2024-25 UEFA Champions League Matchday 5, first set of games, to be played on 26 November 2024.
Tuesday 26 November 2024
ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SVK) - AC MILAN (ITA)
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Íñigo Prieto López de Ceraín ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER
UEFA Delegate: Iveta Bankova BUL
18:45 CET - Prague (epet ARENA)
AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE) - CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID (ESP)
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Marc Nagtegaal NED
Video Assistant Referee: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski MKD
UEFA Delegate: Stéphanie Forde BEL
21:00 CET - Manchester (Etihad Stadium)
MANCHESTER CITY FC (ENG) - FEYENOORD ROTTERDAM (NED)
Referee: Radu Marian Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Adrian Ștefan Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu ROU
Fourth Official: Marcel Bîrsan ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT
UEFA Delegate: Eduard Dervishaj Nelaj ESP
21:00 CET - Munich (Allianz Arena)
FC BAYERN MÜNCHEN (GER) - PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (FRA)
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Florin Andrei ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Sorin Popa ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega ESP
UEFA Delegate: Thibault De Gendt BEL
21:00 CET - Milan (Stadio San Siro)
FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO (ITA) - RB LEIPZIG (GER)
Referee: João Pedro da Silva Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Miguel Alves de Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano António Gomes Maia POR
Fourth Official: João António Ferreira Gonçalves POR
Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins POR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers NED
UEFA Delegate: Zaur Hacı-Məhərrəmov AZE
21:00 CET - Barcelona (Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys)
FC BARCELONA (ESP) - STADE BRESTOIS 29 (FRA)
Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH
Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH
Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović BIH
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Dallas SCO
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Thura Win ENG
21:00 CET - Leverkusen (BayArena)
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN (GER) - FC SALZBURG (AUT)
Referee: Mykola Balakin UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Berkut UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Viktor Matyash UKR
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco ESP
UEFA Delegate: Barbara Moschini ITA
21:00 CET - Lisbon (Estádio José Alvalade)
SPORTING CP (POR) - ARSENAL FC (ENG)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Kupsik POL
Assistant Referee 2: Radosław Siejka POL
Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
UEFA Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy FRA
UEFA Delegate: Jan Willem van Dop NED
21:00 CET - Bern (Stadion Wankdorf)
BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI) - ATALANTA BC (ITA)
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas LTU
Assistant Referee 1: Mangirdas Mirauskas LTU
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas LTU
Fourth Official: Vilius Paulauskas LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN
UEFA Delegate: Josip Tomaško CRO
I have a question: Where does UEFA publish the list of referees for matches? (I would like a link if possible).
ReplyDeleteon their own website uefa.com, but you have to search every match individual to find the appiontments
DeleteI always like the press kit, you can easily switch between the games:
Deletehttps://www.uefa.com/news-media/mediaservices/informationkits/competitions/uefachampionsleague/2025/match/2041996/officials/
Or use this page, but it’s not yet updated:
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0291-1bde8fcaf724-c61c8f2d311c-1000--who-is-the-referee-which-officials-are-in-charge-of-the-uefa/
I know this method, but for example, the referee for the Bayern vs PSG match was announced at around 10:10. Meanwhile, there was an account on X that posted it before it appeared on the website for me. That’s why I felt there might be another place where UEFA publishes the referee list.
DeleteAs far as I know, all referee information is supposed to be available by 10:00, right?
UEFA doesn't publish list of referees, appointments must be found in the specific page of the game.
DeleteAs example: Slovan - Milan:
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2041996--s-bratislava-vs-milan/
And then you have to open all pages for reading all names.
We do this work of publishing appointments in a same list by years and years, and you can see it takes definitely long time.
The appointments are made public at 10:00 am (very often, some minutes later that time). Before 10:00 am, however, UEFA allows that the information of an appointment is published by federations. That's the case of KNVB, they always report referee assignments, mostly at 9:00 AM, one hour before the official release by UEFA. All the rest is not official, and for a final confirmation you have always to read on UEFA.com. So, to say more about what you are asking, it would be important to know the exact account that posted the information and the exact time. In case, given it was Kovacs, they could have direct information from Romanian federation.
DeleteAAhh sorry now it should be clear: Dutch federation made Kovacs name public at 9:00 am because he had a Dutch VAR, I reported the info here, so this account on twitter very likely had the blog as source (I think they reported only referee name without the other members, right?).
Deletehttps://www.knvb.nl/nieuws/scheidsrechters/aanstellingen/69888/makkelie-leidt-champions-league-duel-tussen-sparta-praag
I appreciate your work and the effort you put in, as well as the excellent job you do, like posting about Danny Makkelie's appointment after it was announced by the Dutch FA.
DeleteHowever, you didn't understand the reason for my question. I’m mostly interested in the referee for just one match, as I work for a news account. Often, while I’m waiting for the referee to be listed on UEFA’s "match info" page, someone else publishes the referee’s name before me and before it appears on UEFA’s site, but definitely after 10:00.
So my simple question is: Is there another place where UEFA publishes the referee list?
Thank you again
Maybe this time, but this has happened to me in several matches.
DeleteBy the way, I used your prediction of Kovacs to prepare his stats, so thank you
The simple answer to your question is NO, appointments are only on UEFA.com. All the rest, shouldn' be considered as official or confirmed, even more before 10:00 am if not coming from an official site of a federation (so you should know more from that accounts, to know in particular).
Deletehttps://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/fixtures-results/#/d/2024-11-26
ReplyDeleteYou can enter each game and find referee appointments in Match Info
Again Balakin after match day before. Now with Mallenko. Seems that committee satisfied with him.
ReplyDeleteWell, definitely not a good try in terms of accurate predictions, about this first set, but still, the names are the ones we discussed with some changes.
ReplyDeleteMarciniak confirmed in Lisbon, I guessed the other two Spanish Elite, but the focus now returns on Sanchez Martinez. For him, a game that shouldn't be very challenging on paper, with a rather expected win by Milan, but we know everything can happen, and appointments with Italian teams are always challenging. Not a top appointment for the referee if one doesn't go deep in the resons behind it, but still, good for him to return in the major competition, indeed.
Maybe tomorrow we will know that Gil Manzano is assigned to another game on Wednesday's set.
Good appointment for Lukjančukas in Bern, his development continues. So far he was rarely very challnged in a game, but of course, not his fault, he did well.
Balakin in Leverkusen is another confirmation that the pas weeks and assignments were something very crucial for him, and maybe now he can be considered a referee on which committee relies. Very good, I must say.
Peljto in Barcelona: a game that, without the excellent path of the French team so far, would have been very different to evaluate for the specific assignment. There can be few chances that French side manages to take points in this one as well, but it's hard.
The Bosnian with an extremely good group stage so far, deserved all his CL games, only clear mistakes were AR1 in that game, and we all wish it's over now.
Big test for Pinheiro in San Siro and indeed he was among the names we mentioned. At the end he was in stand-by for a quite long time, we all remember some years ago, he looked ready to Elite, but, as big suprise, he wasn't promoted. Now another chance, now also with a different context, and this is what can help referees sometimes: no Portuguese Elite, they can push more, they can promote even if a bit sub standard, you surely understand what I mean, given that POR is without doubts a big country of refereeing. Not a specific argument against, Pinheiro, to be clear, but there were many chances for him in past to get Elite before today, indeed.
Kovacs in Munich, another top game for him, there were only two referees for this one: him and Oliver. The English is not appointed with PSG. I must say, it could be also because his previous game hadn't been excellent, but well, mistakes were committed for sure also in San Siro by Kovacs, so it can ben a specific choice (they don' want to see Oliver with PSG as for now, there will be other games on next matchdays).
Petrescu in Manchester another confirmation that he is now on th path for being promoted, after a very good performance in Belgium - Italy.
And last, but not least, Makkelie: another appointment that is very similar to previous ones, far from the spotlights and that's a good thing for him. Of course, relatively far from the spotlights, because still a big team, but in a game in which honestly a win is more than expected (despite of the difficult moment for them in Premier League).
About the VAR assignments, we have San and indeed Schaerer is expected, as well as Turpin with Brisard (LIV - REA)? Andrew Dallas could mean a second CL game for Walsh? Even if the Scottish disappeared a bit from the radar after that Nations League game in Lithuania (in case, I would understand the concerns by committee...).
Sorry, don't know for which reason I had in mind that Makkelie game was involving Manchester City and not Atlético Madrid.
DeleteThis definitely make the appointment as more challenging, still a win by Spanish side is expected, but very important game after all the issues in previous matchdays involving Spanish side. It could be a tough one, in case of a certain course, otherwise very different. We''ll see.
Petrescu with a third a game in England after Aston Villa-Bayern and Machester United-PAOK. Now Machester City-Feyenoord. Wondering why he is not tested in a bit different type of games, like the one in Prague or Milano.
ReplyDeleteSo Bayern-PSG for Kovacs, so Wednesday top clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid then goes to Vincic. :-) Kidding, it should be for Turpin I think.
I must say a very transparent work by Collum in Scotland with the analysis of the most discussed VAR incidents and all the official statements / explanations for teams and fans.
ReplyDeleteHere a chapter and my views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YZZgquXDig
First case: handball, I agree with Collum, impossible or almost impossible to see on the pitch, VAR did well to analyse everything, no responsibility for the referee, no influence on final mark.
Second case: tricky. The VAR here evaluates a normal contact on the two players who are running close together and therefore goal taken away for the subsequent handball. I could have made the same mistake as the VAR, deeming the contact as OK so punishing only he handball: Collum asks for a penalty because for him the infringement is obvious, before the handball. It makes us understand how complex their work is. This incident to me, different from others, can find many people in disagreement, even among referees.
Third case, second from MOT - CEL: clear red for serious foul play, point of contact. Well done.
DUN - HIB: clear SFP for me as well. VAR focusing on the intensity, but no matter, point of contact and studs hitting in a very dangerous way.
Sometimes for making a too accurate analysis of a detail, the "overall view" is lost.
RAN - STM: possible RC for SFP, but I agree it wasn't the case. Ball played and then minmum contact with opponent. Same incident with leg raised in that way and only opponent hit, clear red card, here what happens before make the difference. Correct by VAR, Collum confirms.
KIL - CEL: maybe less intensity than previous analyzed challenges, but again, how the player enters with studs, should mean RC. Agreed with Collum, but to me in this case, differently from previous ones, it is more acceptable the (wrong) reasoning made in the room, they assessed that the power of the challenge had already ended the "strong effect" before contact. But with ball gone.. and studs hitting leg.. that's already enough.
DUN - STJ: extremely complex incident. Already very challenging just to put the offside line in the exact point there. All impossibile for field officials, both the possible handball and offside, when you see not even the VAR has the proof of anything. Fully agree with Collum, you can't say more here, but it was good for refereee to go to watch at monitor to be sure before allowing goal.
HIB - DUN: And here we have something that can be easily linked to the famous Go Ahead Eagles game in the NED, posted on the blog. Despite of an evident infringment, if it doesn't involve the ball, but something in the middle of penalty area is punished, it gives the idea of a rather "random" intervention, in the meaning that then you should punish everything and indeed as Collum said, a line must be drawn. Here the VAR officials can't be blamed that much, it's always hard, but would have been a correct call if a player close to ball (involved in the play) had been fouled by that shirt pulling. That's the issue with VAR. It can't go everywhere, limits must be considered. So we have definitely the proof that, at least for some heads of refereeing, the concept of being related / involved in the game, matters for a VAR intervention (of course apart from the violent conduct, always to be punished).
STM - ROS: very interesting point by Collum here, I think he showed this clip related to prevous one to explain the difference of the holdings indeed. One could say here the holding is in the spotlights. Key statement: "Defender doesn't know where ball will go", so he does that against attacker, hoping to stop him, differently from previous case where fouled player couldn't have reached ball and this was sure. And this holding, at the moment of the kick, was rather a "main event". This nuances are really hard to understand for some people, I would say, but one must definitely like how the Scottish head explained everything here. I think that after a rather late introduction of VAR in the country, now they are trying to do ghood things.
What I want to say, i think that Romania will have 3 teams in this week in CL.In Kovacs team is a non FIFA referee as FO, Florin Andrei, and last games in CL with Kovacs as FO was Fesnic. And I expect Fesnic for wednesday games, also with Catalin Popa in VAR room.
ReplyDeleteTo me, there are many points of attentions of Tuesday's assignments.
ReplyDeleteSanchez Martinez will drive a "middle level" match but under the eyes of Fandel, which means to me that he is not fully trusted but needs some confirmation by a committee member before risking in a top level match
Pinheiro will drive a challenge match under the eyes of Kuipers and I really think that it will be the graduated exam to be promoted into elite; as said by Chefren he could be a little bit favorite by the fact that Portugal is missing an elite
Lukjanckas is definitively progressing very well and if we consider that Rumsas is on the way to be promoted to elite, it's quite surprising, but very nice, that Lithuania is well represented
Makkelie out of spotlight, hopefully should means that he is forecasted for something top at the end of the season; it will be deserved.
Strange to see A. Dallas as VAR of Peljito
About Dallas AVAR in Peljto game, it's not strange, it's just normal assignment from Nyon. Almost all VARs for CL games are there, so the AVAR of Tuesday very often are the VAR of the next day, or maybe Europa League games (only a few are covered from Nyon). There are also many other examples, not only Dallas with Peljto, see San (SUI) AVAR for Petrescu and so on.
Delete+1
DeleteI miss Turpin, but ok.
ReplyDeleteMD6
ReplyDeleteLeipzig - Aston Villa
Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP, Committee Member
Another promotion to Elite? One of the Italians? :)
DeleteWith Sozza already assigned to EL MD5, I don't think he will get that one, even before knowing about his performance.
DeleteSo, shouldn't be an Italian there.
But maybe Mariani?
DeleteActually it's hard to find another promotion candidate, who doesn't work this week...
Referee Observer MD6 As of 26th November 2024
DeleteDinamo Zagreb - Celtic Glasgow : Itchko Lozev (BUL)
Girona FC - Liverpool FC : ???
RB Leipzig - Aston Villa : Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Bayer Leverkusen - Inter : Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)
Atalanta Bergamo - Real Madrid : ???
Club Brugge - Sporting CP : Juan Antonio Fernandez Marin (ESP)
Shakthar Donetsk - FC Bayern Munich : Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)
RB Salzburg - Paris SG : ???
Stade Brest - PSV Eindhoven : ???
Atletico Madrid - Slovan Bratislava : ???
OSC Lille - Sturm Graz : Elmir Pilav (BIH)
Borussia Dortmund - FC Barcelona : ???
Juventus - Manchester City : ???
Benfica - Bologna : Vlado Svilokos (CRO)
Arsenal - Monaco : Gylfi Thor Orrason (ISL)
AC Milan - Crvena Zvezda : ???
Feyenoord - Sparta Praha : Alan Mario Sant (MLT)
Stuttgart - Young Boys Bern : ???
I guessed an Italian, because Orsato leaves a spot open, but Sozza seems too early to me. He was promoted to category 1 last summer. If he gets promoted to Elite in January (just a few months later), they better just remove Category 1 too ("Elite" and "the rest" :D). On paper Mariani is more likely indeed, but not based on form?
DeleteIt could very well be a 2nd observation for Rumsas or Petrescu. I think they want to be 200% sure with Rumsas, because Lukjančukas also seems very promising.
It worth noting that in a couple games, the MD-6 referees have already been appointed (posted by Refsoccer). So, no matter what happens on Tuesday/Wednesday, the referees have already received the appointment. Interesting. My assumption is that these are all referees who do not work in the Champions League today/tomorrow. Except for Turpin maybe.
Guess that that game can go to Dabanovic?
DeleteI forgot about Mariani, following the path of referees observed for promotion, it could be him, indeed, not appointed so far.
DeleteI don't see other names for a possible promotion to be observed by a committee member and suitable for the kind of game. One must also note it will be a German - English clash, always different from others and on paper very often "less challenging", but of course only on paper...
@Ref Fot and the others, quite unlikely to see again a referee from MD5.
DeleteChefren, i need your opinion. Does Dabanovic have even minor chances to go to Elite?
DeleteMy idea is that he is not considered for a promotion, but just for officiating more frequently games in Champions League. Otherwise, I would have expected a different treatment for something more with an important observer. I see he continues to be appointed in a regular and well known way and that's surely good, but I wouldn't bet on the fact he could be promoted, there aren't further elements to add in the reasoning. Nevertheless, in recent times I discovered to be too much analytical in some circumstances, so let's wait for committee opinion ;) I think my point of view is clear, I don't expect him promoted not due to performances, but looking at how he is treated.
DeleteThe referee for the Copa Libertadores da América final between Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo next Saturday has been named. It will be Facundo Tello, who was at Euro 2024 as a guest.
ReplyDelete4': possible penalty to Milan, VAR checked.
ReplyDeleteAttacker running inside the box, defender left the leg, but I think one can't say how much this was enough and if attacker used the contact. A penalty that should have been whistled by referee, but not VAR stuff. I assess as correct the play on, backing the referee for field decision as well (would have been rather easy whistle), but of course many people will have different ideas and you know :)
Goal Atletico, direct free kick. Missed caution by Makkelie for the foul for SPA
ReplyDeleteFrom a technical point of view maybe yes, but management wise I understand the choice not to book
DeleteUCL LP MD5
ReplyDeleteSlovan (SVK) - Milan (ITA)
R: J.M.Sanchéz (ESP) VAR:C.der Cerro Grande (ESP)
19' AR2 Correctly signalized foul
26' Again correct foul signalization by AR2
30' Potential YC for Mil31 (SPA), but not mandatory
39' AR1 probably correctly did not (not)signalized that ball left pitch, but R blown whistle and awarded throw in
49' Penalty appeal in Slo penalty area, IMO correct no call
Delete54' Correct YC given to Mil21 for lack of respect
57' Correct YC given to Mil2 for reckless challenge
79' Correct YC to Mil23 for reckless challenge
88' Missed clear foul in front Slo penalty area, goal scored dirrectly from counter attack
90 Correct two YC given Slo10 both for dissent
I'm agree. Second YC 💪
DeleteNot a very challenging half for Sanchez Martinez and good positionning overall.
ReplyDeleteDouble dissent in Bratislava. Brave decision. Correct decision but perhaps some debate about the free kick in the first place
ReplyDeleteNow challenging end of the game for Sanchez Martinez, he sent off a player from Slovan Bratislava for dissent. Two yellow cards in a row.
ReplyDeleteNot the best ending for Sanchez Martinez in not so challenging match,you can even make the case that he made it challenging for himself.
ReplyDeletePossible missed foul before Slovan goal for 2 -3,then harshly whistled foul that led to protests from Tolic where he received 2 YC's in couple of seconds.
While "technically correct", I don't think the 2YC for double dissent should be given, I don't think it's good for the game. Of course, some discipline is important, but at the end of the day, we want to see football and would probably be fine with one YC and letting the second one slide. It's normal that players get heated, especially after a debatable decision. Referees should be able to handle that without a RC, or maybe change profession :-)
ReplyDeleteThat being said, so late in the game, the 2YC was not very important on the outcome.
Hello Chefren. I'm a journalist writing about referees, and I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Is there a way we can connect? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou can write a mail if you want.
DeleteYou find the form at the right of the blog.
Every referee has his own style.
ReplyDeleteI'm very torn after that decision.
Certainly, due to my personal attitude, I would never be able to say that a referee should not caution / send off a player for protests, but I admit that in a context like this, with a match that was absolutely not difficult to manage, and coming to the end in a normal way, it leaves definitely a bad taste in mouth.
It was player's fault, he protested, but perhaps the Spanish could have handled things differently, not in the sense of being lenient but in the sense of doing everything possible to prevent this event from occurring, which was absolutely out the specific course of this raher very fair match.
Your opinion about the penalty in Leverkusen?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the handball rule anymore
DeleteBalakin made an OFR for handball.
ReplyDeleteCalled by the Spanish and the Italian VARs, to revoke a penalty he had whistled, he confirmed the decision.
There was a deflection on another part of the body and then the open arm. For me, previous deflection was not a deliberate play, so reasons to back the call by referee (would have been a deliberate play, by head or kick, OK to remove it).
Neverheless, one between Balakin and the VAR was at fault here.
If the argument that after a previous touch the handball is not punishable, is valid, the Ukrainian made a mistake by confirming penalty, if Balakin was right, then mistake by VAR because at least supportable call (not instructed by UEFA, about the handball).
All in all, even after a so long time, I don't see any clear line in management of handballs by UEFA, honestly.
And about Balakin, it's not the first time that he goes to monitor and he doesn't change idea, today it's very rare and I repeat again, it's not the reason for which VAR has been introduced, but it's up to committee to make things clear about that.
My opinion is not punishable handball. Wrong decision by Balakin.
DeleteHere the video:
Deletehttps://streamin.me/v/lcqrol1q
If said that the final decision must come from the main referee, then it must also be allowed to not follow the opinion of the VAR. Of course it is and should be rare, but I personally like it when a referee stays with his on-field decision when he has good reasons for it.
DeleteGerman commentators (and media) are surprised the penalty was given. They were agreeing with the VAR intervention, in Bundesliga this would never be a penalty because of the previous touch.
DeleteAnd I think the penalty decision is supportable. Arm was in an open position all the time and the contact is (quite clearly by new LotG) a deflection and not a deliberate play.
DeleteI agree that it's a good thing if referee keeps a decision, of course if he is right. But in such situations, for the nature of VAR, then one should expect that referee is not called at all to monitor, at least some clear guidelines about that should be issued!
DeleteFor me a supportable call, up to referee, the only clear thing is that in case of deliberate play before and then arm, no penalty. But this was not the case, as we had a deflection (no time to react and so the arm in that position stays as very risky action).
The defender tries to remove his arm. What´s the point of keeping the decision by the ref?
DeleteUnfortunately such situations are still not clear with arguments for both sides.
DeleteTherefore I think, the OFR should be assessed as wrong.
What is the correct approach here for handballs? I was under the impression that deflections will not be punishable if the ball changes direction and there is no secondary movement. This is still an unacceptably vague area.
DeleteFor me a quite typical 50/50 situation, where in contrary to some german commentators the decision of the ref is not a "joke" at all and is at least supportable. No reason for VAR to intervene imo. There will always be situations like this, in what way ever the rules might change, where there is room for interpreting the LOTG by the ref on the pitch and we should accept that.
DeleteBoth Arsenal goals were close to being offside. Both correctly given on-field
ReplyDeleteCrazy penalty decision for Leverkusen from Balakin
ReplyDeleteWhat dou you think about the penalty in Manchester?
ReplyDeleteSoft PK for me.
DeleteSoft but supportable, the kind of penalty that now is whistled in almost every serie A game and also VAR stuff in case of miss by referee on field :)
DeleteMaybe soft, but correct imo
DeleteRosetti is observing Pinheiro at stadium with Kuipers.
ReplyDeleteHe just didn't write down himself as official observer due to the Italian team involved. :)
Back to harsh enforcer for Kovacs tonight. 2YC seems rather harsh, and a very clear advantage stopped to show it. Neither Bayern nor PSG wanted that decision
ReplyDeleteDefinitely correct imo
DeleteWith the front leg he played/blocked the ball and with the trailing leg there was a contact, but reckless? I thought to recognize Kovacs made a play on gesture initially?
DeleteLight contact with the shinguard on the players back foot. A second yellow card there does not feel correct.
DeleteOverrated referee.
Deletehttps://streamff.com/v/d0752c2c
DeleteHere the video. Loooks like he forgot that player was already booked, making the advantage gesture after the incident, then stopping the counterattack. Slight touch on the ball, YC can be discussed, not 100% for me, but never a clear one.
Davies flies as if a bomb had exploded next to him. I hate this crystal football and arrogant referees who believe these nonsense
DeleteIt’s absolutely correct decision IMO, and play must be stopped immediately for a second yellow card to be issued unless there is an immediate opportunity to score a goal, as per Law 12.
DeleteDon't understand the criticism on Kovacs decision to send Dembele out ... Seems rather a correct one
DeleteWhat are the reasons for YC here? There is a slight contact, but one has to bear in mind that contact with standing leg in the air is different from contact with standing leg on the ground (no potential for injury vs great potential of injury). IMO this is not a 2nd YC
DeleteVery good penalty spot by Marciniak, off the ball foul, but he should have definitely booked the player. A very reckless challenge from behind.
ReplyDeleteYes, would have ben 2YC for Diomande
DeleteNow Kovacs kills the game with another 2YC. The first YC was for nothing (dissent), any the second one maybe for a foul but maybe for dissent as well. And another YC for dissent to Hakimi. IMO this is definitely too much and I hope that referees change course in the future and stop these ridiculously strict dissent bookings.
ReplyDeleteI think he should be praised for punishing dissent. But he missed a dark YC around minute 40 for stepping on the achilles and another one for blatant holding in min 65. Plus the soft 2YC...
DeleteAgree with lukas
DeleteUnfortunately I have to agree. This is what I call “how to make it about me” decisions. Completely unnecessary, cause I feel like nobody at the German side would complain had he kept those cards in his pockets.
DeleteOne has to ask what these cards for dissent really accomplish. Players will never agree with decisions against them, and sometimes there is a little discussion going on, but in the end, the referee has the final decision. In the top leagues, you never see players physically attacking referees. So, the discipline is fine, and I don't see why refs should be praised for handing out YCs for hand gestures. In case of a 2YC, this has a huge impact on the game, and it's essentially for nothing football related.
DeleteHow blatant should a holding be before yellow carding it… (BAYPSG 65.). Harsh (2nd) YC’s at the one end and no sanction for such a blatant holding (with significant risk of a retaliation)
ReplyDeleteAnd now, again, sanctioning PSG for a semi-SPA (which can definitely be given), but disciplinary sanctioning is very one sided. With all due respect, but Imho Kovacs’s management skills are far below what can be expected of a top elite referee
DeleteBecause he is not a top elite referee.
DeleteWell if we go by that,only top elite refs are Makkelie maybe,Turpin and Marciniak.
DeleteZwayer?
DeleteI was thinking in Zwayer too. Oliver?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteZwayer is not insecure, he uses var as little as he can :)
DeleteWell, it might be just me, but too often I see Zwayer as a hesitative leader, not actively making decisions himself but instead pointing to his headset. The handball incident in Serbia-Denmark for example, or the PK to England in the semi-final, where he doesn’t make gestures and just waits for the VAR.
DeleteHe just did that in this match. It's very uncommon :)
DeleteExcellent onside decisions by AR1 in Manchester before 3-2 and 3-3.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Kovacs deserved what he achieved, he is certainly a referee who at a certain point came out with all his skill at an international level, but unlike others he focused a lot on his figure and the extremely authoritative attitude that gave him an extremely big aura. This maybe happened at the expense of a technical accuracy and ability to manage players that instead we have seen to be very common in other Elite referees, essentially those you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThere was a period in which he started to officiate top games and just ended them withouy any controversy, helped him in gaining more credit by committee. Of course he can't be at fault if he was not challenged under different aspects, but my idea is that he is missing in other skills that luckily for him, he didn't need to achieve all the big success he had so far. Now it becomes more difficult with what one can describe as the "last dream" (maybe), the CL final, he should find more balance and consistency, and the troubles after EURO for him were exactly about this issue.
His problem is the lack of any consistent "red line" in foul detection, soft calls and ignoring clear fouls are just normal in minutes and that costs him any authority on the pitch , for which he is same time struggling by an overauthorative approach. And thats getting even worse from year to year.
Delete2 missed YCs by Kovacs in the final phase of the game, he missed about 4 YCs in total, all against Bayern. Meanwhile, on the other side, he dishes out YCs for dissent like it's nothing.
ReplyDeleteDidn't watch the game in Milan, but no reports about big issues for the Portuguese under the eyes of two committee members (I will check more carefully tomorrow in particular).
ReplyDeleteA quite good CL set of games, one could say.
Some focus just on Bayern - PSG, the penalty by Balakin in Leverkusen and maybe the last minutes of Sanchez Martinez.
Quick question: I’ve see now multiple times where AR1 is directly leaving the pitch after the final whistle, why is that? Before they used to walk together with the referee right?
ReplyDeleteI think this a difference country by country. In English teams, both AR1&2 will join the referee
DeleteIndeed, but I noticed it only on UEFA games
DeleteIt is UEFA specific protocol. I’m not sure why it exists, maybe to prevent issues between opponents in the tunnel
DeleteIn some jurisdictions, the protocol is for the AR1 to go to the tunnel at half time and full time to observe any possible incidents in the tunnel.
DeleteSomething happened with the defenses tonight
ReplyDeleteVideo clips from AC Sparta Praha vs Club Atlético de Madrid (Danny Makkelie)
ReplyDeletehttps://files.fm/u/vfeqs5j4th
Inter- Leipzig : Pinheiro disallows what is for me a 2nd goal for Inter .. If someone has the clips for it, would appreciate the feedback
ReplyDeleteA full report about the performance will follow later during the day.
DeleteHere the clips from Pinheiro game.
ReplyDelete2' Possible YC for reckless, knee contact
https://streambug.org/cv/551e1f
11' YC for SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/da69bb
Mandatory card, correct decision to assess it as SPA due to the direction of the attack (clear gestures by referee about that)
16' PAI, possible handball
https://streambug.org/cv/060831
No replay, the feeling is that it wasn't punishable handball.
26' Free kick leading to the crucial goal of the game
https://streambug.org/cv/f9a19a
Called by AR1, possible YC for SPA
33' YC SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/a77cbe
In this case OK decision not for the direction of the action but for the other defenders, not the idea of a DOGSO.
34' YC for both reckless and SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/d4b6e2
In my opinion, apart from the possible assessment of a SPA, here clear YC for reckless tackle, correctly issued.
42' Advantage and then PAI
https://streambug.org/cv/7cdd2f
Good advantage, correct or at least supportable decision with a free kick in favor of defender, never a penalty.
70' YC coach
https://streambug.org/cv/ac3ca5
Correct decision, based on the reaction he had. Booking not shown live, but later in the game.
85' YC SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/90d8d4
Same explanation by referee like the SPA in 11', this time on the other side. Very likely soft contact from behind, but enough for a foul.
86' Possible YC for reckless challenge
https://streambug.org/cv/b84793
90'+1 Disallowed goal for a previous foul
https://streambug.org/cv/d9510f
The most discussed decision of the game, not influencing final score. At first we must say good that he waited for the possible goal scored, then he whistled what he had assessed before. I think the action by Inter player could have been assessed as acceptable, but no mistake by VAR in supporting referee as there were elements. Very likely, as it happens very often for such incidents, he had a quite different perception of the action.
It would be maybe too easy to say that all the assessment by Kuipers about Pinheiro should be about the disallowed goal, but indeed apart from that, the game was never challenging and the referee was not tested. The card management was at an expected level, with good and also well-explained decisions about the SPA. Not a big issue about the potential yellow cards he could have given in addition, so I think most of the de-briefing with committee members surely concerned the final decision by Portuguese referee in San Siro.
11' IMO it's DOGSO. Enough space to cut inside and de Vrij too far behind to cover it.
ReplyDeleteBut not a 100% one for which you can ask VAR intervention
DeleteWell, okay, but the gestures are also wrong. He's not going to the corner. His touch is pretty much perpendicular to the goal line and obviously a first touch is not going to be perfect anyway. The attacker is going toward goal and an argument against that on direction is wrong. If you want to say a defender might cover or challenge before a scoring chance occurred, that's different.
DeleteAnd I really dislike how we've moved everything to "okay, but you can't expect a VAR intervention." Fine. I'll stipulate that here. But it still doesn't make it good refereeing. He probably got this wrong. And he certainly got the reason wrong. Just because it wasn't clearly wrong enough to warrant VAR intervention doesn't mean we can't criticize the referee's decision-making.
Here other clips from Kovacs game
ReplyDelete37' dissent
https://streambug.org/cv/6b153c
41' Possible YC for reckless
https://streambug.org/cv/937770
In my opinion, a card to be issued.
56' Second YC for reckless and another YC for dissent
https://streambug.org/cv/af01f5
A YC you can give but not a 100% mandatory one, if you ask me we are in a grey area. Th soft contact with ball before and a low intensity can justify NO CARD. YC not a mistake, though.
66' Holding, possible YC for LoR
https://streambug.org/cv/94f8b5
Very long action, at first player grabbed then shirt pulling. Definitely enough to assess this one as lack of respect, missed YC by the Romanian.
Second YC is not a mistake, however he should have realized that player was already booked, stopping immediately the play, to give more credibility to the decision he took.
Then, if we compare the given second YC to the missing ones in 41' and 66' for me both very clear, we can say that referee surely didn't make some best choices regarding discplinary management, but we all know it's not easy. He hadn't been perfect in his previous appearance in Milan, you surely rememebr the clips posted and discussed, I think one could have agreed with committee about another assignment, but now I think for 2024 his UEFA games can maybe considered as over. I want also to say that if he got this game in Munich, we know and we hugely discussed that, it was also and maybe mostly because there weren't other options unless Oliver. Committee didn't want to use Oliver and here you have Kovacs. Not a discussion about the merits of the referee, but about the committee management, for sure they should change something.