2024-25 UEFA Nations League. Please find below the appointments for MD3.
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| Andrea Colombo ITA to referee England - Greece |
Thursday 10 Octobr 2024
League C, Group 4
18:00 CET - Riga (Skonto stadions)
LATVIA - NORTH MACEDONIA
Referee: Jakob Alexander Sundberg DEN
Assistant Referee 1: Deniz Yurdakul DEN
Assistant Referee 2: Victor Skovbæk Skytte DEN
Fourth Official: Mikkel Hedberg Redder DEN
Video Assistant Referee: Jonas Hansen DEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sandi Putros DEN
Video Assistant Referee: Jonas Hansen DEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sandi Putros DEN
UEFA Referee Observer: Helmut Fleischer GER
UEFA Delegate: Oleg Harlamov EST
League D, Group 2
18:00 CET - Chișinău (Stadionul Zimbru)
MOLDOVA - ANDORRA
Referee: Miloš Milanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Milan Pašajlić SRB
Assistant Referee 2: Novak Novaković SRB
Fourth Official: Milan Ilić SRB
Video Assistant Referee: Momčilo Marković SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Novak Simović SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Novak Simović SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: Hannes Kaasik EST
UEFA Delegate: Mihail Kasabov BUL
Friendly Match
19:00 CET - Ta’ Qali (National Stadium)
Assistant Referee 1: Gian Marco Ercolani SMR
Assistant Referee 2: Ernesto Cristiano SMR
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann MLT
Friendly Match
19:30 CET - Vaduz (Rheinpark Stadion)
LIECHTENSTEIN - HONG KONG
Referee: Désirée Grundbacher SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Jonas Erni SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Pascal Hirzel SUI
Fourth Official: Déborah Anex SUI
League A, Group 2
20:45 CET - Budapest, HUN (Bozsik Aréna)
ISRAEL - FRANCE
Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE
Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE
Assistant Referee 2: Srđan Jovanović MNE
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE
Video Assistant Referee: Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ivan Matić CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Kenneth William Clark SCO
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed DEN
League A, Group 2
20:45 CET - Rome (Stadio Olimpico)
ITALY - BELGIUM
Referee: Espen Andreas Eskås NOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Skjeseth Bashevkin NOR
Fourth Official: Mohammad Usman Aslam NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tom Harald Hagen NOR
UEFA Referee Observer: Michael Riley ENG
UEFA Delegate: Jovan Šurbatović SRB
League B, Group 2
20:45 CET - Helsinki (Helsingin Olympiastadion)
FINLAND - REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev MKD
Assistant Referee 1: Dejan Kostadinov MKD
Assistant Referee 2: Goce Petreski MKD
Fourth Official: Igor Stojčevski MKD
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Duje Strukan CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Sergejus Slyva LTU
UEFA Delegate: Fróði Danielsen FRO
League B, Group 2
20:45 CET - London (Wembley Stadium)
ENGLAND - GREECE
Referee: Andrea Colombo ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marcenaro ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
UEFA Delegate: Per Svärd SWE
League B, Group 3
20:45 CET - Linz (Raiffeisen Arena)
AUSTRIA - KAZAKHSTAN
Referee: Donald Robertson SCO
Assistant Referee 1: David Roome SCO
Assistant Referee 2: Ross Macleod SCO
Fourth Official: Grant Irvine SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Steven McLean SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Greg Aitken SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Steven McLean SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Greg Aitken SCO
UEFA Referee Observer: Nenad Đokić SRB
UEFA Delegate: Danny Meenan IRL
Mentor for Delegate: Mark Blackbourne ENG
League B, Group 3
20:45 CET - Oslo (Ullevaal Stadion)
NORWAY - SLOVENIA
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksandras Stepanovas LTU
Fourth Official: Vilius Paulauskas LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Donatas Šimenas LTU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Donatas Šimenas LTU
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP
UEFA Delegate: Maurice Johnston NIR
Mentor for Delegate: Alojzije Šupraha CRO
League C, Group 4
20:45 CET - Tórshavn (Tórsvøllur)
FAROE ISLANDS - ARMENIA
Referee: Oleksiy Derevinsʹkyy UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash UKR
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Denys Shurman UKR
UEFA Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel FRA
UEFA Delegate: Kari Haapiainen FIN
League D, Group 1
20:45 CET - Gibraltar (Europa Point Stadium)
GIBRALTAR - SAN MARINO
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
Video Assistant Referee: Sören Storks GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Augustus Viorel Constantin ROU
UEFA Delegate: Róbert Kispál HUN
League C, Group 1
18:00 CET - Tallinn (A. Le Coq Arena)
ESTONIA - AZERBAIJAN
Referee: Robert Harvey IRL
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Clarke IRL
Assistant Referee 2: Wayne McDonnell IRL
Fourth Official: Robert Hennessy IRL
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nick Hopton ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Igor Șațchi MDA
UEFA Delegate: Donaldas Urniežius LTU
League A, Group 3
20:45 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
HUNGARY - NETHERLANDS
Referee: Lukas Fähndrich SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Susann Küng SUI
Assistant Referee 2: Guillaume Maire SUI
Fourth Official: Johannes von Mandach SUI
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Lionel Tschudi SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Chrístos Nikolaḯdis CYP
UEFA Delegate: Fernand Meese BEL
League A, Group 3
20:45 CET - Zenica (Stadion Bilino polje)
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - GERMANY
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémy Stinat FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bastien Dechepy FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović CRO
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI
League B, Group 1
20:45 CET - Poznań, POL (ENEA Stadion)
UKRAINE - GEORGIA
Referee: Julian Weinberger AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Heidenreich AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Maximilian Kolbitsch AUT
Fourth Official: Stefan Ebner AUT
Video Assistant Referee: Alan Kijas AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Manuel Schuettengruber AUT
UEFA Referee Observer: Iain Robertson Brines SCO
UEFA Delegate: Milan Janković BIH
League B, Group 1
20:45 CET - Prague (epet ARENA)
CZECHIA - ALBANIA
Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Thomas Léonard FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Benoît Millot FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Romain Lissorgue FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Marco Borg MLT
UEFA Delegate: Zaur Hacı-Məhərrəmov AZE
League B, Group 4
20:45 CET - Samsun (Samsun 19 Mayıs Stadyumu)
TÜRKİYE - MONTENEGRO
Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Alessio Berti ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Luigi Rossi ITA
Fourth Official: Matteo Marchetti ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER
UEFA Delegate: Sviatlana Hrynkievič BLR
League B, Group 4
20:45 CET - Reykjavík (Laugardalsvöllur)
ICELAND - WALES
Referee: Antoni Bandić BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Amer Macić BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Marko Perić BIH
Fourth Official: Dragan Petrović BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dario Bel CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Antonio Damato ITA
UEFA Delegate: René Siegrist SUI
League C, Group 1
20:45 CET - Bratislava (Národný futbalový štadión)
SLOVAKIA - SWEDEN
Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA
Fourth Official: Ermanno Feliciani ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Asim Xudiyev AZE
UEFA Delegate: Carlos Filipe de Sá Lucas POR
League C, Group 2
15:00 CET - Kaunas (Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas)
LITHUANIA - KOSOVO
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Nádvorník CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Matěj Vlček CZE
Fourth Official: Ondřej Pechanec CZE
Video Assistant Referee: Miroslav Zelinka CZE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tomáš Kocourek CZE
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Atkinson ENG
UEFA Delegate: Duncan Fraser SCO
League A, Group 1
18:00 CET - Zagreb (Stadion Maksimir)
CROATIA - SCOTLAND
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: George Florin Neacșu ROU
Fourth Official: Marcel Bîrsan ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Constantin Sebastian Colțescu ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Alain Sars FRA
UEFA Delegate: Balázs Makray HUN
League C, Group 3
18:00 CET - Plovdiv (Stadion “Hristo Botev”)
BULGARIA - LUXEMBOURG
Referee: David Šmajc SVN
Assistant Referee 1: David Gabrovec SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Tomaž Černe SVN
Fourth Official: Mihael Antić SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Dragoslav Perič SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
UEFA Delegate: Camelia Nicolae ROU
League A, Group 1
20:45 CET - Warsaw (PGE Narodowy)
POLAND - PORTUGAL
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük NED
Assistant Referee 1: Erwin Zeinstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Sander van der Eijk NED
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Edwin van de Graaf NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Paolo Rondelli SMR
League A, Group 4
20:45 CET - Murcia (Estadio Enrique Roca de Murcia)
SPAIN - DENMARK
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Ján Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Peter Kráľovič SVK
Video Assistant Referee: Michal Očenáš SVK
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erik Gemzický SVK
UEFA Referee Observer: Nuno Alexandre Parreira de Castro POR
UEFA Delegate: Peter Lundström FIN
League A, Group 4
20:45 CET - Leskovac (Gradski stadion Dubočica)
SERBIA - SWITZERLAND
Referee: Simone Sozza ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giovanni Baccini ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Davide Imperiale ITA
Fourth Official: Giovanni Ayroldi ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Luca Pairetto ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Michael Fabbri ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Ruud Bossen NED
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson SWE
League C, Group 2
20:45 CET - Larnaca (AEK Aréna - Geórgios Karapatákis)
CYPRUS - ROMANIA
Referee: Sascha Stegemann GER
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Achmüller GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christof Günsch GER
Fourth Official: Tobias Reichel GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Katrin Rafalski GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan ARM
UEFA Delegate: Christian Mutschler SUI
League C, Group 3
20:45 CET - Zalaegerszeg, HUN (ZTE Aréna)
BELARUS - NORTHERN IRELAND
Referee: Henrik Nalbandyan ARM
Assistant Referee 1: Mesrop Ghazaryan ARM
Assistant Referee 2: Artur Gdlyan ARM
Fourth Official: Yura Mahtesyan ARM
Video Assistant Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan ARM
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Artem Gasparyan ARM
UEFA Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA
UEFA Delegate: Vasko Dojčinovski MKD
What on Earth? Zwayer in Gibraltar-San Marino? This is the joke of the year. I literally started laughing when I saw the appointment.
ReplyDeleteThis can remember an appointment made by Collina many years ago, by sending Felix Brych in San Marino (I don't remember the opponents). But... apart from that, this can be related to the incredible events Tohver had to face in Gibraltar on last month... moreover, it seems as committee is starting to think also League C and D deserve maybe more attention.
DeleteI think there is nothing related specifically to Zwayer condition for this choice.
But maybe, more incredible, Colombo in England - Greece. Apart from U17 and U19 games, this should be his first senior game and debut (he skipped the whole preliminary rounds in Summer for some reasons...). Big plans!
DeleteIncredible to me !!!! Ok with only 3 teams in the D1 group each match is a play off, but come on........Gibralter - San Marino to Zwayer is against any law of physics..... :-) It's not fair respect to second category referees, it seems they are not able to manage neither Gibralter- San Marino
DeleteIt was San Marno vs Estonia for Brych back then. Missed a RC for SFP in the first minute.
DeleteI remember Rizzoli in Greece- Feroe back in 2014.If I remember well, in that round, there were many top referees sent by Collina to whistle in low-profile games.
DeleteAfter no 2nd group referee on MD1/2, they are now appointed to half of the games on Thursday, including two league B games.
ReplyDeleteAnd indeed Colombo's appointment is hard to understand. Maybe replacing Maresca, but still quite a jump from U19 qualifiers...
I expect a difficult game for Milanović. Interesting that GIBSMR was given to a top elite referee and this game to a young unexperienced Serb...
ReplyDeleteNikola Dabanović is treated like he is between elite and first category. Still no really big games but some sort of importance is always there for him.
Eskås continues as a fully trusted elite referee. One can say he didn't do much to be considered top elite but Rosetti sees things differently.
Colombo's 'out of nothing' appointment leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I can't understand this move, even if he had been really good domestically. It shows you don't reach the certain level step by step but you are thrown there as an experiment. Bad management, imo.
Undiano Mallenco replaced initially appointed Velasco Carballo as observer in NORSVN. Lukjančukas with an always-important game involving Slovenia... Big test for the Lithuanian.
Sundberg and Derevinsʹkyy will try impress the committee in a close C4 group.
Zwayer's appointment is understandable to me. Both teams play in a rough manner due to technical deficiencies. You need an experienced referee to cope with such kind of game. I think that Rosetti explained it well to the German. Good move, imo!
HUGE surprise in Colombo's appointment.
ReplyDeleteNot only does he get a game, but also quite a nice one. Wonder if it's a replacement but even so, there are so many names that should be ahead of him ( Massa,Mariani,Guida,Pairetto etc ...). This is so exciting for me considering that I feel that italian referees are a bit undervalued here after Orsato's retirement, though they are doing very well locally. I really hope he manages it well.
Other than that, not surprising anymore seeing Eskas, he is starting to get a lot of recognition by the committee and deservedly so, with good performances lately.
Dabanovic also starting to have more and more games which is good to see.
As for Zwayer, with what happened with last Gibraltar's game, I think this is logical even if a bit of an overappointment. The German has been very solid this year and nowhere near a penalty for him.
Eskas yes fully deserves his appointments. Trust in Dabanovic I don't understand, every time I've seen him he wasn't good. Liverpool v Bologna was a catastrophe, inconsistent foul detection, nonsense yellow cards. And it was one of the easiest games you can get as a referee!
DeleteIf Zwayer is appointed for GIB-SNM,then what about Andora match?
ReplyDeleteThey also play rough and they have matches that are brutal and ugly.
So what about them,why not send more experienced and better refs to their matches if we are sending Zwayer to League D?
I agree,last GIB was difficult and ugly for Tohver,but if that's the case then for every difficult match we should then appoint Elite ref.
I think UEFA just loves to appoint people called Felix for San Marino.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right. The same can be said for people called Colombo and England after Claude Colombo just having handled the friendly match England - Sweden.
DeleteDabanovic after a very poor performance in rather straightforward Liverpool vs Bologna match has a chance to bounce back...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.footboom1.com/en/news/football/1903747-renowned-german-referee-appointed-head-of-fifa-women-s-refereeing
ReplyDeleteWhich explains why Rebecca Welch has joined PGMOL
DeleteLetexier to referee Bosnia and Herzegovina - Germany, appointment made before and kept after Leipzig - Juventus.
ReplyDeleteHad it been Italy - Belgium for the French, Rosetti would have replaced or switched him with another referee, be sure...
Chiffi back after a very long time and a regular assignment for him, I think.
Maybe a bit sub-standard the game in Sweden for Mariani, but still quite good.
Very curious about the VAR to be published tomorrow: Jérôme Brisard and WIlly Delajod out?
DeleteFähndrich for HUN-NED? Nations League appointments are always expected to bring some big assignments for certain officials, but isnt that too much? Fähndrich has 1 ECL game, thats it basically.
ReplyDeleteIn Switzerland, Fähdnrich is one of the most trusted referees. I don’t doubt, that he is good enough for this game. But I agree, there was no development path internationally, this appointment comes out of nothing. Especially now, after Schnyder got his first CL game and Schärer is on his way to the highest elite referees
DeleteApparently Matthias Jöllenbeck and Florian Badstübner will replace Bastian Dankert and Christian Dingert (both VAR specialization) as German FIFA referees for 2025.
ReplyDeleteThat's correct. Both Dankert and Dingert turn 45 next year so no surprise.
DeleteFähndrich's appointment is indeed surprising. UEFA tried to push him but it looked like they quickly switched to Schnyder. Now this appointment came out of nothing - maybe not exactly Colombo's case but still.
ReplyDeleteRosetti continues with appointing Bastien to potentially hot games. I expected something bigger (and easier) for him after his last performance but CZEALB is both important and most likely difficult.
Chiffi is back in a maybe not so big but potentially hot game. Mariani in SVKSWE where both teams will try their best to advance from League C - good test for him!
Is UEFA RefCom doing the NL appointments using a randomizer/lottery generator?
ReplyDeleteColombo is very overrated even in Serie A IMO and this is quite unanderstandable. Still a lot to improve to get such a match in Wembley. Also, many other Italian referees are doing much better than him
ReplyDeleteAnd now Sozza with Serbia - Switzerland, when will Rosetti's favoritism for Italian referees stop? It is simply too much.
ReplyDelete+1.
DeleteThis is indeed an incredible surprise. This game is expected to be hot, since a lot of players with Albanian roots play for Switzerland. And there are big controversal games in the past. Swiss media has talked about this game already for quite a long time. I expected a very experienced elite referee for this clash.
DeleteThis is how Rosetti works. Particular treatment for Italian national team and clubs and of course excellent appointments for all Italian referees, regardless of their status, current form and so on, it seems they can do eveything.
DeleteWow, no big name such as Marciniak or Turpin?
DeleteWow,UEFA with huge risk appointing Sozza for this not potentially hot,but very hot match.
Isn’t it bizarre how many Italian crews are appointed. It might be just me, but I really get the feeling they are overrepresented sometimes, in all the leagues. Compared to Spain and England.
DeleteAnd of course, the fact that the Italians don’t have any development/path at all. Being “decent” in domestic league is enough. However, skills and management in their domestic league do not always work with e.g. Nordic countries. It requires development, time and understanding.
One should split the 'Italo-favouritism' appointments into two different groups.
Delete'Ceremonial' -> a perfect example of this concept is Colombo to England-Greece; surely a very prestigious occasion for the young Italian to ref a competitive match at Wembley, but in reality the game will (probably) resemble a friendly international and not offer much challenge to the officials. It gives a chance to 'build' a palmares for a referee in the future. This, imo, is the worse of the two formats - how is it fair for (insert Italian here) to get this chance ahead of somebody else?!
'Fire-fighting' -> this is slightly different and is a well-worn concept going back to the 1980s time when famous names Franchi and Campanati had huge influence; it is just a fact that Serie A referees are (or, were?) of a higher standard than other Western leagues, and thus better at handling delicate matches as a consequence.
Sozza's designation comes very much into the latter category but -- while one can't be sure if the game in Leskovac will bring the same level of difficulty that Brych and Rapallini faced -- is one that I would consider a misstep, according to his style of refereeing. Let's wait until Saturday before making any further comment.
Well ,looking at last Switzerland matches one can say that they have some passionate individuals.
DeleteXhaka,Elvedi Schaer and some others.
Most of their fiery players have Balkan roots and are extra motivated against Serbia.
Given the history of these 2,logical would be to appoint some better and proven ref.
For me,more logical would be to see Zwayer here and Sozza instead of Zwayer.
But common sense is not usual with this Uefa and hopefully game for Sozza wont turn into a blood fest.
@M, still are MD4 to see Turpin, and by the way he was appointed in first slots of the NL. about Marciniak I don't know if he will be appointed because we don't know if he passed the tests.
DeleteCollins said earlier this year... that no one italian on this moment are selected for WC2026.
ReplyDeleteRosetti is desperate and know a lot appointments of the italians .. and try dont have a second Collina or Rizzoli.
Is not going to happen. There will be more teams at WC2026, thus more officials as well. I hate to say it, but you can be sure that Rosetti/Collina will do everything to have one Italian on board; probably the referee with the best form in domestic league, regardless of the international path.
DeleteAnd I agree with @Mikael that Colombo at Wembley is an unfair treatment. It won’t be a fierce game indeed, hence it would be more fair to give the opportunity to referees from smaller countries without stadiums of a certain capacity. Why should there be an Italian at Wembley if they can experience an atmosphere like “San Siro” domestically.
Give it to an experienced Cat.1 from a smaller football nation.
So, I was wright that Kovacs will return in competitions after 1 month. I hope also that Marciniak will return if not now in NL, maybe after two weeks, when will be CL, UEL and UECL.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Kovacs
DeleteI'm personally a little out of the chorus and I only partially agree with most of the above comments. I also find very wired most of the appointments, especially Colombo in England-Greece and Zwayer in Gibralter, but watching globally all of them I really don't see a special attention to Italian referees. In MD1 and MD2 CL we got some debuts and many new names like as Walsh, Martinez Munuera, Lindhout, Saggi and so on; as well Brooks and Sozza have been appointed in big matches of EL. And now in NL we only have 5 Elite referees while the remaining are name like Harvey (ghost) or Dabanovic (new perspective ?). So watching all the appointments done so far since begin of september I really don't see a specific treatment towards Italian, but a correct strategy to find new names and to launch new referees in the Arena of the big matches. Don't forget that Soares Dias, Orsato, Collum and Koulbakov left the panel; Hategan, Jovanovic, Gil manzano and Sanchez Martinez seem no more reliable; Sidiropolus, Grinfeeld aren't real elite and few years ago Uefa has lost big names like as Mateu lahoz, Del Cerro Grande Brych and Cakir. Uefa really needs a new generation of top referees and it can be created only pushing them on big match, even taking the risk to make mistakes. So, to me, assignment like as Sozza and Chiffi are not a special reward to italian football but a common change of strategy to build up a new generation of top officials, like as the assignments done for Saggi, LIndhout, Walsh, Nobre, Osmers, Obrenovic. One could compare the act that more new names from Italy are selected respect to France or England, but that's only due to the contingent situation: France has Turpin and Letexier at top level, England has Oliver and Turpin, Italy no one at their level. I'm extremely glad and exited by the new strategy adopted by Rosetti after the Euro 2024: it's the right time to change and to move on to a new elite class
ReplyDeleteHm, but a "correct strategy" would be:
DeleteSecond group / youth games and club qualifiers
-> First Conference League games and NL league C/D
-> First Europa League games
-> Promotion to First Group
-> Regular EL games and NL league B
-> First Champions League games and EL KO games
-> Promotion to Elite
-> Regular CL games and NL league A
-> CL KO games and consideration for big tournaments
And you have to show good performances on each step for at least a year before you reach the next step.
At the moment, we are quite far away from such a logical system with appointments not really considering the category and sometimes skipping several of those steps.
Quite disappointing for Croatian referees so far, being assigned as VAR duos on 3 different games for referees from Macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro, but no main referee in any game.
ReplyDeleteAlso an unusual situation that Mario Zebec, who is allegedly removed from the list of referees in the 1st Croatian league after a very bad mistake (foul whistled too early as the ball was entering the goal, so VAR wasnt able to intervene and revert the decision), is appointed as VAR.
OT Observers for MD3 CL appointed
ReplyDeleteHauge has Milan v Brugge whilst Skerjvold with Young Boys
Batista in Monaco whilst Ferriera with Real Madrid
Einweiller in Arsenal and Messner in Villa
Webb with Juventus whilst Barry is with Barcelona
Kuipers in Girona & Sajn with Strum Graz
Cakir is with Atalanta and Rocchi is with Brest
DeBleckere in Benfica
Frolich with PSG
Jakov in Manchester
Johanssen with Athletico
Rubarsky in Salzburg
https://apnews.com/article/greece-george-baldock-dead-soccer-0aab0abbffb1b55dd2e313b61a6b9cfe
ReplyDeleteAFC WC qualifiers:
ReplyDeleteAUSCHN: Nazmi Nasaruddin (MAS)
JORKOR: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN)
UZBIRI: Shaun Evans (AUS)
BHRIDN: Ahmed Al-Kaf (OMA)
OMAKUW: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
QATKGZ: Muhammad Taqi (SGP)
UAEPRK: Adham Makhadmeh (JOR)
IRQPLE: Adel Al-Naqbi (UAE)
KSAJPN: Kim Jong-hyeok (KOR)
Moldova - Andorra, off-the-ball incident, management:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/f0ca5a
Two minutes earlier.
DeleteYC for both reckless and SPA.
Enough?
https://streambug.org/cv/b6837a
Another vey clumsy challenge in secoind half.
DeleteGood delayed whistle by referee, waiting for a possible advantage.
More than mandatory YC.
https://streambug.org/cv/2786d5
For the 25 minute for sure i would rather see a RC. I liked the approach in the off-the-ball incident and a good advantage
DeleteVery quiet game so far for Eskas, but right now OFR for a SFP, the Norwegian had wrongly assessed the tackle only as reckless.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely correct call by the Dutch VAR.
In 62' a potential penalty for Belgium, desperate tackle from behind in penalty area, Eskas assigned a corner kick after a consultation with assistant referee. Very long check by VAR, but no intrervention. To me, it looked like a penalty and I can't see the touch on ball justifying the corner kick given by referee. Should have been penalty, I think, but maybe Dieperink from the VAR without an evidence.
ReplyDeleteNow, possible penalty for handball. I‘m a bit surprised by the non-intervention. For me the defender‘s arm is too far away from his body. And as I know the Italian strict handball opinion, Eskås will be the talking point afterwards, won‘t he?
DeleteIt was not arm but another part of body, otherwise clear penalty.
DeleteZwayer with 11 yellow cards in the end in GIB-SMR, I think Rosettis decision to send an elite referee there was proven right. 8(!) players of SMR booked.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of these YCs came from very 'agricultural' fouls.
DeleteDifficult to make an assessment about Eskas, I think that as long as the game was quiet, he didn't have troubles at all, but when it turned into a more challenging one, due to the sending off (missed live) and the number of fouls increasing, he didn't look to be always in full control.
ReplyDeleteAbout the crucial incidents, he needed VAR for the serious foul play, then the possible penalty in 62' is another point for discussion (I think he failed in making a direct assessment there) and finally the possible penalty for handball was a correct decision, no arm, but rather body of the player. Still, in very crucial moments, he didn't convince that everything was OK, but again, to be underlined the difficulty of the game. Good to make experience, for sure, but he has further areas for improvement.
Clear penalty missed by Eskas and Dieperink in 62'. They probably thought about their chances on further big games when giving another such crucial decision against Italy...
DeleteI liked Colombo’s game, but big shout for England penalty at the end. Probably not
ReplyDeletefor VAR but I would have gone penalty I think
Possible penalty: https://streambug.org/cv/74fe7a
DeleteOnly to be supported if whistled by referee and for me it would have been soft.
Here the very controversial PLAY ON call by Norwegian referee.
ReplyDeleteFor sure he didn't have opportunity to make a live assessment, it's clear he was surprised by the quickness of the action and he relied on assistant referee. Big responsibility for VAR to say this wasn't a clear and obvious mistake. I don't see clearly the defender touch justifying the corner kick then assigned, but maybe this is not enough alone to say it was clear and obvious mistake.
https://streambug.org/cv/7f2953
The rest of crucial incidents
DeleteOFR for SFP:
https://streambug.org/cv/c668b3
Penalty area incident, possible handball:
https://streambug.org/cv/e3da76
https://streambug.org/cv/e95906
Also not completely clear, whether the attacker actually falls because of the contact with the defender or more deliberately.
DeleteHighlights of Jakob Alexander Sundberg's performance in LVAMKD:
ReplyDeletehttps://files.fm/u/ts6carfp4y
Penalty call by Rob Harvey in EST - AZE.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/ed3879
You rarely see a referee crossing the goal line in his diagonal running, as Bandic just did in Wales goal :D
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.me/v/93d5e719
DeleteExcellent sprint by the Bosnian referee...
If there is no goal line technology you have to say that is very proactive refereeing
DeleteNo GLT, indeed. VAR in case with the analysis of a possible goal.
DeleteReferee who lacks tactical sensitivity, keeps his eyes on the red number 3 as he throws and even a second later.
DeleteThen he notices that the attacker is sprinting towards the area and referee snaps to make up for lost ground.
The shot then is to be commended, even reaching the goal line, very generous but still arriving late.
I would say he lacked tactical reading in a clear way. He makes poor use of his excellent fitness
Clear yellow for reckless bordering on red for SFP in min 17 in SVK - SWE missed by Mariani
ReplyDeleteVideo:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/2f3a8d
Definitely not aware of the foul, very lazy approach to the player who had committed it. Also AR2 should have helped.
I think you can support No red card and VAR should be right in sdtaying silent, but missing YC is a very big mistake that committee will not like.
Having a certain elegant style in managing the game, Mariani has not the best skills regarding crucial decisions, one must say, we can't remember a game he ended without at least a controversial situation. After Lille - Real Madrid, this one, a very dark YC close to RC. I think he made many efforts, but the reality quality of an Elite referee still doesn't belong to him.
Very rare interesting situation in minute 38 from Hungary. A wrong goalkick led to a indirect free kick
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/3ef91b
DeleteAbsolutely without explanation why Hungary player did that...
Absolutely correct decision, with a full focus. But the second touch was not 8 meter where the free kick was given, rather it was in 12-15 meter from the line.
DeleteOne must praise this decision before all the rest, for sure.
DeleteI'm convinced the very good referees are the ones who can take such decisions when a totally unexpected and rare situation, happens. You don't expect, you don't have any focus, in most of cases (I'm sure about what I'm saying) some don't even know how to punish a certain infringment. So let's praise the Swiss for this decision. Surely missing it would have been evident, but we see many cases in which referees don't want to complicate their games. In this regard, I want to add that in the recent matchdays of serie A, we saw a couple of deliberate backpass to keepers, but none of them was punished accordingly. I think because referees don't feel comfortable when they have to manage the indirect free kick inside the penalty area, and we know how much it's hard.
A very positive point for the Swiss referee, certainly new to such games, as we discussed earlier on the blog. Maybe helped by AR2 as well.
Much controversy now in the Pudkas Arena. First a yc for Hungary where a rc was asked by the dutch players. Yc for protest for the captain van Dijk, while he as captain was the only one allowed to talk to the referee. The other protesting players got nothing. Minute 79 the correct 2nd yellow card for van dijk
ReplyDeleteI think all actions by Fähndrich were justified there.
Delete-Fiola on Malen foul is a YC (SPA, not DOGSO, there was another Hungarian player around, foul is cynical but not a tackle-as-an-attack)
-First YC for van Dijk was justified, despite being the captain (running +30m just to complain)
-Correct 2YC for van Dijk for SPA.
After the incident Fahndrich lost the control a little bit I think. This is why need Elite referees for this kind of matches. While the Swiss is a talented one, bit it was a big step.
DeleteI disagree with the first YC being justified. As the captain he should be allowed to go to the referee, even from 30+ meter. IMO he didn’t do that while gesturing heavily or shouting to the referee, he only made a gesture towards goal (pointing out a DOGSO). I think it’s a too harsh caution.
DeleteMariani ITA, freekicks, freekicks, freekicks. no understanding of football at all!!!!
ReplyDeleteMissed 2nd YC for Barisic in min 85 by Letexier.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting position at 90th min for Chiffi. He pointed for first penalty for Turkiye but within two seconds he changed to free kick against Türkiye. He clearly pointed penalty kick (normally to me not a penalty), Turkish players were celebrating for a penalty after that it created a brawl ended up two players booked from both teams.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvUhV33qtD0
DeleteLast seconds of this video.
Surely not a penalty, I agree, so this can be just minor issue, but it's indeed particular to see how he suddenly changed idea. I also think no involvment by other teammates, too short time, AR2 far away, not his zone.
Not the best evening for Letexier.
ReplyDeleteThe attitude of NED captain by protesting with referee, when he got his first YC, was absolutely bad. Aggressive, not the way he should talk to the officials. Excellent YC issued by the Swiss for me, in a classic situation in which other referees would have closed their eyes. But yes, once again, the problem is consistency. Many people can say he was just wrong because the player was the captain...
ReplyDeleteLetexier, two incidents.
ReplyDeletePossible second YC (no foul whistled, otherwise...):
https://streambug.org/cv/80a77d
Management:
https://streambug.org/cv/45d3c5
Unknown why German player was booked, I think referee thought easily about mutual misconducts but without having the evidence in front of his eyes. Significant mistake for the French. I'm very curious about next assignment, should be no more than EL, maybe ECL, also possible to skip two matchdays (but hard to believe).
Letexier should have given a penalty for Germany (foul on Gosens) Where was the VAR ?
DeleteWhat about the missing penalty in the 82nd minute?
Delete@Chefren I think the YC was for time wasting/delaying the restart. German player has no need to throw himself between the opponent and the ball, it is not his throw in. I would even say excellent YC here for this provocating action.
Delete82' https://streambug.org/cv/84793b
DeleteFree kick or penalty?
Free kick given and YC, no VAR intervention.
Don't know if anyone noticed but observer for Armenian crew in Belarus vs Northern Ireland is also ethnic Armenian Pascal Garibian. I don't doubt integrity of mr Garibian but better not to allow such situations.
ReplyDeleteOT: Has anyone a valid link for UEFA 2024-1 RAP? The link on the right side doesn't work
ReplyDelete7 cards in Bulgaria and it's only HT.
ReplyDeleteWhat is going on there?
Kovacs so far so good,3 clear bookings all of them justified.
Very dirty game in Plovdiv. Many fouls and bad behaviour from both teams. The first YC in the game (4') could have been a RC for VC but VAR supported.
DeleteAccording to commentator, also the foul in 64' was subject of a VAR check.
DeleteDon't know if you have planned to make some clips about the games, but I just post some examples with 60' and 64' challenges.
https://streambug.org/cv/f420e2
https://streambug.org/cv/6eb17a
Crystal clear red card and VAR intervention missed in 64' - clear endangering safety of opponent. Bend in the ankle very dangerous.
Deletehttps://streamable.com/8kilq1
Yes, very dirty game.
DeleteMin 4 - Clear RC for violent conduct and Var intervention should have been made.
Min 60 - Borderline YC/RC. For me in any case - No intervention, no leg bending as it seems more of a step on foot but still some part of the studs a little higher.
Min 64 - Clear SFP and an Intervention by Var. Clear studs aboce ankle and a leg bending image.
Unlucky ending for Scottish players in Zagreb. They scored the equalizer in the 95th minute but it was disallowed gir offside after VAR check.
ReplyDeleteTo me a clear one: mistake by AR2.
https://streamin.me/v/f9c48b4c
DeleteLet's say that the wonderful play by Scottish player surprised AR2, who couldn't expect a pass in that exact moment, but still, very evident offside even in this live sequence, without a replay. He should have reacted and seen it.
Some clips from Sozza's 1H.
ReplyDeleteYC to Widmer: https://streambug.org/cv/382b74
Striking foul: https://streambug.org/cv/38dd76
Pen for holding?: https://streambug.org/cv/c6f0ab
YC to Elvedi: https://streambug.org/cv/c52a83
Freekick before goal: https://streambug.org/cv/145935
Mitrovic behaviour: https://streambug.org/cv/70ce2f
It seems all good.
DeleteMandatory cards issued.
Without watching, but I can understand his choice if he saved "minor ones".
Last clip most interesting for sure, he could have managed strictly the behavior of the Serbian player with at least a warning, but I think some small actions were unnoticed by officials.
Watched Nalbandyan's first half, wasn't impressed to be honest. Inconsistent foul detection, some of the free kicks he gave I didn't understand for what exactly. Also would like to see NI disallowed goal again, the whistle was before the shot on goal so VAR couldn't intervene but again I didn't see any attacking foul. But may be I am wrong watched only once this moment.
ReplyDeleteHere the whistle before the goal scored.
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/d49035
Technically, you can't say disallowed goal because he whistled before, but not clear indeed what he wanted to punish. I think he was following the couples of players close to him, he indicated a holding with this gesture, but how many times you see that and hard to believe that it must be assessed as clear foul. Moreover, for VAR purposes, he should have waited for the possible goal scored, or at least he should have followed the play, showing also more focus on what was happening in penalty area.
I dont see any foul here anyways. Even if there is any holding which I guess it the reason he is whistling - this is a A national team game. Football understanding must be at higher level. Soft fouls is no good and in this case he got unlucky.
DeleteSozza with very risky style that could backfire for him in 2nd half,allowing some fouls to be unpunished and some protests.
ReplyDelete2 YC's to Swiss players are good,but Aebischer foul was also more yellow than not.
So far okay but indeed too lenient on mobbing.
DeletePenalty given to Sui: https://streambug.org/cv/bbcf56
DeleteInside vs. outside?: https://streambug.org/cv/562c3b
Switzerland were rightly given one penalty and probably ought to have been given another but Pairetto probably acted correctly (no CLEAR and unambiguous evidence that the tripping was outside). There was also a disallowed goal for offside early in the second half. Overall, if one supports Sozza at 84', then it was a fine performance in this delicate context.
84' Very interesting situation. Possible penalty for SUI. Outside or inside penalty area?
DeleteAccording to one replay, it looks clearly correct decision by Sozza, outside, but then the other replays definitly don't help us. It looks also inside. I think that referees can't be penalized in such situations, you see how much difficult is for VAR as well.
DeletePenalty given to SUI:
DeleteYC or RC?
(my above comment should read 'inside'^^).
DeleteIn theory, by the 'screenshot' method you could even construe the penalty given as DOGSO-noattempt, but with 'football understanding' you realise that N'Doye never had any attempt to run with the ball to goal and instead only tried to win a foul off Nedelkovic by placing himself between the ball and the Serb before slowing down; the defender obliged by committing a careless push, despite N'Doye never having had any chance in reality to bring the ball under control. Sozza probably never even computed a potential DOGSO and he was right so to do: penalty and no sanction.
Fully agree with Cheferen. No clear image so Var must support offence position.
DeletePossible foul in the build-up to Spanish goal but if not whistled live I agree not VAR stuff
ReplyDeleteChallenging final for Gozubuyuk, penalty appeal by Poland when game was on open score, a moment before the action in which Portugal scored 3-1 on a counterattack with an own goal. Big protests, but personally once again I didn't fully understand the Dutch gestures, he did not immediately seem to signal for the goal scored, but it looked like as if he had indicated the previous situation and then he immediately put his hand on the earphone to get info from VAR about what to do. In my opinion he should be more mentally free on the pitch, he never gives the impression of having made a clear and extremely firm decision, he is often shaky. Here with clear gestures he should have indicated the goal regardless of the rest, then if it had been a penalty on the other side, VAR would have called fio it. In any case, very good to caution the home players for protests, but, as usual, he appeared agitated and lost his composure once involved in very crucial moments.
ReplyDeleteThat is unfortunately a recurring theme for him.
DeleteHe made good progression in recent years, with Zeinstra at his side. KNVB is publishing a 4-part series ("Behind the whistle") this month. In the episode with Gozubuyuk I was pleasantly surprised by his player management and communication: https://youtu.be/bMGbhQfRdb0
To reach European top, he has to improve his main weaknesses (take crucial decisions, signaling, selling the decisions to the audience) though.