2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, MD2, games to be played on 25 March 2025.
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Group I18:00 CET - Chișinău (Stadionul Zimbru)
MOLDOVA - ESTONIA
Referee: Lawrence Visser BEL
Assistant Referee 1: Rien Vanyzere BEL
Assistant Referee 2: Thibaud Nijssen BEL
Fourth Official: Lothar D’Hondt BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Jan Boterberg BEL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
FIFA Referee Assessor: Thomas Einwaller AUT
FIFA Match Commissioner: Kari Haapiainen FIN
Group I
20:45 CET - Debrecen, HUN (Nagyerdei Stadion)
ISRAEL - NORWAY
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies ENG
Fourth Official: Samuel Barrott ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Salisbury ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Andrew Madley ENG
FIFA Referee Assessor: Alain Hamer LUX
FIFA Match Commissioner: Josip Tomaško CRO
Group J
20:45 CET - Skopje (Nacionalna arena “Todor Proeski”)
NORTH MACEDONIA - WALES
Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger FRA
Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Bastien Dechepy FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Éric Wattellier FRA
FIFA Referee Assessor: Stefano Podeschi SMR
FIFA Match Commissioner: Łukasz Sojski POL
Group J
20:45 CET - Vaduz (Rheinpark Stadion)
LIECHTENSTEIN - KAZAKHSTAN
Referee: John Beaton SCO
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane SCO
Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie SCO
Fourth Official: David Dickinson SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Clancy SCO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jonas Hedegaard Hansen DEN
FIFA Referee Assessor: Volodymyr Petrov UKR
FIFA Match Commissioner: Olivier Chovaux FRA
Group L
20:45 CET - Nikšić (Gradski stadion Nikšić)
MONTENEGRO - FAROE ISLANDS
Referee: Allard Lindhout NED
Assistant Referee 1: Rogier Honig NED
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED
Fourth Official: Sander van der Eijk NED
Video Assistant Referee: Jeroen Manschot NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Richard Martens NED
FIFA Referee Assessor: Viktor Kassai HUN
FIFA Match Commissioner: Rudolphe Mannaerts BEL
Group L
20:45 CET - Faro-Loulé, POR (Estádio Algarve)
GIBRALTAR - CZECHIA
Referee: Horațiu Mircea Feșnic ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Valentin Gabriel Avram ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Alexandru Cerei ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Kovacs ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hațegan ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adrian Sorin Costreie ROU
FIFA Referee Assessor: Marián Ružbarský SVK
FIFA Match Commissioner: Peadar Ryan IRL
OT: Senior international debut on Tuesday for Matthew MacDermid (SCO) in charge of Sweden Northern Ireland friendly
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Matthew on his senior international debut. 👏 🍾
DeleteWhy are all the friendly appointments not listed on this site?
DeleteMarch 25th
DeleteAzerbaijan - Belarus
Referee Aleko Aptsiauri GEO
AR David Akhvlediani GEO Davit Gabisonia GEO
Fourth official: Tural Kurbanov AZE
Sweden - Nothern Ireland
Referee: Matthew MacDermid SCO
AR: Douglas Potter SCO Christopher Rae SCO
Fourth official: Calum Scott SCO
Switzerland - Luxembourg
Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB
AR: Denis Rexha ALB Ridiger Çokaj ALB
Fourth official: Eldorjan Hamiti ALB
Sorry, didn't have time to post everything, I thought that due to he very minimum number of friendlies, it was not really needed.
DeleteNext time will post as it happned in past.
Thanks MARIO for posting.
@ Scotref Friendly appointments used to be listed here. Thanks @Mario .
ReplyDeleteAsian WCQ refs today:
ReplyDeleteJPNKSA: Ahmad Al-Ali (KUW)
CHNAUS: Mooud Bonyadifard (IRN)
KORJOR: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB)
IDNBHR: Sadullo Gulmurodi (TJK)
KGZQAT: Nazmi Nasaruddin (MAS)
IRNUZB: Ahmed Al-Kaf (OMA)
PRKUAE: Mohammed Al-Hoaish (KSA)
KUWOMA: Salman Falahi (QAT)
PLEIRQ: Khaled Al-Turais (KSA)
CAF Qualifiers MD6:
DeleteKENGAB: Mutaz Ibrahim (LBY)
SWZMRI: Younoussa Camara (GUI)
NAMEQG: Mohamed Maarouf (EGY)
CTAMLI: Godfrey Nkhakananga (MWI)
LBRSTP: Mohamed Moussa (NIG)
GNBBFA: Samuel Uwikunda (RWA)
MADGHA: Issa Sy (SEN)
CIVGAM: Akech Malong (SSD)
TUNMWI: Louis Houngnandande (BEN)
ETHDJI: Luxulo Badi (RSA)
UGAGUI: Jean-Jacques Ndala (COD)
ANGCPV: Moustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
RWALES: Antoine Effa Essouma (CMR)
NGAZIM: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (ERI)
BENRSA: Dahane Beida (MTN)
Challenging game for Visser in Moldova.
ReplyDeleteStraight RC for DOGSO after 5 minutes in first half:
https://streamin.me/v/4c5ea792
Second YC for reckless, I think you can support (contact from behind, a bit exaggerated by fouled player, but maybe not 100% all people agreeing on that):
https://streamin.me/v/0044427e
Wouldn't have been seen as clear mistake to whistle without second YC.
Too harsh for 2YC. Any clear replays showing the ball completely in for EST second goal?
DeleteI felt his body language was poor for the 2nd goal incident
DeleteOften here, the theoretical trumping the practical amazes me.
DeleteIn the 2YC situation, he fouls the opponent in the right thigh with a challenge that is from behind when the ball is bouncing near the chest on the other side of the body. Reckless is easily justifiable, even if (and though) the attacker helped cause the situation by shielding the ball well. More to the point, though, Moldova went down a man 5' in and they KNOW that this is a situation where a second caution could be justified. They are down 0-2 at home in a WCQ. And the excuse for not sending him off is, what?
It might not be a technical clear mistake to whistle without a caution. And it may be "too harsh" on viewing in a hotel ballroom during an instructional setting. But that is 100% always a second caution in that moment at that place with those circumstances and with that foul. Not giving that as a 2YC is referee malpractice and causes nightmares for the next 45 minutes.
OT: four incidents in the second half for Salman Falahi (QAT) in Kuwait - Oman. Sorry I don’t have clips of these incidents, just the minutes:
ReplyDelete67’ penalty given to Kuwait, overturned after OFR
74’ potential DOGSO committed by Kuwait. Offside given on the field (looks incorrect to me but maybe too close to overturn if using the “MLS-style” eyeball test - does anyone know AFC use lines for offside VAR decisions?). Difficult also to see if there was enough for a foul too. Ultimately, decision stands.
78’ potential holding penalty for Oman, not given, no review. In my opinion this is a clear penalty.
88’ potential VC by Oman #11, foul and no card on the field, no review.
Crazy ending in Brisards game. Two added time goals.
ReplyDeleteOFC WC26 QUALIFICATION
ReplyDeleteFINAL (3rd) ROUND:
Semi-finals: 21.03.2025.
h. 15:10 (Auckland Time) NEW CALEDONIA - TAHITI
CK KAWANA-WAUGH (NZL) - Referee
Isaac TREVIS (NZL) - 1st Assistant referee
Edward COOK (NZL) - 2nd Assistant referee
Veer SINGH (FIJ) - 4th Official
h. 19:00 (Auckland Time) NEW ZEALAND- FIJI
Norbert HAUATA (TAH) - Referee
Bertrand BRIAL (NCL) - 1st Assistant referee
Jeffery SOLODIA (SOL) - 2nd Assistant referee
David YAREBOINEN (PNG) - 4th Official
Final 24.03.2025. h. 19:00 (Auckland Time)
NEW ZEALAND- NEW CALEDONIA
Ben AUKWAI (SOL) - Referee
Folio MOEAKI (TGA) - 1st Assistant referee
Malaetala SALANOA (SAM) - 2nd Assistant referee
David YAREBOINEN (PNG) - 4th Official
After the decisive (and viral) mistake in women's Clásico last week, RFEF has officially asked FIFA for permission to implement the FVS system (i.e. the video review system based on coach challenges FIFA has tried in recent tournaments) in Women's LaLiga next season.
ReplyDeleteMateo Busquets Ferrer will referee the Sevillan derby on Sunday night, 72h after having handled tonight (fairly well) the rescheduled Barcelona vs Osasuna match. First time since 2018 a non-FIFA referee is appointed to this derby (last one was Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo, and it was a farewell prize in his last year before retiring due to age)
ReplyDeleteThis along with his appointment (and good performance) for the Madrid derby in September last year pretty much all but confirms he will inherit Soto Grado's FIFA badge in January'26.
Some interesting incidents in BarçaOsasuna under the refereeing point of view
Delete08' - No action against holding by Pablo Ibáñez (Osasuna)
https://streambug.org/cv/7c3772
18' - Penalty awarded for tripping; foul by GK or attacker initiating the contact?
https://streambug.org/cv/a52225
19' - Penalty ordered by VAR to be retaken due to encroachment by defending player
https://streambug.org/cv/bd23d2
38' - YC Catena (Osasuna) for SPA holding, possible DOGSO
https://streambug.org/cv/e8ac28
40' - YC Eric García (Barcelona) for reckless tackle
https://streambug.org/cv/d9fa33
43' - Blatant kicking the ball after whistle by Jon Moncayola ignored
https://streambug.org/cv/4376ae
45+3' - Offside interpretation
https://streambug.org/cv/958eb9
47' - Possible 2YC Eric García (Barcelona) for SPA holding
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/29a119
50' - YC Juan Cruz (Osasuna) for off-the-ball LoR holding after advantage
https://streambug.org/cv/281159
72' - PAI charging; defender only interested in hitting an opponent
https://streambug.org/cv/a8044c
74' - Possible YC Alejandro Balde (Barcelona) for SPA, no action against blatant kicking the ball after whistle by Iñigo Martínez (Barcelona)
https://streambug.org/cv/e8a1be
86' - Very good(!!!) advantage
https://streambug.org/cv/f7cbc9
Question for Quilava, main candidates for demotion from La Liga this year? And one more question for Quilava and in general. I saw in some season that CTA gave some referees on example 20 -21 game in one season La Liga, and then remove that referee from the list. My question is,if that referee was not so good through season, why give him so much games? Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteThe answer to the first question is fairly easy: None.
DeleteEvery season, at least two referees must leave the LaLiga list and make room for two referees promoted from 2nd tier. However, this season it happens that three referees are leaving the list at the end of the season due to age limit (César Soto Grado, Mario Melero López & Pablo González Fuertes), so no 'demotions' are expected this season.
FtR, age limits were de iure abolished by Velasco Carballo several years ago, but the only reason this happened is due to Velasco rightly foreseeing Gil Manzano wouldn't make it to WC 2022, so a special derogation was needed for Mateu Lahoz and Del Cerro Grande (who were due to finish their careers in Summer'22 and wouldn't be able to be WC candidates otherwise). But besides Mateu & Del Cerro's special circumstance, things are expected to work as always (unfortunately for RFEF, this age limit reform + referees now being under professional contract means that most refs who leave the list due to age in recent years are taking legal action for unlawful dismissal and are winning their cases in court, so every year RFEF has to pay hefty financial compensations)
As per the other question, CTA-RFEF usually works in a way that every referee has a game once in every two MDs unless there are special circumstances like injuries, attending an international tournament mid-season, or being "sent to the fridge" for disciplinary reasons, very (very) bad performances or unacceptable mistakes (like e.g. Gil Manzano disallowing Madrid winning goal last year v Valencia for blowing the final whistle too early, that happened in MD27 and he returned in MD30 instead of MD29), one might guess which referees are getting demoted if in the last 5-6 MDs they get mostly dead rubbers, or if it happens that every single game is decisive for Championship race/European qualification/Relegation they outright skip that MD and top referees have a game for two weeks in a row.
Answering the (not asked) question of "Who should be the main candidates to get promoted and fill these three spots in LaLiga?", I must say I'm 90% convinced that two of them will be Miguel Sesma Espinosa (1995) and Iosu Galech Apezteguía (1990)
DeleteSesma Espinosa was already one big surprise last year in his debut season in Segunda (I genuinely thought he could 'do a Busquets Ferrer' and get promoted in his debut season), and this season is definitely confirming the expectations, very good referee and clear FIFA projection, he's one to watch. Galech Apezteguía on the other hand was already the first substitute for promotion last year (in Segunda, first substitute for promotion in year X automatically becomes the main candidate for promotion in year X+1, but this doesn't mean they are guaranteed promotion) and he's having a quite good season so far with very consistent performances. He's one of the 'veterans' as this is his sixth season in the category but became a 3rd tier referee already at the tender age of 20 in 2011, younger than Undiano Mallenco or Alberola Rojas back in the day.
dear qualiva, thank you for sharing this very interesting inside knowledge. legislation considering discrimination of age is sometimes a pain. while not passing a fitness-test is an easy option to get rid of old referees, performance is another. you have observer-marks, you have tendencies, you have media-attention and you always have softer topics like further perspective. i think the best way to get rid of "old" referees is communication with them. discuss with them something like an "exit-plan" when they are at 43-45...make them sign an agreement, that this is their path for the next 2-3 years. and then you still want to keep the good and loyal people as var-specialists or observers, coaches or a position in the association...another question: in the global rise of female referees, and them being promoted to top divisions, why is marta huerta no candidate for you?
DeleteInteresting comparing Spain and England....Graham Scott is still an SG1 referee despite being 56. Although he hasn't done a premier league match yet this season. He only did his first match of the season a few weeks ago because of injury (?)
DeleteOT: I saw some people a few weeks ago report that Irfan Peljto was going to referee today's Istanbul derby between Besiktas and Galatasaray, however now I'm seeing that this was indeed not the case and it's being refereed by domestic referee Yasin Kol instead. So could I please ask everyone to only use official channels for appointments or if you have to use a secondary source, please make it clear that it is such so people know it might have to be taken by a pinch of salt
ReplyDeletePoor refereeing for Gonzalez Fuertes in my opinion in the RealMadrid-Leganes clash.
ReplyDeleteThe penalty for Real seemed really soft, and imo, the freekick leading to the 3rd goal looked suspicious.
Also, I see on Twitter people asking for a penalty on the 50th minute for Leganes.
Any opinions on this?