2023-24 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals, referee appointments for Wednesday's First Legs.
10 April 2024
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Metropolitano)
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) - Borussia Dortmund (GER) Referee: Marco Guida ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Valeri ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI
UEFA Delegate: Loukas Siotropos GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI
UEFA Delegate: Loukas Siotropos GRE
21:00 CET - Paris (Parc des Princes)
Paris Saint Germain (FRA) - FC Barcelona (ESP)Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: David Coote ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Michael Kirchner GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Michael Kirchner GER
Wow. The Tuesday appointments looked so good but this really is a shame. Taylor already is a big surprise and he doesnt deserve it looking at his last international game. But he had 2 very strong crucial PL games so I just hope for that form. But why in Paris and why Kuipers? Are we all judging it wrong and he is a CL final candidate if no english team?
ReplyDeleteAnd Guida imo has done nothing to even 10% deserve this appointment. At this point I wouldnt be shocked to see him at the EURO.
Right ! it seems now that Guida is fighting with Massa for a place at Euro 2024 and it seems that a little bit ahead. Uhhmmmm Not fully agree to send him even at CL 4th at his 1st year as elite
DeleteTaylor is a quite normal and sensible appointment for this game, I think. Just Kuipers is indeed the surprise part there.
DeleteMassa would not have surprised me in a QF after a good R16 2nd leg, but Guida is very unexpected and raises many questions:
Are three Italians possible at EURO?
Does one of them maybe go to Copa America?
Is it possible to see Massa even in a CL 2nd leg?
Is Guida simply a replacement?
I wonder if UEFA will indeed nominate two referees each from England, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands for the EURO, as many expect. For maximum flexibility, it should actually be grateful to have represented as many countries as possible, which would favour Dias, Eskas, Meler and Schärer. On the other hand, injury breaks and current line-ups speak against these considerations.
DeleteMassa is very overrated: in Italy Orsato - undoubtedly the no.1 - Guida, Maresca and Mariani much better than him
DeleteSome video clips from the one-sided Feyenoord vs Ajax game handled by Danny Makkelie
ReplyDelete27' - PAI handball
https://files.fm/f/t7tdr96qu7
45+2' - Good onside by AR2 at 2:0 goal
https://files.fm/f/thp8avkay7
52' - PAI handball
https://files.fm/f/w5nhxv6cfe
70' - PAI handball
https://files.fm/f/c55gvabkgx
78' - Goal disallowed for offside after teamwork with AR1
https://files.fm/f/ac4nchmamw
Disciplinary
https://files.fm/f/yr3prb92nf
The moment when arbitrage was criticized the most in this match.
ReplyDelete47' Bergwijn's blow to Nieuwkoop.
https://twitter.com/smoccuracao/status/1776992362432233539
This is not a serious foul play, but a violent conduct, right?
KNVB explained that VAR Dieperink was checking during the match. In other words, Makkelie would have missed out, and it would have been a little easier for Dieperink to intervene.
However, under KNVB, the bar for intervention is lowered little or not at all for VAR even if it is missed on the field. This is my impression.
After two regular assignments on Tuesday, now we have the surprises.
ReplyDeleteAs Philipp said, Taylor himself shouldn't be considered as surprise, but surely we can say he was not expected in Champions League even more in this game, following his recent form. My final conclusion is that Rosetti continues to have a very full trust on him and he sends Kuipers to check whether the English can recover and do even better. Observation for a possible CL final? With English team there, not possible, but a rather good news for Taylor was that all Italian teams were eliminated from the competition. At the same time, I think, given the potentially very hot clash, could be also a strategy, sending the referee who doesn't have too much to lose in case of negative performance. Nevertheless, I think the focus on him by committee is still active and they prefer by far him than Oliver, more than obvious (this regardless of performances shown by both). We will see what committee has in mind.
About Guida, now I must admit I start to have doubts about the selection of Massa at EURO, but it seems impossible to me that after all the path he followed, since EURO 2020 as Fourth Official, he will stay out. Thinking about three Italians is definitely out of reality, while the same Massa has already some troubles as second referee from the nation, because Orsato will have all the focus.
So I tend to think that a possible explanation is the following: this can be a compensation strategy by committee, for a referee who will not go to EURO, being in the best moment of his career, they assign him to many games including CL in this KO stage, to leave then the scene to Massa when it will be about EURO. Would be the most logical read of the management.
About the appointment, yes, one must agree, as said for his CL KO debut, that this doesn't have any strong background if compared to other referees, but again, it seems clear that they are appointing him in UEFA following the incredible domestic season he's having in serie A. I must admit, we never saw a referee at the top for a so long time in all recent yers. Even better than the best Orsato for some aspects.
But, coming to international stage, should this be enough to be placed ahead of more "UEFA-experienced" officials, including Massa? This is hard to answer, but it seems as committee found the solution.
This can also show us that very often appointments are made on different criteria, and you can't expect always a certain referee for a certain game. For Rosetti the top form seems a strong argument, as for the rest belonging to the Elite category is enough.
That's all I can observe. Now it will be interesting to see whether Massa (he is available, so surely not a replacement, at least not an Italian replacement) will get another CL game in quarterfinals. Hard to believe, but now everything seems possible.
Last but not least, when I saw the draw, I immediately thought that in Atlético - Borussia Dortmund they could have made a different appointment, in my opinion that's clearly the last game of the four in terms of "pedigree", and this appointment is a confirmation.
You have the German team there, and this makes always a bit the difference, the difficulty can come "only" from the way of playing of Spanish side, but no more than that and still a first leg. In the other games it's different. Arsenal - Bayern is the only one without "challenging teams" on paper, but you can see that it's by far more a CL top game than the one in Madrid (so, Nyberg).
Massa is very overrated: in Italy Orsato - undoubtedly the no.1 - Guida, Maresca and Mariani much better than him
ReplyDeleteEven Doveri is maybe considered higher than Massa maybe in Italy right now,I mean profile of matches that Doveri is and was getting last 2-3 years speaks for itself.
DeleteSpeaking of Doveri,watched yesterday's match between Monza and Napoli.
Average Doveri,no cards when he needed to show them,too much leniency.
The classic Doveri in Monza - Napoli indeed, almost no cards at all, just playing on on everything and a clear penalty missed (no VAR intervention...). To be honest I think he is close to retirement, he has even more lost motivations and he officiates by far worse than the past, he almost doesnothing, relying exclusively on his name. That's terrible, as I had the chance to say that on the blog already in past times.
DeleteTaylor's management in recent matches has been very poor. How can he be sent to a game like this! Guida, who became an elite referee after 40, is another problem. Rosetti should be ashamed, his compatriot is getting important matches even though he doesn't deserve them. After Rosetti, the inequality of the committee was exposed. Are there no other referees besides Italian, English, French, Spanish and Dutch referees? I think only referees from these countries should go to Euro 2024 and the others should not bother. Rosetti should even send 3 Italian referees to the tournament!!!!
ReplyDeleteTaylor has had 2 excellent showings in as many weeks in 2 very big matches in the PL. Yes his form has been up and down this season, but UEFA seem to have full trust in him otherwise he wouldn't get the big appointments that he does
DeleteHe also had bad games in the PL and was even sent to the Championship for bad games. Don't you think it's unfair to give a match to a referee with such a form?
DeleteHe was sent to the championship back in November. Its now April, plenty of time for form to change. And Anthony Taylor has been good in recent weeks, bar a missed RC for SFP right at the end of the game on Sunday
DeleteHow do you think he performed in the last two games in the Europa League? Did he perform well enough to deserve such an appointment?
DeleteNo, but big name referees will always get games unless they are that bad, but none of his decisions have been horrendous. Also, he has had a lot of KMI's in recent European games some very 50/50 calls
DeleteRosetti strikes again! Where's Soares Dias, and other long time elites?
ReplyDeleteNot a good start for Guidas AR2. Missed a clear offside by Witsel in 8th min. Shouldn't happen in a CL QF.
ReplyDeleteTaylor with a clear foul and YC missed in min 12' on the foul on Raphinha.
ReplyDeleteNow two good YCs, one for each team. SPA on one side and SFP on the other.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm writing a second YC against ATM for dissent. All bookings supportable.
Well, you mean "reckless" and not "SFP". But that step on foot was indeed very blatant, let's call it a "full step on foot" (but maybe nothing more).
DeleteSure ^^ Thanks for the correction :)
DeleteMIssed a very clear handball in 38', I think AR1 could help but very evident mistake.
DeleteAnother clear handball in 80' missed by Guida. Has been working volleyball games in the past?
Delete28' in Paris: The offside position avoids a difficult penalty decision for Taylor.
ReplyDeleteHowever it still should have been a YC for the reckless tackling, I think.
I found it interesting that Attwell looked at it for a RC. I think arguments for reckless and SFP, personally would have liked a YC too, but it is the type of tackle (ball played out/shot) that generally goes unpunished
DeleteI agree it should have been a YC, that contact met the criteria for reckless for my taste. Also, mentioned above, a missed YC for a reckless trailing leg tackle on Raphinha in 12' (IIRC). Besides that, a decent performance by Taylor so far IMO, but I hope he will improve his disciplinary line a bit in the 2H. However, I should mention a correct YC for SPA/LoR to Sergi Roberto in 34' as a positive disciplinary moment.
DeleteShould have been YC for Cancelo. That’s all for me that he has got wrong 12’ wasn’t needed to be a YC but clear missed foul
DeleteTaylor missed 2YC for Vitinha…
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I don’t see the contact
DeleteIt’s definitely there, watch it again. It’s not intentional but has to be SPA, a bit like Jota’s first yellow in the infamous Spurs-Liverpool game
DeleteThat YC was totally wrong though for Jota
Delete@EnglandREF Same here
DeleteI’m just saying the contact was similar. That was further from goal so isn’t necessarily SPA, this definitely was imo I was very surprised he didn’t give it
DeleteGuida correctly rejected a penalty appeal by Borussia Dortmund, I think more appropriate to play on (not significant holding), but then he missed a clear YC for reckless (67'). The rest is normal - good performance in this second half.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I cant follow you. Several - too many - mistakes, with no consistent line. Guida acted very nervously and can only be happy, that one of his many minor mistakes did not change the outcome. For me one of the worst performances in ECL this year.
DeleteI would be interested in knowing more about the many minor mistakes. :)
DeleteTaylor doing well so far. Missed YC for Cancelo for reckless tackle.
ReplyDelete12’ missed foul, not convinced it was reckless really and don’t think it needed a YC.
Correct for me not to be a SYC for Vitinha, I don’t see the foul but any contact at worst was accidental, not clear enough for SYC. First yellow maybe could have been avoided.
I agree about the overall perception being positive, it was definitely a good performance for my taste. I also agree with Taylor's decision not to show a SYC to Vitinha, as such an accidental contact doesn't seem to be clear enough for a caution. However, it's just my personal opinion.
DeleteAs for the rest, I was pleased with his disciplinary line in the 2H. A YC to Fermin in 89' was refreshing to see, a nice one to prevent such unwanted behaviour. I would also like to highlight Taylor's constant level of concentration, needed especially as the game neared its end, with all the necessary cautions correctly given. Foul detection was good on most occasions, all KMI's were solved correctly IMO.
Taking everything into consideration, it was a good performance, with some complaints about the disciplinary line I already mentioned earlier.
I think Fermín got a YC for waving an imaginary card... a very English decision, and one I'm happy to see!
ReplyDeleteI love when players do that on the most nailed on yellows like that one.
DeleteI didn't watch Taylor but very curious to take a look at some incidents you mentioned. I will watch tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGuida: the game was medium difficulty, I think more than the expected, but still not a very challenging game. Incredibile outcome with German team close to score the 2-2 when they made mistakes all match long but Atlético didn't manage to score more goals.
This was the pattern of the game. Quite aggressive way of playing by Spanish side, but no more than other games we saw with them involved. Also, German team made some clear fouls.
Referee decided to open cards quite early in first half, without trying to wait for a possible different read of the game. At the end he was right, the nature of the game talked in favor of such approach.
All cards issued are OK, already said that a reckless booking in first half was close to SFP, but still OK to give yellow and expected decision. Good that he spent cards for dissenting behaviors.
Correctly rejected a penalty appeal, at least in my opinion, at the beginning of second half, didn't remember the minute, better decision to play on.
Things to be improved: hit by ball in second half, positioning, a missed handball in first half, close to AR1, very likely he couldn't help, missed a clear YC for reckless in 66', this would have been mandatory and consistent with the rest of the performance.
Some agitated moments close to the end of the game, but never real troubles. I think a good performance, given that this was the first game for him in CL quarterfinals, even after the previous debut in CL round of 16, one can be satisfied. You can see that something is missing for the very top level like this game can ask, but nothing important. Overall, a good appearance.
It seems like the next chapter in experimenting with appointing referee purely based on the country they were born went better than the one in Georgia last month. Happy for Guida
ReplyDeleteBut this shouldn't stop is from calling out this committee for favoring Italian referees (and Spanish ones too). This is what you get when most of important positions in international football refereeing are taken by people from one country. Why not appoint referees from less big countries like Meler or Kruzliak?
When talking about Italian referees on EURO. Frankly, both Massa and Guida don't have what it takes. But we all know at least one of them will be there, because, you guessed it, they were born in the right country.
Here the three most discussed incidents from Taylor game:
ReplyDelete12'
Missed foul and YC? Tackle assessed as fair on the ball, if foul, clear YC to be issued for reckless. I think it was clear foul with the late tackle and ball away, contact with the second leg, enough to say YC.
https://streambug.org/cv/e1c172
28'
Correct offside flag, otherwise clear penalty (in my opinion) to be whistled.
https://streambug.org/cv/da4478
A very dangerous and reckless challenge, I agree with Philipp, YC should have been issued by Taylor. More and more nowadays, regarding penalty area assessments, ony SPA and DOGSO are considered, but not the severity of offenses (so you maybe understand why one must praise Letexier for Lazio - Bayern). For this reason, I think it's not a surprise Taylor didn't think at all about booking the player, but he should have done that. Also, the offside signal was immediately received, we can't know whether he wanted to whistle penalty, this was not shown, so under this aspect, one must back him regarding the very good cooperation with AR2.
69'
Possible second YC for SPA.
https://streambug.org/cv/ddc82f
Clearly no more than careless, but once foul one should think about the SPA. I think that player could have been booked, not a mistake and maybe expected decision, but in the big picture of the moment and the incident, I think one can survive without card. It would have been different in case of very evident foul like a holding, I know this shouldn't be said, but the perception plays a big role.
So I would say missed cards in 12' (because missed foul, otherwise he would have booked) and 28'. 69' still not 100% clear.
12’ definitely missed foul but if whistled not a mandatory yellow for me (especially first card of the game). Perfect opportunity for a verbal warning.
Delete28’ I agree with a PK if no offside and I also agree with a YC after the whistle is the best decision. It was not really expected but still would have been a bonus if given.
69’ For me borderline SPA/Lack of respect, not a mandatory yellow (not even for a first caution) and definitely not enough for a SYC, correct decision for me.
I don't think Guida was good in Atlético-Dortmund, to be honest. The penalty appeal in 55' was nothing VAR could have been involved in - any call would've been accepted. The game was not the easiest but I didn't expect it to be like that. I understand there is a big pressure on referees to be proactive regarding dissent and mobbing but Guida's demeanor was really arrogant and furious what didn't help to calm things down.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that all would have gone unnoticed if not some misses that shouldn't happen on this level: no offside by AR2 in 7', missed blatant handballs in 38' and 80' (enormous dissent afterwards unpunished, too...), no card to 5ATM after late challenges in 35' and 57' (the latter ended up with quite serious conflict of coaches - not managed at all...), missed dark YC to 4DOR for reckless studs tackle in 67', expected YC to 4DOR for SPA not given in 77'...
I think Maresca is not the best fourth official, definitely to passive. I observed such attitude also in one big Serie A game this season (don't remember which one but he completely ignored coaches encroaching their technical areas). He should've informed Guida about handballs and the conflict between Diego Simeone and someone from Dortmund's bench could have been solved much better.
So, in general still an okayish performance because no crucial mistakes were made but technically it was (too) far from optimal.
Thanks for an outstanding analysis comment!
DeleteClips for all the mentioned incidents are below:
7' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/26dcf4
35' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/02a94e
38' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/379f08
55' (KMI) - https://www.streambug.io/cv/7a63e5
57' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/7f6005
67' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/758114
77' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/e2b202
80' - https://www.streambug.io/cv/ce0406
55' is a good decision imo, attacker backing in (but Rosetti will remember that Collina rejected him for not giving a comparable penalty in the 08/09 season :)). To strike a balance between comments, you can clearly see what Chefren has said about Guida this season in the softer skills be brings to the table, especially (but not only) in the Simeone explanation scene. On the other hand, there are actually too many mistakes even in these eight clips, and one can't blame Maresca for all of them...
If you go to the final incident of the set (80'), press pause, go to the 0:32 mark in the streambug video, and then press play, maybe you will have an apt microcosm of the performance as per these scenes :).
Just been confirmed that the Premier League will introduce Semi Automated Offside Technology next season, after one of the international breaks. Why not at the start of the season?
ReplyDeleteIts about time though, no more waiting for incompetent officials to spend five minutes trying to determine if someones toe is offside