Sunday 27 March 2022

UEFA Nations League 2020/21 - Referee Appointments for Relegation's Play Out (March 2022)

The following officials have been appointed to handle the Relegation's Play Out of 2020/21 Nations League. 

First Legs:

24 March 2022, 18:00 CET - A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn (EST)
ESTONIA - CYPRUS 
Referee: William Collum (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Francis Connor (SCO) 
Fourth Official: Nicholas Walsh (SCO)
Video Assistant Referee: Darren England (ENG) 
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lee Betts (ENG) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Jouni Hyytiä (FIN) 
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev (BUL)
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Kevin Kaivoja (EST)

24 March 2022, 18:00 CET - Stadionul Zimbru, Chişinău (MDA)
MOLDOVA - KAZAKHSTAN 
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (GRE) 
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras (GRE) 
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis (GRE) 
Fourth Official: Vassilis Fotias (GRE) 
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aggelos Evangelou (GRE) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Karel Vidlák (CZE)
UEFA Delegate: Bakar Jordania (GEO) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Ion Bodean (MDA) 

Second Legs:

29 March 2022, 16:00 CET - Astana Arena, Nur Sultan (KAZ) 
KAZAKHSTAN - MOLDOVA 
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor (SVK)
Fourth Official: Filip Glova (SVK)
Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri (ITA) 
UEFA Referee Observer: Orhan Erdemir (TUR)
UEFA Delegate: Tammo Beishuizen (NED) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Timur Tursumbayev (KAZ) 

29 March 2022, 18:00 CET - AEK Arena, Larnaca (CYP)
CYPRUS - ESTONIA
Referee: Artur Dias (POR) 
Assistant Referee 1: Paulo Soares (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Rui Tavares (POR) 
Fourth Official: Antonio Emanuel Carvalho Nobre (POR)
Video Assistant Referee: João Pinheiro (POR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins (POR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav (BIH) 
UEFA Delegate: Edgars Pukinsks (LVA) 
UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Harris Kyrillou (CYP)
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41 comments:

  1. Chefren22 March 2022 at 11:07

    Kruzliak and Kulbakov would have been easy predictions for second legs.
    Now with the Belarusan out, a bit more difficult to make a choice, I exclude the new Elite referees, I say Grinfeeld.

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    1. Anonymous22 March 2022 at 13:34

      But Aytekin or Massa have not ruined every single game ever refereed, unlike Collum: I understand that, for obvious reasons, no one is ever dismissed from the top category, but it is really inexplicable how Collum can be (even if only on paper) an elite. Even the current refs in cat 1 are far more reliable.

      Delete
    2. MARIO22 March 2022 at 13:55

      Is Stieler still injured ?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22 March 2022 at 14:05

      Stieler still injured

      Delete
    4. Anonymous26 March 2022 at 12:31

      He was the referee of the friendly HSV - Viborg FF yesterday.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous22 March 2022 at 11:11

    I think, Referee Observer and Delegate for EST-CYP should be swapped. Never heard of an international observer with that name before.
    Peter/Vienna

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  3. Eric van Marwijk23 March 2022 at 02:45

    Peter, Don't think to much a horse has a bigger head and much more time to think :-), or do some proper research:

    https://www.nfsbih.ba/en/news/elmir-pilav-chosen-as-a-referee-observer-at-the-europa-league-game/

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    1. Peter23 March 2022 at 13:22

      I was talking about Andrey Medintsev who was reported as UEFA Referee Observer for Estonia - Cyprus instead of Jouni Hyytiä before the article was updated. Elmir Pilav will act at the second leg and is a well-known former FIFA referee.

      Delete
  4. RefPaul23 March 2022 at 15:45

    Kevin Blom and Rob Dieperink confirmed as VAR and AVAR in Nigeria-Ghana

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  5. CWY219023 March 2022 at 16:36

    Some wild assigning in CONCACAF. Elfath assigned to Panama/Honduras three days before the massive USA/Panama match. With the USA and Panama likely battling for the third and final direct WC spot, Elfath is now in a position where a big decision against Panama drastically increases the odds of USA qualification. A very unfair position for a referee.

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    1. usaref23 March 2022 at 19:37

      Fischer assignment is almost nearly as bad--perhaps worse. He's potentially in a situation where a call puts the US in or out of the World Cup. And 90% of the matches he officiates domestically are in the United States. It's not an overstatement to say the match could be career-ending if it goes the wrong way.

      The assinging is both baffling and easily foreseeable. I've been talking about it since the Octagonal started. CONCACAF should have lined up CONMEBOL or UEFA officials for these games.

      As it stands, you've got to believe that CONCACAF cleared the Panamanian assignments with the Panamanian FA. That won't instulate Marrufo or Elfath from public criticism, but essentially Panama FA would at least be signing off on having two of the better officials available versus, well, a referee from the islands.

      Delete
    2. CWY219023 March 2022 at 20:01

      Plus Marrufo too if the US and Panama are still fighting for the last spot come the final round.

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    3. Anonymous23 March 2022 at 20:34

      Wow! Panama gets two USA referees after the big scandal with Geiger at the 2015 Gold Cup. It should have been avoided.

      Delete
  6. Hans23 March 2022 at 18:19

    Audio Danny Makkelie during Ajax-PSV (last sunday) Can you see this outside NL?

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    1. Hans23 March 2022 at 18:20

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Chefren23 March 2022 at 18:36

      No, video not available.

      Delete
    3. Hans23 March 2022 at 19:02

      And this one?

      https://youtu.be/xjDCb6jTzmA

      If not i gonna search how i can upload it with sub for you

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23 March 2022 at 19:59

      Subtitle would be highly appreciated. Thank you, Hans.

      Delete
    5. Chefren23 March 2022 at 20:19

      Thanks this works, it has been published directly by KNVB.
      Let's remember that you can add subtitles thank to youtube in your language, by selecting this option in settings.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous23 March 2022 at 20:20

      Great footage, wonderful team effort. I really enjoyed it.

      Btw, he also explains why he doesnt have the YC and RC in seperate pockets.

      Delete
    7. Hans23 March 2022 at 20:45

      Glad it works! I found it very interesting to see this behind the scenes

      Delete
  7. Anonymous23 March 2022 at 22:16

    Wow! Great to see how Makkelie works with his team. Amazing how calm he is on- and off the pitch. Even in the El Classico he is totally relaxed. The way he communicates with players and his team is an example for every referee. Also the reason why he use the referee wallet is something I will try in my next matches.

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  8. Anonymous24 March 2022 at 07:16

    I'm Dutch and just had a look at the English transcription in the Youtube video (team Makkelie), for a friend of mine who doesn't speak Dutch.

    When the match starts at 4:00, the transcriptions are really bad, because the voices are a bit muted. If you want to understand those words literally, you need to focus on the Dutch subtitles in the video itself and translate those.

    I must say, the parts where Makkelie speaks before the match (in the interview setting) or in the dressing room are actually pretty good translated. Sometimes a few words off, but in outlines, it's a quite good transcription. Luckily enough, Makkelie speaks calm and clear Dutch, articulates well and speaks without an accent. Shout out to him ;)

    I was happily surprised, because in the past I also checked Youtube transcriptions of Shona Shukrula's docu, which were very bad (she speaks really fast), or for example parts of Nijhuis (who has a strong accent). The Assistent of Makkelie (Steegstra) has a strong Frisian accent, so his transcription is also a bit off. He literally states: 'Danny wears a beeper on his upper arm'. The transcription didn't catch that :))



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    1. Chefren24 March 2022 at 07:49

      Yes indeed I noticed all these issues with Youtube subtitles, but definitely that's better than nothing for people who are very interestd in a video but they don't speak that language. At least we can understand something!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous24 March 2022 at 08:10

      I wonder why he kept his YC and RC in the wallet. I can't understand the translation.

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    3. Anonymous24 March 2022 at 09:05

      First reason is to have a few more seconds time to reflect. The moment he pulls out the notebook, players are aware that a card will be issued and stop protesting. Second reason is to avoid that he impulsively pulls out the YC and then gets imput by AR's that it should be a red. In that case, the situation on the pitch could become more complicated because, from a match control perspective, it can be problematic to pull the YC back and grab the red card.

      Delete
  9. Mikael W24 March 2022 at 12:11

    I just watched the key Australia vs. Japan tie in the AFC zone, and can report a good performance by Nawaf Shukralla in a crucial but normal-difficulty game. The Bahraini referee issued two correct cautions in the first twenty minutes of the game, and it was hard to find any technical fault with this performance at all (foul recognition, disciplinary measures) to be honest. The key incidents were a goal for AUS correctly disallowed for a clear charging offence on the goalkeeper (25'), and a potential penalty to Japan for kicking where I'd have liked to have seen more replays (40').

    In my opinion Shukralla was maybe the most unlucky top international referee of the 2010s decade, not escaping the group stage at any of his four major international championships! And that despite bringing significant (also personality) skills to the table. I think FIFA would be crazy not to take him to next World Cup, and yet that is exactly what I expect to happen - no Qatari linesman at his side this time (in the years leading up to the Qatar WC, Taleb in the committee), and it seems they prefer more, honestly speaking, mediocre referees from the M. East, such as Emirati Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, and the mandatory home ref, Al-Jassim.

    At least based on the performances I have seen from Nawaf Shukralla generally and more specifically in this WC cycle (Asian Cup, Saudi league, WCQ), he would fully deserve a ticket to Qatar. I hope FIFA see it the same way!

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    1. Chefren24 March 2022 at 12:21

      For some reasons he was never fully trusted by committee when at WC. I hope this time he can manage the step, but according to our experts from ArbitroInternacional it seems indeed difficult, all is about politics...

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    2. xabi24 March 2022 at 18:54

      Agree, Mikael and Chefren, very unfair the management with Shukralla. A very talented referee. I like him a lot

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    3. Mikael W25 March 2022 at 09:02

      Clips -

      25':
      https://streamja.com/lXbnw

      40':
      https://streamja.com/rOyZw

      Delete
  10. Mikael W24 March 2022 at 15:04

    Crazy events at the Lebanon vs. Syria qualifier, where it seems there is big trouble in the stands with racist chanting. Syria are leading three-nothing since halftime, and referee of the game is Abdulrahman Al-Jassim from Qatar. The match is suspended for now, and we had a big delay at the start of the 2H too for this reason.

    As for Al-Jassim: well I enthused much about this referee in 2019 when he was at Asian Cup, Gold Cup, tense AFC WCQs and Club WC, and I would stand by saying that the Qatari, who is obviously going to attend his home World Cup later this year, has a great style (able to chat with players, elegantly following play).

    However, I can't say that I am really convinced by Al-Jassim overall. The biggest problem with his refereeing is that he doesn't seem quite sure in his perception throughout the match. He instantly took the right decisions in the key scenes in the first half: great play on at 14' leading to Syria's first goal, and nailed on to award them a pk from which they scored a second (36').

    However, when assessing duels in midfield say, it is quite visible (eg. in whistle tone, manner) that he isn't very sure of himself. It seems the players can detect this as well, and as a result isn't able to savour a high amount of trust from them, hence inflaming his matches rather than being able to take the heat out of them. The same is true in disciplinary, where he was reactive today, not proactive (random card for impeding in aid of an attack, ignored two much clearer ones for reckless in chaotically handled incidents).

    I think all makes sense given the context. In or shortly after December 2010, QFA (+ AFC, FIFA) had to take some decisions about who would be the Qatari ref to handle games at their own WC; somewhere along the line, Al-Jassim came out, and FIFA prepared him ever since (starting with U17 WC in Chile).

    It makes sense that on the one hand we can talk about an able referee in many regards, as on the other, an official whose progress is rather exaggerated compared to his real ability. So, while we can sure that Al-Jassim will take charge of at least one game at his home World Cup, one could hope to see a more confident impression from him in games going forward, in order to further develop.

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    1. Mikael W24 March 2022 at 15:47

      The crowed were removed and the last twenty minutes were played. Very good control-focused approach from Al-Jassim in these minutes, instantly jumping on any threat to match control, including two justified cautions. The game was seen out with no further issues.

      Overall, a performance which Abdulrahman Al-Jassim can definitely be satisfied with (correct penalty, full control), but containing some wider doubts about him more holistically speaking.

      Delete
  11. nikart24 March 2022 at 20:04

    Any reports on Sidiropoulos' performance?

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  12. Chefren27 March 2022 at 10:24

    As expected Kruzliak in one of the second legs. Well, now it should be quite clear that if possible, committee would have appointed Kulbakov as well. So, Dias can be a replacement, and this would be better for him, because, in normal conditions, if we look at the other three names for this play out, his appointment is extremely disappointing. One must however add that his form is at moment not the best, but I think in future he can try to return on a good path.

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    1. Philipp S27 March 2022 at 11:38

      Soares Dias also without EL KO match. So indeed his status seems to be quite low at the moment and a WC spot appears quite unrealistic.

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    2. Anonymous27 March 2022 at 17:47

      Don't know whether Committee is aware of Soares Dias' blunder in his last game at the Portuguese League (Boavista X FC Porto). It doesn't bode well for him by any means...

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  13. SavRef29 March 2022 at 19:09

    Unbelievable Artur Dias.....2nd YC for delay restarting of the game at 47th minute......Completely out of mind!!!

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    1. Chefren29 March 2022 at 19:20

      I don't understand what you mean. If the decision is correct, no matter the minute, Cyprus was leading after a 0-0 in first leg.

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    2. Philipp S29 March 2022 at 23:22

      The ball was ready to be played for around 10 seconds and the culprit just was leaving the free kick for another player.
      So IMO a very harsh decision - independent from the minute.

      Delete
  14. SavRef29 March 2022 at 20:09

    I just mentioned the minute in order to emphasize that there was not no need for delay on the 2nd minute of the 2nd half by home team.It was a matter of poor management.

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  15. SavRef29 March 2022 at 20:10

    No referee will act like that!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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