Thursday 18 May 2023

Europa League 2022/23 - Referee Appointments - Semifinals (II)

2022-23 UEFA Europa League Semifinals, second legs: referee appointments. 


18 May 2023

21:00 CET - Seville (Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán)
Sevilla FC (ESP) - Juventus (ITA) 
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Srdjan Jovanović (SRB)
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink (NED)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
UEFA Delegate: Bert Andersson (SWE)

21:00 CET - Leverkusen (BayArena)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) - AS Roma (ITA) 
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič (SVN)
Fourth Official: Irfan Peljto (BIH) 
Video Assistant Referee: Nejc Kajtazovič (SVN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Matej Jug (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Riley (ENG) 
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström (FIN)

131 comments:

  1. And with this everything is clear:
    Taylor in pole-position for the UEL final. I think the chances are near 100%.
    Makkelie for UCL final if he won't screw it up really, really bad in this game.
    Zwayer should be in UECL final, another option is Gil Manzano, but I'd say the chances are about 75/25%. The German deserve this appointment.

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  2. Two logical appointments for big names, who didn't perform well in their CL R16 and were out since that.

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  3. Taylor UEL
    Makkelie UCL
    Gil manzano UECL

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  4. Irfan Peljto as FO in Leverkusen. Well done.

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  5. Good assignments, congratulation and good luck to Makkelie and Vincic. If Manchester City will be ruled out from Real Madrid, I would not exclude Taylor raised up in the UCL match because is rare to have an english-less final match.
    If UCL Real-Milan/Inter: Taylor
    EL: Zwayer or Kovacs or Marciniak
    UCL: Del Cerro/Gil Manzano
    If UECL City-Milan/Inter: Makkelie
    EL: Taylor
    UECL: Zwayer/De; Cerro/Gil Manzano

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  6. Sanchez' appointment in the Conference League SF (and Zwayer left out) means, there is a very small chance that the Conference League final will be a Spanish.

    The political reason can be very simple: Carlos Del Cerro Grande is the back-up for the Champions League final.

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    1. Or UEFA didn’t like the VAR intervention in Manzano’s game and removed him from the shortlist for a (UECL) final.

      Vincic and Makkelie have risky games due to the presence of Italian teams, but this is also a very good opportunity to prove form.

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  7. So referee for UCL final if
    MCI-INT/AC
    Ref: Makkelie
    FO: Vincic
    VAR: Van Boekel

    RM-INT/AC
    Ref: Taylor
    FO: Vincic
    VAR: Van Boekel

    UEL
    Ref: Taylor
    FO: Oliver
    VAR: Attwell
    Or
    Ref: Kovacs/Soares Dias/Marciniak
    FO: Kovacs/Soares Dias
    VAR: Tiago Martins/Kwiatkowski

    UECL
    Ref: Del Cerro Grande
    FO: Gil Manzano
    VAR: Hernandez Hernandez

    I think whoever the UCL final referee, the FO will be Vincic.
    I doubt about Gil Manzano over DCG and I don’t think Zwayer get enough political support, but how about Kovacs and Soares Dias? How significant Spanish and Italian media influences for them?

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  8. As expected but risky for both of them but it is a good game to test them for final

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  9. I wander which referees will go to Netherlands for the Nations League final. So, is Taylor is at UEL final, I think he is out form the national team finals. But could be Oliver there with Kovacs, maybe Zwayer and Jovanovic.

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    1. Soares Dias could also be there, maybe Vincic for ESP-ITA, maybe Kruzliak (3rd place game?)

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  10. So it's safe to predict Makkelie for UCL final.

    I think now the only things that would stop that is either a disaster in his game on Thursday, or if the final ends up being Real Madrid - AC/Inter and the committee decides to push for Taylor, however I think he's nailed on for UEL final.

    Feels like we've seen less of Makkelie this season than expected, including WC, but if it wasn't going to be Marciniak's year for UCL final then Makkelie is the clear next choice

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    1. I would not be so sure about that. You don't send final referee to second leg semi final in most challenging atmosphere in Europe where two very hot teams play for final and to save very poor season. If any controversy in Seville from Makkelie he is out of picture for final.

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    2. At the same time, you cannot appoint Makkelie to the UCL final after just one game in R16. It is safe to conclude that he was replaced by Letexier in the QF UCL, and that confirms UEFA did have bigger plans with Makkelie.

      This UEL SF appointment can say two things imo:
      - 1) “Your current form is not good enough to handle a UCL semi, so here you have a UEL game; or
      - 2) “The door to the UCL final is still open. A referee is as good as his last game. This is a final test to prove form.”

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  11. In a context of expected appointments after the previous ones, I think we can highlight fourth officials's choice. Jovanovic appears again after a quite long time, committee must have been extremely disappointed after Italy - England, no appointments at all for the Serbian, while before he was clearly possible even in CL for a game. Maybe, as Philipp wrote, committee had kept him without attendig the FIFA U20 exactly for giving something big, so even more a disappointment I would say, and he wasted important time for further development. In the other game, the appointment is of course excellent for Peljto. Important to underline that Slovenian VAR has credit in a EL semifinal, we saw with other referees many different choices in this regard.
    With this management, indeed Taylor after having handled twice Italian teams in this KO stage, looks to be saved for EL final, rather than the CL one, that's because it wil lbe possible to see at least an Italian team, if not two.
    Both these games can be very challenging, I think the game in Sevilla more than the one in Leverkusen, due to the nationality of both teams. Good luck to the officials!

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  12. @Matei or the others, what do you think about probability of Hategan in Euro 2024?

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    1. Will he become like Marciniak, couldn’t perform because health condition?

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  13. Could I ask who are elite referees who will retire at the end of this season, beside DCG and Lahoz? As I recall some time ago someone mentioned Collum

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Maybe Orsato, even if somebody says that he wants to continue until Euro24

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    3. Isn’t Bebek former elite?

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    4. Bebek was promoted to Elite in 2015/2016 and in that season he had two very bad performances (Real Madrid - Shakhtar and Braga - Fenerbahce). That was his only season in elite, demoted after that and ruined his solid chances for EURO 2016.

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  14. When are the FIFA U20 World Cup referee appointments out for Saturday?

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  15. For the UCL final, is it Vincic vs. Makkelie now?

    Carlos DCG is also mentioned here and there, but that would be a bit 'out of the blue'? He has only worked on one KO-match in 2023. And Lahoz had the UCL final in 2021. A farewell game in the Conference League final is more in line with the expectations?

    Vincic vs Makkelie: to me, it seems Makkelie has the more challenging game: latin style, hotter atmosphere. What does that tell us...? You can read this as a positive or negative thing.
    Pro Vincic, he may have the stronger diplomatic support, and they didn't give him any "risky" games in 2023 (just like Turpin last season), but Vincic did have a shocker in his previous Man City game, who are in the finals now...
    Pro Makkelie, he hasn't seen both teams for a long time and works with a VAR from the same country.

    Good luck to all officials!

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    1. Vincic’ Inter vs Barca game was also a disaster. So basically, he had weak performances with both finalists. The teams will remember that. However, I’m not sure whether it is ‘sensible’ to give Makkelie the Sevilla-Juve return, though.
      And we shall not underestimate the power of Čeferin.

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    2. Imagine the committee meetings with a Spanish, Dutch and Slovenian on board ;)

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    3. Zwayer .......

      Vincic would be a disgrace

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    4. We get it. You don't like Vincic.

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    5. Who are “we”? This is not like or dislike, we must be objective, Vincic surely still one of the best referee in the world now, but compare to Makkelie, with merit and also political support I think we must admit it that the UCL final until 2025, the order has been decided. If the name in the order still consistent, including Vincic and Taylor, even if their age will be 47, I think before they retired, they will get UCL final in their achievement. We can’t underestimate Ceferin power, but if Vincic surpassed Makkelie, even both with excellent performance in Seville and Leverkusen, I think we can’t pretend nothing happened in Manchester.

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    6. I think Vincic situation can be compare with Faghani and Elfath situation in Qatar, the difference between Faghani, Elfath, and Vincic is Faghani didn’t get the 2nd chances. But if Faghani get the 2nd chance, would he lead the final rather than Marciniak? The optimum result is Vincic will be FO on the final.

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    7. "Makkelie, with merit and also political support"

      Plus some other support... :)

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  16. Makkelie for ucl final this season he deserved it he considered one of the best 5 referees in the world now

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  17. I hope Marcinak for UCL final as Lautaro or Alvarez will get UCL-World Cup doubles in same season, Marcinak also will get doubles for UCL-World Cup in same season, 2nd referee which had UCL and World Cup final in the same season, like Clattenburg officiate semifinal and final in the same season...

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  18. So Michael Oliver has been appointed for the Championship Play off final(his 3rd I am not mistaken) but what’s damning is the absence of Simon Bennett as AR2 in his team, I am afraid but what happened in Makkelies team has happened here. Lee Betts is now the replacement. Good luck to them

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    1. Sorry, Oliver has not got the Playoff Final before.. my apologies.

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  19. Possible SYC for Kean? - Danny did well to resolve situation,

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  20. Missed foul on Cuadrado? What

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  21. Vincic is inconsistant in his YC policy. And he finds angry players facing him after the half tine whistle.
    Not a brilliant performance so far.

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    1. I actually think he is doing quite well considering the importance of the match for both teams. He was managing the players as long as he could, in the end of first half is was just too much and he had to show YC.

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    2. Missing 3 clear yellow cards isn't even acceptable at 3rd league level, however here we have an aggressive ref thats shouting towards players when he is clearly making the mistakes himself. Awful and very biased "performance" so far. Roma prefers to wrestle instead of playing football and this guy is giving them a big hand in that.

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    3. Hahaha what a biased comment.

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    4. "The importance of the game"? Hey, we are in a semi final!
      Vincic missed at least three YC for Roma, and then he shows one for an average foul 1 minute before half time.
      Ridiculous.

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    5. So funny to see people trying to defend a bad ref. I don't care who is on the pitch, as a spectator I want to see quality and fair play. This guy has neither of those. Every decision is being given in Roma's favour and the tempo is being killed off. That is completely his fault. Stop rewarding teams that are not on the pitch to play football. Any semi decent referee should be able to do that.

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  22. Unbelievable and scandalous no VAR penalty….

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    1. Simply unaccetable with Var, that should never happen. Now, should we find another candidate for UCL final?

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  23. Come on Van Boekel now...

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    1. Poor by referee and again by VAR. Cristal penalty !

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  24. @Chefren

    Opiniones sir for Makkelie at First Half?

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  25. Makkelie just blew his CL-final chances…

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  26. Makkelie will not referee the UCL final after this... and let's see when Van Boekel gets his next appointment as VAR, but I guess it will be a while.

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    1. +1, simply shocking and unforgivable error, his positioning was excellent, absolutely no excuse to miss the penalty on Cuadrado's foul. If he will still receive the UCL final after this CRUCIAL mistake, it will be the most undeserved appointment in UEFA's history.

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  27. A very intense first half, but without the focus to be on the referee until the very end. Makkelie did well, but missed a YC for Gudelj in 39'. The one for Kean was correct. Now that potential penalty... clear foul but VAR considered it outside the box. For sure there will be discussions

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    1. That Gudelj potential YC was right infront of him.

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    2. Outside? Do you have some image?

      Thanks in advance

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    3. From the TV replays, it looked like a foul on the line, which would then mean a penalty and a very big mistake by Van Boekel. But I'm also very interested in more images that prove the exact place where that foul occured. And yes, for me, a clear foul missed (and a YC, IMO).

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    4. Generally speaking, a good performance in the 1H for me, with the exception of a missed YC for Gudelj (I agree with matei14 on this). However, everything seems to be spoiled by this mistake at the very end. If it was on the line indeed, then it could prove more to be more than crucial in the end. Let's wait for the 2H.

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    5. I didn’t really recognize a foul in the 39. situation. Both players moved towards the ball, Gudelj played it, and because Fagioli didn’t have an eye on his opponent the accidental collision at shoulder height was felt strongly by the Juve-player. Foul given, ok, but no disciplinary sanction IMHO.

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  28. Sorry,but if you are Makkelie how can you not spot that?

    Clear missed foul and YC

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  29. I think an excellent piece of refereeing so far by Makkelie, but the last moment was a difficult one. I think Van Boekel argued it was outside, but it was certainly a missed foul and missed yellow card in that case. Not the best moment. But for the rest, even after this moment, Makkelie is a very respected authority at the pitch.

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    1. When you missed this obvious foul and penalty (contact on the line), you are not excellent…

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    2. How can Van Boekal ‘argue it was outside’ when the images are crystal clear?

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  30. Gil Manzano the best referee this season.

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  31. Can anybody of the professors here explain how someone with such a bad reputation is allowed to rule a european semifinal? Vincic is an absolute joke this first half, missing 3 clear yellows for roma and giving leverkusen directly one after a normal foul.

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    1. I don't know which match you're watching, full control by Vincic so far.

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    2. Full control where? His is again poor with his foul detection and card selection. He is on edge in this game and seems only a matter of time before he loses control

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    3. It's simple, he has a vital quality no other ref has: he's from the same country as Mr Ceferin. No need for Vincic to worry about butchering another match, he'll still get new opportunities.

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    4. Start to wonder whether there are paid trolls to put up comments in favor of bad refs here. We are here to watch and enjoy football, not to see it butchered by a man who can't even give out cards when that game is being disturbed. He is constantly rewarding Roma for killing the game. That's not what a ref is supposed to do.

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  32. If this will be judged as mistake and Sevilla does not go through,then Makkelie blew his final chances.

    Who knows,maybe Marciniak can repeat Clattemburg's path to the CL Final with semifinal same year.

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  34. Pol van Boekel needs to retire. His repeated mistakes as VAR should no more be accepted. He is also ruining the chances Makkelie.

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  35. Good evening, Gentlemans. Very Good Makkelie in Sevilla, well respected by the players. Situation for potential penalty is not clear and obvious mistake, very hard to make a judgment od pitch. So Go On Makkelie!!!

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    1. Ridiculous. It’s obvious…

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    2. Say why not clear and obvious

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    3. @Ref Fot
      This is sarcasm, I hope...

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  36. Clear PK missed by Makkelie in the pitch and VAR later.

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  37. https://twitter.com/BorskiMarcin/status/1659290661202305024

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  38. Good YC 57' for Acuna. I think AR2 could have decided himself the foul and not waiting for Makkelie to whistle in this case.

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  39. Only 2 minutes?
    Really? These are the instructions?

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    1. So your opiniones.. is good Makkelie to Handle UCL final after this match?

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    2. Absolutely. If we ignore yhat controversial moment, we saw a very good performance. Always calm, always in control in by far the most intense game of the whole season. Let's wait until the end, but so far he deserves to be in Istanbul.
      Need to analyse a little bit more but as things stand now one might say the following: After all, what big deal. He missed a foul outside the box. Clear mistake but not a crucial one.

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    3. Terrible evening for Danni Makkelie

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    4. @matei14

      Let's say he got final in Istanbul. But The VAR must change not Van Boekel again. Who's your got for Var?

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    5. Is it really more important for you to know how to manage a game than to get the important decisions right?

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    6. My prediction is that he will be with Van Boekel or he won't be at all.
      By the way, I remember that not long time ago Jochem Kamphuis was often (A)VAR, it looked like he was trusted for this. What happened meanwhile?

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    7. It must be some kind of fixed thing for sportbetting... No other explanation exists for the 2 minutes extra time.... Nonsense....

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    8. Hahaha, the 2nd 15 minutes of the ET got 4 mins added time... More than the first 90 min totally.... 😀

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  41. I didn't like Vincic that much in Leverkusen today. No clear line and consequences. Unfortunately

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  42. Wat a great and intense game in Seville! Wonderful fight. Ref is great and calm authority on the pitch.

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  43. What a mess now with Acuna's 2nd YC

    Wow.

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  44. 2nd YC for DtR!

    Makkelie didn't know it was the 2nd one though, he had to check his notes.

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  45. I am watching Sevilla vs Juve, and to tell the truth, I can't imagine Makkelie in the UEFA CL Final. Not this level. :-( Marciniak, Oliver, Taylor, Kovacs OK, but why Makkelie?

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    Replies
    1. Cause over the years he was the best ref without CL Final.

      Now,not so sure.

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    2. England v Denmark , Serbia v Portugal... Far from being the best IMHO

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  46. Wait, wait, wait.
    You show a player a yellow card without knowing that he already has a yellow card.

    The elite UEFA referee does not check every 15 minutes with the assistants about which players on the pitch have a yellow card.

    Every member of the refereeing team must know at every moment of the game which player on the field has a yellow card.

    Also, the assistant referees and the 4th referee must give information to the referee every time a player with a yellow card enters the duel, so that he has a proactive approach and can create a picture in his head if that foul is enough for a second yellow card.

    My God...

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    1. A bad situation indeed, especially for a referee on a level and reputation of Makkelie, I agree with you 100%. Of course, all referees are human and a situation like this can happen (and will happen, of course), but it is still a very big mess and presents a really bad image to all of us watching it.

      I seriously doubt that Makkelie would have opted for a YC to Acuna if he had already known about his first YC. I'll leave it to referee's discretion if this decision was a correct one or not. However, I have a pretty strong feeling that it was a "manageable" one, and a strong personality like Makkelie could (should?) have gone with a strong warning instead. Again, it is not up to me to criticize an Elite referee for a subjective decision, but the whole situation definitely looked bad. If he was really unaware of the first YC, then such a fact represents a big mistake for me.

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    2. Let me be clear again: I'm not criticizing the decision itself, because I feel I don't have any right to. However, the whole process of reaching this decision was, IMO, bad and should be criticized.

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    3. Well he warned him couple of times,minutes before that.

      That's good decision no matter if player already has YC.

      The fact that they had YC's before is somehow protecting players and it is rare to see ref show them 2nd YC for timewasting.
      The procedure was terrible,but I aplaud decision like that.

      Only ref that I can think did the same was Lahoz,when he booked for 2nd time Alaves' GK for timewasting.

      Equality for all. 😀

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  47. Makkelie with 3 big mistake

    Missed penalty, added time 2 minutes only and then he didn't know Acuna was already on yellow. He had only 2 players on yellow cards so this is very strange miss . He got saved by 1-1 in regular time but all in all I really don't like his performance.

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    1. BIG mistake!! There were 3 players on a yellow card, not 2. Big mistake!
      And for what do you want more added time than the 2 awarded?

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    2. For what? Ball was only 56% in play in second half. They are talking all season about adding time because of that and then he add 2 minutes only. Ok 3 players on yellow, that hard to remember from so called best referee in Europe? He will get his final but he is not top 5 at the moment.

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    3. So he should have added 19,8 minutes to the first half? If no incidents happen for which the LotG require added time then it’s just that. Apart from the substitutions I didn’t perceive any time wasting nor injuries.

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  48. This is what happens when you make political decisions. Makkelie should have had the final last year but it was given to Turpin, who would have been perfectly fine for this year. UEFA is left with an unmotivated Makkelie and needs to either pick a ref who doesn't really deserve it this year (basically anyone who hasn't had the final apart from Marciniak) or break an unwritten rule by selecting Marciniak

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  49. The Extra Time was bad. I didn't like the performance at all, a total contrast with the first 90'
    Did he really forget that Acuna already had a YC? This is unacceptable. It's a pity. The Vom is in a diffcult position. I am really curious what the will choose for UCL final. Objectively speaking, now it should not be Makkelie. There are not many options remained. But seriously now, it can't be Vincic...

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    1. It's a standard performance by him. Zero facial expressions, same body language all the time. He was lucky during the second yellow card offence that he didn't start play. But I am sure they would have issued it anyway because of VAR.

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  50. Finals 2023
    City x Inter Danny Makkelie
    Sevilla x Roma Antony Taylor
    Fiorentina x West Ham Del Cerro Grande

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  51. Surprised to see lack of comments for Leverkusen vs Roma.

    Challenging game in terms of disciplinary control for Vincic and managing frustrating Lever players and timewasting Roma players.

    It's again,one of those complicated games that ref can't control it.

    Vincic tried and even though he showed 8 YC's-3 for fouls(1 Spa,2 dangerous tackling) and 5 for behaviour,whether it was for timewasting,pushing and showing or kicking the ball away,he could have showed plenty more.

    This 5 YC's for players behaviour just shows you how difficult it was to manage players.

    From him,it was not faultless,but no crucial mistakes and that's what will be rememebered for in this match.

    There was one shout for potential RC for DOGSO but I did not see it,maybe some of you did?

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  52. So there will be an Italian team in each of the 3 finals. Record.

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  53. Finals 2023 : - ucl : makkelie & uel : Taylor & uecl : Carlos del cerro

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  54. We are waiting chefren exciting analysis for who will referee the three finals such as every year

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  55. The pressure against makkelie today was very difficult and he knew that if he did good performance in Spain he will referee ucl final after yesterday when man city in ucl final

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  56. DCG could not be a candidate for UCL final? Experienced and still trusted, I think. Otherwise difficult with Makkelie and Vincic not performing well and others too less experienced... Marciniak is completely impossible after a SF without issues?

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  57. Lahoz Spanish referee refereed ucl final 2021

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  58. JLeekens hits the spot. It really doesn’t seem to me that (most) people realise what a drop there is in Makkelie’s level in 22/23 compared to all other Rosetti/UEFA years (if you thought WC Germany vs. Spain was a good or even very good performance, this applies to you ;)). He went from having an absolutely excellent foul recognition, deeply assessing every incident, always being calm having his finger on the pulse and generally being one of the best ≈5 referees in the world; and now to a really average, typical ‘distant’ decision-taker only, normal style which isn’t much distinguishable from, let’s say, Collum/Královec. No disrespect to two solid Elite referees, but hopefully that analogy paints the picture. And even they managed to stay calm during their games: what a terrible/disinterested/annoyed/uncooperative image Makkelie gives tonight with the showing procedure of Acuña’s second booking - even besides the SYC mess the gravity of which is so well outlined by DrMr. He can obviously do better…

    I don’t know what the route is for Makkelie to get back his top class. The story of Carlos del Cerro Grande, the Spaniard experienced a very similar loss as the one as the Dutchman and if we are honest never actually recovered it, perhaps doesn’t provide much ‘hope’. Though I am 90% sure (no info or anything, just my feeling) that the Spaniard will referee the CL final this season…

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  59. My prediction:

    CL final: Marciniak. And convince him that he might focus in EURO 2024 final as the next goal so that he doesn't retire, given that he missed EURO 2020. It would be Clattenburg 2016 all over again, but desperate situations require desperate measures.

    EL final: Taylor. No English teams, already 44 years old so might be his last chance to get a European final if English teams are 'monopolizing' them.

    Conference final: I think we could see a Spaniard here, either Del Cerro Grande (farewell game) or Gil Manzano (finally 'emerging' within UEFA Elite, not my favorite Spanish referee but he's had a quite good season)

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    1. Remember: with all respect to Internazionale Milan, this is the least sonorous CL final in many years. Is it really worth wasting Marciniak there? What about El Clásico final next season? I guess you see my point…

      Del Cerro, remember RFEF and Velasco and Porras Ayuso (and no-KO stage games at EURO 2020) too, can handle Inter vs. Man City with no problem to be completely honest.

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  60. UCL Marciniak UEL Oliver UECL Manzano

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  61. Predictions:

    UCL: Vincic - Klancnik, Kovacic - Gil Manzano -- Fritz, Dankert
    UEL: Taylor - Beswick, Nunn - Oliver -- Attwell, Kavanagh
    UECL: Soares Dias - Soares, Ribeiro - Pinheiro -- Irrati, Lopes Martins

    Nations League:
    NED-CRO: Zwayer - Achmüller, Lupp - Jablonski -- Dankert, Dingert
    ESP-ITA: Marciniak - Sokolnicki, Listkiewicz - Kruzliak -- Kwiatkowski, Frankowski
    Bronze: Kovacs - Marinescu, Artene - Fesnic -- Hategan, Petrescu
    Final: Turpin - Danos, Pages - Frappart -- Brisard, Millot

    Explanation: As Mikael mentioned, City vs Inter could be rather one-sided so I dont see them wasting Marciniak. But together with maybe political reasons, and DCG already having had a reasonable CL farewell game, it looks like a once in a lifetime chance for Vincic to get a final, who at least performed expected level in EL.
    Taylor EL is pretty much super obvious
    ECL: I dont think DCG wants it too bad, Gil Manzano probably passed that level again in committees mind and for me is a contender for EL already next year, Zwayer is not possible with german VARs with Vincic so I expect Soares Dias getting it. Also making him a solid option for next season crucial games.

    Nations League, Zwayer as compensation for the UECL moving around and to establish him as a proper EURO option.
    Marciniak simply the best in the most difficult game, without giving him another final and potentially draining his motivation.
    Kovacs simply following a path of slow development, despite below average performances.
    Turpin for the final, not that he badly deserves it but he can officiate big matches without creating headlines + lack of options without either giving it to somebody performing horrible, or destroying their respective development.
    Oliver is probably the best candidate to get a match that I do not have predicted.
    *breathes*

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  62. The problem is that everyone compares Makkelie to last season. His level slightly dropped, yes. He may have dropped from a 8.8 - 9,0 (masterclass level) to an 8.4 - 8.5 (decent). Let's be honest, even on off-days, Makkelie is still a better referee and manager than Slavko Vincic(!!).

    In my opinion, the comments on Makkelie are a bit too harsh. I wasn't a fan of the 2YC, but I forgive it on the context of the marathon game.

    I tuned in in 2nd half and saw a great intense game, in a hot atmosphere, with players having tons of respect for Makkelie. Don't forget these are two teams playing 'latin' style and many other referees would lose control.

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    1. First of all, Makkelie dropped in a terms of fitness. He doesn't have any change of speed, his running speed is always the same. (Few sprints per game and I'm talking about 90' game, not extra time).
      Also, his diagonal system is very short, without opening the windows.

      Second, he doesn't lead the game, he is just running and making decisions per se. He is too passive and he wasn't that passive few seasons ago.

      Third, he was never on the masterclass level (compared to Kujpers, Clattenburg, Rizzoli,Cakir, Mazic, Webb,Brych for exc. and he is not not even in the same league with them, let's be honest here) with the exception of one season... And he didn't get the CL final that season. Which leads to losing his motivation and we have all the consequences I wroted.

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    2. @DrMr: This is exeggerated. If Makkelie was really so weak or passive as you said, he would not be able to control this game. It's that simple, really. A referee doesn't have the respect for the entire 120+ minutes (!!) from these 'latin' players if he had a poor performance. I almost haven't seen any dissents towards Makkelie. And in fact, I have seen a lot man-management by him as well. Remember the dissents towards Siebert or Turpin? I think UEFA won't be unhappy.

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  63. I totally disagree with Carlos del Cerro Grande as an option for the UCL final. Why do you say he deserve it? I don't think The Com trust him either. There was a tentative to push him, remeber that Man City-PSG when he totally missed a clear RC for De Bruyne. But after that game it all ended. And the UCL final was officiated by a Spanish only 2 years ago. I think it is absolutely impossible. He received enough. The UCL QF game is a good enough farewell game. Many people keep predicting him, and they are the same who predicted Lahoz in UCL game after game this KO stage. I said it from the beginning in February, the focus now is on Gil Manzano (who is a serious candidate for the UECL final). Accept it, Lahoz and CDCG european careers are over

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    1. @Juan, good point in your last sentences. If Vincic or Carlos DCG is appointed to the UCL final, it will be another slap in Makkelie's face, after missing the UCL final last season when it moved to Paris and a dissapointing World Cup with mr El-Khalaifi in the WC committee.

      Danny Makkelie has no bad reputation with either City or Inter... And indeed, Man City - Inter is not the most sonorous final. Probably all three names can handle it. So, who deserves it the most at this point of his career? Big argument against Vincic is that he (again) had management issues yesterday with an Italian team and the last time he oversaw an Inter and City game, he was dreadful as well.

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  64. Good morning, Gentelmans. Well,intense game in Sevilla, also in Leverkusen. Wee saw,in my perception, solid performances,but in way of projections for the finals.....UCL, Danny Makkelie, safe pair of hands, deserve it. UEL-Anthony Taylor, 44 years old,chance for European Final, his moment come now. UECL final, my projection is CDCG, well physical prepared, excellent games, he will retire this season!Cheers!

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  65. Anyone have any idea when the first appointments for the FIFA U20 World Cup are released?

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