previous game in Group Stage with Liverpool, I think they will have only Orsato as option among the very trusted names... I would say this game in normal conditions maybe was an option for Karasev.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 14:32

      Clear designations.

      Liverpool-Internazionale: Carlos DEL CERRO (ESP)
      Bayern-Salzburg: Artur SOARES (POR)
      Real-PSG: Danny MAKKELIE (NED)
      ManCity-Sporting: Sandro SCHÄRER (SUI)
      ManU-Atletico: Cüneyt CAKIR (TUR)
      Ajax-Benfica: Anthony TAYLOR (ENG)
      Juventus-Villarreal: Clément TURPIN (FRA)
      Lille-Chelsea: Istvan KOVACS (ROU)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 15:07

      Thanks both! I forgot Carlos DCG.

      Delete
  12. an197928 February 2022 at 11:59

    In the last game in French "League 1" Turpin is contrasted after a probably wrong decision which influenced the result - he did not allow a goal scored by Lyon for a suspect faut on the Lille goalkeeper. In my opinion a big mistake!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ref28 February 2022 at 12:57

    Big controversy in France after yesterday's Lyon-Lille. Turpin refused a goal he initially considered clean, after OFR (VAR : Michael Lesage). IMO this is an awful decision, and Turpin had his first impression right !

    Goal : https://streamable.com/2zi4m7
    OFR : https://streamable.com/ou5qmd

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philipp S28 February 2022 at 13:13

      Looks like a foul to me: The attacker is too late for the ball and then hits the goalkeeper with significant force.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 13:21

      I understand the debate because the keeper already lost the ball before the foul. He kicked into the pitch instead of hitting the ball. However, I agree with Philipp: It looks like a foul. The keeper can't continue after he's hit.

      OT: I don't like Turpin's annoyed attitude here.

      Delete
    3. Mikael W28 February 2022 at 14:33

      In terms of assessing foul duels (the same as Mateu in Glasgow), the offence is technically quite clear - this one is a classic case where a player clearing the ball is hit late by his opponent.

      Whether the foul is "clear and obvious", especially given the goalkeeper is unimpeded in trying (and completely failing) to clear the ball, is a more delicate question though.

      Delete
    4. David28 February 2022 at 16:40

      IMO this is a foul, good VAR intervention.

      Delete
    5. Ref28 February 2022 at 16:55

      Pascal Garibian, Head of French refereeing, just stated that "the goal should have stood". I must say that, although I respect and understand them, I am surprised by the comments here on the blog, since there is quite a consensus here in France about the fact that there was no foul, even by the winning side.

      Delete
    6. Jacques28 February 2022 at 17:05

      IMO one observation is clear. LYO attacker #10 never played the ball.

      Delete
    7. Chefren28 February 2022 at 17:16

      In my opinion you can whistle foul but not enough for VAR intervention, question is always the same, keeper is seen with a diffeernt eye than otehr players, but this shouldn't be. I can fully understand who sees a foul there and I can support, but I don't think this can make all people agree. VAR is alaways a very difficult topic, I go on to think that for such situations something should change because people will never agree, and the concept of clear and obvious mistake is too much aleatory. Most of mistakes happen because many VAR see what happens on the pitch as if they were main referee.

      Delete
    8. Flip28 February 2022 at 17:39

      I'm quite surprised to be honest about Garibian's assessment that "the goal should have stood".

      I generally agree with Chefren, VAR's involvement is rather difficult here. But whistling foul is (clearly) the better call here IMO. On a theoretical level, I struggle to argue for play-on here: the attacker is too late in the duel, the GK - quite badly but still - clears the ball at first and is then hit with a certain amount of intensity.
      Looking at the contact itself (not foot on foot) or sth. like that is not sufficient here.
      But apparently, according to Garibian play-on is not only a decision to be supported by VAR but the correct one; I don't really get that tbh.
      I'm pretty sure that in other countries this decision wouldn't be as controversial as in France.

      Delete
    9. M28 February 2022 at 20:29

      Watched the game last night and to me, Turoin didnt have the right approach for this game.

      Too lenient, talking too much to players lioe Sanches and Paqueta who were nervous whole match, not calling some clear fouls and so on...

      Delete
    10. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 23:51

      I am very, very surprised by everone's interpretation of this play, debating whether it is a foul on the keeper, as the keeper clearly kicks the ball freely, without any touch or interference by the attacking player, and then clearly kicks the attacking player with great force in the attacking player's thigh. For me, straight YC on keeper for careless action on his follow through that could potentially injur the attacking player. One could argue that YC isn't warranted as it isn't 100% clear if keeper's studs make contact with attacking player's thigh, but it is still clear that he kicks him with great force. Isn't this the same as any player kicking another player with their follow through after kicking the bal such as the case in the play at https://youtu.be/FZUbDAk-TfM?t=29 ?

      Delete
    11. Anonymous1 March 2022 at 00:22

      Saw that the last kick doesn't involve kicking the ball but still involves kicking another player with one's follow through.

      Delete
    12. JR1 March 2022 at 09:20

      At ananonymous:
      The action, in this case, is caused by the attacker, walking in the leg movement, not the opposite at all (where you maybe could claim that the GL made something wrong). So this cannot be like you described.

      Delete
    13. David1 March 2022 at 09:36

      @Anyonymous: IMO, If a player is in control of the ball and starts the kicking motion, from that moment he is more protected. We saw it with Can in Glasgow and we see it in the scene discussed here. Unless the opponent directly plays the ball, it's going to be a trip (Can) or a 'charging into opponent' (Paqueta). The situation that you linked is very interesting, (I have it in my clip collection) but not quite the same IMO. The video you linked is much more comparable to the Can situation. And I think that the kicked female player can be considered in control of the ball before she gets kicked (thus PK), less so with Morelos on Can.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous1 March 2022 at 19:21

      JR, if the player kicked is standing still or not moving and is kicked by a follow through, it would be a foul? I feel that that reasoning also supports a foul on a player running, as that player has a right to that space as much as the player kicking the ball and the onus should be on the player kicking the ball to not be careless or reckless, as that action is potentially more dangerous due to the possibility of exposed studs or greater force due to the speed of a swinging leg. Defenders now play with their arms behind their backs to adapt to the expanded interpretation of handling, and all players could be more mindful of their kicks' follow throughs, too, which would make the game safer overall.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 18:43

    So it’s final now:

    https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/media-releases/fifa-uefa-suspend-russian-clubs-and-national-teams-from-all-competitions

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philipp S28 February 2022 at 18:46

      Although it is not stated explicitly, this probably makes it difficult for Russian officials to be appointed "until further notice".

      Delete
    2. smala01728 February 2022 at 20:17

      Very sad for Karasev if so. This isn't his fault and in my opinion it's just wrong to punish him for it simply because of the flag on his passport.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous28 February 2022 at 20:27

      Only him? You should Say that for all Russian people. what are their faults?

      Delete
    4. smala01728 February 2022 at 22:11

      This is a refereeing blog, anonymous. It would be irrelevant to talk about others who are not referees, so I will not share my opinion here.

      Delete
    5. jleekens28 February 2022 at 23:00

      I don't want to get too political, but surely Kulbakov will follow and we won't see him for the foreseeable future as well, right?

      Delete
    6. Kogeki1 March 2022 at 00:23

      Sergei Karasev and his team will referee a Saudi Arabia League match between Al-Nassr and Al-Hiral this week.
      https://www.goal.com/ar/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%AB-%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6/bltba07941b8f59177a

      Delete
    7. Lde1 March 2022 at 07:05

      I have no doubt that Kulbakov is suspended as well. Public opinion is very different between Belarus and Russia. Most people in Belarus are against the war, while most people in Russia are for the war. But it doesn't matter, because the Russian army is coming to Kiev from Belarus.

      Delete
  15. Chiagozie1 March 2022 at 00:36

    Anyone listened to Anthony Taylor’s podcast with Jake Humphrey?? You should give it a go!! Spoke extensively on the Cristian Eriksen incident at the Euros and how it also affected one of his assistants Gary Beswick who had lost his mother months leading to the Euros.
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-high-performance-podcast/id1500444735?i=1000552390541

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous1 March 2022 at 12:15

    Taylor, Turpin and Makkelie are possible for a CL game next week on both Tuesday and Wednesday, based on their domestic league appointments.


    ReplyDelete
  17. Spanishref1 March 2022 at 13:13

    According to this Spanish newspaper, the Russian referees will no longer whistle in European competitions

    https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/internacional/20220301/1001758242/arbitros-rusos-pitaran-champions-europa-conference-league.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Chefren1 March 2022 at 20:36

    Eventful game for Walsh in PSG - Sevilla under the eyes of De Bleeckere.

    First penalty:
    https://streamja.com/A5GZK

    Second penalty:
    https://streamja.com/zp0zM

    Straight red card:
    https://streamja.com/vqpr1

    There are also other situations and it seems that Spanish side was not so happy after the game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous1 March 2022 at 21:10

      Weak performance from Scottish referee Nicolas Walsh who had no control of all the players who were fighting.

      Two correct penalties for PSG but one missed for Sevilla in 29'. The attacker got yellow for simulation when it was clear foul.

      For second penalty no card is given for the defender. I would expect to see a yellow.

      In 73' PSG captain avoids a second yellow for reckless arm to face.

      I think the red card is not correct. Also the YCs in 12' and 42' are too harsh.

      Two reds given after last whistle.

      Was 12 YC and 4 red given.

      Bad performance by the ref with important observer.

      Delete
  19. matei141 March 2022 at 20:49

    Question: Is it possible to see some important referees in the VAR room, maybe as AVAR in Qatar, even though basically they have almost 0 experience in this role? I refer especially to referees from countries that have 2 very good candidates: Oliver, Bastien, Kovacs and CdCG. Or we`ll see the regular names from UCL? Makkelie and Orsato were VARs for example in Russia because Kuipers and Rocchi were ahead of them at that time. Now both of them will surely be on pitch in Qatar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren1 March 2022 at 21:01

      In my opinion impossible, because FIFA will rely on experience for that role, like UEFA is doing, with officials rather more specialized in that role. VAR are receiving a special training so I think impossible to see "new names" such as Kovacs and Oliver.

      Delete
    2. matei141 March 2022 at 21:08

      This is my feeling too. We should see only names from the VAR list that were present at the Abu Dhabi Seminar this winter, this would be logical.

      Delete
    3. Philipp S1 March 2022 at 21:15

      Yes, I agree with Chefren, at least for UEFA.
      In other confederations there might a few candidates for both roles (e.g. Jiyed and Marrufo) though.

      Delete
  20. Chefren1 March 2022 at 23:20

    Penalty incident in the 90'+2 minute of Manchester United - Borussia Dortmund:
    https://streamable.com/98yi00

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren1 March 2022 at 23:21

      (not given, play on)

      Delete
    2. Philipp S2 March 2022 at 00:12

      Looks like a clear penalty.
      There was also a strong penalty appeal by Dortmund in 80'.

      Delete
    3. David5 March 2022 at 11:03

      I prefer a penalty, but the contact is soft. One could argue too soft.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous2 March 2022 at 09:47

    in mai uefa is doing a new VAR course. do anybody know the names of the participants?

    ReplyDelete
  22. MARIO2 March 2022 at 10:22

    On his Instagram pages he posted that he faced a medical check for his old cancer and everything went very good; he posted "five years away form the cancer" Good news !!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous2 March 2022 at 12:33

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldj3yq6fgNs

    ReplyDelete
  24. Chefren2 March 2022 at 21:25

    Interesting situation from Dutch Cup:

    Disallowed goal after OFR (punishable offside):
    https://streamgg.com/v/jqahqs71

    RC for DOGSO after OFR:
    https://streamgg.com/v/ywz1s291

    I tend to agree more about the disallowed goal, but the red card for me is not a 100% clear and obvious mistake, I would have supported YC for SPA as VAR due to distance from the goal and at least a defender not 100% surely out from the contention of the ball.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren2 March 2022 at 22:43

      Agree about both remarks, the particular thing is that van Boekel was VAR in Napoli - Barcelona, he didn't call that offside to Karasev. About red card, indeed strictly acording to protocol wrong intervention for me as well, but once you rewatch it, you give red card.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 07:40

      @Chefren: not every player standing in offside position is punished right? I thought they have to assess whether or not goakeeper view is interfered. For me the situations are totally different.

      In Dutch cup, the goalkeeper can't see the ball because of the player in offside position. In slowmotion, you can even see that the goalie is moving to the wrong corner. Without the player standing in offside position, he would at least have the opportunity to dive in the correct corner.

      In the Barcelona game, the goalkeeper immediately dives in the correct corner after the ball was shot. And let's be honest: even if the player isn't standing in offside position and the keeper is worldclass, it would still be a goal. Dissalowing Barcelona's goal would be a 'splitting hairs' kind of thing. I hope you get my point.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 08:04

      What you tried to say is: the rules are supportive to the game, but not more important than the game itself.

      I tend to agree. Let's stick with: is goalkeepers view obstructed, yes or no?

      Delete
    4. Shearer3 March 2022 at 13:36

      IMO the attacker is in clear offside and should be punished for two reasons:
      - clearly obstructing opponent's (goal keeper's) line of vision, and
      - making obvious action (move) when the ball trajectory is very close to him

      Also, the RC is correct decision for DOGSO. The attacker is very likely to have a control over the ball, moves centrally to the goal, opponents (defenders) are far away to be able to stop the attack.

      Delete
    5. Chefren3 March 2022 at 14:06

      @Ref watcher I understand your point of view and of course the answer to your question is "yes". Not all the players in offside position must be punished. It is also worthy of being mentioned the statement by Unknown "the rules are supportive to the game, but not more important than the game itself." and I really like this discussion. However, this season in serie A we are watching some disallowed goal that you would never accept as fan, I can report the 1-1 by Milan in Milan Napoli, I also posted the video on the blog a few time ago, but there were also other cases of players in offside position who were considered punishable, even without doing anything. So, in this context the allowed goal in Napoli - Barcelona sounds very strange to me, even more because there were some rumors reporting that AIA wanted to be very strict with passive offside as direct guideline of UEFA, this seems wrong.
      I fully agree that when we have a goal and keeper can't intervene in any case, it is something like a "forced action" to disallow it, but there is the need for more consistency in this regard. When the shot is from very far away, you can almost say in all cases that keeper could manage to see something and so all goals would be regular... it is a difficult topic though, and I don't want to enforce my point of view, I was just surprised the goal was immediately alloweed.

      Delete
    6. Chefren3 March 2022 at 14:07

      @icedteatower This is a very interesting point for discussion, and let me say, first of all, it is not easy to answer. For sure, once VAR was created, I think there wasn't still the chance to think about a "different" use of it, but in the protocol there were the only real "written" rules of it.
      Then, I think that some changes (a more flexible use of it) happened because of the expectations of fans, indeed, and the difficulty to have identical criteria to respect all over the world. I would say that nowadays we have a very different use of VAR in the world of football, and in my opinion it is impossible to make this different. FIFA seems to have open to a certain freedom, while UEFA with Rosetti is very strict. You know me, I'm favor of UEFA and strict use of protocol, because the referee on the pitch shouldn't lose authority and he should always be the one deciding for something, but in the modern football there are many factors to consider that contribute to put refereeing on a different point of view. Also, impossible to answer to your last question, I don't know which solution should be the right one, because there will be always different interpretation, but indeed I don't like current situation.
      The only thing that would solve this issue, woul be to use VAR only in 100% objective situations, and not in most of penalty / red cards incidents, but I know it is almost impossible.
      I think we will have always a different VAR based on the need of the background for that game / confederation / competitions...

      Delete
    7. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 15:22

      Yes, agree that it was a very quick VAR-check during the Barcelona game. I wonder if they actually spotted the offside position. However, in the end I'm glad that the goal was allowed, especially if we consider: 'what wants football', its fans, the goalkeeper who seemed to have a good view and couldn't save the shot anyway.

      100% agree with regard to consistency. I assume that the Milan-Napoli goal would be allowed in other countries... IMO in general, the application of rules in Italy can be a bit neat (strict) and clinical sometimes, compared to other countries.


      Delete
  25. Quilava3 March 2022 at 00:23

    Very good performance by Gil Manzano in the Copa del Rey SF 2nd leg tonight (Valencia-Athletic)

    Martínez Munuera has been appointed for the other one (Betis-Rayo Vallecano) tomorrow.

    I think that Hernández Hernández will handle the final, my other candidates among those who haven't done it yet were Sánchez Martínez and Munuera Montero but both were appointed for SF 1st legs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 05:29

      Gil Manzano is having a very good season so far.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 05:31

    Anyone knows the participants of the FIFA Women's World Cup candidate referees seminar taking place this week in Lisbon?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Chiagozie3 March 2022 at 13:43

    Fun fact: Cristian Ericksen is most likely to start his first game this weekend since the incident in the summer of last year and guess who is appointed for that match? Yeah you got it right. Anthony Taylor!! How fitting. Taylor said he is so eager to referee him again before the appointments came out and his wishes will be granted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren3 March 2022 at 13:47

      It is absolutely nice and I'm happy that Eriksen will meet again Taylor, who was surely among the people that quickly managed to save his life, by immediately stopping the game!
      Having said that, on another topic, I really don't understand this difference between Italy and England about the halth of players. He left Italy because in Italian football you can't play after such an incident, while it is different in other countries. So, who is right? Even more, if I were Eriksen, I would be very worried about myself. Really don't know what to say, but excellent that everything ended in a so positive way.

      Delete
    2. Chiagozie3 March 2022 at 14:49

      Well from a Medical stand point, having a cardiac arrest isn’t the end of one’s atheletic career, before it was but with the advent of new technology where he has a little dilfilbrator inserted into his heart that can help restart his heart then he can go again. Which is so good, the medical practitioners gave the all clear so I really don’t understand why Italy are still skeptical about it.

      Delete
    3. David5 March 2022 at 11:07

      Blind is also playing a few seasons with a little 'helper' for his heart. Maybe they will change the rules in Italy soon, or at least I hope.

      Delete
  28. MARIO3 March 2022 at 13:53

    Orsato has been appointed for the Seria A top clash Napoli-Milan (both in the 1st position); probably he will not be appointed inn CL Return leg on wednesday

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 14:40

      I predict Orsato for a CL return game on March 15th (either Man Utd-Atletico or Ajax-Benfica).

      Delete
  29. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 15:05

    For prediction purposes: does anybody know whether Carlos DCG is appointed this weekend?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren3 March 2022 at 15:15

      VAR in Celta Vigo - Mallorca on Sunday 6 March.

      Delete
  30. Mikael W3 March 2022 at 15:48

    Dispatches from Saudi Arabia

    ---
    1/3

    Two UEFA teams will be in charge of today’s duo of matches. Contrary to reports that he would be replaced by a Mashriq official after the action taken by FIFA against the RFU, Sergej Karasev (Demeško, Gavrillin - Al-Hanfosh - [Meškov, Al-Abkri]) will today handle the top Saudi match, Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal, at least according to what has been communicated.

    Furthermore, Bastian Dankert (Dietz, Siedel - Bakri - [Dingert, Al-Shamrani]) will officiate the moderately big Al-Ittihad vs. Damac tie earlier in the afternoon.

    ---
    2/3

    I watched three of the four cup quarterfinal matches last Monday, and SAFF have kindly released their evaluations for (most of) the key scenes in these games, link below:

    https://youtu.be/n-bmenLrSmk

    Some comments on the wider performances -

    > Dabanović - very good performance, he always managed to keep up (mentally + physically) with an extremely dynamic game to the end, taking good decisions, arousing the respect of the players; with the help of his Emirati VAR, the two key decisions were correctly solved.

    > Ghorbal - I don’t want to write sth too harsh against one of the best African officials, but I think that SAFF/FIFA slightly overestimated this referee and, being honest, I think he got found out in one of the challenging matches of all world football;

    The thesis for the Algerian’s style is excellent movement despite his lanky stature, and arousing the respect of players by his presence/assurance; he doesn’t deliver masterclasses in tactically proficient refereeing, and in extremis, he came up short here;

    Ghorbal started quite well, but gradually his technical accuracy faded as the game got older, most crucially he decided the game with a quite unsatisfactory (IMO anyway) penalty, and, by the end of the match, had basically lost control of it;

    I’m quite sure that MG will be in Qatar - deservedly so too - but I think this match should caution against giving him sth really big at the WC, at least as I see it.

    > S. Ivanov - despite having quite obvious limitations for the highest level of refereeing (athletic profile, not much charisma), I rather warm to this Russian referee, who is obviously a very hard worker on the FoP. He succeeded, somewhat against the odds too, in this game;

    His tactic of using yellow cards as a last resort ultimately paid off. Irritatingly, SAFF only have one of the four key decisions in this video resume:

    (73’) - by-the-book SYC to Al-Shabab no.8 no.24 missed (LoR pull, then striking in a following confrontation, in which fouled Al-Ahli no.24 was rightly booked for AB)
    (83’) - decisive correct penalty to Al-Shabab after VAR Moskalëv’s intervention (see Gomes in NGASUD)
    (+91’) - correct SYC to Al-Shabab no.8 after advantage (reckless stamp)
    (+96’) - already highlighted in the SAFF video

    ---
    3/3

    Finally, I got round to watching the early-January Super Cup match between Al-Hilal and Al-Faisaly, handled by Danny Makkelie [VAR: Blom]. Here are the key scenes:

    6’ - potential penalty to Al-Hilal (tripping)
    https://send.cm/d/9B5n

    10’ - potential penalty to Al-Hilal (tripping)
    https://send.cm/d/9B5m

    23’ - potential penalty to Al-Faisaly (handling)
    https://send.cm/d/9B5l

    26’ - caution to Al-Hilal no.1 (SPA tackle)
    https://send.cm/d/9B7P

    30’ - potential penalty to Al-Hilal (impeding)
    https://send.cm/d/9B5k

    31’ - reckless challenge vs. foul as an attack SFP by Al-Hilal no.20
    https://send.cm/d/9B5j

    +46’ - after intervention, red card to Al-Faisaly no.19 (VC striking)
    https://send.cm/d/9B5h

    59’ - onside call by Hessel Steegstra corrected by VAR; no goal to Al-Faisaly
    https://send.cm/d/9B5i

    SAFF determined that the +46’ red card was a clear mistake - the action was only reckless for them. Overall, Makkelie showed a good MtG performance in a mostly normal difficulty game.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Philipp S3 March 2022 at 17:52

      Makkelie, 46': One could even think, that the blue player hit himself with the opponent's arm...
      Besides that, the force could be seen as neglectable.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 18:14

      VAR Blom is not on his best track this year…

      Delete
    3. David5 March 2022 at 11:19

      46' For me, it is a soft attempt to strike the opponent, after not liking being held on the arm. Maybe Super Cup guidelines are very strict with violent conduct. The force is indeed low and more a 'get your hands off me', so I would prefer no VARint. I don't see it as the blue player hitting himself at all.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 15:56

    Thank you Chefren. Carlos DCG would be a nice choice for Liverpool-Inter. Initially I predicted Turpin (who is not appointed this weekend), but based on politics Turpin is also a sensible choice for JUV-VIL where DCG is not available.

    I predict to see Massa in one of the CL return games, because of his age (40). IMO it would be strange to promote him at that age and use him in EL KO stages only. And besides that, he is Italian :):)

    Makkelie has a Saturday game while most games in NL League games are scheduled on Sunday, therefore he 'could' be a safe bet for next week. Taylor is also appointed on Saturday, however most PL games are scheduled on Saturday this weekend. Perhaps this doesn't say everything. I still predict him on the big game (RMA-PSG). Bayern already had an Englishman in the first leg and this is a tight one.

    Man. United is a tough one to predict. Some referees have a 'sort of' history with ATM in groupstage, like Siebert, Turpin, Makkelie. As this game requires an upper elite ref (and I don't expect another Romanian :)), I would predict one of the refs that we already saw in the first CL leg >> either Orsato, Vincic or Marciniak).

    Keep on puzzling ;)

    Liverpool - Inter: Del Cerro Grande
    Bayern - Salzburg: Makkelie
    Real Madrid - PSG: Taylor
    Man City - Sporting: Massa
    Man United - Atletico: Orsato
    Ajax - Benfica: Marciniak
    Juventus - Villareal: Turpin
    Lille - Chelsea: Kovacs

    ReplyDelete
  32. matei143 March 2022 at 16:55

    My predictions for the first legs:

    Liverpool - Inter: Del Cerro Grande
    Bayern - Salzburg: Kovacs
    Real Madrid - PSG: Makkelie
    Man City - Sporting: Scharer
    Man United - Atletico: Orsato
    Ajax - Benfica: Taylor
    Juventus - Villareal: Turpin
    Lille - Chelsea: Cakir

    Porto - Lyon: Vincic
    Betis - Frankfurt: Rumsas
    Sevilla - West Ham: Siebert
    Rangers - Crvena: Bastien
    Braga - Monaco: Gozubuyuk
    Atalanta - Leverkusen: Hategan
    Barcelona - Galatasaray: Marciniak

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter3 March 2022 at 17:23

      First legs score for matei14: 0.
      Now, let's have a try with second legs!

      Delete
    2. matei143 March 2022 at 17:34

      ?!?

      Delete
    3. Philipp S3 March 2022 at 18:04

      My predictions for next week (VAR in brackets)
      Liverpool - Inter: Turpin (Brisard)
      Bayern - Salzburg: del Cerro Grande (Martinez)
      Real Madrid - PSG: Taylor (Tierney)
      Man City - Sporting: Letexier (Delajod)

      Porto - Lyon: Massa (di Bello)
      Betis - Frankfurt: Guida (Valeri)
      Sevilla - West Ham: Schärer (Fritz)
      Rangers - Crvena: Hernandez (Sanchez)
      Braga - Monaco: Gözübüyük (Kamphuis)
      Atalanta - Leverkusen: Ekberg (van Boekel)
      Barcelona - Galatasaray: Zwayer (Dingert)

      Partizan - Feyenoord: Mariani
      Slavia - Linz: Jovic
      PAOK - Gent: Peljto
      Vitesse - Roma: Lechner
      Marseille - Basel: Kehlet
      Leicester - Rennes: Nyberg
      PSV - Copenhagen: Rumsas
      Bodo - Alkmaar: Pawson

      Delete
    4. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 18:09

      Peter, come on... We know what is meant. In fact, EL is a first leg.

      @Matei and Philipp: nice predictions!

      Delete
    5. matei143 March 2022 at 18:38

      Oh, sorry, now I got it. Second leg UCL, first leg UEL, sorry.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 18:47

    @Chefren

    Any refereeing key match incidents in Coppa Italia this week?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren3 March 2022 at 19:00

      Two potentially hot games on paper, in which I think we had some quite good performances. In my opinion Guida yesterday better than Mariani in Milan's derby.
      However, regarding the crucial incidents we have this penalty appeal in Mariani's game: https://streamable.com/mbz02d
      VAR (Irrati) supported the decision, Mariani had a particular approach to this match, he didn't want to whistle even very significant contacts and he tried to stay in the background with some missed yellow cards as well, but at the end there weren't big problems in terms of controlling it and I think his performance was satisfactory. Nevertheless, he could have made by far better. There was another potentially crucial situation, foul by Lautaro Martinez on keeper, some people asked for RC but I think it was correct to issue YC for reckless challenge.
      Video: https://streamable.com/t6bun8
      I think that RC would be harsh, not wrong of course. In such situations, since keepers are the only players very often lying on ground, one should just check whether the attacker can avoid the contact, but as long as he is looking ahead to play ball, one must consider not more than reckless challenge if you ask me.

      About Guida in Fiorentina - Juventus, a superb performance, with a game that could have easily gone wild. Home fans very angry against Vlahovic, now a Juventus player and they contributed to an extremely hot atmosphere. After a first half in which he didn't issue any card and he had a full control, in second half, correct cards followed and I must say he was almost faultless, having the great skill to manage players in hot situations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 19:22

      Thank you! Do you know the exact minutes of the two big incidents in Mariani's game?

      Btw, I noted the similar approach (allowing hard contacts and avoiding cards) by many referees in UCL/UEL last weeks. I don't like how much is tolerated now.

      Delete
    3. Chefren3 March 2022 at 19:28

      Penalty appeal at the beginning of second half, 46' or 47'.
      The yellow card to Lautaro Martinez 58'.

      Delete
  34. Mike3 March 2022 at 21:55

    Tonight a poor performance by Serdar Gozubuyuk in the semifinals of the KNVB Cup between AZ and Ajax (still playing). Little or no control and acceptance. Foul detection inconsistent, missed and unnecessary cards given. A lot of player confrontations. His lack of authority ensures that the message to players has no impact.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 07:49

      Player's were already frustrated before the first whistle. Lots of theatrics. That was a weird game. Not a good game from him. He can be a bit inconsistent and messy. In general, Gozubuyuk is a not-so great referee in the more complicated matches when players don't act in a sportive way. IMO far, far behind Makkelie, who's obviously the better player-manager.

      Delete
  35. Anonymous3 March 2022 at 22:04

    Kuipers for final Ajax - PSV?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ESTref4 March 2022 at 07:36

      Kuipers retired

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 10:37

      My prediction
      -El classico (AJA-FEY) on March 20th: Makkelie
      -Cup final (PSV-AJA) on April 17th: Higler

      Delete
  36. Turkish ref3 March 2022 at 22:28

    Halil Umut meler was not assigned to the weekend games in Turkey, you can see it in the champions league during the week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 07:35

      Interesting. To be honest, it would surprise me a bit after just 3 games in CL group stage. If true, it is a rather political choice and a very bad signal for Cakir.

      We'll see. The Man city game is suitable for all new promoted refs.

      Delete
    2. Chefren4 March 2022 at 07:55

      Manchester City - Sporting is the best game for him, if they have in mind to assign a CL KO stage match to the Turkish. I would be still very surprised though, as he has not the experience of the other new Elite and on paper he woulc have had to wait before a so big step.
      If so, I think very likely to see Massa in Bayern - Salzburg.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 10:36

      Yes that's also a possibility.

      Who do you expect to officiate RMA-PSG?

      Delete
    4. Turkish ref4 March 2022 at 10:53

      What's there not to know about this, of course,makkelie

      Delete
  37. BiHRef4 March 2022 at 01:34

    Peljto was not delegated in the biggest Bosnian derby so we can expect him in EL next week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 07:41

      ?? Your logic is funny. :-)

      A referee can officiate a match on Sunday & Thursday. In fact, this is quite normal.
      I expect Peljto in the UEFA Conference League because he lacks some VAR-experience and was appointed in the ECL round of '32 as well.

      Delete
  38. Quilava4 March 2022 at 08:45

    A couple of clips from Greece.

    1) AEK-PAOK on Wednesday (referee Michael Fabbri, VAR Gianluca Aureliano), YC for PAOK51 upgaded to RC for SFP after OFR. He seemed to have a clear view of the action.

    https://streamable.com/yyidtn


    2) Apollon Smyrnis-Atromitos last Sunday (referee Georgi Kabakov), 2YC for APO21 because he ignored twice the referee's order to wait for the whistle before taking a FK. It seems like the player wanted to go home early and decided to take a piss :DDDD

    https://streamable.com/lno1rt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 11:45

      1) Wrong OFR. Arguments for supporting YC - shrunk legs before the contact, ball in the playing distance.
      2) Unbelievably obvious.

      Delete
    2. Chefren4 March 2022 at 12:20

      1) Wrong OFR?
      I'm quite shocked by reading this opinion, Anonymous, to be honest.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 12:43

      Second situation, the shaking hand by player afterwards looks like he wanted to mock referee, not genuine. Kabakov should have refused that, he looked to be both victim and accomplice.

      Delete
    4. Chefren4 March 2022 at 14:14

      In my opinion indeed the time of FIFA badge for Fabbri should be over, I really don't understand why he has been still kept on the list, I would have liked to see him removed and then one between Valeri and Doveri (maybe, the latter, due to better physical conditions) to stay on the list. Fabbri performances have been always poor in the years, he rarely officiated big games and when it happened, big disappointments followed.
      I think that this chance will finally happen at the end of this year, with Sozza and Ayroldi ready to join the list (the former at moment by far clearly ahead than the latter). Orsato should leave after World Cup as well, but maybe not immediately after the end of tournament. Then, I think the next discussions should be about Maresca and Irrati. The latter could be easily leave the FIFA list, joining finally the VAR list, and that's 100% sure, no perspective as pitch referee anymore in UEFA, he is 43 years old right now, quite old, at least for Italian standards. About Maresca, a career that it is very difficult to explain, on paper a talent if you ask me, but his problem has been (also discussed on the blog) being very strict with rules and applying a style of refereeing that nowadays can't make teams happy about his presence. I know that it is very sad to say, but after many and many games I think this is the main reason for which he has failed. However, if a person loves refereeing and how to apply the rules without any comprimise, then he should really appreciate him. I think he is in a by far better situation than Fabbri, but in reality still not big occasions for him to rise.
      Massa this season is showing outstanding performances in serie A, for sure he will not reach the level of Orsato, because in my opinion he has less quality than the former, but a good hope for something important at international level, following his promotion to Elite. Guida to follow, I think that he as a bit less technical accuracy than Massa, but he is great in managing players in hot games, as I wrote. Difficult to think that he could reach more than the current Upper Part of Category 1 in UEFA. I'm also sure that an outstanding career, starting from next year, will begin for Sozza!

      Delete
    5. greek ref4 March 2022 at 15:08

      Another scene from Greece

      Olympiakos - Asteras Tripolis Ref Papapetrou (VAR Tsakalidis)

      https://streamable.com/yvwip5?fbclid=IwAR1ghjJimIuI3CxuSRRHQAMnHhz_xvXCXF02uzzlkcMF30gw0nH42FuF_aA

      Delete
    6. Jacques4 March 2022 at 16:37

      Ref Papapetrou handled too passive.
      He is 'walking' 25m from the action between goalkeeper and attacker.FIFA status unworthy. He can never make a credible decision from his position.

      Delete
    7. Chefren4 March 2022 at 16:42

      I can accept that the Italian names you mentioned are inferior to Hernandez Hernandez, but I wouldn't be sure about names like Tierney, Pawson and more generally, English refereeing, said with all respect of course. The problem of Italy has been that in a too short period of time we had Rizzoli (1971), Tagliavento (1972), Rocchi (1973), Orsato (1975), and then after that nothing. A too long concentration of top referees, born too close each other. And in a way, they "annulled" each other, as you very likely know, with Rizzoli that still wanted to attend 2018 WC but he had to renounce to leave room to Rocchi). After that, really nothing followed. Now the new hope, as said, is big with names like Sozza and Ayroldi but of course a certain time is needed. Also, a problem of age, differently from other countries, Italy has been always reluctant in promoting relatively young names in past, and this must change as well.
      Finally, about Chiffi and Pairetto, to be honest here I can't disagree about Pairetto, big doubts and a very real chance that his international career could be something very similar to Fabbri, a bit more hopes for Chiffi, his style could suit more to international game (letting game flow without too many engagement), but in the overall picture still a "normal"referee ad not a talent...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 17:00

      Sorry, but.. Kavanagh,Pawson,Tierney? Are you serious?

      Delete
    9. Chefren4 March 2022 at 21:14

      Italy and Spain were originally strict with age limits, indeed, but let's remember that now both have abolished the previous maximum threshold of 45, that was surely a too early term.
      Now with the new set of 50 I fully agree, but at the same time I think that referees at a certain age must be frequently monitored, in order to check they are fit. To be honest the scenario of English referees, without age limits, is not so good like you are describing. In the particular case of English officials, in addition to some referees with a questionable physical conditions, you must add that they are experiencing troubles for the new generation after Taylor and Oliver, I think this can't be denied. Having always the same (old) names for big games almost every matchday, is definitely not good for development of young officials. So I think the best compromise is to allow to referee until a certain age, but then a retirement must come for all, according to rules, otherwise you will lose control of the situation, in my opinion, as refereeing head, having to keep in the panel all the referees who don't want to retire, even if extremely old.

      Delete
  39. Mikael W4 March 2022 at 15:28

    Sergej Karasëv [VAR: Meškov] in Al-Nassr vs. Al-Hilal yesterday:

    > (FIRST HALF)

    1', 5', 17', 40' - persistent infringement by Al-Nassr no.94
    https://send.cm/d/9Cbz

    13', 22', 31', 44' - potential yellow cards
    https://send.cm/d/9Cc0

    24' - potential penalty to Al-Hilal (tripping?)
    https://send.cm/d/9Cc1

    41' - yellow card to Al-Hilal no.5 (tackle); revenge against no.94
    https://send.cm/d/9Cc3

    +46' - yellow card to Al-Nassr no.10 (challenge)
    https://send.cm/d/9Cbw

    +47' - duel before Al-Hilal goal; penalty, defensive fk, or play on?
    https://send.cm/d/9Cbx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mikael W4 March 2022 at 15:29

      > (SECOND HALF)

      47', 50', 51', 52' - three cautions in quick succession
      https://send.cm/d/9Cc5

      59' - missed SYC vs. SFP to Al-Nassr no.94 (challenge)?
      https://send.cm/d/9Cc6

      61' - after intervention, red card to Al-Nassr no.55 (VC stamp)
      https://send.cm/d/9Cc8

      65' - potential SYC to Al-Hilal no.5 (SPA challenge?)
      https://send.cm/d/9Cc9

      72', 75', 83', 90' - management of the closing stages
      https://send.cm/d/9CcA

      Delete
  40. Anonymous4 March 2022 at 16:35

    Two interesting situations from Bulgarian Cup

    Possible foul in the APP before first goal for Slavia
    https://streamable.com/vfkjgw

    Penalty for handball for Slavia after OFR
    https://streamable.com/i614r1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren4 March 2022 at 16:57

      Interesting to see that Stanislav Todorov is still active! :)
      First incident for me OK play on and never VAR stuff, about the penalty appeal I rather think that the arm in that position is not something for VAR. For me, not a clear and obvious mistake. Only in case of call by referee, VAR shouldn't have intervened.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 09:11

      My oppinion for the first situation is faul and OFR. The white player never tries to play the ball and only to stop the opponent.The pushing is not slight, but obvious. For the second situation I am for play on, but if the referee whistled a penalty I can agree - never VAR intervention

      Delete
  41. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 12:03

    OT : just a random thought.

    We know that many referees are not ‘trusted enough’ to officiate Italy, based on quality in general or a certain history with Italy. In fact, I assume, there aren’t that many options at the moment.

    Therefore, is it likely that referees eligible to officiate Italy in WC qualifiers are “kept away” from Italian teams in the R16 matches?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 12:28

      UEFA should stop the "favoritism" of italy and italian teams giving them the most trusted refs continuously. Especially since the italian officials except maybe orsato arent that good themselves tbh. Im still astonished that refs like Guida are Elite. If Guida was from switzerland or belgium im sure he would never reach Elite. Same counts for the Netherlands and Gozubuyuk IMO. Its a shame and it should stop immediately

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 12:55

      Guys, that was not my point.

      I tried to highlight the Italian press and their specific focus and referees. Not everybody can deal with that.

      Just think about the Italy vs North Macedonia (hot clash) and a potential Portugal vs Italy game. Would you, as a chief Refereeing Officer, “risk” your best choices for these games in the weeks before the WC play-offs? I don’t think so.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:05

      If Rosetti is planning to appoint “for example” Anthony Taylor to Italy in a WC play-off game, then I just assumed that he won’t be appointed to Italian clubs in R16 CL/EL games. Just to be safe.

      That was all I tried to point out… Nothing more. :-)

      Delete
    4. Chefren5 March 2022 at 13:26

      @Anonymous 12:28
      Guida is not Elite but Category 1, just to clarify.
      I find your comment very harsh against Italian referees. More generally, as it was explained in other comments, Unknown wanted to say a different thing. So you started with this "attack" too much quickly.
      We can discuss about the topic you are introducing, and I can't deny that a particular treatment has been very often reserved to Italian teams in terms of choices by committee, since a long time. This can't absolutely be denied. We discussed about that on the blog many times. My wish is that this special treatment could be over soon, with Italy getting the same referees like teams from otehr countries, including both clubs and national teams. However I think that a problem is about the high expectations and the big focus that this country puts on referees, that's not the same like other countries, especially Germany (to mention a country that in my opinion doesn't have absolutely this habit).
      I think that now with more Elite referees, an open choice and more opportunoties for committee, the "narrow management" we saw in past could be over.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:39

      I fully agree: if Aytekin, Stieler, Zwayer, Sidirópoulos, Grinfeld, Gözübüyük, Collum and Jovanović had not been Italian, none of them would now be Elite! Oh, wait...

      Delete
    6. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:44

      @ Chefren; who are at this moment the referees that will generate the least headlines in Italian press before the first whistle?

      I assume that Taylor and Siebert are amongst them. Perhaps Turpin.?

      Delete
    7. Chefren5 March 2022 at 14:24

      Taylor absolutely clean name and more than Turpin, the latter was a bit discussed in Milan - Porto, CL, but nothing very significant if compared to other referees. Then I also think that Makkelie has recovered as well after EURO and the discussions about Italy - Turkey, but I think in all cases he will get another play off if appointed and not this one, because in both Italy - Turkey (same game of EURO) and Italy - Portugal (he can't officiate Portugal) he would be out. Only in case of North Macedonia in final against Turkey, I think he could get this assignment. Then you mention Siebert, his name would be OK, but more for a game like Italy - North Macedonia than the final. A referee surely out is Cakir, as I wrote in another comment, Karasev after NL as well, but he is now out.
      Marciniak would be another welcomed referee, despite of having officiated Italian teams recently he has been praised... we will see...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 16:01

      Thanks. Good suggestions! For the path C final, I assume committee will definitely appoint a ‘clean’ ref (in both countries), with more than good game control & player management abilities and moreover, a ref that have showed great performances in high profile games under big pressure in the past. I think, Taylor and Marciniak are indeed the best options if we take these criteria into account.

      Turpin is also a great ref but IMO sometimes he suffered to keep control in high profile games and lacks a bit natural authority compared to, for example, the Taylor’s, Marciniak’s, Orsato’s. Not always full acceptance by the players.

      Anthony Taylor told in a recent podcast about his experience as a Prison officer. Some referees are used to work under pressure or hectic circumstances, like Taylor and f.e. Makkelie - who is a police agent. They truly benefit from that experience, they just don’t choke under the biggest pressure and are used to be a leader in daily life.

      I expect that Rosetti’s final choice will be kept away from Italian/Portuguese clubs already… We’ll see.

      Delete
  42. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 12:40

    I echo part of the comment above. Referees are good at reading the underlying message in the appointments. They would easily understand that the committee is very sensitive about the appointments/referee-performances for competing Italian teams. This is certainly not healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 12:53

    Guys, I think you did not understood my message. It is not all about ‘favoritism’. It is also the Italian press and their specific focus and referees.

    Just think about the Italy vs North Macedonia (hot clash) and a potential Portugal vs Italy game. Would you, as a chief Refereeing Officer, “risk” your best choices for these games in the weeks before the WC play-offs? I don’t think so…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Turkish ref5 March 2022 at 13:50

      If the referee is probably Cüneyt Çakır in a possible Italy-Portugal match, if the Italians are happy with the match, that's fine, but if the Italians aren't happy with the referee, I want to say that Cüneyt Çakır will not go to the world cup for sure. it seems difficult, and he has been assigned to separate matches from his assistants for 2 weeks in the Turkish league, which is another sign

      Delete
    2. Chefren5 March 2022 at 14:17

      Cakir is at moment the most discussed UEFA Elite referee by Italian side, for many reasons, his appointment in a game against Portugal would be impossible, but I think impossible in all casess even if Italy out because the opponent of Portugal in previous game is Turkey so impossible to guess that after that Portugal, if winner, would get Cakir.

      Delete
    3. Turkish ref5 March 2022 at 14:40

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  44. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:06

    Slavia Prague - Sparta Prague, CZE derby tomorrow:
    Szymon Marciniak, Adam Kupsik, Michal Obukowicz, VAR Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren5 March 2022 at 13:19

      Never heard of Polish referees officiating in Czech Republic league, is that the first time?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:23

      Melo's circus begins...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 13:36

      Yes, first time. Radek Prihoda, former FIFA referee is now chairman. He asked Germany and Polish FA. Now they don't have so many experience referees and a lot of very young referees are in top division.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 14:04

      OT. Albania biggest derby. Tirana - Partizani Ref : Juxhin Xhaja Fifa second cat

      Delete
    5. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 17:58

      Melo Pereira is (or at least was) working in Russia.

      Delete
    6. VictoriaGooner5 March 2022 at 18:31

      @Anonymous Do you have a link to the entire match official appointments for Tirana - Partizani?

      Delete
    7. Euro Soccer Ref5 March 2022 at 20:54

      Juxhin Xhaja - Denis Rexha, Nertil Bregasi - Andi Koçi
      [Kreshnik Bajramaj, Dojando Myftari]

      https://top-channel.tv/2022/03/05/atmosfere-e-zjarrte-neair-albania-nis-derbi-i-kryeqytetit/

      Delete
    8. VictoriaGooner5 March 2022 at 23:08

      Thank you @EuroSoccerRef

      Delete
  45. Turkish ref5 March 2022 at 17:04

    A former FIFA licensed Turkish referee announced that after the world cup, Cüneyt Çakır will start to work in Saudi Arabia and will not serve in the Turkish league.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. matei145 March 2022 at 17:48

      Is Cakir so sure he will be in Qatar? Indeed, because of Karasev`s situation, the chances are a little bit higher now.

      Delete
    2. Turkish ref5 March 2022 at 18:01

      I think Çakır is in a different place in UEFA, but compared to referees in other continents, European refereeing is different, FIFA is aware of this, even though he is out of form, an experienced referee like him should not be a surprise in my opinion.

      Delete
    3. smala0176 March 2022 at 17:02

      I think this "lack of form" might be a little exaggerated. Even a slightly-reduced Çakir is still stronger than most elite referees in Europe and around the world. I just hope we don't get an Irmatov-2018-like performance from Çakir in Qatar that proves me very wrong.

      Delete
  46. Anonymous5 March 2022 at 18:51

    Could someone give me a detailed interpretation of what is and what isn't allowed by an offensive player in front of a goalkeeper before and after a corner in terms of obstruction or any other rule?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David6 March 2022 at 09:42

      Were you watching Liverpool vs. West Ham? :P

      Delete
  47. Philipp S6 March 2022 at 08:54

    Three years before a (senior) WC, they normally select some new names, who could be candidates for the next WC, but have not so much international experience.
    One year before a WC, they normally select referees, who are quite likely to also work at the next WC, i.e. some of the very
    top referees from each continent.

    ReplyDelete
  48. JD6 March 2022 at 09:50

    @chefren Did you see Massa Yesterday in roma vs. Atalanta?
    In my opinion overall a good Job. But one thing was really annoying: He just whistled everything, If a defender falls, even If There was nearly contact. These where also the Moments in which the game got quiet hot and finally ended in two yellow cards to Marten de roon, which we're of course correct then. But is this typical for davide massa that he likes to give these "easy" freekicks to defenders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chefren6 March 2022 at 09:58

      Yes, I did. I watched him in that game, and you are right, overall a quite good performance, not like other occasions, but the game was really challenging from the beginning. Indeed this isn't his style, I think that he wanted to keep the full control of this hot clash by having a strict foul detection.
      Maybe it helped him in avoiding more problems, in such games you have everything to lose. Standings apart, two teams with many focus and polemics on referees were meeting yesterday.
      What I didn't like was the timing of second YC to De Roon: if you look at full sequence, it is clear to me that he tried to wait for avoiding second YC, he didn't want to issue it. Then, player continued and he was forced to show second card, even more after blatant gestures, he should have managed that better, he was fully entitled to send off the player even before, referees shouldn't be afraid when a decision is so expected and deserved... but of course, good that he did that at the end.

      Delete
    2. JD6 March 2022 at 10:20

      Interesting Analysis chefren. Thank you

      Delete

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