Seville, Spain
15 - 19 / 01/ 2024
Espen Eskas (NOR)
Danny Makkelie (NED)
Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Istvan Kovács (ROU)
Irfan Peljto (BIH)
José Maria Sánchez Martínez (ESP)
Sandro Schärer (SUI)
Srdan Jovanovic (SRB)
François Letexier (FRA)
Slavko Vincic (SVN)
Joao Pinheiro (POR)
Artur Dias (POR)
Clément Turpin (FRA)
Felix Zwayer (GER)
Tess Olofsson (SWE)
Davide Massa (ITA)
Serdar Gozubuyuk (NED)
Maurizio Mariani, (ITA)
Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Stéphanie Frappart (FRA)
Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
Well, extremely interesting. All the expected names and the perspective UEFA referees for 2026 WC are indeed there, but there is a big miss. No English officials! While about Taylor we can guess that he will be out in 2026 due to age and other plans, not the same for Oliver. Strange that the latter isn't there. Otherwise, I would say, all understandable choices.
ReplyDeleteApart from Frappart, let's focus on Olofsson: you clearly remember her treatment at Women's WC. At a certain point she didn't get a further deserved assignment. It seems to me that in recent times FIFA with Collina is acting in this way: they keep a name for another tournament, if they have not appointed him / her "enough" before. Apart from that, I think there wasn't the specific need of a Swedish referee, because Nyberg is there, so for sure, this can be another confirmation of a different reason for her appearance. Nevertheless, this is not a final list, as we know.
Fantastic achievement for Kruzliak just being candidate for the big tournament after his (now very far) dark times.
Then my last comment is about Italian situation: so we know that FIFA after Massa, has Mariani in focus and not Guida. That's absolutely particular, given the situation of the two referees in UEFA. This seems to be another "conflict" of ideas. UEFA tried to follow Mariani but then as we know he failed promotion to Elite, then Guida was promoted. Now this makes surely the situation very strange. Guida will stay as Elite but without any chance for a major tournament (looks like a consolation reward TBH...).
Chefren, in your post of the link from RFEF in the other thread, there is another interesting picture with the mentors. I could easily point Mazic and Cakir, along with Busacca and Cantalejo. Do you know who are the rest?
DeleteI can imagine this group would be mentoring the prospective referees towards WC2026.
Massa's invitation to the Seville meeting is inexplicable. He is very overrated: Marco Guida and Maurizio Mariani are much better than him. Daniele Orsato obviously unattainable for them. In Italy, Daniele Doveri and the emerging Simone Sozza also performed better than Massa. Very good calls from Tess Olofsson and Stéphanie Frappart who is better than many male colleagues
ReplyDeleteMariani's invitation was a great satisfaction for him: unfortunately he cannot compete with Massa because he is not yet elite...
ReplyDelete2 women of Europe 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣
ReplyDeletePierre Ghislain Atcho vs. Mohamed Salah 😃
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/822acc
Well, at least you can say he is not a referee afraid of big names.
DeleteNowadays impossible to see a confrontation like this in UEFA, a top European official would be strongly blamed by committee!
Pinheiro and Mariani attended a Conmebol winter seminar (well, rather summer :D) last week and now they are the only First Cat representatives at the Seville seminar.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a realistic chance of both the Portuguese and the Italian attending the Copa América. Conmebol guest in EURO 2024 will be Sampaio for sure.
Doesn't really look like a fair exchange. CONMEBOL sent of their best referees, one who had a WC QF game while UEFA will sent a First Category referee, not even Elite. Somebody proposed Dias as the representative not long ago, it would be a good choice, a good referee, with a UCL SF in CV but one that UEFA could "afford" to sacrifice. It would have been a fair exchange. The way it is now, it feels wrong (robbery was the first word that came in my mind, but sounds a little harsh), but hey, if the South Americans do not complain as they set the bar low, why would I?
DeleteThanks for this very interesting post. It would nice to get information also on how the seminar is happening (training, lessons, focus on...). I'm astonished by the missing of the English referees: especially Oliver. Is it a typo mistake ? O maybe Oliver cannot attend the seminar just for personal constrains. It is too strange to me that is not in the pre selected list, while Guzubuyuk and Meler are.
ReplyDeleteApart, England I'm a little bit suprised Germany: only one name !!! To next WC it misses still two years so maybe Siebert can recover strong performances to compete. Stieler is also performing well or at least as good as Guzubuyuk and Meler.
What about Marciniak ? Will he retire soon ? I was supposing he would remain until 2026.
Still no chance for Belgian, Austrian and Scottish referees: Lambrecht, Visser and Walsh didn't get enough trust, while Hategan seems completely out.
It would be great if you will edit a post also for the next seminar involving referees from the other confederations as well the list of the pre-selected belonging to Comnebol Concacaf, AFC, OFC and CAF
One questions for Quivala: why are you so sure about Sampaio ? No chance for Tello or Maza ? Thanks
Regarding Austria's referees, I'm not even sure who is considered number 1 here: Harald Lechner has ended his international career, Sebastian Gishamer and Julian Weinberger have only received one assignment each in the Europa League and the Conference League as first group referees, as well as Christian-Petru Ciochirca, who is currently only a second group referee. Personally, I would prefer the latter over the other two.
DeleteMichael Oliver was replaced on FA cup VAR duties a few weeks ago and had not been appointed since, including two weekends in premier league games, FA Cup replays and EFL Cup semi finals. Presume he was unavailable for the course for personal reasons, considering he has not even been VAR- unlikely to be injury related.
DeleteFredy Fautrel has been fired as VAR manager in Belgium, he will be replaced by Kevin Blom. Bertrand Layec can also grab his suitcase while standing still. He is in a dispute with his colleagues, clubs,... the KBVB is meanwhile looking for a possible replacement.
ReplyDeleteI will publish the link of the article tonight.
Link article:
Deletehttps://www.hln.be/voetbal/voetbalbond-grijpt-in-var-manager-afgedankt-moet-ook-technisch-directeur-vertrekken~a9ea4ab3/
Appointments for today and tomorrow at AFCON:
ReplyDeleteAlgeria vs. Burkina Faso: Tom (rsa)
Mauritania vs. Angola: Maarouf (egy)
Tunisia vs. Mali: Laryea (gha)
Morocco vs. DR Congo: Waweru (ken)
Zambia vs. Tanzania: Houngnandande (ben)
South Africa vs. Namibia: Gamouh (alg)
Apointments for tomorrow at AFC Asian Cup 2023 - Qatar:
ReplyDeleteKyrgyz Republic vs Saudi Arabia
Referee: Iida Jumpei (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihara Jun (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Takagi Takumi (JPN)
Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN)
Video Assistant Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN) replaced by Fu Ming (CHN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Araki Yusuke (JPN)
Referee Observer: Ismail Adnan Ismail Alhafi (JOR)
Oman vs Thailand
Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (IRN)
Assistant Referee 1: Saeid Ghasemi (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ildorom Alireza (IRN)
Fourth Official: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (UAE)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (SGP)
Referee Observer: Abdulrahman Mohammed A. M. Hussain (QAT)
Qatar vs China PR
Referee: Abdullah M. M. H. M. H. Jamali (KUW)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdulhadi M. O. A. B. Alanezi (KUW)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad S. H. M.Abbas (KUW)
Fourth Official: Evans Shaun Robert (AUS)
Video Assistant Referee: Ahmad Kh. Y. Y. A. Alali (KUW)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Alnaqbi (UAE)
Referee Observer: Cheung Yim Yau (HKG)
Tajikistan vs Lebanon
Referee: Mohanad Qasim Eesee Sarray (IRQ)
Assistant Referee 1: Watheq Mdallal Obaid Al-Swaiedi (IRQ)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Sabah Qasim Al-Baghdadi (IRQ)
Fourth Official: Ahmed Abu Bakar Said Al Kaf (OMA)
Video Assistant Referee: Khalid Saleh H. Alturais (KSA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Khled S. Al Hoish (KSA)
Referee Observer: Saad K M Alfadhli (KUW)
I can't remember the last time Faghani act as FO in AFC competition.
DeleteWith the appointment of young Kuwaiti, I don't know what is the standard of AFC for appoint their referees. I mean the group A it's still very open group and I expect to use experienced referee after Ko Hyung Jin and his team messed up in previous match.
I agree. It's unusual management. If they planned to give some young/no.2 referees a chance, then why not in MD2 where stakes are a bit lower?
DeleteBut maybe they trust their young referees and want to see them impress on the big stage.
With the previous appointments, I was expecting them to appoint the young Kuwaiti referee at some point. They've already given some of the number 2's from different countries a chance. So why not him?
I've been following him closely since his match at the Gulf cup last year where he came out flying after 4 or 5 impressive big decisions! I saw him also at the AFC U20 Cup and he impressed again.
I'm very much looking forward to see him again, I think he have the potential to be the next big star. We shall see!
Hiroyuki Kimura was the VAR in HKGIRN.
DeleteI remember that Faghani acted as FO in AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification in 2021.
DeleteAFC usually appoints young or less-experienced referees in top clashes in ACL, especially the ones in the East Region.
DeleteThe friendly match between austria first league club Rapid and Slovacko very likely was fixed. There were several very dubious decisions throughout the match. see (and google translate) this article: https://www.skysportaustria.at/wettskandal-elfmeter-festival-bei-rapid-testspiel-in-der-tuerkei/
ReplyDeletedo we know who the referees were?
the match can be viewed here: the match can be viewed here: https://tv.skrapid.at/detail/list/114?videoId=23337
Deletemost questionable calls: penalties in minutes 69 and 90.
The violation of the laws where he immediately cautions the goalkeeper for encroachment at the penalty, and doesn’t instead issue him a warning as the LotG now dictates, can be further evidence that the referee(ing) of this game was not proper.
DeleteAfrica Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Equatorial Guinea - Ivory Coast
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (SDN)
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Abdallah Mohamed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 2: Arsenio Chadreque Maringule (MOZ)
Fourth Official: Bouh Abdel Aziz (MTN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (MAD)
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour H. (EGY)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Zakaria M. Elbana (EGY)
Guinea-Bissau - Nigeria
Referee: Karboubi Bouchra (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Diana Chicotesha (ZAM)
Fourth Official: Jayed Jalal (MAR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ahonto Koffi Jonathan (TOG)
Video Assistant Referee: Jiyed Redouane (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brinsi Zakaria (MAR)
Asian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
ReplyDeleteGroups
Syria - India
Referee: Sivakorn Pu-Udom (THA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nakarit Rawut (THA)
Assistant Referee 2: Tanate Chuchuen (THA)
Fourth Official: AKim Jong Hyeok (KOR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Yoon Jaeyeol (KOR)
Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (SGP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Alnaqbi (UAE)
Referee Assessor : Abdulrahman Mohammed A M Hussain (QAT)
Australia - Uzbekistan
Referee: Araki Yusuke (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihara Jun (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Takagi Takumi (JPN)
Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Zhang Cheng (CHN)
Video Assistant Referee: Iida Jumpei (JPN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)
Referee Assessor : Ismail Adnan Ismail Alhafi (JOR)
Asian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
ReplyDeleteGroups
Hong Kong - Palestine
Referee: Evans Shaun Robert (AUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Warwick Beecham (AUS)
Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Y J Al-Jassim (QAT)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Taleb Salem H A Al-Marri (QAT)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdulla Ali A A Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ko HyungJin (KOR)
Referee Assessor : Chia Eng Wah John (SGP)
Iran - United Arab Emirates
Referee: Tantashev Ilgiz (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Tsapenko Andrey (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Gaynullin Timur (UZB)
Fourth Official: Ahmad Kh Y Y A Alali (KUW)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Abdulhadi M O A B Alanezi (KUW)
Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Khled S Al Hoish (KSA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Referee Assessor : Kamikawa Toru (JPN)
How can Al Marri and Evans work together again? Crazy
DeleteAsian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
DeleteGroups
Hong Kong - Palestine
Referee: Evans Shaun Robert (AUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Warwick Beecham (AUS)
Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Y J Al-Jassim (QAT)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Taleb Salem H A Al-Marri (QAT)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdulla Ali A A Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ko HyungJin (KOR)
Referee Assessor : Chia Eng Wah John (SGP)
Iran - United Arab Emirates
Referee: Tantashev Ilgiz (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Tsapenko Andrey (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Gaynullin Timur (UZB)
Fourth Official: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (JOR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ahmad Moannes Nadi Alroalle (JOR)
Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Khled S Al Hoish (KSA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Referee Assessor : Kamikawa Toru (JPN)
Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Mozambique - Ghana
Referee: Ibrahim Mutaz A. Ibrahim (LBY)
Assistant Referee 1: Camara Djibril (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Akram Zerhouni (ALG)
Fourth Official: Uwikunda Samuel (RWA)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (MAD)
Video Assistant Referee: Benbraham Lahlou (ALG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mukansanga Salima Rhadia (RWA)
Cape Verde - Egypt
Referee: Alhadji Allaou Mahamat (CHA)
Assistant Referee 1: Liban Abdoulrazack (DJI)
Assistant Referee 2: Steven Danek Moyo Moutsassi (CGO)
Fourth Official: Mebiame Patrice Tanguy (GAB)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ahonto Koffi Jonathan (TOG)
Video Assistant Referee: Abongile Tom (RSA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rivet Maria Pakuita Cinquela (MRI)
Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Equatorial Guinea - Ivory Coast
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (SDN)
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Abdallah Mohamed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 2: Arsenio Chadreque Maringule (MOZ)
Fourth Official: Bouh Abdel Aziz (MTN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (MAD)
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour H. (EGY)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Zakaria M. Elbana (EGY)
Guinea-Bissau - Nigeria
Referee: Karboubi Bouchra (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Carine Atezambong (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Diana Chicotesha (ZAM)
Fourth Official: Jayed Jalal (MAR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ahonto Koffi Jonathan (TOG)
Video Assistant Referee: Jiyed Redouane (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Brinsi Zakaria (MAR)
Surely random appointment again from the refcom. Poor Thai referee, Sivakorn, now faces Syria. I can't understand the reason why some of ARs get 3 games with different main referee, e.g. Tsapenko-Gaynullin with Tantashev and Gulmurodi, Mihara-Takagi with all Japanese referees (Iida, Kimura, and Araki), Korean duo with Kim Jong Hyeok and Ko Hyung Jin. Australian duo with Faghani and Shaun Evans.
ReplyDeleteWith this scenario I think Faghani will go straight to KO stage and another poor referee from AFF Nasaruddin from Malaysia will get a game.
Is it now AFC made "open" selection for 2026 :)
DeleteI mean AFC will get extra quotas and with the current circumstances 5 referee that likely would be at WC26 are Faghani, Al Jassim, Mohamed Mohamed, and Al Kaf. The others strong name right now Makhadmeh. The rest is out of competitions if not get extra quotas, especially referee from East Asia that get poor impression so far, except Kim Jong Hyeok and maybe Kimura/Iida. Araki from Japan with his performance on youth WC no hope, I prefer Jumpei Iida or Kimura.
What an absolute and utter disgrace of refereeing in Real - Almeria, three VAR situations judged in favour of the home team, who received a penalty after an offensive foul, then had an opponent goal disallowed for a very soft foul on Bellingham, then a goal scored with the hand and judged as scored with the shoulder.
ReplyDeleteThis is straight up prosecution stuff, hopefully the refs and VAR will leave the stadium in handcuffs and never get near this sport again.
The 2-2 goal being given after an OFR is one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. Almeria should walk off.
DeleteExtremely poor officiating there! I was just looking at the info of this game and I noticed the three VAR interventions. After having checked the footage, I say:
Delete1) Classic situation in which handball is seen as "major infringement", there can be a foul by attacker on another defender, but in such circumstances, also in Italy, focus is always on handball, even more if so blatant, OK decision for me, due to the current trend about this infringement.
2) You can't deny a careless action on Real Madrid player, but as always happens, very exaggerated reaction to make it bigger and to be sure about the focus by VAR. Still, one can't say it wasn't fou, but unfriendly situation to be managed. Not calling foul would be revenge against Real Player, ne must stay as the facts, so correct VAR intervention.
3) Incredible mistake, if you ask me. Very clear from the camera behind the goal that it was upper arm. I think the issue during the OFR was that VAR most of the time showed the opposite angle, from which it was impossible to guess, and the "most important" footage was shown only at the end, when referee had already spent some mental focus and he was ready to go for a certain decision. I think VAR should have presented better the evidence, but still absolutely unexpected that the referee didn't change idea and didn't look at the scene properly. For me clear upper arm. I heard that now RFEF CTA publishes the audio of VAR after all games, so we should know soon about that, also the official assessment.
Sorry, about the last incident I thought that referee had allowed the goal and VAR intervened for making him change idea, while it's the contrary, referee had annulled the goal and then VAR had a different view. The referee accepted this intervention without going into the detail. This explains more about the final outcome, difficult to go against VAR and for the reasons I explained above even difficult being under the stress of the game. For me clear arm and not shoulder.
DeleteDidn't check the red card to Almeria, hopefully this one was correct and then, as very often happens, Real Madrid goal in the 99' minute... the worst scenario after the incidents occurred during the game.
I think we can easily say this is one of the worst, if not the worst, refereeing performance in the VAR era
Deletehttps://twitter.com/rfef/status/1749200893499572494
DeleteHere VAR clip, interesting to know that Hernandez Hernandez is sure about shoulder by watching the worst camera, from which you can't have the real evidence. He gave more importance to this angle than the one behind the goal with frontal view on the incident. In my opinion too superficial.
Has anybody been watching asian cup/afcon? I think the officiating has been fairly good so far in both tournaments but this guy in Zambia-Tanzania game is atrocious. Just making it up as he goes along
ReplyDeleteI agree - the worst AFCON performance I’ve seen so far by the referee of Zambia vs. Tanzania, Louis Houngnandande from Benin. I’ll upload clips in a short while.
Deletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/e7da7b
Deletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/e63282
https://www.streambug.io/cv/a4241f
https://www.streambug.io/cv/01d87c
https://www.streambug.io/cv/81146c
Without going into deep analysis of each situation (everyone can draw their own kinda obvious conclusions) it's just so sad to see an international referee who cannot/don't want to interact with players. Also the fitness level does not seem enough for international level. First you wonder how do you earn a FIFA badge and then you wonder how do you earn a call-up for AFCON....
DeleteAnd I must say the whole team failed here, 4O, AR1 and VAR as well.
Just by looking at the clips Zambia played very dirty football and it's incredible that the only cards of the game were given in the first situation and nothing else.
I would have liked to stop watching after the first two clips... definitely enough. All failed here, as Theref said, not only referee. Incredible that in the second YC incident, fourth official couldn't detect that there wasn't any foul at all! Then to follow, definitely out of reality to consider the tackle as fair on the ball. VAR should have only changed free kick in penalty, and it was very easy. In this case you have to blame mostly VAR, but all referees would never follow this suggestion!
DeleteIn 52', fourth official again with poor assessment close to him, we have a RC for SFP, still one could have accepted YC, and one can't question VAR 100% for the missed intervention about the red, but absolutely unacceptable to keep card.
55' is a deliberate action for me, but again one could say such incidents can be assessed differently by VAR, if not sure about the intention. This one from the pitch was more difficult, nevertheless, an OFR should have followed.
Final one: situation in which penalty is expected and missed intervention by VAR. They say there wasn't contact, but then in this case to me a YC for simulation should have followed. You can't believe that a referee at top level reacts in such way to very codified situations into the pitch (black or white).
This game showed evident lacks of knowledge regarding LotG by officials, this mostly applies to VAR because he/she could save some situations, but this didn't happen.
Who was the VAR for this game?
Surely Louis Houngnandande will not become the new Coffi Codjia...
So I'm not going to defend the overall performance of Houngnandande here. I think he was unsure and unsteady. And not at an elite level. But, man, do I disagree with some of the conclusions that Chefren has above. I find it particularly interesting that he says the officials showed a lack of knowledge in the LotG--that seems unnecessarily incindiary; almost every decision highlighted here is a judgment call. In fact, the only clear mistake about the LotG I can detect is in Chefren's judgment about 44'. Taking the clips in order...
Delete1) 44' (33') - First, this is absolutely a foul. I am dumbfounded that it can be asserted otherwise. The Zambian player jumps at his opponent. He has run at the challenge from distance. He turns his body and doesn't even contest to head the ball. He collides with him. He knocks his opponent off the field of play. There's clear force in the challenge. Etc., etc., etc. How is this not a foul. At absolutely MINIMUM it's a careless challenge. "Jumps at" is literally the second direct free kick foul in Law 12. If we're going to accuse referees of not knowing the LotG, we need to know them ourselves. I'm perfectly content with this being a reckless foul, given the force and location on the field. At worst, it's a judgment call between careless and reckless. But it absolutely is a foul.
I wonder, however, why Mikael shows us 32' in this clip. Is the argument that this was a case of mistaken identity on the first card so it should not be a 2CT? If so, then that is a big problem.
2) 45+2' is where I can agree with the assessment about the VAR. I would also criticize Houngnandande but for a specific reason. The images shown at the RRA does seem to imply that this could be a dive. The contact is not clear. That is why Houngnandande needs to ask for more angles. In the package Mikael pulls, there are two angles that show the contact relatively well. So the VAR is to blame for focusing on the wrong one and showing that. While Houngnandande's problem is that he didn't ask for more angles.
3) 52' I guess I"m just going to laugh. If you're telling me that's SFP in a World Cup or even Serie A, I just think you're making things up. It's a high kick to the chest that is mistimed. From behind. It's not VC. And I don't know why anyone would say that's SFP based on how we've seen the sport officiated in the last 20 years. If you want to argue it's a missed mandatory YC, okay. I'll accept that. But putting blame 100% on the 4th official seems odd, too. We don't know what he did or said. At least we can see he's on the mic and involved, which is more than I can say about a lot of UEFA fourth officials.
4) 55' might very well be a deliberate action and I usually concur. In fact, sure, I concur here as well. But again, the standard for VAR intervention worldwide on something like this at the international level has been astronomically high. How many "accidental/intentional" stamps have we seen go unpunished at major events now? Expecting the VAR to intervene here seems like inventing a standard that does not get applied elsewhere. I wish it was different, but itn's not.
5) 77' - I can't believe anyone thinks that's a penalty. It's a total dive. Look at 1:08 on Mikael's clip. He's off-balance. He turns his body and launches himself into the opponent to create the contact. Is it a great tackle? No. But it's also not a penalty. I say this as someone who has refereed a lot of West African immigrant football in the United States--if you give these sort of things as penalties, you're in for a rough, rough, rough day on the pitch.
Doing the crucial match between Indonesia vs Japan, maybe Alireza Faghani is the best Choice?
ReplyDeleteKhamis Al-Marri
DeleteAfrica Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Guinea - Senegal
Referee: Ndabihawenimana Pacifique (BDI)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiama Seydou (BFA)
Assistant Referee 2: Dos Reis Monte Negro Abelmiro (STP)
Fourth Official: Djindo Louis Houngnandande (BEN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Azgaou Lahsen (MAR)
Video Assistant Referee: Atcho Pierre Ghislain (GAB)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Kamedl Abouregal (EGY)
Gambia - Cameroon
Referee: Weyesa Bamlak Tessema (ETH)
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (ANG)
Assistant Referee 2: Lopes Ivanildo Oliveira (ANG)
Fourth Official: Gamouh Youcef (ALG)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Steven Danek Moyo Moutsassi (CGO)
Video Assistant Referee: Ghorbal Mustapha (ALG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
Guinea - Senegal
DeleteReferee: Ndabihawenimana Pacifique (BDI)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiama Seydou (BFA)
Assistant Referee 2: Dos Reis Monte Negro Abelmiro (STP)
Fourth Official: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (EGY)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Azgaou Lahsen (MAR)
Video Assistant Referee: Atcho Pierre Ghislain (GAB)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ahmed Kamedl Abouregal (EGY)
Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Angola - Burkina Faso
Referee: Ndala Ngambo Jean-Jacques (COD)
Assistant Referee 1: Akarkad Mostafa (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Hossameldin Taha Ibrahim (EGY)
Fourth Official: Djindo Louis Houngnandande (BEN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Azgaou Lahsen (MAR)
Video Assistant Referee: Guezzaz Samir (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guirat Haythem (TUN)
Mauritania - Algeria
Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (SOM)
Assistant Referee 1: Elvis Guy Nguengoue Noupue (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ditsoga Boris Marlaise (GAB)
Fourth Official: Heerallal Ahmed Imtehaz (MRI)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Steven Danek Moyo Moutsassi (CGO)
Video Assistant Referee: Laryea Daniel Nii Ayii (GHA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Akhona Zennith Makalima (RSA)
Asian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
ReplyDeleteGroups
Japan - Indonesia
Referee: Khamis Mohammed S A Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Salem H A Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Ahmed S A Almaqaleh (QAT)
Fourth Official: Gulmurodi Sadullo (TJK)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Mohamad Kazzaz (SYR)
Video Assistant Referee: Salman Ahmad Falahi (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (SGP)
Referee Assessor : Cheung Yim Yau (HKG)
Iraq - Viet Nam
Referee: Muhammad Nazmi Bin Nasaruddin (MAS)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohamad Zairul Bin Khalil Tan (MAS)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohd Arif Shamil Bin Abd Rasid (MAS)
Fourth Official: Faghani Alireza (IRN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Abdul Hannan Bin Abdul Hasim (SGP)
Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sivakorn Pu-Udom (THA)
Referee Assessor : Saad K M Alfadhli (KUW)
South Korean and Emirati assistant referees are not appointed in R3 yet, maybe we can expect that Kim Hee-gon and Omar Al-Ali will get a match in the group stage.
ReplyDeleteAlireza Faghani, Ma Ning and Adham Makhadmeh are appointed as FO in R2 and R3.
ReplyDeleteSo, we can see that Houngnandande was rejected by CAF, explicitly replaced as fourth official for a later assignment after the appointments made. Sorry for him, but that is the only correct conclusion to draw after his refereeing. Besides the clips I posted, not very much happened in the game, but even then he gave a rather 'amateurish' impression (awarding fouls which surprised all players after a 'normal footballing contact' had happened, using the vanishing spray even when it was very obvious that the benefitting team didn't want to take a ceremonial freekick, etc). I felt sorry for the official from Benin. You could see that he was trying to 'do it right', but he was far from the expected standard at a continental tournament. He can, obviously, have no complaints at being eliminated.
ReplyDeleteHoungnandande's presence at the AFCON doesn't paint the organisers in the best light, especially when you take note of the 'political constellation' which preceeds it, but I would like to say this - from what I have seen, CAF generally have done a good job with the refereeing this time (to an extent that has surprised me, if I’m honest); even in disciplinary control(!), the performances that I’ve seen were generally satisfying, much more so than at the last AFCON in 2021. The only two referees who disappointed me so far were Houngnandande, and also Daniel Laryea in the Tunisia vs. Mali match.
This is the first AFCON under the refereeing leadership of Noumandiez Doué (he replaced Maillet in mid-2022), and one has the feeling that he worked hard in the months since the Qatar WC to find fresh names and create a ‘new CAF’ refereeing. From the outside looking in, I would say the Ivorian has done a good job so far. As I say, this is a rather positive surprise from my perspective. Hoping that good impression can continue as the tournament reaches it’s later stages.
just pointing out that he was not replaced by the caf, he continues as 4th in another match on the same day, it was just a writing error by Ahmed that he quickly corrected
DeleteAhhh 😃 thanks! Confirmation bias on my part :).
DeleteStill, I hope that the Benin referee (together with Laryea) were assessed negatively by CAF internally.
So Malaysian referee get dead-rubber game and Sadullo will work for the 3rd time with Indonesia. I mean for Malaysian iinm no.1 Malaysian it's Nazmi Nasaruddin I don't know why he's not selected. And for Sadullo, can I ask for the experts on here, is it normal, I mean who is referee in Euro that get similar treatment as Sadullo?
ReplyDeleteAny Opiniones on Khamis Al Mari on this tournament? Since he got appointment match for my country on Group D
ReplyDeleteQuite tough 1H for Mahmood Ismail from Sudan in Equatorial Guinea vs. Ivory Coast - struggling hosts losing to one of the toughest teams to referee in the tournament with their dissent and crafty play also recognisable from the previous AFCON. Three YCs issued, for all technical offences (dissent, and then one player from each team for an altercation). VAR though had to correct a big mistake by the same linesman who flagged a backpass at the WC (Marengula from Mozambique), he missed an offside for what would have been an Ivorian equaliser; no crossover at all, he really should have detected the offside. As for the Sudanese referee - a couple of missed incidents aside, a decent performance thus far.
ReplyDeleteAnother missed offside and Ivorian goal disallowed after VAR intervention. This time it was the Sudanese assistant who should have been more focused, the offside was again evident though this a slightly more 'complex' scene than the 1H episode.
DeleteWhat flagged back pass at the world cup? Sorry I just don’t recall that situation at all
DeleteIt was in the early minutes of Belgium-Canada
Delete(From last WC in Qatar of course !)
DeleteMissed offsides:
Deletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/349e6b
https://www.streambug.io/cv/541bc3
Handball call leading to 2-0 goal:
https://www.streambug.io/cv/fec281
The difficulty of the game fell away after the second goal.
Well, the first offside is an evident black-out by AR, for unknown reasons, you can see that starting from 00:55 in the clip, he stood still very ahead of second last defender, withoug following the action, and so from his position, he saw all attackers ONSIDE. He missed the crucial moment.
DeleteSecond incident, involving the other AR, similar explanation, no reaction and wrong positioning, he stayed in line with attackers without returning back to second last defender. He could then see only the offside of the last attacker, but not the other three. As you correctly stated, in this case a bit more challenging for the context, but still more than expected call for an AR at this level, of course...
Correct call regarding the handball leading to 2-0 free kick.
On first offside decision you can cleary see on 0:50 that he was waiting few seconds, probably he saw offside but got info from referee red player played?
DeleteLast set assignment at GS Asian Cup 2023-Qatar
ReplyDeleteKorea Republic vs Malaysia
RA Kamikawa Toru JPN
REF Khalid Saleh H Alturais KSA
AR 1 Alshammari Khalaf Zaid M KSA
AR 2 Yasir Abdullah S Alsultan KSA
FO Abdulrahman Ibrahim Y J Al-Jassim QAT
RAR Watheq Mdallal Obaid Al-Swaiedi IRQ
VAR Abdulla Ali A A Al-Marri QAT
AVAR Mohammed Khled S Al Hoish KSA
Jordan vs Bahrain
RA Abdulrahman Mohammed A M Hussain QAT
REF Omar Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Alali UAE
AR 1 Mohamed Ahmed Yousef Abdulla Alhammadi UAE
AR 2 Hasan Mohamed Hasan Abdulla Almahri UAE
FO Ma Ning CHN
RAR Zhou Fei CHN
VAR Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed UAE
AVAR Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Alnaqbi UAE
Saudi Arabia vs Thailand
RA Ismail Adnan Ismail Alhafi JOR
REF Kim Heegon KOR
AR 1 Yoon Jaeyeol KOR
AR 2 Park Sangjun KOR
FO Tantashev Ilgiz UZB
RAR Gaynullin Timur UZB
VAR Kim Jong Hyeok KOR
AVAR Ko HyungJin KOR
Kyrgyz Republic vs Oman
RA Chia Eng Wah John SGP
REF Ahmad Kh Y Y A Alali KUW
AR 1 Abdulhadi M O A B Alanezi KUW
AR 2 Ahmad S H M Abbas KUW
FO Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh JOR
RAR Mohammad Mustafa Hassan Alkalaf JOR
VAR Abdullah M M H M H Jamali KUW
AVAR Evans Shaun Robert AUS
with the assignment of Kim Jong Hyeok again as VAR, can we say that non-intervention for horrible challenge by Lebanon player in Lebanon-China was assessed as correct on-field decision?
ReplyDeleteSeems so. The non-intervention which annoyed AFC should be from the end of Hong Kong vs. Iran, handling by the goalkeeper outside the penalty area missed by the Syrian referee. Kimura was originally going to be the VAR for Kyrgyzstan vs. Saudi Arabia, but was then replaced by Ma Ning in an 'updated appointment'.
DeleteHere is the scene I'm talking about:
Deletehttps://streamvi.com/watch/1788883050179308
Presume the UEFA Seminar held in January for Elite and 1st Cat referees is next midweek as neither Anthony Taylor, Craig Pawson or Michael Oliver are appointed in the midweek PL fixtures (although Michael Oliver hasn't been for a few weeks)
ReplyDeleteYes, this has been always the week of the course, the last one of January.
DeleteIt's next week in Cyprus for what I heard
DeleteAre any names known yet who will participate in the UEFA Seminar?
DeleteI'm looking for this info. Hopefully will manage to get it.
DeleteAfrica Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Namibia - Mali
Referee: Uwikunda Samuel (RWA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ngoh Adou Hermann (CIV)
Assistant Referee 2: Nouho Ouattara (CIV)
Fourth Official: Traoré Ibrahim Kalilou (CIV)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Souru Phatsoane (LES)
Video Assistant Referee: Benbraham Lahlou (ALG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mukansanga Salima Rhadia (RWA)
South Africa - Tunisia
Referee: Sy Issa (SEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Bangoura Nouha (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ayimavo Ulrich Eric (BEN)
Fourth Official: Djindo Louis Houngnandande (BEN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Gilbert Cheriyot (KEN)
Video Assistant Referee: Beida Dahane (MTN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Diana Chicotesha (ZAM)
Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteGroups
Tanzania - RD Congo
Referee: Amin Mohamed Omar (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: Amsaaed Attia M. Essa (LBY)
Assistant Referee 2: Hassani Khali (TUN)
Fourth Official: Mahmoud Zakaria M. Elbana (EGY)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Gilbert Cheriyot (KEN)
Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Mohamed Ashour (EGY)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mohamed Adel Elsaid Hussien (EGY)
Zambia - Morocco
Referee: Mebiame Patrice Tanguy (GAB)
Assistant Referee 1: Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo (MAD)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahonto Koffi Jonathan (TOG)
Fourth Official: Bouh Abdel Aziz (MTN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Souru Phatsoane (LES)
Video Assistant Referee: Abongile Tom (RSA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Carine Atezambong (CMR)
Asian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
ReplyDeleteGroups
Korea Republic - Malaysia
Referee: Khalid Saleh H Alturais (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alshammari Khalaf Zaid M (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Yasir Abdullah S Alsultan (KSA)
Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Y J Al-Jassim (QAT)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Watheq Mdallal Obaid Al-Swaiedi (IRQ)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdulla Ali A A Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Khled S Al Hoish (KSA)
Referee Assessor : Kamikawa Toru (JPN)
Jordan - Bahrain
Referee: Omar Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Alali (UAE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Ahmed Yousef Abdulla Alhammadi (UAE)
Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Mohamed Hasan Abdulla Almahri (UAE)
Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Zhou Fei (CHN)
Video Assistant Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (UAE)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adel Ali Ahmed Khamis Alnaqbi (UAE)
Referee Assessor : Abdulrahman Mohammed A M Hussain (QAT)
Korea Republic - Malaysia
DeleteVideo Assistant Referee: Khamis Mohammed S A Al-Marri (QAT)
Asian Nations Cup 2024 - Qatar
ReplyDeleteGroups
Kyrgyzstan - Oman
Referee: Ahmad Kh Y Y A Alali (KUW)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdulhadi M O A B Alanezi (KUW)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad S H M Abbas (KUW)
Fourth Official: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (JOR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Mohammad Mustafa Hassan Alkalaf (JOR)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Evans Shaun Robert (AUS)
Referee Assessor : Chia Eng Wah John (SGP)
Saudi Arabia - Thailand
Referee: Kim Heegon (KOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Yoon Jaeyeol (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Park Sangjun (KOR)
Fourth Official: Tantashev Ilgiz (UZB)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Gaynullin Timur (UZB)
Video Assistant Referee: Kim Jong Hyeok (KOR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ko HyungJin (KOR)
Referee Assessor : Ismail Adnan Ismail Alhafi (JOR)
Kyrgyzstan - Oman
DeleteAssistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (SGP)
Very poor end of first half by Bamlak Tessema Weyesa in Gambia-Cameroon. Two clear YCs missed (reckless and use an elbow). Also, missed a borderline situation with Gambia's attach in 45+2' - very dangerous tackle aprox 20 meters from goal, near to RC, ref missed situation - he didn't whistle a foul, VAR didn't intervene.
ReplyDeleteExtremely poor officiating level by Tesema Weyesa. Chaos, chaos, chaos, too many missed fouls, missed YCs, time management doesn't exist, completely lack of control, wow. I didn't remember when I watched a similar game :o
DeleteLuckily, without a big errors, VAR helped in additional time, but I can't understand why OFR by Weyesa was too long, when situation was clear...
Time management also doesn't exist - in addiotional time we have too many accidents, goal celebration, 2-3 minutes VAR, and ref added 1 minute. Unacceptable.
Tessema Weyesa has never convinced me, and he is part of that old group of CAF referees that has always been very hectic in their management and often missed very clear YC. There is also a reason why, despite him always getting sonorous appointments in CAF tournaments still never got any games at a WC. It's time for change now, out with the Maillet group with referees like Gassama, Sikazwe and Tessema Weyesa, and in with the Doué group with new names like Sy, Atcho and Mutaz
DeleteIlgiz Tantashev (UZB), Ahmed Al-Kaf (OMA), Ahmad Al-Ali (KUW), Khalid Al-Turais (KSA) and Shaun Evans (AUS) have two matches in group stage and other 26 referees have only one match in group stage. Kate Jacewicz (AUS) and Abdulla Al-Marri (QAT) only worked as VAR/AVAR. Akhrol Riskullaev (UZB) was on the list, but never appeared in any match.
ReplyDeleteAbdulla Al Marri and Shaun Evans did it again (like in the WC), a handball penalty, completely against the guidelines at 90+4. They were removed from today's games by the AFC.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/ea4d7b
DeleteFacepalm.
Let me write a short comment after having wached this clip.
DeleteBased on what I saw at AFCON, and last WC editions, looks like CAF has definitely overwhelmed AFC. No comparison possible... now Asian confederation seems to be in very poor times. It was clearly the contrary before, with some good elements in Asian roster, but now.. believe me...
Why is this so clearly wrong to you?
DeleteThe arm is increasing the body surface in an unnaturaly way (and possibly with the purpose to block the ball) and in spite of the deflection, it was somehow expectable, that the ball landed where the arm is.
I even think the penalty call is clearly correct :)
DeleteA similar incident happened in Luton against Wolves and the referee awarded penalty which both VAR and Howard Webb supported.
DeleteI don't think you can compare this incident to Luton vs. Wolves. On that occasion, the ball was blocked in a less 'controlled' manner, it still remained a 'centred cross' despite the deflection and the arm was very high in the air. In the Asian Cup incident, the block was basically successful (the ball was only heading high up into the air), the touch on the arm had little impact, and was generally in a natural position for co-ordination. Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad as Portugal vs. Uruguay and given the touch on the arm was clear these incidents are always 'tricky' for the VARs to clear - but in the end I would have drawn the same conclusion as AFC. I'm genuinely surprised to read the contrary opinions here but always very interested seeing others' views!
DeleteAfrica Cup of Nations 2023 Ivory Coast
ReplyDeleteLast of 16
Angola - Namibia
Referee: Beida Dahane (MTN)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiama Seydou (BFA)
Assistant Referee 2: Samake Modibo (MLI)
Fourth Official: Bouh Abdel Aziz (MTN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Ahmed Hossameldin Taha Ibrahim (EGY)
Video Assistant Referee: Atcho Pierre Ghislain (GAB)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Rivet Maria Pakuita Cinquela (MRI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Mahmoud Ahmed Kamedl Abouregal (EGY)
Nigeria - Cameroon
Referee: Jiyed Redouane (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Azgaou Lahsen (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Brinsi Zakaria (MAR)
Fourth Official: Jayed Jalal (MAR)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Akarkad Mostafa (MAR)
Video Assistant Referee: Guezzaz Samir (MAR)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Guirat Haythem (TUN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Hassani Khalil (TUN)
Referee Assessor : Ali Mohamed Ahmed (SOM)
It's funny how FIFA still sees frappart as a good referee
ReplyDeleteWe saw her in the ucl match between Bayern and Copenhagen
Update with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF preselected referees, the seminary will be held in Miami.
ReplyDeleteCONCACAF (12)
BARTON Ivan
CALDERON Juan
ELFATH Ismail
ESCOBAR Mario
FISCHER Drew
GARCIA Katia
LOPEZ Walter
MARTINEZ Said
NATION Oshane
ORTIZ NAVA Marco
PENSO Tori
RAMOS Cesar
CONMEBOL (22)
ABATTI Ramon (BRA) ALVES Edina (BRA)
ARAGON Augusto (ECU)
BENITEZ Juan Gabriel (PAR)
CALDERAS Emikar (VEN)
CLAUS Raphael (BRA)
FALCON Yael (ARG)
GARAY REYES Cristian Marcelo (CHI)
HERRERA Alexis (VEN)
HERRERA Dario Humberto (ARG)
LOPEZ Derlis (PAR)
MATONTE Andres (URU)
MAZA Piero (CHI)
MENDEZ Ivo (BOL)
ORTEGA Kevin (PER)
OSPINA Jhon (COL)
PEREZ Roberto (PER)
ROJAS Andres (COL)
SAMPAIO Wilton (BRA)
TEJERA Gustavo (URU)
TELLO Facundo (ARG)
VALENZUELA Jesus (VEN)
Then, a request to readers, during AFCON and Asian Cup the lists of Asian and African pre selected referees were published as well, I missed to save them.
Can you please resend for a full picture?
Then I think only OFC would be missing?
https://refereeingworld.blogspot.com/2024/02/fifa-world-cup-2026-candidate-referees.html
DeleteThank you!
Delete@Chefren Why is it that FIFA is focusing on Olofsson but in UEFA there are bigger names like Martincic, Welsh, Projkovska, Monzul who have a much bigger experience in men's football? Do you have a proper view on this topic?
ReplyDeleteI thought about that, wondering why exactly Tess Olofsson and my idea was that this can be related to Women's World Cup, in which the Swedish deserved another appearance after some good displays, but she didn't get further game, because other UEFA referees were appointed. So a kind of connections between FIFA tournaments, but I can't find other arguments, if you ask me why exactly her without considering the previous participations at FIFA tournaments. There are for sure other experienced Women UEFA elite referee deserving the call, and you have also a male candidate for that country (Nyberg), so you can't say this was made for Swedish federation.
DeleteUnless they are seeing a very big talent in Olofsson, I can't add more to my arguments for now.