Antoine Chiaramonti (AND) Stefan Ebner (AUT) Lothar D'Hondt (BEL) Jasper Vergoote (BEL) Antoni Bandić (BIH) Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL) Patrik Kolarić (CRO) Ante Ćulina (CRO) Menelaos Antoniou (CYP) Andreas Argyrou (CYP) Kyriakos Athanasiou (CYP) Marek Radina (CZE) Dominik Starý (CZE) Mikkel Redder (DEN) John Brooks (ENG) Jarred Gillett (ENG) Robert Jones (ENG) Johan Hendrik Ellefsen (FRO) Oliver Reitala (FIN) Pierre Gaillouste (FRA) Robert Schröder (GER) Simone Sozza (ITA) Edgars Maļcevs (LAT) Jérémy Muller (LUX) Ivo Torres (LUX) Jovan Kachevski (MKD) Roman Jitari (MDA) Sivert Amland (NOR) Mohammad Aslam (NOR) Artem Lyubimov (RUS) Pavel Shadykhanov (RUS) David Dickinson (SCO) Milan Stefanović (SRB) Atilla Karaoğlan (TUR) Erkan Özdamar (TUR)
WOMEN
Jana Van Laere (BEL) Michaela Pachtová (CZE) Nanna Lof Morch Andersen (DEN) Audrey Gerbel (FRA) Teona Sturua (GEO) Eirini Pangiou (GRE) Rita Vehapi (KOS) Elena Gobjila (MDA) Filipa Pereira Cunha (POR) Vanja Jankovič (SVN) Tjaša Misja (SVN) Maral Mirzai (SWE)
Thank you! French origin for the new referee from Andorra. Meanwhile it seems as San Marino has lost a bit of credit. Zani has been removed and no FIFA referees, that's very particular. After about 20 years, Bebek leaves the referees list, but he gets a spot as Video Match Official. Russian Bezborodov close to a record, about to celebrate his 50th birthday in a few days, still on FIFA list. I had read about a possible retirement for Karasev, so this was a wrong rumor.
Out of the list: Jäger, Boucaut, Laforge, Kaljanac, Stoyanov, Bebek (after 20 years!), Zebec, Dimitriou, Neokleous, Sotiriou, Orel, Bankes, Coote, Tierney, Troleis, Gestranius, Hämäläinen, Aytekin, Irrati, Kasumi (forgot to add Mervan Bejtullahu as new FIFA from Kosovo), Anufrijevs, Durieux, Kopriwa, Jakimovski, Banari (also after 20 years), Hansen, Moen, Kukuyan, Matyunin, Zani (no referee from San Marino in 2023), Madden, Çakir & Küçük.
And in AFC referee news it is also of note that Alireza Faghani is for the first time listed under Australia and not Iran for FIFA match officials. This now gives Australia 8 Male FIFA referees for the first time breaking the record of 7 set last year. This record of 8 men's referees is also the highest for any country in the Asian Football Confederation. Not bad for a country that only joined AFC in 2006.
Maximiliano Ramírez (ARG) Leandro Rey Hilfer (ARG) Gaad Flores (BOL) Hostin Prado (BOL) Ramon Abatti (BRA) Paulo Cesar Zanovelli (BRA) Fernando Vejar (CHI) Manuel Vergara (CHI) Bryan Loayza (ECU) Alberto Javier Feres (URU) Yorman Delgado (VEN) - Brenda Cisterna (CHI) Dayared Ramírez (CHI) Gissele Giler (ECU) María Belén Lupera (ECU) Gabriela Arce (PAR) Stefani Andrea Escobar Oropeza (VEN)
CONCACAF
Ken Pennyfeather (ATG) Josué Ugalde Aguilar (CRC) Norberto Da Silva Costa (CUW) Adonis Carrasco (DOM) Filiberto Enrique Martínez Calix (SLV) Ignacio Fuentes (GUA) Shavin Dexroy Greene (GUY) Jefferson Alberto Escobar Benítez (HON) Mason Christopher (JAM) Okeito Nicholson (JAM) Víctor Alfonso Cáceres Hernández (MEX) Daniel Quintero Huitrón (MEX) Fernando Javier Morón Valdelamar (PAN) Sanchez Bass (SKN) Sergio Patrick Rozenhout (SUR) Kwinsi Williams (TRI) Joseph Dickinson (USA) Victor Rivas (USA) - Kedeen Foster (CAY) Deily Gomez Espinoza (CRC) Belkis Janeth Flores Gimenez (HON) Janeishka Caban Rodríguez (PUR) Shandor Wilkinson (SKN) Alexandra Billeter (USA) Samantha Martinez (USA) Alyssa Nichols (USA)
AFC
Husain Alshowaikh (BHR) Ahmed Saad (BHR) Jasim Akhter (BAN) Nasir Uddin (BAN) Ouseyha Khin (CAM) Harish Kundu (IND) Morteza Mansourian (IRN) Mohammed Ahmed (IRQ) Kōki Nagamine (JPN) Saud Al-Shamhan (KUW) Erlanbek Osmonov (KGZ) Kyaw Zayar Aung (MYA) Yahya Al-Balusi (OMA) Yasrab Nawaz (PAK) Sashanka Samarathunge (SRI) Rakhimbek Karimov (UZB) Le Vu Dinh (VIE) - Tian Jin (CHN) Pak Song-jong (PRK) Zin Mar Oo (MYA) Anoud Al-Asmari (KSA) Roziyabonu Yusupova (UZB)
Interview with the new referee boss of Belgium: Herbert Fandel
German former top referee and musician Herbert Fandel is the new referee boss in Belgium: "Think that the VAR does not make mistakes is nonsense" As a top German referee - Herbert Fandel (58) who whistled the AC Milan-Liverpool CL final in 2007 - and a gifted musician, he was called 'the Pianist' in football. Since September, he has been conducting the Belgian top refs as the new referee boss: "I don't live on the moon, I want to be present for the referees."
Fandel is a big name in the refereeing world because of his past as a top referee. Between 1996 and 2009 he led 247 Bundesligaduels, whistled at the Olympic Games, at a European Championship and in two major European finals, with the CL poster AC Milan-Liverpool (2-1) in 2007. Fandel has been the new referee boss in Belgium since September 1. An introduction
How did the first contact go? Did contemporary Frank De Bleeckere ask you? “I know Frank from the past, we were active on the international stage at the same time, but Peter Bossaert (CEO) contacted me. Over the years I had many offers from other unions - the US, Greece, the Czech Republic - but I live in a corner of Germany on the border with Belgium and Luxembourg. I am a child of the region and did not want to change my culture to live in America. But here (in Tubize, BF) I can stand by car in 2 hours and 20 minutes, that played a role. And I know Belgian football.”
Will you always be here during the week? "That is not necessary. But I'll be there when I'm needed. I don't live on the moon, but I want to be available for the refs. In my first two weeks, I mainly wanted to get to know the internal structures and the quality of the refs.”
And what is your first impression and how do you see your own role? “I am positively surprised. My predecessor (David Elleray, ed.) already did a lot to professionalise the Belgian refereeing world. I see a good mix of young and very experienced refs, and the management is well occupied with strong personalities such as Bertrand Layec, Stephanie Forde and De Bleeckere, someone young refs can look up to. I want to keep the overview with my experience and competence: say 'Stop' when things are going in the wrong direction and support the refs in the right direction.”
De Bleeckere is our last top ref at a major World Cup, already 12 years ago in South Africa. Does the association hope and is it your goal that a Belgian top ref will whistle again at the World Cup in 2026? “That depends on the quality of the refs, and that is good. Belgian refs are more present in UEFA again. We have one who has already been used in the Champions League (Lawrence Visser) and one who whistles in the Europa League (Erik Lambrechts).”
You were still Visser's UEFA observer when he refereed Real-Tiraspol in the CL last season. Can he progress to the very highest UEFA elite group? “He has the potential, I think he has a strong personality. But I also see others. I don't want to speak too personally, because I'd rather say that to the refs themselves than in the media."
We do notice that in the Belgian top class every weekend the VAR often has to intervene to correct clear errors. Doesn't that indicate a lower quality of the refs? “No, but the best VAR is the referee, who decides himself on the field. In the most optimal scenario, the video ref intervenes as little as possible. But the VAR has also proven its right enough to take out important mistakes that the ref couldn't see from his position and put them on the table: 'Look at this again'."
Sometimes there is now more discussion about the VAR decision than that of the ref. “That's because people think the VAR can never make a mistake. That's nonsense. There is also a person in front of that TV screen. It is no different in Belgium than in Germany, France or Italy. The video evidence helps to avoid errors, but will never be error-free.”
Would you like to have worked with the VAR in the past? “That is a bold question. I have to admit that I might have a hard time with it at first. But I have also noticed during my service in Germany how the outside pressure on refs has increased. Now it is almost inhumanly large, also due to social media. We can't leave the refs alone in that. The VAR is a tool. I understand the emotions of a club's fans, but they don't always think about the influence on the referees. The football world must support its refs or it will damage itself.”
What can you do against the criticism and immense pressure on refs? “It's complex. Criticism is a sign of our times. It is not only about refs, but also about other executives, in society, a company or in the artist world. Many people therefore do not even want to lead anymore, unless you have a very strong personality. The ref's job now seems even more difficult to me than before.
In the past, a ref was only boss on the field… “But nobody wants that one big boss anymore, right? The management profile has changed completely over the last ten years. In football, a ref is also at eye level with the players, but he has to take the lead. And you build that personality. You can't expect that from a 24-year-old. A 37-38 year old ref has learned and matured so much more. But I do want young refs in professional football as soon as possible so that they build personality.”
You yourself whistled grand finals as a top ref. How did you deal with that great pressure? “I trusted myself, used my personality and experience. I know I got those matches because of my ability. I have always separated being a referee with my work in the music world (as a concert pianist and later director of a music school, ed.), but music has developed my personality. Because I gave many concerts, I had no stage fright to whistle a big game or no fear of losing control.”
How did they view your musical gift in the football world? “In that world they called me 'the pianist'. If I whistled in Liverpool, it would be in the newspaper: 'The German pianist is coming.' I don't know if that was meant respectfully, but maybe they would have thought I should have stayed in the music." (laughs)
Unfortunately, refs are often remembered for their mistakes. Is there a match where you failed? “That's human. I can name many scenes or matches where I whistled unluckily. But one match at the beginning of my career will always stick with me: I gave the same team four red cards. All four cards were justified, but I whistled very strictly and dominantly, missed the 'fingerspitzengefühl' to give players space. With five years more experience I would have solved that differently, communicated more with players to avoid those collisions at the intersection. The media praised me then, but for myself it felt like I had failed as a ref. I would not have served football, because nobody wants to see a game with a team that sees four red cards.” Below the images of the match Hansa Rostock-SSV Ulm with the four red cards. Had there been a VAR, a fifth red might have fallen for an elbow that escaped the eye of the ref https://youtu.be/rX9Tvf-lUjI
In 2008, you were attacked by a Danish fan in a European Championship qualifying match between Sweden and Denmark after you had whistled a penalty for Sweden in the final phase (https://youtu.be/EbSU4ubVJ_8). What impact did that have on you? “I was not far from quitting then. My first thought was: 'Feierabend, I stop'. My second thought was: no, not now. It was a tough moment, but I noticed that my decision to stop the game was right. For example, I gave a signal to football and the referees that they should not drag the authority of a ref through the mud. I will not forget the reaction of the Danish coach Morten Olsen after the match. He came into my cabin, sat there and cried because he was ashamed that this had happened in his country. I found it incredibly respectful that such a strong personality as Olsen encouraged me in one of my toughest moments.”
After your career, you were active in the German referee committee until 2018. A top German ref then referred to bad management and harassment by the chefs. “I am not a person who bullies other people. But if you have to indicate a direction and have more than 100 strong personalities under your leadership where everyone also thinks of themselves, you can never please everyone. That's like a coach who never has all the players behind him one hundred percent, because he has to say: ' You play and you don't. Furthermore, I do not look back, but I look forward. I am now looking forward to my time in Belgium.”
No official news but media reported that there will be five 'guest' referee teams and one referee team from each country (I didn't find any info about Bahraini refs, though) participating in the tournament.
Guest Referees: Ma Ning (CHN) Jérémie Pignard (FRA) Rédouane Jiyed (MAR) István Kovács (ROU) Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB)
Gulf Referees: Ali Sabah Addai al-Qaisi (IRQ) Shukri al-Hanfush (KSA) Abdullah Jamali (KUW) Ahmad al-Kaf (OMA) Salman Fallahi (QAT) Ali al-Hasani (YEM) Adil an-Naqbi (UAE)
I think that the appointments will be anounced in an article for every day on their official website https://agcff.com/en/home/ For opening day:
Match 1: Iraq - Oman, Group A Basra International Stadium, Basra, 14:00 CET Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU) Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu (ROU) Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene (ROU) Fourth Official: Adil an-Naqbi (UAE) Video Assistant Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR) Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Jeremie Pignard (FRA) Referee Observer: Khalifa Al-Dosari (BRN)
Match 2: Yemen - Saudi Arabia, Group A Basra International Stadium, Basra, 16:45 CET Referee: Salman Falahi (QAT) Assistant Referee 1: Khaled Ayed (QAT) Assistant Referee 2: Zahi Al-Shammari (QAT) Fourth Official: Abdullah Jamali (KUW) Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Al-Marri (QAT) Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Ahmed Darwish (UAE) Referee Observer: Najah Al-Hamidah (IRQ)
https://agcff.com/en/7777/ A couple of mistakes in this article at names. Also, I supposed they wrongly swapped AR1 and AR2 in match1. From what I know, always Marinescu is AR1.
Match 3: Bahrain - United Arab Emirates, Group B Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra, 11:15 CET Referee: Ahmad al-Kaf (OMA) Assistant Referee 1: Rashad Al-Hakmani (OMA) Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Ambo Abdi (OMA) Fourth Official: Ali Sabah Al-Qaisi (IRQ) Video Assistant Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR) Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Abdullah Al-Shehri (KSA) Referee Observer: Muhammad Bajih Al-Shammari (KUW)
Match 4: Kuwait - Qatar, Group B Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra, 14:15 CET Referee: Ma Ning (CHN) Assistant Referee 1: Zhou Fei (CHN) Assistant Referee 2: Zhang Sheng (CHN) Fourth Official: Shukri Al-Hanfoush (KSA) Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN) Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Jeremie Pignard (FRA) Referee Observer: Hamad Al Mazrouei (UAE)
Don't believe that for now. No confirmation from spanish media nor from knowledgeable people on social networks, just an Argentinian media that states no source.
The news from that source has reached Italy as well, and I must say very strange that there is a so particular focus on that by Italian sites, because normally this fact wouldn't get such a coverage. All people now think that indeed he will retire.
It seems very strange. In 2021, in an interview with El País, he said that he enjoys refereeing and is happy that the age limit in the CTA RFEF has been removed, and now he suddenly changed his mind and wants to end his career?
For The Netherlands, Edwin van de Graaf is new on the international VAR list. Van de Graaf has been a trusted referee for some years now and he's been used as AVAR quite a bit recently, and he is certainly a good VAR, so a deserved thing for him. When he made it to the higest level his age was already a bit too high to aim for international refereeing itself, but a great step for him to reach this.
News from France: Antony Gautier becomes the new head of French refereeing, succeeding Pascal Garibian who was dismissed in November. Gautier, a Ligue 1 referee since 2007, has 273 Ligue 1 matches to his name, and was an international referee from 2011 to 2017. He officiated on four Champions League matches, 11 Europa League matches and three World Cup qualifiers. He is also a university mathematics professor and mayor of a town with 10,000 inhabitants in northern France. Good luck Antony!
To assist him, Stéphane Lannoy will be in charge of the professional referees sector, Alain Sars will be in charge of the amateur sector and Stéphanie Frappart will be in charge of female refereeing.
L'Équipe: "The majority of professional club presidents didn't like Gautier's appointment, judged as 'too rigid' like Garibian, whose overthrowing they contributed to"
"From LFP's perspective, as they pay the referee fees, they wanted a radical change of philosophy in order to have a more 'modern and open' refereeing"
And this is why professional referees must NEVER depend from clubs(' associations)
Bad choice to put Lannoy in charge off professional referees and Sars to the amateurs, they hould swipe them in roles, Sars was a good referee and Lannoy a very moderate one.. who always lacks a bitt of personality, and used either a lot off cards, or lost control!, good exemple Brazil - Ivory Coast in 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEjAc3GzOl0
Peter Banks and David Coote had been FIFA referees from England just for a couple of years. Strange that they've been replaced dispite continuing refereeing in England
They're good referees just never got the chance in Europe. Madley who went up with Coote got a WC Quali game while Coote only got youth games (did get games with Barcelona and Bayern Munich). Bankes came up in 2020 and I think jes only got quali games for the club games. I think based on that the committee probably didn't look fondly on them. England who went up last year has had more games this season.
Self-copy-pasta from the other thread :)
ReplyDeleteNew FIFA referees in Europe:
MEN
Antoine Chiaramonti (AND)
Stefan Ebner (AUT)
Lothar D'Hondt (BEL)
Jasper Vergoote (BEL)
Antoni Bandić (BIH)
Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)
Patrik Kolarić (CRO)
Ante Ćulina (CRO)
Menelaos Antoniou (CYP)
Andreas Argyrou (CYP)
Kyriakos Athanasiou (CYP)
Marek Radina (CZE)
Dominik Starý (CZE)
Mikkel Redder (DEN)
John Brooks (ENG)
Jarred Gillett (ENG)
Robert Jones (ENG)
Johan Hendrik Ellefsen (FRO)
Oliver Reitala (FIN)
Pierre Gaillouste (FRA)
Robert Schröder (GER)
Simone Sozza (ITA)
Edgars Maļcevs (LAT)
Jérémy Muller (LUX)
Ivo Torres (LUX)
Jovan Kachevski (MKD)
Roman Jitari (MDA)
Sivert Amland (NOR)
Mohammad Aslam (NOR)
Artem Lyubimov (RUS)
Pavel Shadykhanov (RUS)
David Dickinson (SCO)
Milan Stefanović (SRB)
Atilla Karaoğlan (TUR)
Erkan Özdamar (TUR)
WOMEN
Jana Van Laere (BEL)
Michaela Pachtová (CZE)
Nanna Lof Morch Andersen (DEN)
Audrey Gerbel (FRA)
Teona Sturua (GEO)
Eirini Pangiou (GRE)
Rita Vehapi (KOS)
Elena Gobjila (MDA)
Filipa Pereira Cunha (POR)
Vanja Jankovič (SVN)
Tjaša Misja (SVN)
Maral Mirzai (SWE)
New FIFA ARs:
DeleteMEN
Andrés Vilanova Simarro (AND)
Martin Höfler (AUT)
Michael Obritzberger (AUT)
Nico Claes (BEL)
Marko Perić (BIH)
Hristo Hadzhiyski (BUL)
Kyriakos Sokratous (CYP)
Lukáš Machač (CZE)
Jørleif Djurhuus (FRO)
Olli Jantunen (FIN)
Alexis Auger (FRA)
Lasse Koslowski (GER)
Eysteinn Hrafnkelsson (ISL)
Kristján Már Ólafs (ISL)
Eoin Harte (IRL)
Davide Imperiale (ITA)
Alexey Dolgikh (KAZ)
Arbnor Bullatovci (KOS)
Mangirdas Mirauskas (LTU)
Rafael Coelho (LUX)
Branko Putilin (MKD)
James Muscat (MLT)
Duncan Spencer (MLT)
Anatolie Basiul (MDA)
Dyon Fikkert (NED)
Patrick Inia (NED)
John Doherty (NIR)
Jørgen Ronning Valstadsve (NOR)
Luciano António Gomes Maia (POR)
George Neacşu (ROU)
Ferencz Tunyogi (ROU)
Jonathan Bell (SCO)
Miloš Simović (SRB)
Matic Mežnar (SVN)
Iván Massó Granado (ESP)
Diego Sánchez Rojo (ESP)
Simon Kristensson (SWE)
Marcus Klitte (SWE)
Murat Tuğberk Curbay (TUR)
Mehmet Emin Tuğral (TUR)
Oleksandr Berkut (UKR)
Harry Hendricks (WAL)
WOMEN
Ainhoa Fernández Ruiz (AND)
Melissa Lejear (BEL)
Irmgard Van Meirvenne (BEL)
Merima Tanović (BIH)
Lilia Dumbalakova (BUL)
Maja Brozović (CRO)
Angeliki Athanasopoulou (CYP)
Tereza Holakovská (CZE)
Sandra Nigulis (EST)
Laura Koskinen (FIN)
Clothilde Brassart (FRA)
Clémentine Dubreil (FRA)
Daniela Göttlinger (GER)
Isabel Steinke (GER)
Nikolett Bizderi (HUN)
Fitore Govori (KOS)
Melanie Malena (LUX)
Angela Domazekovska (MKD)
Ana Bahcivanji (MDA)
Ana Ciobotaru (MDA)
Martha Martina Boer (NED)
Ana Loide Batista Silva (POR)
Ekaterina Pavlenko (RUS)
Elena Sobchuk (RUS)
Anastasia Toporova (RUS)
Andrea Milošević (SRB)
Sara Mask (SVN)
Arzu Görgen (TUR)
Thank you!
DeleteFrench origin for the new referee from Andorra. Meanwhile it seems as San Marino has lost a bit of credit. Zani has been removed and no FIFA referees, that's very particular.
After about 20 years, Bebek leaves the referees list, but he gets a spot as Video Match Official.
Russian Bezborodov close to a record, about to celebrate his 50th birthday in a few days, still on FIFA list. I had read about a possible retirement for Karasev, so this was a wrong rumor.
Out of the list: Jäger, Boucaut, Laforge, Kaljanac, Stoyanov, Bebek (after 20 years!), Zebec, Dimitriou, Neokleous, Sotiriou, Orel, Bankes, Coote, Tierney, Troleis, Gestranius, Hämäläinen, Aytekin, Irrati, Kasumi (forgot to add Mervan Bejtullahu as new FIFA from Kosovo), Anufrijevs, Durieux, Kopriwa, Jakimovski, Banari (also after 20 years), Hansen, Moen, Kukuyan, Matyunin, Zani (no referee from San Marino in 2023), Madden, Çakir & Küçük.
DeleteCongratulations to Jarred Gillet for reacquiring his FIFA badge, this time with England. He has a lot of people back home in Australia supporting him.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.instagram.com/p/Cm_qHgErwCF/
DeleteAnd in AFC referee news it is also of note that Alireza Faghani is for the first time listed under Australia and not Iran for FIFA match officials. This now gives Australia 8 Male FIFA referees for the first time breaking the record of 7 set last year. This record of 8 men's referees is also the highest for any country in the Asian Football Confederation. Not bad for a country that only joined AFC in 2006.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a positive record considering that the right place for Australia should be within OFC, Oceania.
ReplyDeleteNew referees in other confederations:
ReplyDeleteCONMEBOL
Maximiliano Ramírez (ARG)
Leandro Rey Hilfer (ARG)
Gaad Flores (BOL)
Hostin Prado (BOL)
Ramon Abatti (BRA)
Paulo Cesar Zanovelli (BRA)
Fernando Vejar (CHI)
Manuel Vergara (CHI)
Bryan Loayza (ECU)
Alberto Javier Feres (URU)
Yorman Delgado (VEN)
-
Brenda Cisterna (CHI)
Dayared Ramírez (CHI)
Gissele Giler (ECU)
María Belén Lupera (ECU)
Gabriela Arce (PAR)
Stefani Andrea Escobar Oropeza (VEN)
CONCACAF
Ken Pennyfeather (ATG)
Josué Ugalde Aguilar (CRC)
Norberto Da Silva Costa (CUW)
Adonis Carrasco (DOM)
Filiberto Enrique Martínez Calix (SLV)
Ignacio Fuentes (GUA)
Shavin Dexroy Greene (GUY)
Jefferson Alberto Escobar Benítez (HON)
Mason Christopher (JAM)
Okeito Nicholson (JAM)
Víctor Alfonso Cáceres Hernández (MEX)
Daniel Quintero Huitrón (MEX)
Fernando Javier Morón Valdelamar (PAN)
Sanchez Bass (SKN)
Sergio Patrick Rozenhout (SUR)
Kwinsi Williams (TRI)
Joseph Dickinson (USA)
Victor Rivas (USA)
-
Kedeen Foster (CAY)
Deily Gomez Espinoza (CRC)
Belkis Janeth Flores Gimenez (HON)
Janeishka Caban Rodríguez (PUR)
Shandor Wilkinson (SKN)
Alexandra Billeter (USA)
Samantha Martinez (USA)
Alyssa Nichols (USA)
AFC
Husain Alshowaikh (BHR)
Ahmed Saad (BHR)
Jasim Akhter (BAN)
Nasir Uddin (BAN)
Ouseyha Khin (CAM)
Harish Kundu (IND)
Morteza Mansourian (IRN)
Mohammed Ahmed (IRQ)
Kōki Nagamine (JPN)
Saud Al-Shamhan (KUW)
Erlanbek Osmonov (KGZ)
Kyaw Zayar Aung (MYA)
Yahya Al-Balusi (OMA)
Yasrab Nawaz (PAK)
Sashanka Samarathunge (SRI)
Rakhimbek Karimov (UZB)
Le Vu Dinh (VIE)
-
Tian Jin (CHN)
Pak Song-jong (PRK)
Zin Mar Oo (MYA)
Anoud Al-Asmari (KSA)
Roziyabonu Yusupova (UZB)
CAF
Houssam Benyahia (ALG)
Djaouad Touabti (ALG)
Ailton Carmelino (ANG)
Rodrigue Bigirimana (BUR)
Bertrand Manirakiza (BUR)
Florent Ledoux Dimonya (CMR)
Hugues Kokora (CIV)
José Nguema Ogono (EQG)
Mussie Beyene Twelde (ERI)
Henok Tesfamichael (ERI)
Mohamed Marigo (GAM)
Naby Touré (GUI)
Aldair Alsau Lopes (GNB)
Dickens Nyagrowa (KEN)
Meshack Obilo (KEN)
Abdelkader Mbareck (MTN)
Patience Rurisa (RWA)
Noris Aaron Godfrey Arisol (SEY)
Masixole Bambiso (RSA)
Anthony Daud (SSD)
Solomon Lokudo (SSD)
Amro Al-Sayed (SDN)
Lucky Kasalirwe (UGA)
Hillary Hambaba (ZAM)
Mwansa Mwape (ZAM)
-
Cippoline Ketemowaya (CTA)
Greta Musimu Kinfuema (COD)
Rachel Nzigire Zihindula (COD)
Concepción Abegue Mba (EQG)
Nothando Nkumane (SWZ)
Rita Ama Boateng-Nkansah (GHA)
Juliana Lopes Injai (GNB)
Lucy Awino Juma (KEN)
Yacine Samassa (MTN)
Fatoumata Touré (SEN)
Duny Monga (SSD)
OFC
Kavitesh Bejari (FIJ)
Calvin-Kei Watanabe Berg (NZL)
Teremoana Jonathan Rohau (TAH)
Interview with the new referee boss of Belgium: Herbert Fandel
ReplyDeleteGerman former top referee and musician Herbert Fandel is the new referee boss in Belgium: "Think that the VAR does not make mistakes is nonsense"
As a top German referee - Herbert Fandel (58) who whistled the AC Milan-Liverpool CL final in 2007 - and a gifted musician, he was called 'the Pianist' in football. Since September, he has been conducting the Belgian top refs as the new referee boss: "I don't live on the moon, I want to be present for the referees."
Fandel is a big name in the refereeing world because of his past as a top referee. Between 1996 and 2009 he led 247 Bundesligaduels, whistled at the Olympic Games, at a European Championship and in two major European finals, with the CL poster AC Milan-Liverpool (2-1) in 2007. Fandel has been the new referee boss in Belgium since September 1. An introduction
How did the first contact go? Did contemporary Frank De Bleeckere ask you?
“I know Frank from the past, we were active on the international stage at the same time, but Peter Bossaert (CEO) contacted me. Over the years I had many offers from other unions - the US, Greece, the Czech Republic - but I live in a corner of Germany on the border with Belgium and Luxembourg. I am a child of the region and did not want to change my culture to live in America. But here (in Tubize, BF) I can stand by car in 2 hours and 20 minutes, that played a role. And I know Belgian football.”
Will you always be here during the week?
"That is not necessary. But I'll be there when I'm needed. I don't live on the moon, but I want to be available for the refs. In my first two weeks, I mainly wanted to get to know the internal structures and the quality of the refs.”
And what is your first impression and how do you see your own role?
“I am positively surprised. My predecessor (David Elleray, ed.) already did a lot to professionalise the Belgian refereeing world. I see a good mix of young and very experienced refs, and the management is well occupied with strong personalities such as Bertrand Layec, Stephanie Forde and De Bleeckere, someone young refs can look up to. I want to keep the overview with my experience and competence: say 'Stop' when things are going in the wrong direction and support the refs in the right direction.”
De Bleeckere is our last top ref at a major World Cup, already 12 years ago in South Africa. Does the association hope and is it your goal that a Belgian top ref will whistle again at the World Cup in 2026?
“That depends on the quality of the refs, and that is good. Belgian refs are more present in UEFA again. We have one who has already been used in the Champions League (Lawrence Visser) and one who whistles in the Europa League (Erik Lambrechts).”
You were still Visser's UEFA observer when he refereed Real-Tiraspol in the CL last season. Can he progress to the very highest UEFA elite group?
Delete“He has the potential, I think he has a strong personality. But I also see others. I don't want to speak too personally, because I'd rather say that to the refs themselves than in the media."
We do notice that in the Belgian top class every weekend the VAR often has to intervene to correct clear errors. Doesn't that indicate a lower quality of the refs?
“No, but the best VAR is the referee, who decides himself on the field. In the most optimal scenario, the video ref intervenes as little as possible. But the VAR has also proven its right enough to take out important mistakes that the ref couldn't see from his position and put them on the table: 'Look at this again'."
Sometimes there is now more discussion about the VAR decision than that of the ref.
“That's because people think the VAR can never make a mistake. That's nonsense. There is also a person in front of that TV screen. It is no different in Belgium than in Germany, France or Italy. The video evidence helps to avoid errors, but will never be error-free.”
Would you like to have worked with the VAR in the past?
“That is a bold question. I have to admit that I might have a hard time with it at first. But I have also noticed during my service in Germany how the outside pressure on refs has increased. Now it is almost inhumanly large, also due to social media. We can't leave the refs alone in that. The VAR is a tool. I understand the emotions of a club's fans, but they don't always think about the influence on the referees. The football world must support its refs or it will damage itself.”
What can you do against the criticism and immense pressure on refs?
“It's complex. Criticism is a sign of our times. It is not only about refs, but also about other executives, in society, a company or in the artist world. Many people therefore do not even want to lead anymore, unless you have a very strong personality. The ref's job now seems even more difficult to me than before.
In the past, a ref was only boss on the field…
“But nobody wants that one big boss anymore, right? The management profile has changed completely over the last ten years. In football, a ref is also at eye level with the players, but he has to take the lead. And you build that personality. You can't expect that from a 24-year-old. A 37-38 year old ref has learned and matured so much more. But I do want young refs in professional football as soon as possible so that they build personality.”
You yourself whistled grand finals as a top ref. How did you deal with that great pressure?
“I trusted myself, used my personality and experience. I know I got those matches because of my ability. I have always separated being a referee with my work in the music world (as a concert pianist and later director of a music school, ed.), but music has developed my personality. Because I gave many concerts, I had no stage fright to whistle a big game or no fear of losing control.”
How did they view your musical gift in the football world?
Delete“In that world they called me 'the pianist'. If I whistled in Liverpool, it would be in the newspaper: 'The German pianist is coming.' I don't know if that was meant respectfully, but maybe they would have thought I should have stayed in the music." (laughs)
Unfortunately, refs are often remembered for their mistakes. Is there a match where you failed?
“That's human. I can name many scenes or matches where I whistled unluckily. But one match at the beginning of my career will always stick with me: I gave the same team four red cards. All four cards were justified, but I whistled very strictly and dominantly, missed the 'fingerspitzengefühl' to give players space. With five years more experience I would have solved that differently, communicated more with players to avoid those collisions at the intersection. The media praised me then, but for myself it felt like I had failed as a ref. I would not have served football, because nobody wants to see a game with a team that sees four red cards.”
Below the images of the match Hansa Rostock-SSV Ulm with the four red cards. Had there been a VAR, a fifth red might have fallen for an elbow that escaped the eye of the ref
https://youtu.be/rX9Tvf-lUjI
In 2008, you were attacked by a Danish fan in a European Championship qualifying match between Sweden and Denmark after you had whistled a penalty for Sweden in the final phase (https://youtu.be/EbSU4ubVJ_8). What impact did that have on you?
“I was not far from quitting then. My first thought was: 'Feierabend, I stop'. My second thought was: no, not now. It was a tough moment, but I noticed that my decision to stop the game was right. For example, I gave a signal to football and the referees that they should not drag the authority of a ref through the mud. I will not forget the reaction of the Danish coach Morten Olsen after the match. He came into my cabin, sat there and cried because he was ashamed that this had happened in his country. I found it incredibly respectful that such a strong personality as Olsen encouraged me in one of my toughest moments.”
After your career, you were active in the German referee committee until 2018. A top German ref then referred to bad management and harassment by the chefs.
“I am not a person who bullies other people. But if you have to indicate a direction and have more than 100 strong personalities under your leadership where everyone also thinks of themselves, you can never please everyone. That's like a coach who never has all the players behind him one hundred percent, because he has to say: ' You play and you don't. Furthermore, I do not look back, but I look forward. I am now looking forward to my time in Belgium.”
Thanks for translation!
DeleteThank you for the translation @mathias
DeleteVery wise management while issuing YC for protests by Alberto Santoro in Roma - Bologna after final whistle:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/defgbc
Tomorrow will start the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup, in Basra, Irak. Any informations about the selected officials?
ReplyDeletehttps://agcff.com/en/7744/
DeleteYou can try to identify the officials on the picture...
Very difficult, poor image quality.
DeleteNo official news but media reported that there will be five 'guest' referee teams and one referee team from each country (I didn't find any info about Bahraini refs, though) participating in the tournament.
DeleteGuest Referees:
Ma Ning (CHN)
Jérémie Pignard (FRA)
Rédouane Jiyed (MAR)
István Kovács (ROU)
Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB)
Gulf Referees:
Ali Sabah Addai al-Qaisi (IRQ)
Shukri al-Hanfush (KSA)
Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Ahmad al-Kaf (OMA)
Salman Fallahi (QAT)
Ali al-Hasani (YEM)
Adil an-Naqbi (UAE)
I think that the appointments will be anounced in an article for every day on their official website https://agcff.com/en/home/
DeleteFor opening day:
Match 1: Iraq - Oman, Group A
Basra International Stadium, Basra, 14:00 CET
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene (ROU)
Fourth Official: Adil an-Naqbi (UAE)
Video Assistant Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Jeremie Pignard (FRA)
Referee Observer: Khalifa Al-Dosari (BRN)
Match 2: Yemen - Saudi Arabia, Group A
Basra International Stadium, Basra, 16:45 CET
Referee: Salman Falahi (QAT)
Assistant Referee 1: Khaled Ayed (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Zahi Al-Shammari (QAT)
Fourth Official: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Ahmed Darwish (UAE)
Referee Observer: Najah Al-Hamidah (IRQ)
https://agcff.com/en/7777/
A couple of mistakes in this article at names. Also, I supposed they wrongly swapped AR1 and AR2 in match1. From what I know, always Marinescu is AR1.
Day 2: https://agcff.com/en/7902/
DeleteMatch 3: Bahrain - United Arab Emirates, Group B
Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra, 11:15 CET
Referee: Ahmad al-Kaf (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rashad Al-Hakmani (OMA)
Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Ambo Abdi (OMA)
Fourth Official: Ali Sabah Al-Qaisi (IRQ)
Video Assistant Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Abdullah Al-Shehri (KSA)
Referee Observer: Muhammad Bajih Al-Shammari (KUW)
Match 4: Kuwait - Qatar, Group B
Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, Basra, 14:15 CET
Referee: Ma Ning (CHN)
Assistant Referee 1: Zhou Fei (CHN)
Assistant Referee 2: Zhang Sheng (CHN)
Fourth Official: Shukri Al-Hanfoush (KSA)
Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referees: Jeremie Pignard (FRA)
Referee Observer: Hamad Al Mazrouei (UAE)
https://www.tycsports.com/espana/la-liga/antonio-mateu-lahoz-anuncio-retiro-id485573.html
ReplyDeleteAfter season, Mateu Lahoz will retire.
Don't believe that for now. No confirmation from spanish media nor from knowledgeable people on social networks, just an Argentinian media that states no source.
DeleteIn past, there were indeed many wrong rumors about his retirement, it seems that's happening again.
DeleteThe news from that source has reached Italy as well, and I must say very strange that there is a so particular focus on that by Italian sites, because normally this fact wouldn't get such a coverage. All people now think that indeed he will retire.
DeleteIt seems very strange. In 2021, in an interview with El País, he said that he enjoys refereeing and is happy that the age limit in the CTA RFEF has been removed, and now he suddenly changed his mind and wants to end his career?
Deletehttps://elpais.com/deportes/2021-06-06/mateu-lahoz-llamo-a-los-jugadores-por-su-nombre-como-a-mis-alumnos.html
DeleteToday in Saudi Arabia
ReplyDelete18:30 CET Al-Ittihad Jiddah - Al-Hilal Riyadh
Daniele Orsato - Alessandro Giallatini, Ciro Carbone (ITA) - Muhammad ad-Daqash
[Massimiliano Irrati (ITA), Sa'ad as-Subai'ai]
To give some context for readers, this is the Saudi 'Clásico'
DeleteDoes anyone know when the new UEFA categories for the referees will come out?
ReplyDeleteKnow uefa referee comitete
DeleteDeni, what's this comitete? I'd like to become a member.
DeleteUefa referees committee
DeleteFor The Netherlands, Edwin van de Graaf is new on the international VAR list. Van de Graaf has been a trusted referee for some years now and he's been used as AVAR quite a bit recently, and he is certainly a good VAR, so a deserved thing for him. When he made it to the higest level his age was already a bit too high to aim for international refereeing itself, but a great step for him to reach this.
ReplyDeleteMario Diks is not FIFA listed anymore? Do you know why?
DeleteHe announced his retirement 27th October 2022
DeleteNews from France:
ReplyDeleteAntony Gautier becomes the new head of French refereeing, succeeding Pascal Garibian who was dismissed in November.
Gautier, a Ligue 1 referee since 2007, has 273 Ligue 1 matches to his name, and was an international referee from 2011 to 2017. He officiated on four Champions League matches, 11 Europa League matches and three World Cup qualifiers.
He is also a university mathematics professor and mayor of a town with 10,000 inhabitants in northern France.
Good luck Antony!
To assist him, Stéphane Lannoy will be in charge of the professional referees sector, Alain Sars will be in charge of the amateur sector and Stéphanie Frappart will be in charge of female refereeing.
Does that mean Frappart has retired?!
DeleteIndeed she can't get this role if still active as referee, absolutely forbidden by UEFA rules.
DeleteL'Équipe: "The majority of professional club presidents didn't like Gautier's appointment, judged as 'too rigid' like Garibian, whose overthrowing they contributed to"
Delete"From LFP's perspective, as they pay the referee fees, they wanted a radical change of philosophy in order to have a more 'modern and open' refereeing"
And this is why professional referees must NEVER depend from clubs(' associations)
Pustovoitova in Russia manages female referees at Russian Women Super League and still continues refereeing herself
DeleteBad choice to put Lannoy in charge off professional referees and Sars to the amateurs, they hould swipe them in roles, Sars was a good referee and Lannoy a very moderate one.. who always lacks a bitt of personality, and used either a lot off cards, or lost control!, good exemple Brazil - Ivory Coast in 2010
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEjAc3GzOl0
Frappart has a (male) cup game today, so she hasn't retired.
DeleteUruguay
ReplyDeleteReferees
Out: Andres Cunha (M, 1976), Diego Riveiro (M)
In: Mathias De Armas (M), Alberto Feres (M)
Does anybody know if Andres Cunha has retired?
Yes, he whistled his last game in November at the Centenario as the final of the Uruguayan Cup.
DeleteFrom what I read, he continues as VAR
Thanks Diego!
DeletePeter Banks and David Coote had been FIFA referees from England just for a couple of years. Strange that they've been replaced dispite continuing refereeing in England
ReplyDeletePerhaps because they aren't good enough.
DeleteThey're good referees just never got the chance in Europe. Madley who went up with Coote got a WC Quali game while Coote only got youth games (did get games with Barcelona and Bayern Munich). Bankes came up in 2020 and I think jes only got quali games for the club games. I think based on that the committee probably didn't look fondly on them. England who went up last year has had more games this season.
Delete