2024-25 UEFA Nations League, referee appointments for Play-Offs (Second Legs)
15:00 CET - Tbilisi (Boris Paichadzis Dinamo Arena)
GEORGIA [3-0] ARMENIA
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG
Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Darren England ENG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Mauro Tonolini ITA
18:00 CET - Budapest (Puskás Aréna)
HUNGARY [1-3] TÜRKİYE
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Dietz GER
Fourth Official: Florian Badstübner GER
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Patrick Hanslbauer GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP
UEFA Delegate: Thura Win ENG
18:00 CET - Belgrade (Stadion Rajko Mitić)
SERBIA [1-1] AUSTRIA
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: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN
UEFA Delegate: Mark Bos NED
18:00 CET - Glasgow (Hampden Park)
SCOTLAND [1-0] GREECE
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Chiffi ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen DEN
UEFA Delegate: Patrick Wattebled FRA
18:00 CET - Murcia (Estadio Enrique Roca de Murcia)
ICELAND [1-2] KOSOVO
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Ángel Nevado Rodríguez ESP
Fourth Official: César Soto Grado ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Matteo Simone Trefoloni ITA
UEFA Delegate: Damir Stipković CRO
18:00 CET - Ljubljana (Stadion Stožice)
SLOVENIA [0-0] SLOVAKIA
Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marius Marica ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi ROU
Fourth Official: Marcel Bîrsan ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Sorin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Constantin Sebastian Colțescu ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann SUI
UEFA Delegate: Andrey Medintsev BUL
20:45 CET - Genk (Cegeka Arena)
BELGIUM [1-3] UKRAINE
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Foltyn GER
Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
Video Assistant Referee: Pascal Müller GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Katrin Rafalski GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Stefan Meßner AUT
UEFA Delegate: Kim Hallberg DEN
20:45 CET - Dublin (Aviva Stadium)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND [2-1] BULGARIA
Referee: Halil Umut Meler TUR
Assistant Referee 1: İbrahim Çağlar Uyarcan TUR
Assistant Referee 2: Abdullah Bora Özkara TUR
Fourth Official: Mehmet Türkmen TUR
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ingmar Oostrom NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE
UEFA Delegate: Peter Oskam NED
I'm really starting to believe now that Anthony Taylor is selected to referee the champions league final this year if none of the English teams left in the tournament make it that far
ReplyDeletethis appointments are absolute jokes compared to last season
the so called 'hidden appointsments' to protect a referee are really given to him this season, also to Danny Makkelie by the way
It's really sad UEFA is doing this in the last years, apart from marciniak,
because in my opinion: the best referee who is yet to whistle the champions league final is his career should be appointed
in this case that should definitely be Francois Letexier
I guess, we could start the discussion again, whether Taylor and Makkelie are hidden with regard to a final or just out of favour at the moment. Probably we have to wait for the appointments in the rest of the season to really know.
DeleteAnd I agree, that the final appointments should be made based on the performance in that season - so you need some top appointments before to show your abilities.
Having said that, this appointment for Taylor maybe isn't too bad, if we look at the other names selected for the League B/C play-off second legs.
Zwayer observed by Velasco surely indicates, that he is considered for a final.
IMO good to see Meler back. So he should also be an option for following EL/ECL games.
But there is a clear difference for me, while maybe you can think that Taylor could get big games at moment, even involving big national teams, this seems impossible for me, after the very famous story at EURO. Can you imagine him handling Germany, Spain, Italy and so on? So the choice for him among quarterfinals was almost impossible, and even if committee wanted to give him something important, they couldn't.
DeleteWhile it's very different for Makkelie who could officiate on paper all games, and indeed I think it can look like a specific choice to save him. Same can't be said for the English at moment in my opinion.
But FRA-CRO and POR-DEN would have been possible for him.
DeleteSo even with the restrictions on the countries, they could have found a better game for Taylor, if they really wanted. Same in CL: PSG-Brest and Barca-Benfica would have been adequate games, so it was a deliberate choice not to give him a CL KO game.
I'm surprised that there's so much speculation about Anthony Taylor being nominated for a final this season. Even though he can't be called up for several countries, he seems to be receiving significantly less (lower-profile) appointments than Michael Oliver. Furthermore, I think - despite comparable performances - the two Englishmen have been treated very unevenly in the past. So, also for this reason, I believe the time has rather come for Michael Oliver.
DeleteZwayer observed by a committee member in Hungary and the return of Meler are the two hot arguments of this set. I was about to write that the Turkish could have got a game in this competition, because Nations League is clearly seen below the level of clubs competitions by committee, and they selected the least sonorous one, with Bulgaria and Ireland. It's good for him, now I think a Conference League game could follow if he will perform well in this game (I think special eyes by committee in this particular regard, if compared to other referees appointed). For Zwayer a very important test, still no with a top game, but it is possible it will be a challenging one.
ReplyDeleteTo follow, based on ths choice about Spanish referees and the games they got, it seems to me Sanchez Martinez seems to be a bit ahead at moment, but this can change and clearly Gil Manzano is coming from a rather poor period. Big name for Slovenia with Kovacs, after an Italian referee in first leg. Massa with Chiffi, different VAR, but Di Paolo was appointed with another referee (Petrescu, yesterday). It's interesting to see Maresca as fourth official, specific choice, to give him some international stage after the very long period of stop.
If Zwayer is monitored to officiate a UEFA final, which one?
ReplyDeleteChampions League: two German teams still active. Suppose they are eliminated, is Zwayer qualified enough to referee sth like a sensitive Real Madrid vs Barca in a final? I think a full Spanish final is out of Zwayer’s “league” (I don’t consider the German as the strongest personality) and therefore expect that Real-Barca will be allocated to Letexier. In PSG vs Barcelona/Inter, would it be a possible to see Zwayer in the final? Yes, probably.
Europa League is an option. Although I was impressed by Frankfurt's intensity in Amsterdam. Lets see how far they can go.
Conference League final is definitely possible, without any German teams.
I guess CL Final would be definitely to much for Zwayer at the moment (in the next 2-3 years he will be a strong candidate though).
DeleteIf no English teams make it to the Europa League final, I think this one should be reserved for Oliver (he has not refereed any real UEFA final even though he has such a long (and successful) career already). I know he’s not in his best shape in PL this season but internationally he has been very good. Now starting with Conference League or Nations League final would be a bit disappointing if you ask me.
So what remains is the Conference League final for Zwayer and I strongly believe he is Nr 1 candidate for this one.
Kovacs slowly becoming Čeferin’s favourite referee or what?
ReplyDeleteReal-City
El-Khalaifi's PSG against Liverpool;
And now the country of the UEFA president ;-)
Do Kovács his groupstage performances really justify this "management"? He was poor in Bayern-PSG and in Belgrade. His disciplinary, positioning and control have been questioned a lot of times. Most referees would be out of favour for a loooong time after Czechia-Turkey.
What would have been his faith had it been Italy, PSG or Slovenia?
You can tell Kovács is also massively backed by a certain Greek…
Delete@Unknown: I could not confirm István Kovács being massively backed by Nana Mouskouri.
Peter :D
Delete@unknown, are you Pavel Fernandez? because how you wrote about Kovacs, is similar with this former referee said about the romanian referee. and you also told here that english is not your native language. by the way, why do you hate Kovacs? give me a reason.
DeleteVideo:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/0a7c06
Poor mistake in Women's Clásico, officiated by Olatz Rivera Olmedo after her Women's Champions League game on last Tuesday.
A factual crucial mistake, in a very decisive moment of the game (worst possible scenario): would have been, if confirmed, 2-1 by Barça a few before the end of second half, but then Real won the game. AR1 (Andrea Peña Peña) assessed an offside because she thought that last touch had been by attacker and not defender (you can see it was by a Real Madrid player and when last touch by Barça all attackers were clearly ONSIDE). The players tried also to say that to referee, who hadn't seen it. Also, unacceptable mobbing and some scene that can remember us the famous incident involving Moen... I think that a referee who is now ranked as Spanish nr. 1 must see that and help the assistant referee. But even if this is not possible, we must underline once again how much different is the affair between Men's and Women's football at top level. Women's EURO will have VAR... I think that something must change if we want a development of the Women's movement.
I think Huerta De Aza is still Spain's number 1. All 4 referee's in the UWCL this week were referee's who probably aren't guaranteed to be at the euros so they might have been trial matches for this summer..
DeleteI'm very curious about the selection - there are indeed some names that could be out. However, in particular regarding Spain I think that Marta Huerta was a bit excluded after rather unconvincing performances in top games (maybe Rivera Olmedo is seen as fit referee, but of course this alone can't be enough).
DeleteNext week there will be committee member Damková in London for Arsenal - Real Madrid, we will see who will get it, but I have my idea. Since I guess an Italian "battle" as well Ferrieri Caputi - Gasperotti (raising star), one could think about the latter. She had a very accelerated career in UEFA categories, until Elite (but well, exactly the same was for Ferrieri Caputi, so she can't compain).
Now, being on the topic, I want also to say that after a rather quite good first year and beginning of the second in serie A and B, Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi seems to be a bit lost, she didn't get a serie A game for a long time. She had also many international assignments ruling her out from the chance to build more at home, and now, I must say, some interesting plans for her seem to have been totally abandoned by committee for some aspects, it is a pity). But, apart from the technical project, I don't see the same interest as before by domestic committee to appoint her in serie A. The same could be said for the Women's management by UEFA...
Challenging first half for Felix Zwayer in Budapest. Hungarian players entered the game extremely motivated. Some incidents (videos after the game):
ReplyDelete05' - first conflict close to AR1
14' - rough charging by 5HUN, a YC could have been issued but Zwayer opted for warning what is still acceptable
17' - another conflict after challenge by 11HUN
21' - excellent YC 5HUN for another charging from behind, great reading by Zwayer
30' - YC 16TUR for SPA holding, mandatory
37' - Penalty awarded to Türkiye, correct; possible 2YC to 5HUN for reckless tackle?
43' - YC 7TUR for reckless follow-through studs tackle; possible RC for SFP?
45' - Missed (at least) YC 10HUN for kick in the head; possible RC for SFP?
SFP???
DeleteJosé María Sánchez Martínez is replaced by fourth official Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz at half-time of Serbia-Austria
ReplyDeleteComical opener for Serbia...
DeleteWhy was he changed?
DeleteAs he finished the match as 4th official it seems likely he was bothered by an injury.
Delete
ReplyDeleteMuñiz Ruiz with a penalty for Serbia overturned now to an OFR for free kick outside (very tight) and RC for DOGSO (65’). Some minutes earlier a good no penalty call after a goalkeeper dive.
RC for DOGSO very dubious. Wrong decision imho.
DeleteNot sure it's VAR stuff but I'm okay with the DOGSO RC.
DeleteMuñiz initially gave a PK without card, it was a clearly reckless challenge even if it he thought it was inside the area.
True, the foul couldn’t have gone without a sanction in the first place.
DeleteThen in 75’ a Serbian goal disallowed after VAR-intervention for an offside.
Zwayer was about to award the Hungarian a penalty but at the moment if the whistle Ar raised the flag for offside. I think fortunate that it was a (very tight) offside, because the penalty appeared to be extremely soft.
ReplyDeleteHere the crucial incident for the Spanish referee:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/cd02f6
For me not a clear DOGSO. While the attacker must change direction for the net, you can't exclude the other defender about to enter penalty area. YC would have been better for me.
Ah yes, and it's clearly reckless, a mistake to whistle foul without card, so maybe this "gave" more focus to VAR about SPA or DOGSO...
DeleteSecond YC by Gil Manzano in Iceland - Kosovo.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/e2c2f7
The player complained because it was mutual holding, inviting referee to OFR.
Meler injured in Dublin, he pulled his calf muscle, Mr Turkmen getting ready to come on
ReplyDeleteNever mind, he soldiers on, still limping, would be surprised if he makes it past half time, he's 100% injured he can barely move!!
DeleteShould leave the scene to fourth official. He can only make the injury worse by continuing...
DeleteThe Irish manager very much seemed to express that view however he stubbornly continued. I'd be surprised to see him on field for the second half
DeleteMeler might have an injury game was stopped for 2 mins while he was assessed by the Irish physio
ReplyDeleteMeler being replaced at HT by Türkmen with the turkish injured.
ReplyDeleteThe speaker in Dublin made the announcement about Meler replacement for second half.
ReplyDeleteSo it was better not to continue before half time...
Mehmet Türkmen very unexperienced with only 21 games in Turkish top division, second year for him as Süper Lig referee.
How was Meler's performance before he was substituted? How is Turkmen doing. I don't have chance to watch the game.
DeleteA bit surprising, that they don't appoint only FIFA referees as 4th official for these quite important games.
Delete@Philipp S Türkmen is FIFA referee. The only one who isn't is Bîrsan, however he is a former FIFA referee, so he still has experience of international games
DeleteYes indeed he is, it was my mistake. Sorry for that, FIFA since this year, but without any experience in international games so far.
DeleteYes, my mistake as well.
DeleteStill, one could have chosen Karaoglan or Kardesler with more international experience.
Turkmen became a FIFA referee in 2025. He failed the fitness test at the last UEFA seminar. It is unacceptable for a referee who has no experience in a match at this level to be appointed as the 4th referee. Roberto Rosetti made a mistake. Meler's 4th referee was always Arda Kardesler. I think the TFF put pressure on UEFA. Unfortunately, these things happen during election periods.
DeleteLooking at fourth officials assignments in all games, I think the choice was left to domestic federation, indeed just asking for a FIFA listed and nothing more, so TFF sent Turkmen. But it was indeed a choice like a NO FIFA because he hasn't still officiated any single game and the logic of assignment is not respected. Can be indeed a signal that federation wants to push him despite of the failed tests for UEFA and that's not good. But in this case, I think, no Rosetti fault, this about fourth officials was very likel the "FIFA part" of the assignments, just asking for a FIFA referee, then confirmed by FIFA and nothing more... however, given that in reality the Turkish was not allowed to get any game due to the test he didn't pass, this is a paradoxical situation and things continue not to be good for Turkish refereeing (nothing against the young referee, of course).
DeleteHUNTUR (Felix Zwayer)
ReplyDelete05' - first conflict in the game
https://streambug.org/cv/e212f5
14' - possible YC 5HUN for reckless charging
https://streambug.org/cv/dea0ba
17' - conflict after challenge by 11HUN
https://streambug.org/cv/5a9cfe
21' - YC 5HUN for persistent infringement after another charging from behind
https://streambug.org/cv/89643f
29' - YC 16TUR for SPA/LoR holding, mandatory
https://streambug.org/cv/dbf1cd
36' - Penalty awarded, possible 2YC 5HUN for reckless tackle
https://streambug.org/cv/286eb4
43' - YC 7TUR for reckless follow-through studs tackle; possible RC for SFP
https://streambug.org/cv/4faf18
45' - possible YC 10HUN for reckless studs challenge; given that it was Turkish player who initiated contact with high leg, OK decision not to caution the player
https://streambug.org/cv/54b9b6
51' - YC 15HUN for reckless tackle; in the old times we could discuss about RC for SFP but no significant contact makes it reckless only nowadays
https://streambug.org/cv/81a521
59' - YC 6HUN for reckless step on heel after good advantage
https://streambug.org/cv/263943
72' - YC 19HUN, YC 14TUR after conflict
https://streambug.org/cv/85faaf
75' - initially awarded penalty immediately cancelled for offside; the offside was very tight but VAR confirmed it and Zwayer was lucky because the penalty would be very soft if not wrong
https://streambug.org/cv/1512c9
77' - correctly rejected penalty appeal, attacker creating contact with defending player after having already lost the ball
https://streambug.org/cv/7cd706
82' - possible YC 10HUN for SPA
https://streambug.org/cv/de3615
84' - missed corner kick
https://streambug.org/cv/4ddada
90+2' - possible YC 5TUR for delaying the restart
https://streambug.org/cv/cde916
90+3' - play-on on the edge of the penalty area
https://streambug.org/cv/93a807
I had wait for your clips, thanks for your excellent work.
ReplyDeleteI need to say Zwayer was not impressed me, if we are talking about any final in this year. Ha can say thank you for Türkiye and for himself. In my opinion all of key moments was correct, but this kind of match management was poor in my view. His tactical was support Türkiye, he did not provide equal conditions for both teams, his foul detection was terrible like 75' penalty awarded what cancelled immediatley, he whistled all of this kind of fouls mostly for Türkiye. At all of freekicks, throw in, goal kicks Türkiye wasted the time from the first minute. Zwayer in the first 10 minutes used a verbal signal for that but thats all. His time wasting management was teerible, it seems he was not focused, while this match in the first half was very challenging in a hot athmosphere. Im sure if Hungary score a goal at 0-0, he couldnt solve this kind of match. 72' given 2 YC for conflict, but if not delayed with the whistle no card there. 84' missed corner kick (crystal clear in live) after that gave a YC for a Hungarian bench. He has himself to thank for 3 yellow cards. In my opinion because of his personality and his style not able to manage a final in hot athmosphere.
I wouldn't be so harsh and personally think that - if no 2YC at penalty is assessed OK by the committee - Zwayer passed the (final?) test in a game of high difficulty. Maybe Letexier's or Makkelie's serious law-enforcer style would be more effective for control in such a hot game but Zwayer's talkative and friendly approach could have had some effect as well, we don't know that.
DeleteVery difficult game for Zwayer. I watched all the clips, always big thank to Euro Soccer Ref for the great work. I think this was a very different leg from the first, with indeed Hungarian players very motivated at the beginning and making many fouls. The German tried to keep the control of the game by issuing warnings and trying to understand players, this was something that the German had never done in very past years. So honestly, Marko, before talking about the rest you should say that a player from your nation could have easily got second YC when penalty to TUR was whistled. These are the classic reckless situations that are punished when not about a penalty, but "become" careless inside the box due to the already penalty whistled... and I think a harsh observer could say this was rather a mistake. Hungary would have then player a very long time in 10 men. Then maybe your statement "his tactical supported TUR) should only be considered after that.
ReplyDeleteWould have been a mistake to whistle that penalty to Hungary in 75' but he was saved by offside. Very good in other occasions, PLAY ON in 77' with clear gestures was excellent read of situation.
You can support him in 43' and 51' but in both cases RC wouldn't have been wrong (I think here you can also say something about his overall approach to the game, not very harsh where a challenging context like this could have allowed).
For me negative points the possible missed second YC after penalty whistled, but chances to mbe supported by Velasco, and the hurry penalty in the second case. Well, here he was a bit naive, an unwritten rule suggests us to wait always a signal for a possible offside before, in all penalty area situations, looking at AR involved before whistling the penalty.. this would 100% avoid such happenings, but still, a minot criticism. The exam seems to be rather passed, let's say, in the end, but of course with some points for improvement.
Absolutely agree with second YC for HUN 5. But if we are searching red cards, we should watch 43' TUR 7 possible SFP. This is minimum 2 red cards missing if we are strictly. Of course you are not talking about time wasting because u are watched the clips and not the match. If u will watch the full match u will see what about am I talking supporting TUR tactics. It was the easier, beacuse no question after the penalty, changed the athmosphere, HUN players calm down. But in the first half 13-2 fouls commited... it' s a little bit funny who had seen the match. (Hungarian fans after the match said thank you to Zwayer, he got some drink before leave the field.
Delete9 I need to say again if we are watching this kind of performance not enough good for a final yet. He played to safe...
I saw Kevin De Bruyne push Siebert's AR at the corner flag when he was instructing him to wait. I always find these situations hard. What do you do? If you send him of you are making a fuss about it as a referee. If you don't you might undermine authority of the officiating team etc. How would some of you deal with this?
ReplyDelete