Wednesday 10 May 2023

Champions League 2022/23 - Referee Appointments - Semifinals (First Leg, II)

The first leg of a  full Italian semifinal, City of Milan's derby, will be handled by the following officials.


10 May 2023

21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza) 
AC Milan (ITA) - FC Internazionale (ITA) 
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado Rodríguez (ESP)
Fourth Official: José María Sánchez Martínez (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeeckere (BEL) 
UEFA Delegate: Panagiotis Chatzialexiou (GER)

100 comments:

  1. Very risky choice. There is a real possibility that Gil Manzano will have Siebert's fate after that famous Atletico game. I don't think it's a suitable match for him. Why not Taylor? Best of luck, anyway!

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    1. And to add, if Gil Manzano can’t handle it, the pressure on the 2nd leg referee will be (even more) huge.

      Makes sense that the Ref com waited to release the 2nd legs appointments.

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  2. My guess is the Frenchman(Turpin) Will be in second leg..

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  3. Already saw this one coming. De Bleeckere indicated a “referee development” name. Gil Manzano had a good performance in a relatively easy flow-based QF. Add to the blender: some Spanish influence in the Refcom and the limited options for Spanish refs in both UCL and UEL. UECL is below their standards, and here you go… At the same time, it can save Taylor for a potential final.

    The pattern continues: introducing new names to 1st legs (on merit) and keep the very experienced names for the more challenging 2nd legs.

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  4. This is the last match for Spanish referees in UCL this season and another surprise in ucl semi finals appointments i don't know why uefa referees committee taking a risk in this very difficult match in Milano it's better to appoint English referee Taylor in this match instead of manzano and also in the condition man city eliminated in semi finals ucl i think it's difficult to appoint Taylor in ucl final because he refereed for real Madrid also big final FIFA club world cup in Morocco last February

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    Replies
    1. One other option is that Taylor will have the Europa League final.

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  5. I was expecting a spanish name in this clue but Mateu Lahoz as, probably farewell match. I think that Gil Manzano is fully in title to officiate Milan's derby and if he will become spanish N1 in few month, it's indeed mandatory to start to be sent in highest arena. Congratulation and good luck. This appointment is, to me, similar to Soares Dias' one. Most probably the choice for the return leg will be more conservative: Turpin in Milan and Makkelie or Marciniak in Manchester, according to who will officta final

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  6. Good luck to Gil Manzano and his crew!

    Some history: twenty years ago, UEFA also took a big risk in making the appointment for 'this' match, and it paid off; Valentin Ivanov, not even amongst the top thirteen European refs who went to JPN/KOR WC, appointed for by far the biggest match of his career (Levnikov lobbied well for him having joined committee in Summer/02), was hugely praised even by Italian media for a great performance with a lenient approach. This match was the thesis for Ivanov to assert himself as one of the very best referees of his era (early-mid 2000s).

    Perhaps history can repeat itself this time for Jesús Gil Manzano? :)

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    1. Fourteen uefa European referees in wc 2002 in south Korea and Japan

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    2. After amonth ivanov refereed derby Milan 1st leg match in ucl semi finals 2003 in may he refereed in fifa confederations cup in France which he refereed the final between France and Cameron in June

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  7. Yes I remember well and in the other CL semifinal committee dare to appoint an other surprise at that stage: Marc Batta

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  8. Not french referee marc batta he was retired international in the end of 1998 french referee gilles veissier refereed 2 nd leg return match derby Milan in UCL semi finals 2003

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    1. Yes you are right my bad memory. It was Veissiere

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  9. This is how uefa referee Milos Gigovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina do his job in domestic leaugue. And there are few more matches like this
    https://youtu.be/NpDZJSN_yeQ

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    1. Arbitre Anglais8 May 2023 at 15:24

      Wow - a number of very poor decisions and easy ones to get correct. Even the AR decision (ball was not close to being out of play) was very bad. Players began to play to the referee; the red card was a good example. Certainly not the standard of a FIFA referee …

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  10. So, on Thursday we possibly see the invited FIFA U20 referees. They can be either CR or 4O.

    Examples:
    - Letexier as CR, with Bastien as 4O (Turpin saved for a return game)
    - Gozubuyuk with Makkelie or Sidiropoulos
    - Meler as CR (UECL) with other Elite as 4O
    - Schärer as 4O

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  11. If Gil Manzano is in this SF with a Spanish team in the other, I don't see a problem putting Taylor on the second leg

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    1. I doubt this has ever happened before.

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    2. There is always a first time for everything

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    3. The important difference is, that automatic bans for the next round can result from cards in the 2nd leg, while this is not the case for the 1st leg.
      So e.g. an English referee could be accused to be more "card-happy" if he knows that the winner will play an English team in the final.
      Therefore in the 2nd legs, referees from the country of the potential next opponent are normally avoided, while it is less of a problem in the first leg.

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    4. No Taylor in the 2 nd leg match between inter Milan vs ac milan

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    5. Quick “final four” analysis - The return games are always assigned to ‘NEUTRAL’ referees.

      2011
      Teams: Spain (2x), England, Germany
      -SF1: Stark (GER), Velasco Carballo (ESP)
      -SF2: Proenca (POR), de Bleeckere (BEL)
      -F: Kassai (HUN)

      2012
      Teams: England, Spain (2x), Germany
      -SF1: Brych (GER), Webb (ENG)
      -SF2: Kassai (HUN), Cakir (TUR)
      -F: Proenca (POR)

      2013
      Teams: Germany (2x) and Spain (2x)
      -SF1: Kuipers (NED), Kassai (HUN)
      -SF2: Skomina (SVN), Webb (ENG)
      -F: Rizzoli (ITA)

      2014
      Teams: Spain (2x), England, Germany
      -SF1: Webb (ENG), Eriksson (SWE)
      -SF2: Rizzoli (ITA), Proenca (POR)
      -F: Kuipers (NED)

      2015
      Teams: Germany, Italy, Spain (2x)
      -SF1: Rizzoli (ITA), Atkinson (ENG)
      -SF2: Eriksson (SWE), Clattenburg (ENG)
      -F: Cakir (TUR)

      2016
      Teams: Spain (2x), Germany, England
      -SF1: Clattenburg (ENG), Cakir (TUR)
      -SF2: Skomina (SVN), Cakir (TUR)
      -F: Clattenburg (ENG)

      2017
      Teams: France, Italy, Spain (2x)
      -SF1: Lahoz (ESP), Atkinson (ENG)
      -SF2: Cakir (TUR), Kuipers (NED)
      -F: Brych (GER)

      2018
      Teams: Italy, Spain, England, Germany
      -SF1: Kuipers (NED), Brych (GER)
      -SF2: Skomina (SVN), Cakir (TUR)
      -F: Mazic (SRB)

      2019
      Teams: England (2x), Spain, Netherlands
      -SF1: Kuipers (NED), Lahoz (ESP)
      -SF2: Brych (GER), Cakir (TUR)
      -F: Skomina (SVN)

      2020
      Teams: France, Germany (2x), France
      -SF*: Lahoz (ESP), Kuipers (NED)
      -F: Orsato (ITA)
      *One leg behind closed doors

      2021
      Teams: Spain, France, England (2x)
      -SF1: Brych (GER), Makkelie (NED)
      -SF2: Orsato (ITA), Kuipers (NED)
      -F: Lahoz (ESP)

      2022
      Teams: Spain (2x), England (2x)
      -SF1: Marciniak (POL), Kovacs (ROU)
      -SF2: Makkelie (NED), Orsato (ITA)
      -F: Turpin (FRA)

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    6. Nice overview! Compared too all thos 'big guns' in the past, this years refs for the first legs are obviously less big names then before. The only excpetion is Kovacs last year. It tells something about the state of the elite refs at the moment IMO....

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    7. What also stands out to me is that Turpin and Orsato never refereed a UCL semi-final prior to their UCL final. Turpin did the UEL final though. That must say something about the French and Italian power...

      *2023
      Teams: Spain, England, Italy (2x)
      -SF1: Soares Dias (POR), Gil Manzano (ESP)
      -SF2: Turpin is obviously a first name. A second name can be Marciniak or Makkelie. And I certainly don't rule out Kovacs for MCI-RMA as well.

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  12. @Philipp S, I just read article 52.04 from UEFA

    Yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals, even if a player is cautioned in both legs of a victorious semi-final tie they cannot be suspended for the final.

    This is ofc same rules for Europa League and Conference to.

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  13. Greece federation has not yet confirmed who will replace Felix Brych in huge game today Olympiakos-Panathinaikos. Is there a chance that Brych will fly back to Pireus today ? Very strange that not confirmed with only hours to game.

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    1. https://www.slgr.gr/en/game/2223109027/squads/

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    2. So, was it Brych indeed?

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    3. It was confirmed that Brych will indeed officiate the match on Monday. It was published in greek media that there would be no replacement, i saw the news about Sunday at noon. I analyzed his performance in yesterday's post, not much happened though.

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  14. Another surprise in this game, but in this case a relative one.
    Given the previous appointment and the "normal" performance, one could have guessed Gil Manzano for something more, but maybe rather in EL. Committee decided to use the game in Milan, first leg and surely last chance to see a Spanish referee in the competition, given Real Madrid. It is now obvious that no English, Spanish and /or Italian referees will get second legs, but with this strategy UEFA kept the big names for this purpose. Very curious to see how Gil Manzano will perform, in my opinion a normal referee, I already spent some words about him on the blog in past. I don't think that he is the talent presented especially in the early years, but at the same time surely not a poor referee. Just now turning as Spain nr. 1 due to Del Cerro and Mateu close retirement. One could say, and in this regard I fully agree with Mikael, that nowadays is by far easier for a referee to make a certain development at very high level, given this committee and how they manage referees. Most important thing is to end games without major issues and almost no discussion about the rest. So in my opinion Gil Manzano, but not his fault of course, should have shown more before getting this game, he didn't show anything poor, but at the same time we can't talk about a very top referee. This game in Milan will be surely a huge exam for him.
    I hope that everything will go well.
    Let's see whether Mateu will manage to get something important, in one of the three competitions, I think maybe a UECL semifinal... at moment difficult to predict more, while for Del Cerro should be enough with CL quarterfinal.

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    1. Do you exclude Mateu for Roma-Bayer Leverkusen ?

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    2. Spanish observer in Rome

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  15. Makkelie with a game on Friday this weekend

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    1. And Gozubuyuk a weekend off so he has Europa League on Thursday. UCL final 2023 will be Marciniak or Taylor !

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    2. finally you said makkelie instead of makkiele

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    3. Gözübüyük is in preparation for U20 World Cup, starting on May 20th in Argentina. He won't get any more matches domestically or UEFA this season

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    4. @Ref_0307: could be right, Higler is also off. My assumption was they could work on a 1st leg not a 2nd. Apparently not! :)

      @Fred, maybe that is how it’s pronounced in Arabic, or translated from Arabic script, Makkiele? ‎داني ماكيلي

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    5. A Friday game, does it mean Makkelie is in consideration for the full Italian semi-final?

      I don’t know whether that is a good choice. The Dutchman certainly isn’t in top form. Better to use Turpin instead, he already has his UCL final and in that regard he has ‘less to lose’.

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  16. These match will be full of card

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  17. A short clip in which you see me as an assistant referee.
    Before this match I was designated as AR1, on the images of the referee trio I am on the right (the players with a green uniform).

    Video 1: Walk up the field + check targets (https://streamja.com/27N7k)
    Video 2: Leaving the field towards the dressing room (https://streamja.com/q121y)

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  18. OT
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCMQx6d90eY

    Slovakia title deciding game between Dunajská Streda - Slovan Bratislava, officiated by Filip Glova
    There were some controversy moments with handball rule - firstly, goal scored by Slovan disallowed for handball offence, a then penalty not awarded for Dunajska Streda.

    Your opinions?

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    1. Saw just the ending of a match when Weiss took off his jersey and got 2nd YC to his name.

      Plenty pushing and shoving after that but the stakes were bih in this match.

      It was the biggest match of the year in Slovakia,direct decider for title so we could have expected those scenes.

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    2. And abou decisions,those are the one that can backed and imo correct.

      In first handball imo the impact is huge and when the goal is scored that is what influenced that action,so correctly is disallowed.

      About no penalty also correct decision imo,hands are not impacting the play that much.

      And last penalty was clear handball so rightly given.

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    3. Not the only problems for Glova in this match.
      Possible handball penalty for Slovan in the 2nd minute (supported by VAR).
      Possible tripping penalty for DAC in the 50th minute again rejected by Glova and VAR.
      He awarded 2 incorrect corners for DAC in the second half - first one led to a goal on 2-2, second one was a blatant mistake by AR1.
      Correct handball penalty + 2YC for Weiss for taking of shirt and then what followed there wasn't much he could do:
      https://sport.aktuality.sk/c/ej0EjnP/fortuna-liga-dac-dunajska-streda-sk-slovan-bratislava-vladimir-weiss-ml/

      Overall a not so good performance in a challenging game with at least 2 crucial mistakes IMO.

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  19. I know managers get away with pushing their luck when it comes to technical areas, but when Milan are attacking the Inter manager seems to be most the way up the pitch! Someone has to have a word at some point, surely

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  20. Very impressive Gil Manzano so far who pays close attention to staying in control of everything with his presence, and adds to that with excellently succeeding at 29’ turning feuding players into shaking hands with each other. Bravo! :)

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    1. But I don't know how much clear and obvious mistake TBH! To be rewatched!

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  21. Replies
    1. IMO well detected by Martinez, that the penalty was not soft, but wrong. The existing contact didn't have any element of holding (or pushing), I think.

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    2. Yes it's clear and obvious. The defender 'touches' the striker, but doesn't pull or push. The striker then dives after the "contact".

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    3. My first impression was that it wasn't a clear and obvious mistake, I definitely need to rewatch it.

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    4. Classic behavior of I felt a contact. Clear and obvious

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    5. Even if not clear and obvious, it was a good decision in terms of the spirit of the game. There were big protests. The players wouldn't accept a penalty easily there, I think. And it was at least very soft. Very well done and good feeling for the game!

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  22. I was already worried that in true UEFA VAR fashion we wouldn't see an OFR ("Contact is there, so can't be a clear and obvious error") but thankfully Martinez Munuera intervened. Well done, this should never be a penalty imo!

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  23. IMO correct intervention by Martínez Munuera. There's a contact, but no punishable offence.

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  24. Gil Manzano has done a good job not falling for these soft contacts that players want fouls for (including the penalty, and the scene a few minutes beforehand on the other end of the field related to a challenge by Inter #2) - but it's frustrating that he's passed up on multiple chances to book a player for simulation.

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  25. 42' Gil Manzaro sensed advantage, but a delayed whistle would have been better I think, there was never any advantage

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  26. YC for protests and further reaction by Krunic, he could have got second YC!

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  27. 45'+1': Missed YC for a reckless elbow by Inter committed against an increasingly-frustrated Milan #10, then a different Milan player gets booked for dissent.

    I have mixed feelings about Gil Manzano so far. I appreciate that he isn't putting up with with any BS from the players, but his decisions haven't been accurate at all times.

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    1. To my mind it looked a little bit like running into the opponent's elbow...

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    2. The YC was shown for that elbow too I think

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    3. It's was shown later in my broadcast, that YC was shown for Mkhitaryan too. Maybe we just haven't seen it live

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    4. You seem to be correct, well done Manzano in that case then (though perhaps the dissent could have been prevented by pulling out the yellow earlier)

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    5. Seems so, vadim, and I definitely hope it was shown for that elbow: a YC for me.

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  28. The clip of the overturned penalty from reddit soccer:
    https://dubz.co/c/d9e1a0

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    1. Lautaro can't really run where he wants to because Kjaer is (too) close to him, but no DECISIVE contact really exists there, and the attacker falls voluntarily with still the ball in front of him. If Manzano informed Munuera that he gave the penalty for holding, then the reason for the OFR can come into existence. Otherwise, besides that the less courageous outcome was reached, the intervention should be wrong for UEFA?

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    2. I suppose it should, but, as you stated, there was no decisive contact in that situation. For me, this outcome is the better one from a football (and sport in general) point of view. I don't think many people expect a penalty there. On the other hand, was it a clear and obvious mistake is another question entirely.

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  29. I'm glad a dissent action was punished in that half, however feel there were many, many more cases that easily could have ended up with cards. Perfectly understand there is a desire at the moment to let players get away with clear dissents to try and keep 11 on the pitch so blame more with the instructions rather than Gil Manzano

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  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  31. On the overturned penalty. I think it was a very soft decision and a non-penalty is preferred. However... under Uefa and many European leagues directives, there was slight thigh-on-thigh contact, as well as the hand on the player, therefore I don't see it as 'clear and obvious' for Uefa standards. (I certainly don't think it would be changed here in England). Under Fifa, I would maybe expect and agree with an intervention, but I think wrong to do so in Uefa competition

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  32. Any chance to compare this removed penalty with Siebert RC incident in Milan - Chelsea?

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    1. And yes, I agree after rewatching, to remove it, maybe even YC for simulation. But still, strictly according to procotol, one can say there is a 5% you can back referee.
      This must be UEFA choice to ask to remove such penalties.

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    2. To me the Siebert play is the opposite: a real hold that an attacker fights through, as opposed to a practically-nonexistent hold that the attacker decides to fall from.

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  33. Pretty solid piece of refereeing from Gil Manzano so far IMO

    Excellent fitness as usual, constant alertness towards possible confrontations (see his great warning in 28') and a dominant leadership figure so far (9', 14', 45+1'). The high line he set for physical play is enjoyable for the game and accepted by players, while there were a few missed fouls (38',42') and inconsistencies which were quite visible in the last ~15' (roughly after the OFR). The (late) YC for reckless use of arms in 45+1' (leading to a mandatory YC for dissent) is an example of not really being at the top in foul recognition.

    About the OFR, I think there might be enough to support penalty but play-on is clearly the better and expected decision. I believe Martinez Munuera's intervention will be appreciated by UEFA, as it is fitting with their guidelines concerning PAI.

    The game is under control but the tension and atmosphere are scorching, the Spaniard must keep his display on the same level in 2H

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  34. Very interesting small point how Gil Manzano completely ditches the diagonal control path (and keeping his linesman in view) in order to patrol PAI holding, second time already in this game. He was in a perfect position just now to punish that attacking foul by Milan from the centred freekick (48’).

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    1. Perfect positioning there. Watching real time I thought penalty for the holding, but Manzano did really well to spot the elbow that had occurred first and indirectly caused the hold.

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  35. I wonder whether a German VAR would have called this OFR.

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    1. I wonder whether Italian VAR would intervene for this handling by Thiaw ;)

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    2. Yes indeed, there is already discussion. I think so.

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  36. 75' Krunic is very lucky, already on a yellow card and strikes an opponent in the stomach with a clenched fist. Missed YC at least IMO, and you could pretty easily argue it is Violent Conduct. No review.

    A moment later, interesting handball incident in the Milan penalty area, nothing given.

    Would like to see clips of these incidents if anyone has them.

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  37. Quite a few challenges that for me are fouls in isolation, but honestly I appreciate the foul selection tonight. Consistent throughout, players have to truly earn fouls and they have to play through some contact, they can't just go down an expect a foul. This is what I appreciate the most from Gil Manzano tonight.

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  38. I was positively surprised to see Gil Manzano being so good manager today. His management of hot moments like conflicts, dissent/mobbing, Tonali's provocations, etc. was very good. The Spaniard improved a lot and confirmed today that he is able to handle big clashes. Well done to him!

    My views on KMIs:
    13' - correct no-penalty call, mutual holding/pushing
    31' - penalty for holding cancelled after an OFR; I think it's a very good use of VAR instead of what we have seen in the past in UEFA competitions -> everybody will agree it was wrong perception to see punishable holding there (but yeah, watching replays I said to myself "unfortunately, VAR won't intervene because of small amount of contact existed"); after revoking the penalty and YC for SPA/no-attempt, an IDFK and YC for simulation could've been given by the book (exaggerating contact is still simulation in the LotG and it was literally this case) but Gil Manzano took the more welcome (by UEFA) option
    75' - quite clear striking by Krunić with the ball away but it shouldn't matter; I find no argument against penalty, so intervention required, imo; penalty to Inter and 2YC or direct red card to be given
    77' - according to UEFA's instructions through the whole season, it should have been a penalty to Inter for handball of Thiaw; that the ball bounced off the head and chest shouldn't matter, but we know there was a huge criticism of UEFA's handball interpretation by UEFA expert panel, so...

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    1. “ YC for simulation could've been given by the book (exaggerating contact is still simulation in the LotG and it was literally this case) but Gil Manzano took the more welcome (by UEFA) option”

      This stuff frustrates me. Why is it more welcome by UEFA to not punish a very clear case of an attacker deliberately falling to the ground to try to win a nonexistent penalty?

      Do the powers that be in UEFA think that diving is actually something that’s good for the game?

      In real time maybe it’s harder to punish, but upon looking at the video, it’s a super clear dive by Martinez, even with the (negligible) contact. I don’t believe that anyone can argue in good faith that the hold materially contributed to Martinez falling. He simply did that on his own.

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  39. Do we know when the referees for the FIFA U20 World Cup will convene in Argentina. I assume it will be this weekend as some officials are used in Europe tonight

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    1. Di Paolo, Italian VAR, called for the tournament, is already out from serie A week end appointments.

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  40. Björn Kuipers is the referee observer in Milan next week.

    Based on the 1st leg score, Vincic could be an option?

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    1. I think Makkelie will have Europa League

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    2. Makkelie in Manchester, is it possible? IMO game in Manchester need another top manager referee, which means such clash is not match with Turpin style (also if I’m not mistaken very soft/soft penalties are often given by him).

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    3. I’m not sure about Makkelie, but to me it’s clear why the committee waited to release the 2nd leg appointments. Based on 1st leg results, they will send the best available referee to Manchester instead of Milan.

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    4. My guess is Mr Kovacs(80%) and Marciniak

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    5. Kovacs is definitely a name to consider for MCI-RMA, as it would keep him away from Italian teams

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  41. fellas does anyone have pic of Mr Bleckeere attend last night?

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  42. The situations in 75' and 77':
    https://streamable.com/0bvo86
    https://streamable.com/bm4fok
    To me both penalties with the Italian eye.
    Punishable handball and violent conduct.
    About VAR, I think: for the violent conduct he didn't assess the action by Milan player as foul, but another VAR would have called.
    In Italian serie A such situations, as I reported on the blog, are happening quite often after Juventus - Napoli, the missed intervention by Aureliano was assessed as mistake by Rocchi.
    This is very similar, the player had no reason to do that.

    About handball, I think VAR used the previous touch on the body as argument for NOT CLEAR AND OBVIOUS, would have been of course in case of direct touch on arm, but in serie A this incident is punished at the same manner and it is difficult to assess it as borderline.

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    1. Even if the Krunic incident is not assessed as clear violent conduct, it surely is at least a clear and obvious reckless or even careless strike to an opponent, and a review should have been recommended for a penalty.

      The handball is interesting to me; based on the theoretical considerations it should be a penalty, but, for some reason that I can’t put my finger on, that feels rather harsh.

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    2. @smala017 - For me it is a bit harsh because his arm was outstretched to feel the opponent, something very natural that many defenders do. He realises a bit late to bring it back to him. Together with the deflection it should be enough for VAR to not intervene.

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  43. City x Real Marciniak
    Inter x Milan Siebert

    Final Champions Makkelie
    Final UEFA Oliver
    Final Conference Del Cerro

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