Friday, 20 December 2024

UEFA Referees Categories for the second part of 2024-25 season: João Pinheiro POR and Maurizio Mariani ITA Promoted to Elite

New updated of the UEFA categories for the second part of current season (01/01/2025 - 30/06/2025). New FIFA referees from 2025 have been added.



Promoted to Elite:

MEN
Maurizio Mariani ITA
João Pedro da Silva Pinheiro POR

WOMEN
Olatz Rivera Olmedo ESP
Silvia Gasperotti ITA
Désirée Grundbacher SUI 

Promoted to Category 1:

MEN
Elchin Masiyev AZE
Mohammed Al-Emara FIN
Goga Kikacheishvili GEO
Sander van der Eijk NED
Vasileios Fotias GRE 

WOMEN
Olivia Tschon AUT
Caroline Lanssens BEL 
Nanna Løf Morch Andersen DEN
Maïka Vanderstichel FRA

PDF documents:

MEN:
LINK

WOMEN:
LINK

FUTSAL:
LINK

61 comments:

  1. Did I saw good, without demotion?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No demotions. The announced revolution was a bluff.

      Delete
    2. I think change of the system of CL, UEL, UCL was helpful. A lot of games - a lot of opportunities for referees to improve and save their statuses.

      Delete
  2. Orsato retired, Mariani in
    Soares Dias retired, Pinheiro in
    Kulbakov retired, nobody in - lack of referees from Belarus

    Only interesting is that after Hategan's retirement Petrescu stays in first group

    Politics only - federations (specially big federations like Italy and Portugal) must be satisfied.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The main argument regarding Mariani and Pinheiro promotions is indeed that both federations needed an Elite. Portugal without referees in that category after Soares Dias retirement and Italy with only two referees for a rather long time. Mariani expected, but he failed several times in past.
      So one could draw the conclusion that choices were made only based on that and there wasn't any technical process about the other referees. That's nevertheless strange for names like Petrescu who ensured quite good couple of games...

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    2. And why did the committee members even observe Rumsas and Petrescu if they did not want to promote them anyway? I mean, they showed good/satisfactory performances in their games (definitely better performances than Mariani), so what could they have done to be promoted? Belong to another country??

      Delete
    3. The only explanation is that time will tell and maybe these choices will follow in future.

      Delete
    4. Boss, among the three Italian Elite referees (Guida, Massa and Mariani), which one do you think will be at WC 2026?

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    5. Impossible to say now because in my opinion the form of the referee will count a lot, we are still far away from the event.
      2025 will certainly be decisive as a calendar year, especially in the second part. The performances, especially international, but also domestic, will say a lot.
      It is difficult to bet on a name also because objectively there is no clear gap between the candidates, or at least in my opinion between two out of three.
      In fact, I see Mariani far from the other two in all cases, but obviously he should not be ruled out at all. On the other hand, I certainly exclude that there could be two Italians, the current level doesn't guarantee this option.
      Since Guida was called up to the European Championships by surprise, as we know, anything could happen even in WC terms.
      What I can say once again is that I would like to see a referee with the personality, approach, desire to decide and eagerness of Guida, mixed with the technique and more analytical ability of Massa in terms of reading the game. If I take one of them alone, something seems to be missing, but the most important aspects for a referee belong to Guida in my opinion. Guida who occasionally runs into a poor performance as he did for Atlético - Lille, even if one could then say that it all was related to just a penalty call, while Massa's low moments are perhaps a little longer and are made up of overall subpar performances, without anything too striking, but always with that lack of desire to make decisions and "shout" on the pitch, not only metaphorically. But that's my point of view... we'll see. Certainly, given how things started, the plot should have been Massa at EURO 2024 and maybe Mariani at FIFA WC 2026 (Guida originally out from everyhing due to several physical problems in crucial moments of his career), but now everything is mixed up, and Mariani, a new UEFA international Elite, at the moment seems frankly the one with the least chances.

      Delete
  3. What a disappointing re-categorization !!!!!! No demotion but only partial replacing. Pinheiro and Mariani are the pure substitutes of Soares Dias and Orsato. Really disappointed for Rumsas and Petrescu, I guess they would have deserved it. Does it make sense to work only in the promotion direction ? Doe sit make sense to keep into Elite Karasev, Sidiropolous, Grinfeeld, Jovanovic and Hz Hz ? Maybe it's just matter of salary, elite has probably an higher wage and nobody want to impact on it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Between 2021 and 2023, Jovanovic was in high demand for big UCL games in the group stages, and sometimes in the later knockout stages. However, something went wrong in the technical department and he was unable to maintain the prestige he had before, so much so that he was not called up for the Euros, as well as for the Paris Olympics. And the situation became more difficult after he failed the fitness test before a Nations League match and is now out of UEFA competitions, so it makes no sense to keep him in the Elite category.

      Delete
  4. New UEFA referees (Men). Very long list.
    We have the new Cakir as well.

    Men
    Artem Gasparyan ARM
    Jakob Semler AUT
    Simon Bourdeaud'hui BEL
    Anton Lashuk BLR
    Mateo Erceg CRO
    Konstantinos Fellas CYP
    Karel Rouček CZE
    Sam Barrott ENG
    Karl Koppel EST
    Romain Lissorgue FRA
    Mathieu Vernice FRA
    Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
    Giorgi Avazashvili GEO
    Florian Badstübner GER
    Matthias Jöllenbeck GER
    Seth Charles Sheehan-Galia GIB
    Alexandros Tsakalidis GRE
    Márton Rúsz HUN
    Johann Ingi Jonsson ISL
    Gal Levi ISR
    Matteo Marcenaro ITA
    Matteo Marchetti ITA
    Igor Bosca MDA
    Vlatko Ilioski MKD
    Marius Hansen Grøtta NOR
    Daniel Higraff NOR
    Patryk Gryckiewicz POL
    Wojciech Myć POL
    João António Ferreira Gonçalves POR
    Szabolcs Roland Kovacs ROU
    Rares George Vidican ROU
    Sergey Cheban RUS
    Ross Shearer Hardie SCO
    Sven Wolfensberger SUI
    Oscar Johnson SWE
    Oguzhan Çakir TUR
    Mehme Türkmen TUR
    Klym Zabroda UKR
    Aaron Wyn Jones WAL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For (ENG): Sam Barrot gets the badge of FIFA and Craig Pawson leaves.

      Delete
    2. Who dropped out of the list for Romain and Vernice to make it to 25?

      Delete
    3. @Ref Fif Gaillouste and Buquet

      Delete
    4. Dates of birth of the new FIFA refs, at least those I could find:

      Artem Gasparyan (ARM, 1993)
      Jakob Semler (AUT, 1991)
      Simon Bourdeaud'hui (BEL, 1996)
      Anton Lashuk (BLR, 1992)
      Mateo Erceg (CRO, 1996)
      Konstantinos Fellas (CYP, ???)
      Karel Rouček (CZE, 1996)
      Samuel Barrott (ENG, 1993)
      Karl Koppel (EST, 1994)
      Romain Lissorgue (FRA, 1991)
      Mathieu Vernice (FRA, 1993)
      Aleko Aptsiauri (GEO, 1990)
      Giorgi Avazashvili (GEO, 1988)
      Florian Badstübner (GER, 1991)
      Matthias Jöllenbeck (GER, 1987)
      Seth Galia (GIB, 1999)
      Alexandros Tsakalidis (GRE, 1993)
      Márton Rúsz (HUN, 1994)
      Jóhann Ingi Jónsson (ISL, 1985)
      Gal Levi (ISR, ???)
      Matteo Marcenaro (ITA, 1992)
      Matteo Marchetti (ITA, 1989)
      Igor Boşca (MDA, 1989)
      Vlatko Ilioski (MKD, 1993)
      Marius Hansen Grøtta (NOR, 1992)
      Daniel Higraff (NOR, 1992)
      Patryk Gryckiewicz (POL, 1995)
      Wojciech Myć (POL, 1989)
      João Gonçalves (POR, 1991)
      Szabolcs Kovács (ROU, 1988)
      Rares Vidican (ROU, 1988)
      Sergey Cheban (RUS, 1990)
      Ross Hardie (SCO, ???)
      Sven Wolfensberger (SUI, 1989)
      Oscar Johnson (SWE, 1993)
      Oğuzhan Çakır (TUR, 1998)
      Mehmet Türkmen (TUR, 1992)
      Klym Zabroda (UKR, 1991)
      Aaron Wyn Jones (WAL, ???)

      @Ref Fif - Ruddy Buquet and Pierre Gaillouste have left the French list. Buquet is already 47, and Gaillouste was domestically demoted to Ligue 2 despite attending U17 EURO.

      Referees that get replaced by newcomers:

      Gasparyan - N/D, seems like Armenia got a 4th slot.
      Semler - Lechner, even though he retired internationally at the end of 2023
      Boudeaud'hui - Lardot
      Lashuk - Kulbakov
      Erceg - Jovic
      Fellas - Argyrou
      Roucek - Petrik
      Barrott - Pawson
      Koppel - Tohver
      Lissorgue & Vernice - Buquet & Gaillouste
      Aptsiauri & Avazahsvili - One of them replaces Kvirikashvili, and Georgia wins a 4th slot like Armenia did.
      Badstübner & Jöllenbeck - Dankert & Dingert
      Galia - Barcelo
      Tsakalidis - Diamantopoulos & Manouchos have left the list, so Greece has now one free slot.
      Rúsz - Vad
      Levi - Reinshreiber
      Marcenaro & Marchetti - Orsato & Di Bello
      Bosca - No replacement, either 4th slot won by Moldova or free slot occupied
      Ilioski - Stavrev
      Grotta & Higraff - Steen & Amland
      Gryckiewicz & Myc - Frankowski & Stefanski
      Gonçalves - Soares Dias
      Kovács & Vidican - Hategan & Bîrsan
      Cheban - No replacement, ninth (!?) slot won by Russia
      Hardie - Collum
      Wolfensberger - San (becomes specific VAR?)
      Johnson - Ekberg
      Çakir & Türkmen - Bitigen & Simsek
      Zabroda - Romanov
      Jones - Jenkins

      Delete
    5. @Estref and @Quilava
      Thank you!

      Delete
    6. @Quilava Thank you for taking your time making that list. Much appreciated! Just one small thing, Karl Koppel (EST) replaces Juri Frischer (1984) and not Kristo Tohver :D

      Delete
    7. Cheban (RUS) replaces 51-years-old Bezborodov

      Delete
  5. Hello ,I want to ask where I can see the list for the new assistant referee ,thanks !

    ReplyDelete
  6. And from Slovakia Another unacceptable proposal (This time Marhefka - a total of 4 in recent years).

    ReplyDelete
  7. Edina Alves 🇧🇷 was invited to UEFA's winter training course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She should then be the CONMEBOL guest at Women's EURO 2025, we could dare to say.

      Delete
  8. Pawson has done more European games in the past year than most other English FIFA referee's so it could have been his choice to step down or maybe it was down to his age. No surprise that Barrott is his replacement despite him only making his Premier League debut last year. Burgin also added to the women's list because of Welch retiring. She did the recent Chelsea vs Man City WSL game so probably the expected choice.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dabanovic Nikola is an elite category, but the handicap witch is called montenegro did not allow him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry, but I genuinely don't understand why Dabanovic has such a big following on this blog. I've never been convinced by him in any game I've watched him, never really fully accepted by the players as well not particulary great in technical aspect either, certainly not at an elite level. But the same could be said for referees like Sidiropoulos and Grinfeeld, who are still hanging around after years of poor and below expected level performances, especially in the Greek's case...

      Delete
    2. He had several excellent appointments and failed the test. It has happened to many others before and will happen to many others in the future

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    3. Nothing to do with his nationality just his performances were poor. Liverpool vs Bologna was a catastrophe, in such an easy game played in good spirit he issued lots of unnecessary yc, some of them weren't even fouls!

      Delete
  10. Not a good start for the Dutch referees this weekend either. An unbelievable big mistake by VAR Van der Laan.
    https://x.com/ESPNnl/status/1870220766555582718

    Immediately after the match, which ended 1-1, the KNVB informed the PEC that the offside decision had been a error.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course, even if the goal had been allowed, there would have been plenty of criticism that the ball had not stopped. Either way, it was not a good mood.

      Delete
    2. Referee could have solved this one by asking for a more accurate execution of corner kick, ball was indeed in movement. But, having said that, VAR can't commit this mistake, honestly!
      And what about the others? AVAR? Field officials? I don't understand why when such blatant mistakes happen, nobody has the courage to reflect and intervene, because it's simply impossible that all don't know / remember about the rule.

      Delete
  11. My expectations was that Radu Marian Petrescu from Romania should be promoted, but it doesn't happen. Any clues why?

    ReplyDelete
  12. GULF CUP

    Saturday 21 December 2024

    Group A
    18:00 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
    KUWAIT - OMAN
    Referee: Khalid At-Turais (KSA)
    Assistant Referee 1: Muhammad Al-Akbari (KSA)
    Assistant Referee 2: Abdulrahim Ash-Shammari (KSA)
    Fourth Official: Ammar Mahfoudh (BHR)
    Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Ash-Shahri (KSA)
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jumpei Iida (JPN)

    Group A
    20:00 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
    QATAR - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
    Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
    Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica (ROU)
    Assistant Referee 2: Ferenc Tunyogi (ROU)
    Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
    Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ashour (EGY)
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)

    Sunday 22 December 2024

    Group B
    15:25 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
    IRAQ - YEMEN
    Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT)
    Assistant Referee 1: Talib Al-Marri (QAT)
    Assistant Referee 2: Saud Al-Maqalah (QAT)
    Fourth Official: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
    Video Assistant Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT)
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Haythem Guirat (TUN)

    Group B
    18:30 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
    SAUDI ARABIA - BAHRAIN
    Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (KUW)
    Assistant Referee 1: Abdulhadi Al-Anizi (KUW)
    Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Sadiq Abbas (KUW)
    Fourth Official: Qasim Al-Hatmi (OMA)
    Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Ubaid Khadim (UAE)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All games should be available live here:
      https://www.youtube.com/@AlkassTVSports/streams

      Delete
    2. Tuesday 24 December 2024

      Group A
      15:25 CET - Kuwait City (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
      OMAN - QATAR
      Referee: Muhannad Qasim Sarai (IRQ)
      Assistant Referee 1: Wathiq Mudallal As-Suwaidi (IRQ)
      Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Sabah Al-Baghdadi (IRQ)
      Fourth Official: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
      Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ahmad Kadhim Rustam (IRQ)

      Group A
      18:30 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
      UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - KUWAIT
      Referee: Dahane Beida (MTN)
      Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Mahmoud Youssouf (MTN)
      Assistant Referee 2: Brahim Salem H'made (MTN)
      Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
      Video Assistant Referee: Haythem Guirat (TUN)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Ash-Shahri (KSA)

      Wednesday 25 December 2024

      Group B
      15:25 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
      YEMEN - SAUDI ARABIA
      Referee: Qasim Matar Al-Hatmi (OMA)
      Assistant Referee 1: Nasr Salim Ambusaidi (OMA)
      Assistant Referee 2: Hamad Talib Al-Ghafari (OMA)
      Fourth Official: Umar Muhammad Al-Ali (UAE)
      Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Ubaid Khadim Muhammad (UAE)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)

      Group B
      18:30 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
      BAHRAIN - IRAQ
      Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
      Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
      Assistant Referee 2: İbrahim Çağlar Uyarcan (TUR)
      Fourth Official: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
      Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ashour (EGY)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jumpei Iida (JPN)

      Delete
    3. Friday 27 December 2024

      Group A
      15:30 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
      KUWAIT - QATAR
      Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
      Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
      Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Akram Zerhouni (ALG)
      Fourth Official: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
      Video Assistant Referee: Abdullah Ash-Shahri (KSA)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Haythem Guirat (TUN)

      Group A
      15:30 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
      UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OMAN
      Referee: Ammar Ibrahim Mahfudh (BHR)
      Assistant Referee 1: Muhammad Ja'afar Salman (BHR)
      Assistant Referee 2: Abdullah Muhsin Ar-Ruwaimi (BHR)
      Fourth Official: Khalid At-Turais (KSA)
      Video Assistant Referee: Jumpei Iida (JPN)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ahmad Kadhim Rustam (IRQ)

      Saturday 28 December 2024

      Group B
      15:30 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
      IRAQ - SAUDI ARABIA
      Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
      Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica (ROU)
      Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi (ROU)
      Fourth Official: Ahmad Al-Ali (KUW)
      Video Assistant Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ashour (EGY)

      Group B
      15:30 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
      BAHRAIN - YEMEN
      Referee: Umar Muhammad Al-Ali (UAE)
      Assistant Referee 1: Muhammad Ahmad Al-Hammadi (UAE)
      Assistant Referee 2: Jassim Abdullah Al-Ali (UAE)
      Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT)
      Video Assistant Referee: Fu Ming (CHN)
      Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Ubaid Khadim Muhammad (UAE)

      Delete
  13. Let me wish all of you a joyful Christmas. Thanks for this wonderful blog

    ReplyDelete
  14. Merry Christmas to all analysts. And to the English, a great Boxing Day.

    ReplyDelete
  15. IFFHS ranking of 2024
    https://www.iffhs.com/posts/4082

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As expected, this is essentially a reflection of the EURO: Among the top 8 are all 7 referees from the quarter-finals onwards as well as World Cup final referee Szymon Marciniak. IFFHS seems to be oriented towards the currently most present names or shares 100% of UEFA's assignment policy.

      Delete
    2. I think there can be no doubt about Letexier winner of this award for 2024. For everything he has shown, the goals achieved, and the performance on the pitch.
      A key moment that frames what would then have followed for the young Frenchman is in my opinion the penalty given in Lazio - Bayern last February, with a red card for a serious foul play, all assessed with a sprint and an excellent positioning. In my opinion, that's where the UEFA committee's further enthusiasm for him started. We never see a call of a penalty for DOGSO with a further assessment about the nature of the foul. You should wonder why. It's also interesting to see that Vincic is second-placed while according to many people Orsato was the best and he would have deserved the EURO final.

      In general terms, about the IFFHS, we have been following the assignment of this award for a very long time now, since the previous blog, and we can only applaud the progress that has been made by the jury in making it at least credible. In fact, until not too many years ago, the rankings were reported with wrong names, there were referees who literally had done nothing in that specific year and the assignment of the award with the attached ranking was often a ridiculous thing. Nevertheless, always with a big credit in mass media.
      I think that in recent times they have asked and invited experts about refereeing, to produce at least a correct ranking from the point of view of information and the historical moment, but it is clear that asking to go beyond (that is, merely evaluating by performance) is very complex for those who are not familiar with the refereeing system.
      Such journalists and all involved in the award can easily think that being appointed for a final of a major tournament is enough to be considered the best, now we know (obviously, unless Letexier and other few names) that it has not always been like this.
      But, regardless, in the evaluation of an alleged best referee someone, even very expert, could say: even if the referee is not this talent, the appointments for finals and top matches must still count in terms of palmarès, to select him. Here, on this aspect, the debate is open.

      As for the women's ranking, afer many years of Frappart winner, the choice of Welch seems obvious, with the Champions League final and then a retirement at the pinnacle of career, probably Olofsson will follow in second place. We'll see.

      Delete
    3. I agree with Chefren that no one will have a reason to complain about very obvious inconsistencies in this year's result. In detail, of course, each of us will always make a different order. I just wonder which "experts" these could be who contribute to this ranking and who have an overview of ALL assignments of ALL referees in ALL competitions of a year. When I look at this ranking and consider that it (just) consists of Szymon Marciniak and all the EURO referees from the quarter-finals onwards under the top 8, I am not sure, for example, whether Danny Makkelie would be among them (instead of one of the others) if he had "just" been called up for a quarter-final, a semi-final or the final. Because Chefren mentioned Daniele Orsato, one could also question which criteria are fundamentally relevant: If the "overall package" including fitness and English skills is evaluated, he should not even be in the top 10, if you ask me ...

      Delete
    4. Big names have/will retire in the women's game. Foster seems to be quiet could follow Welch in coaching with the women League england

      Delete
    5. Obviously referees from continents other than Europe are very underrated by this poll. Only two South Americans in the top ten, the other 8 are from Europe. I mean, Christian Tello should be at least in the top 10… right?!

      Delete
    6. I would have rated Facundo Tello stronger than Christian Tello. But yes, with the claim of IFFHS we also accept Christian Tello among the top 10.

      Delete
    7. I prefer Facundo Tello over Sampaio. The Argentine referee's performance in the Copa Libertadores final was not considered splendid, but it also did not interfere in the result of the match.

      Delete
  16. Almost all observers for MD7 and 8 have been already appointed when there is still a month before the next games. I wouldn't have expected that. Maybe committee will make some changes if needed.

    MD7

    Atalanta - Sturm Graz
    Jan W. Wegereef NED

    Monaco - Aston Villa
    Lutz Michael Fröhlich GER

    Slovan Bratislava - Stuttgart
    Drago Kos SVN

    Club Brugge - Juventus
    Cüneyt Çakır TUR

    Atlético Madrid - Bayer Leverkusen
    Terje Hauge NOR

    Benfica - Barcelona
    Costas Kapitanis CYP

    Liverpool - Lille
    Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP

    Bologna - Borussia Dortmund
    Lucilio Batista POR

    Crvena Zvezda - PSV
    Pascal Pierre Garibian FRA

    Leipzig - Sporting CP
    Bertrand Layec FRA

    Shakhtar Donetsk - Brest
    Sokol Jareci ALB

    Real Madrid - Salzburg
    Jon Skjervold NOR

    PSG - Manchester City
    Edgar Steinborn GER

    Sparta Praha - Inter
    Uno Tutk EST

    Arsenal - Dinamo Zagreb
    João Ferreira POR

    Celtic - Young Boys
    N/A

    Feyenoord - Bayern
    Mehmet Murat Ilgaz TUR

    Milan - Girona
    Jørn West Larsen DEN

    MD8

    Sporting CP - Bologna
    Levan Paniashvili GEO

    Young Boys - Crvena Zvezda
    Haim Jakov ISR

    PSV - Liverpool
    N/A

    Stuttgart - PSG
    Marian Ruzbarsky SVK

    Sturm Graz - Leipzig
    Jon Skjervold NOR

    Manchester City - Club Brugge
    Stefan Johannesson SWE

    Bayern - Slovan Bratislava
    Hugh Dallas SCO

    Inter - Monaco
    Thomas Einwaller AUT

    Borussia Dortmund - Shakhtar Donetsk
    N/A

    Barcelona - Atalanta
    Darko Čeferin SVN

    Leverkusen - Sparta Praha
    Stefano Podeschi SMR

    Juventus - Benfica
    N/A

    Dinamo Zagreb - Milan
    N/A

    Salzburg - Atlético Madrid
    Karen Nalbandyan ARM

    Lille - Feyenoord
    N/A

    Aston Villa - Celtic
    N/A

    Girona - Arsenal
    Vladimir Petrov UKR

    Brest - Real Madrid
    Emil Bozinovski MKD

    It seems as with the update of categories already made, and therefore less direct observations by committee members, they made some very early choices, allowing a certain flexibility.
    7 appointments are missing, 1 from MD7 (in that case in my opinion possible debut) and 6 from MD8. Among the latters, of course Juventus and Milan, both in delicate positions differently from Inter and Atalanta. The classic management by Rosetti. It will be interesting to see when such assignments will be made. It's incredible once again to point out the difference between Italian teams and the others.
    Also, it's the first time for an observer (Jon Skjervold NOR) to get two games on two consecutive matchdays when they are so close, but of course absolutely possible as option.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The referee Craig Pawson , the assistant referees Natalie and Sian Massey Ellis leave the FIFA International .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting that both PL assistants Massey-Ellis and Aspinall have left the list. Although they've both done the UWCL final and been to major tournaments so they couldn't really achieve much more

      Delete
  18. https://streambug.org/cv/9be1c2
    About Taylor in Newcastle - Aston Villa, what about Newcastle behavior before the reaction by opponent? In my opinion you can read the same malice in this action. Attempt to hit opponent. Then Aston Villa player reacted and OK RC. But I'm in trouble to accept nothing and then RC. Maybe even two RCs were possible.

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    Replies
    1. Thats a tricky situation indeed.
      I agree that both players should have been punished in some way. RC seems very very harsh to me and I would have preferred YC for both players because I think both actions were not 100% deliberate.
      However these situations are always extremely difficult for the ref and even the VAR as you never know the players' intentions.

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    2. I think Taylor was 100% correct. The Newcastle player's action can be excused as he is off-balance and falling down, as can the contact by the Aston Villa player's left foot. The Aston Villa player's action with his right foot, though, is the key one: clear brutality, digging his studs into his opponent's back. Good on-field spot in my opinion and the right disciplinary action.

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  19. Watching pieces of AC Milan vs AS Roma, but I witnessed a very poor display by Fabbri during tha last minutes before HT. In 40. a (too) ferocious Roma tackle allowed but in in counter attack after penalty area incident a much cleaner challenge punished with free kick and Yc. And the penalty area incident (43.) IMHO should have resulted in a penalty for Milan. Late tackle, defender not playing the ball and sufficient impact to bring Milan-player down. I was expecting an Ofr there as well (given the sometimes ludicrous interventions in Serie A). All in all poor acceptance because of inadequate and inconsistent decision making.

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    1. Big discussions about the possible penalty.
      It is reported that the assessment wastackle ended and then attacker made a movement causing the impact (so, normal contact of play), but in my opinion it's different and I agree with you. Maybe not a clear and obvious mistake exactly because it wasn't a very "direct" contact, but world of football can expect a penalty here. Defender taking a big risk with that tackle, then of course the action shouldn't be deliberate to assess it as careless, and this was for me. By far more penalty than the very soft ones we see here indeed, but many people with different idea.
      Video:
      https://caulse.com/v/20599

      About the rest, this was not a game for Fabbri. The former FIFA referee with rather a poor career got this game just because there are many big matches on these days and the next week (including Italian Super Cup), Rocchi just didn't have names for: Lazio - Atalanta, Juventus - Fiorentina, Milan - Roma, and the next ones in a week, three Super Cup games and two important clashes in serie A.
      Choice made also because both teams are without close goals at momennt and this was the least important game under this aspect, looking at the standings.

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    2. Imo 43' is a clear penalty and I'm surprised a OFR didn't follow, especially by Italian standards

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  20. 2024 GULF CUP - Semifinals

    Tuesday 31 December 2024

    15:30 CET - Kuwait CIty (Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Stadium)
    OMAN - SAUDI ARABIA
    Referee: Halil Umut Meler TUR
    Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy TUR
    Assistant Referee 2: İbrahim Çağlar Uyarcan TUR
    Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
    Video Assistant Referee: Jumpei Iida JPN
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Ubaid Khadim Muhammad UAE

    18:45 CET - Ardhiyah (Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium)
    BAHRAIN - KUWAIT
    Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
    Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica ROU
    Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
    Fourth Official: Muhannad Qasim Issa Sarai IRQ
    Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Ashour EGY
    Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ahmad Kadhim Rustam IRQ

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  21. Anyone know why jarred gillett has not refereed a match in 3 months?

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    Replies
    1. He has been injured, however he has referees two championship games over Christmas and has a premier league game on Saturday, Aston Villa vs Leicester

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