2023-24 UEFA Champions League, Play-Offs, First Legs, games to be played on 23 August 2023.
23 August 2023
Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) - BSC Young Boys (SUI)
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza (ITA)
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini (ITA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Aristeidis Stavropoulos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza (ITA)
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini (ITA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Aristeidis Stavropoulos (GRE)
Molde FK (NOR) - Galatasaray (TUR)
Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Lee Betts (ENG)
Fourth Official: Robert Jones (ENG)
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kostas Capitanis (CYP)
UEFA Delegate: Róbert Agnarsson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Lee Betts (ENG)
Fourth Official: Robert Jones (ENG)
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Peter Bankes (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kostas Capitanis (CYP)
UEFA Delegate: Róbert Agnarsson (ISL)
21:00 CET - Braga (Estádio Municipal de Braga)
SC Braga (POR) - Panathinaïkós AO (GRE)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Kempter (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam (NED)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Kempter (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager (GER)
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Brand (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam (NED)
Taylor looks like a replacement for Oliver with those assistants.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens to Oliver??
DeleteI can confirm that nothing has happened to Michael Oliver, the match was always planned for Anthony Taylor but his normal AR team are not available
DeleteOliver is not even appointed for this weekend EPL 🤔
DeleteHow much do national VAR-appointments determine international VAR-appointments? If we look at Zwayer's VAR-team for example, Dingert is main VAR whereas Brand is only his assistant. Nationally, Dingert doesn't work as VAR that often, and when he does (did) he often had some afwul (non-)interventions. Brand, on the other hand, is one of the most trusted German VAR's.
ReplyDeleteAnd he was Zwayer‘s VAR on friday in the opening game of Bundesliga.
DeleteImpressive progress for the Italian Aleandro Di Paolo as VAR!
ReplyDeleteNo appointment yet for Makkelie in Play offs. Maybe return game?
ReplyDeleteHe is in Europa League. Cukaricki (SRB) vs Olympiacos (GRE)
DeleteSensible appointment on different levels tbh. His form is still a big question mark.
DeleteWhat do you think about this penalty and how it was whistled?
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/5m3831
For me, penalty is the right call. Defender kicks the opponent's leg without touching the ball.
DeleteLate whistle, which really does not help to sell the call. Probably after intervention of his AR on the microphone.
Right call,but needs to be whistled straight away.
DeleteIf you whistle it straight away,then it sells better and your picture as ref is clean and as someone who is always there,in the game.
With this late call,you can iritate players and this unsecurity can be present for every decision you make for the rest of the match .
https://www.youtube.com/live/WHBwwwAiGQU?feature=share
ReplyDeleteGamba Osaka - Shonan Bellmare | J-League 1
Referee: Takuto Okabe
VAR: Masuya Ueda
Both non-FIFA ref iinm
1:25:14 | 56’ handball incident lead to VAR intervention. What do you think? I don’t think that it was punishable handball or clear and obvious error from the referee (referee looks like he had no obstruction to see the incident)
In UEFA
DeleteSuch hand position is rather deemed as unnatural. And that the ball deflects from the body at first was always deemed irrelevant after the IFAB released their instructions. However, last year there were some protests from the UEFA Football Board consisting of ex-players. We will see the approach this season but I believe such handballs are not expected to be whistled anymore. I don't know the approach in AFC.
OT: May I ask your opinion on two KMI situations (Referee: Gozubuyuk)
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/0qHFdQBN8Qs?si=di9kWhB9T9A1PMBd
2:10 - YC issued for a reckless challenge, but definitely some SFP elements here. The player had to be replaced immediately.
2:40 - Penalty call. VAR check took very long, as the point of contact isn’t very clear. I guess the attacker got the benefit of the doubt, however some people/analysts argued that the attacker stumbled over his own feet. What are your opinions?
2:10 - Nobody will risk showing a RC for such tackle nowadays. No studs, bent legs...
Delete2:40 - Not sure but maybe there was a contact with goalkeeper's knee. As replays are unclear, VAR can't intervene.
OT: Could I ask Italian readers or Chefren too, 3 RC in Serie B Cosenza-Ascoli only for one side, in less than 15 minutes by Forneau, how about his performance?
ReplyDeleteVery challenging game for Fourneau, a referee who always struggles for finding the best decision on the pitch. Despite of having some very good skills like a clear bravery, I think very often he puts too much the decisional process before the game, missing in relations with players. Last season has been quite poor but he ended in a positive way, this time he has started from this serie B game and everything happened.
ReplyDeleteThree players from the same team were sent off in first half, I think this never happened in serie B, and the game was in danger of being ended prematurely for missing the required number of players in case of further red cards...
Penalty after OFR, handball, this was impossible to spot live:
https://streamable.com/2dkluo
First sending off, second YC:
https://streamable.com/xlh40v
In my opinion very harsh decision, I follow serie B and the behavior by players is well known: in such cases, with illegal use of arms, they always pretend to be hit in face with a certain force and they deceive referee because they are aware VAR can't intervene on single YC when player already booked. To me, this was an arm used to make the presence feel by opponent, still irregular action, but rather careless. I don't underline the YC as very clear mistake, but what disturbs is action by fouled player who takes the most from the incident. Reported by AR...
Second and third sending off:
https://streamable.com/31kzox
Straight RC for DOGSO and RC after OFR for violent conduct.
I think you can discuss about the DOGSO because the possession of the ball is not sure, but how much blatant was the tackle on attacker, made in my opinion this decision acceptable. Maybe not a SFP, but very close, attacker jumped, otherwise. Of course YC would have been supported, and maybe best decision in "modern refereeing". VAR supported the red card by referee. Nothing to say about off the ball violent conduct, difficult to see and very good intervention.
He is a referee easy with red cards, I don't know how much he could have prevented some incidents with more presence, but such games with red cards happen very often to him.
The DOGSO seems very wrong to me: absolutely impossible for him to get to the ball; even the teammate several yards in front had no chance. Surprised that didn't get reviewed. I don't see SFP either.
DeleteMay I know who was the VAR? Where can I know Italian league appointment?
Delete@anonymous 22 aug 13:34 https://www.aia-figc.it/designazioni/can/
DeleteVAR was Gianluca Aureliano, very expert in the role, also in VAR FIFA list.
DeleteIMPORTANT INFO - Russian referees are back on the pitch in UEFA football!
ReplyDeleteUEFA have given the green light to a quartet of officials from Russia, headed by First Category referee Vera Opejkina, to handle the UEFA Women's Nations League tie between Armenia and Kazakhstan at the end of next month.
Is this good news for Karasev and co?
That's basically the only tie a Russian referee can handle without the backlash from the media and fans. Not sure that would mean that much for Karasev and co
DeleteI am quite sure they won‘t handle matches of French, German, English teams and so on. Speaking about Germany, I think it will never be accepted to have a referee coming from Russia considering the political circumstances – and IMO rightly so. Maybe they would even send a complain to UEFA. It is not acceptable to continue like there is nothing going on in Ukraine. The change comes out of nowhere.
DeleteI hope to see Kirill Levnikov back refereeing in UEFA soon.
DeleteAnd that football can be a means to make people understand that we should not fight each other and that we should walk together in peace.
DeleteJust waiting for France position in Ukraine, when France starting to wake up from the reality in Ukraine, Russian officials surely will be back on the field despite geo-restrcition. On the other side simply I don’t think so with Germany position with that chancellor, a US puppet. War is enough, it’s time for both power holder back to the table but unfortunately one side enjoy the war for the benefit of arms industrial.
DeleteSalisbury and Hooper are back, I’m really shock with the reaction in PGMOL twitter. It’s really embarrassing and eventhough I’m in doubt because surely impossible to see “radical” change from Webb in short time, I can only hope at least all EPL referees didn’t take any risk in few weeks, just play safe to safe EPL image this time. EPL still the best football league in the world but have one of the weakest refereeing in UEFA, what a pity.
ReplyDeleteAny prediction for WC U17 referees and VMOs, more interesting for me about the VMOs maybe name like Kajtazovic, Bebek, Attwell?
ReplyDeleteMy prediction:
DeleteAFC: King (AUS)/ Pechsri (THA)/ Nasaruddin (MAL)
CAF: Atcho (GAB)/ Selmi (TUN)/ Mutaz (LBY)
CONCACAF: Cornejo (SLV)/ Herrera (CRC)/ Vázquez (USA)
CONMEBOL: Arteaga (VEN)/ Tejera (URU)/ Garay (CHI)/ Ortega (COL)
OFC: Yareboinen (PNG)
UEFA: Obrenovic (SVN)/ Eskas (NOR)/ Peljto (BIH)/ Pinheiro (POR)/ Lambrechts (BEM)
Assuming there will be 5 UEFA referees, my prediction is Obrenovič, Pinheiro, Eskås, Peljto & Mariani.
ReplyDeleteOther possible choices: Schärer (selected for U20, replaced due to injury, IMO his FIFA tournament will be the Olympics), Rumsas (FO in U20), Strukan, Aghayev, Fesnic.
VMOs, no idea.
(This comment was a response to U17 WC prediction)
DeleteOT: https://youtu.be/KY_185Ri6cE
ReplyDeletePlayoff AFC CL, Al Nassr (KSA) - Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)
We can see the highlight performance from Fu Ming (CHN, AFC “real” Elite) and actually not really dissapointed performances by Chinese crew (only based on the highlight), I know there will be many subjective tendencies due to very special player and the very special player try to make him more special with his behavior and actions, IMO there was only 1 moment that maybe if Al Nassr didn’t win, it would lead huge blow (handball at the 1st half stoppage time, the rest still at least supportable no-penalty call), I really surprise no VAR in duty despite Chinese, Korean, and Japanese League have the VAR and even many Gulf countries now have the VAR. I don’t know how it’s possible at this stage (playoff of the top tier tournament of AFC), there’s no VAR in duty and they will change the format of their all club competitions on 2025, have you didn’t have priority scales? Frankly this is very poor, amateur management (no preventive measures) from the AFC.
Where can we find appointments for Saudi Pro League? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTwitter of saudiff
DeleteExtra ordinary appointment in serie A, Rocchi has assigned Daniele Doveri to Verona - Roma, it is the first time that a refereet will take charge of a match involving a club from his city (and also refereeing department). In past seasons there were clues that this would have happened, now we have the confirmation. Interesting to see how it will be accepted by Verona, a game to be watched.
ReplyDeleteThis was possible with Valeri before his retirement (same situation as Dover) but he was never assigned to Roma or Lazio. I would dare to say, but just my idea, he didn't want to make this step, while Doveri was willing.
A further remark from my side is that this choice has come also because in past Rocchi had many problems in making appointments for Roma and Lazio. He couldn't use referees like Doveri, Valeri, Mariani, Marinelli, Pasqua... and so on. So I'm curious whether the process will be extended to other teams or this is only to help the head of referees with management of appointments for teams from Rome. For example, in the same scheme, Guida and Maresca could officiate Napoli, Pairetto Juventus, and so on... we will see whether this will happen or not. To understand if this was a real chanvge or something related to a very urgent need by AIA.
Interesting. The question is: would AS Roma accept a referee from Verona (or it’s referee department) in, let’s say a home game in Rome vs Verona.
DeleteOf course Roma wouldn't have accepted such choice. This was the easiest way to make this appointment, the referee who is considered the best in serie A by years, very often even more than Orsato and from the same city of a big team who makes always complaints against the referees. I will report in course what will happen with the next management by Rocchi and if there will be other similar cases.
DeleteHahaha this goes to show how bad the quality of Italian refs is. A shame they still get to officiate the biggest matches at UEFA.
DeleteI don't understand the connection that allowed you to draw this conclusion, an explnation would be very appreciated...
DeleteTwo remarks to Chefren post:
Delete- Doveri was not born in Rome, he is living in Rome since a while, this is why he’s assigned to the Rome section. Same with Collina who was born in Bologna, fan of Bologna, but assigned to the section in Viareggio. Still he could handle Bologna matches
- similar situations happened last year with Sozza, born in Milan and living few kilometres outside the city which makes him being assigned a different section. Roma never commented about the assignment in Inter-Roma and the demoniac Mourinho congratulated on him. But of course you tend to forget something
Anyways, finally this stupid rule was overcome as finally Roma can get probably the best current referee in Serie A
Sorry but never the best imo.
DeleteAs far as controlling the match yes,but his leniency,his unwilligness to show cards is something else.
It will be worse for him imo cause we all know hoe Mourinho likes to point out even the most minor things about the officials and we all saw what he did with Taylor when he did not like that he wasn't booking Sevilla's players.
Who knows what awaits for Doveri,maybe good ,maybe bad we'll see.
But looking subjectively,for me that type of ref can never be number 1 in one country.
Just look at Orsato in his career or even Maresca in the last 2 years.
How they evolved and see how match is going and they adapt to each match very well.
Doveri on the other hand has this criterium-if a guy is dead,then it's a card.
Same goes for Rojas in Spain.
2 refs that I don't like to watch.
My taste,so don't get triggered. 😉
Orsato and his usual ARs not appointed next weekend. This could mean a match on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteMy prediction is Galatasaray - Molde. Let's see...
A correct OFR by Attwell in Molde to disallow a goal for Galatasaray. Clear stamp on foot missed by Taylor live
ReplyDeleteOFR in Braga to disallow a penalty awarded by Zwayer. The referee was very close to the action and assessed in a wrong way the incident. He corrected his decision and awarded a free kick in favour of defensive team, overturning his first choice. Correct job by Dingert.
ReplyDeleteTough game for Zwayer in the 1H, with a lot of duels to assess, some of them pretty hard. Unfortunately, I'm not too convinced by the performance so far.
DeleteProbably the biggest mistake occurred in 16', with a wrong penalty given to Braga and subsequent OFR. It was the attacker committing the offence instead, while probably trying to initiate a contact with the incoming defender by sticking his left leg out. IMO, Zwayer was positioned excellently, but still somehow managed to wrongly perceive the incident. A big mistake for my taste and excellent intervention by Dingert to cancel the penalty. Maybe there were even elements for a YC to the attacker for a possible step on foot, although the defender stayed on his feet.
There were two YCs given: first one to Djuričić (Panathinaikos) in 8' for a step on foot and the second to Niakate (Braga) in 45+5' for SPA. Both were correct IMO. However, I strongly believe he missed at least one more YC, if not even two. In 38', both Zwayer and AR1 missed an evident step on foot on Djuričić, Panathinaikos #10 escaped a mandatory YC, IMO. Also, there was a possible SPA by Braga #19 in 41' as well.
Massa is having a lot of acceptance problems with Haifa players, a couple of them could (should?) have been sent off for instisting on their protests while already on a YC.
ReplyDeleteIndeed I fully agree, today he is using the approach that I saw from him on past years, before turning into a strict referee in recent times, especially last season in which he showed many cards every game. Today he doesn't want to book any player, just waiting to end the game. Very poor to be watched. I really don't know why every now and then we must have always same issues...
DeleteBTW very poor game to be watched, zero emotions.
I didn't like Massa performance tonight.
DeleteToo much dissent by home players even after correct decisions.
Besides that there are two missed YCs in my opinion: reckless challenge in 62' which originated a mass confrontation and illegal use of arms a few minutes later (missed foul as well).
I missed the 2nd half of Molde-Galatasaray but I went in and watched some highlights now. Maybe Chefren or someone else can get a video, but for me the 2nd OFR is a very weird one. VAR recommended it because of a handball, a classic UEFA handball that is, where only the arms position is really considered, however Taylor decided to give an attacking foul instead but I have quite an hard time of actually detecting it…
ReplyDeleteTaylor does not whistle handballs ;)
DeleteHigh foot perhaps?
DeleteThe attacker tried to play the ball, but hit defender's arm instead, and the arm hit the ball. IMO, the referee correctly sticked to his original no penalty kick decision, and awarded direct free kick for defending team.
DeleteHere Zwayer OFR in Braga:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/7y54wf
It was indeed the attacker making contact with defender. Very tricky situation, one must underline that Zwayer, being so close, failed in assessing it, he perceived a clear foul by defender. Rewatching it without close replay and in the live sequence, I must say one can be indeed deceived and we must draw conclusion that for some incidents being close and having a good positioning, can't help. So, are these situations impossible to assess from the pitch? What do you think?
It was a very tricky contact, combined with lack of real focus and proper information processing... Moves of players' feet and potential attempt to deceive the referee made it more difficult for the referee. However, IMO, the referee should be able to correctly assess similar situations in the field of play.
DeleteTaylor OFRs in Molde - Galasataray:
ReplyDelete1 OFR, Disallowed goal
https://streamable.com/xnljcg
Clear step on foot before goal, correct intervention.
2 OFR, Foul before a possible penalty for handball
https://streamable.com/p14dfo
Looks like everything was well analyzed by Attwell: the kick on opponent's arm comes before the punishable handball. So correct decision to punish attacker, but a clear YC for reckless challenge is missing, as it often happens in such scenario, the context is missed because the incidents are close each other.
Not the best Taylor in the second incident, he didn't have any clue of what was happening in penalty area, still we can say some situations are impossible to spot but in this case it was all VAR's work...
Think both of those decisions where really hard to spot but correct VAR work
Delete