Appointments of match officials at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Semifinals.
Tuesday 8 July 2025, 21:00 CET
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Fluminense (BRA) - Chelsea (ENG)
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Ivan Barton SLV
Fifth Official: David Moran SLV
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:
Wednesday 9 July 2025, 21:00 CET
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Paris Saint Germain (FRA) - Real Madrid (ESP)
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal ALG
Fifth Official: Mokrane Gourari ALG
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee:
I concur with the comments on the previous post, the management of referee assignments at this tournament has been strange, Zwayer and Turpin as perfect examples. Zwayer with two easy group stage games featuring the Japanese team, he was never really tested. And same with Turpin, an easy and very low-profile first game (Mamelodi Sundowns vs Ulsan HD), and a second group stage game in which both teams were already advanced (Juve-City). For neither to wind up with a knockout stage game, nor Beida who performed well enough to deserve that chance, is really bad... Instead Letexier and Marciniak each get two knockout stage games after being left to wait until MD3 for their only group stage appointment.
ReplyDeleteThen you have someone like Issa Sy who only had an easily-foreseeable 10-0 blowout, why even bring him to the tournament if that was going to be all for him?
They abided by a strict principle of confederation neutrality for the whole group stage, causing the aforementioned problems with UEFA referees' appointments and severely limiting the chance for CONMEBOL referees to work difficult/important clashes, despite it being ok to abandon the principle for important knockout stage matches (Bayern-Flamengo, Fluminense-Chelsea, and maybe even the final, we'll see).
With those assignments, we will potentially have a CONMEBOL referee in the final (CAF and CONCACAF already represented as 4th officials). Perhaps Sampaio if Fluminense does not get through. Tello, however, would be the safest guess. In addition, we cannot rule out Faghani (which already got the opening match), with CONMEBOL as 4th official.
ReplyDeleteFrom the semi-final appointments, it seems clear that the paths for Szymon Marciniak and François Letexier were predetermined before this CWC even began. Both were assigned a MD3 group fixture, followed by a Round of 16 and then a semi-final, suggesting that, as long as they avoided major mistakes in their early matches, they would be guaranteed a place in the knockout phase, and then semi-final, regardless of the teams involved.
ReplyDeleteWith both semi-finals handled by UEFA refs, it is now highly unlikely that another UEFA ref will take charge of the final. This rules out Michael Oliver, who has to avoid Chelsea. That leaves three realistic contenders for the final: Alireza Faghani, Wilton Sampaio, and Facundo Tello. Of these, Sampaio and Tello would only be viable if Fluminense are eliminated by Chelsea. Faghani, on the other hand, stands out as the most probable candidate.
FIFA has consistently shown strong trust in Faghani’s abilities, as evidenced by 2015 CWC final, 2016 Olympic final and his deep runs in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Were it not for the wrong handball penalty in the group stage, he likely would have gone further in Qatar. This CWC has been another demonstration of FIFA’s faith in him, appointing him to the opening match, which is a clear signal of confidence. His performance across three matches has been solid, arguably the most consistent among the referees. Should he be selected for the final, his tournament would follow the textbook path for a final appointment: opening match, a second group stage game, quarter-final, and final. It would be both a reward for his steady performances here and a form of closure after the disappointment of 2022, particularly given that he’s now 47 years old, potentially his last major FIFA tournament.
Much like the 2022 WC, it appears that refs’ fates were largely sealed before the first whistle. Among UEFA, Marciniak and Letexier were clearly earmarked for late-stage matches, while someone like Clément Turpin was sacrificed despite a decent showing. Felix Zwayer, Glenn Nyberg and Espen Eskås were clearly only intended for group stage. The only real outlier was István Kovács, who would likely have gone deeper if not for a poor showing in his first match, which ultimately sent him home early.
For CONMEBOL, it seems four refs were marked for potential knockout duty: Tello, Sampaio, Abatti, and Valenzuela. Interestingly, FIFA appears to be heavily investing in Abatti, who has little experience at the top level in CONMEBOL fixtures (even only 3 matches in the Copa Libertadores), but was totally trusted by FIFA, has been appointed to the Olympic final after just one group match, and now trusted again for the CWC quarter-final. Others like Falcon, Garay, and Benitez never really stood a chance of advancing beyond the group stage.
CONCACAF likely had two initial knockout candidates in Ivan Barton and César Ramos, but Ramos’ performances in the group stage were extremely poor. It would be almost unthinkable for him to be appointed to the final after two underwhelming displays.
AFC, meanwhile, probably had only one true knockout-stage candidate - Faghani. As long as he stayed mistake-free, he was always going to move forward. Ilgiz Tantashev was sacrificed with a very challenging 2nd group match, and Falahi was never a knockout candidate.
The least favored confederation, once again, appears to be CAF. Just like the 2022 WC, no African referee has made it to the knockout stage here, despite both Mustapha Ghorbal and Beida performing well in the group phase. As for Issa Sy, it's already decided that he could only have the easiest match (Bayern 10:0 Auckland City), and nothing after that.
For me it is really disappointing about the African referees, not for them, but for Collina. Why are you calling them then? Just to "fill" simple games? Because, let's be honest, no game officiated by an African was difficult. Dahane deserved, at least, a round of 16 game.
ReplyDeleteAs for Issa Sy, in my opinion, unless there is an injury there is NO excuse for not having assigned him to another game, it's okay not as a referee, but if you assigned Kovacs as fourth after the disaster he made, Sy would have had other games in that role without problems…But well, he will be able to tell his grandchildren that he officiated Bayern Munich ;)
And for the final, if Fluminense doesn't do it, I bet what you want that will be Sampaio…Seneme is not going to miss the opportunity to give another final to a compatriot ;). And add Abatti as fourth…Meanwhile, Faghani is praying that Fluminense wins ;)
DeleteI understand the frustration, but I think there’s a bigger picture to consider.
DeleteThe last thing the FIFA Referees Committee, under Collina, wants is to put CAF referees in a situation where one mistake in a high-pressure match could lead to harsh criticism, not just of the referee, but of the entire confederation.
Let’s be honest, UEFA and CONMEBOL referees are constantly exposed to top level, high-intensity games every week. CAF referees don’t get the same kind of experience regularly, so when they’re thrown into the spotlight at the highest level, they become easy targets if anything goes wrong.
That’s why FIFA often assigns them to matches with less pressure not because they’re not capable, but to avoid unnecessary backlash that could hurt perception of African officiating as a whole.
It’s the same strategy we’ve seen with female referees in men’s tournaments such as Tori Penso. Giving them the right opportunities while also protecting them from being unfairly criticized is a delicate balance.
So in a way, yes, it's frustrating, but it's also about protecting the reputations and making sure progress isn't undone by one bad moment on the world stage.
Perfect analysis, Ref
DeleteActually, I would be inclined to suggest that European referees might tend to speak better English than their colleagues from other continents (provided English is not an official language there), which is why they might be preferred as fourth officials. However, recently I saw a video featuring Francois Letexier (perfect pronunciation) and Istvan Kovacs (very humble considering he has been on the FIFA list for so long, and I would have assumed he should have improved by now to be nominated for major tournaments). It was also said about Daniele Orsato that his English was improvable – how he wants to eloquently assess performances as a referee observer and give advice to young colleagues seems questionable to me as well.
DeleteCan we take a moment to appreciate how fast François Letexier has risen?
ReplyDeleteJust three years ago, he wasn’t even on the list of referees for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Now, he's been trusted with a European final and a FIFA major tournament semifinal. That kind of progress in such a short time is remarkable.
Some might say he’s been lucky but is he? especially when you compare him to someone like Clément Turpin, who’s been around longer but doesn’t seem to be favored by the committee in the same way.
Letexier’s rise has a lot to do with how he handles games: calm, confident, and with strong match control. His refereeing style is modern, and it’s clear that he and his crew work well together. In fact, he often has the same familiar faces in the VAR room, which builds trust and consistency in decision-making.
This appointment really highlights how much confidence FIFA has in him, possibly even more than in Turpin, who was once seen as France top referee. Letexier is showing that he’s now leading that conversation.
Fully agreed.
DeleteIt’s so true that The IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) on awarding the "World's Best Referee" annually, named François Letexier like the 2024 winner.
And he received a 2nd award as “Best referente in the world” 2024 with Giulio Campanati Award, in Milan/Italy. It’s a famous and prestigious award gave every two years by a jury composed of international journalists, former referees and sports manager, which chooses the winner on his commitment to refereeing and the quality of his directions basis.
DeleteRelevant/significant appointment for Letexier also considering PSG is among the 4 SFsts.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDesrespect … why? Honestly I didn’t do find anything justifying your opinion. Nothing.
DeleteFIFA Committee and Collina ad well make their evaluations and decisions on technical perspectives basis with geopolitical themes to be alao considered. And I seem them without derespect for anyone. Maybe you don’t like any decision: correctly you must have your different opinion as legitimate as the FIFA Committee one.
That’s all.
That has nothing to do with “disrespect.” It’s Zwayer’s first tournament under the FIFA radar. In such cases, it often ends at the group stage. Just wait and see — I think we will see Zwayer again at the U-21 or the Arab Cup.
DeleteI already suspected it when Zwayer’s second match was one in Los Angeles: that’s it for him. They gave Zwayer a nice “closing” assignment.
It is notable, however, that someone like Nyberg continued to appear regularly as fourth official, while Zwayer did not.
You’re absolutely right.
DeleteAnyway Zwayer 44 y/o, Nyberg 36 y/o… maybe the reason would be that: Zw with his feet in the past, Ny in the future
Well, technically, it's not Zwayer's first tournament under the FIFA radar, he's been to the 2015 U20 WC and even officiated a QF... ;-)
DeleteGood morning to all of you. Well two thing are obivious, we have pool of three candidates for final: Faghani,Tello,Sampaio.
ReplyDeleteAll three have very consistent performances through CWC, nuances will decide.
*two- should not be used in sentence
Delete*Things.
From a French point of view, although I’m glad to see a French representative in SF, it feels very weird to read Letexier’s name here instead of Turpin’s.
ReplyDeleteI watched all their games from the last two seasons. Letexier’s 2023-2024 season was above Turpin’s display, clearly, despite Turpin’s masterpiece in CL SF (BAYRMA). Turpin failed in Euro opener, and Letexier was rightfully rewarded with the Euro final, where he delivered a strong performance.
However, something seems to be broken since the Olympics. He did not have a good Olympic tournament (too many matches ?), and his domestic season has been terrible (major blunders and controversies in many matches : ASMPSG, OMPSG, ASSEOL). His European season is average, at most, with IMO a terrible performance in RMAARS in CL QF, and a few matches where he struggled too (RBLJUV in GS as major example). In the meantime, Turpin performed consistently, with 1 number to illustrate this : 1 OFR in 36 matches this season (Ligue 1 MD1). Letexier had 11 OFR in 27 matches, including 7 in European matches.
Furthermore, I often have the impression that readers on this blog consider Turpin as a referee only capable of handling football-focused and high-paced games, and that Letexier would be somehow more up to the task when it comes to rougher and tougher matches. Again, Turpin is more than capable of handling difficult games, and if his games always go smoothly, he might be for something in it right ? And why not test him on a supposedly heated game one day, just to see ? "Heated" players might be happy to see someone else than Marciniak, for a change.
Again, I’m very happy to see a Frenchie in SF, but it feels like the wrong name. Putting trust in Turpin in the last years of his career could’ve created an even more exceptional referee than he already is. Letexier has plenty of time after Turpin to follow this kind of path. This feels to me like Turpin is completely disregarded and disrepected after 2 good displays in GS, and a reputation, that could’ve guaranteed him at least 1 spot in KO stage. For one of the most experienced refs in this CWC, this feels like a terrible lack of respect. The same could be said, to a lesser extent, for Zwayer, who performed well in his GS games and is somehow sent home (but il was his first appearance in a FIFA tournament).
Your arguments are valid. Based on this past season, Turpin should arguably be in line for something bigger. But if season form was the decisive factor, then Zwayer also deserves consideration — while Taylor and Makkelie, on the other hand, do not.
DeleteAs many people in the comments point out, much of this seems to have been pre-determined:
• Referees with 2x GS were in the running for a quarter-final, but not more than that.
• While referees with one group stage game were assigned straight to R16, and they are the ones in contention for SF + F.
In short, it seems “someone” decided already before the tournament that Letexier had a stronger claim to go deep than his French compatriot.
Collina is Collina. A man with a vision. He clearly has his favorites. We know the bald Italian is a fan of Oliver, and of course of Marciniak. And personally, I believe he’s also quite fond of Letexier — whom he closely observed during his round of 16 match. And to be fair, I can’t blame him; stylistically, I also prefer Letexier over Turpin. The 36-year-old French is already better than Turpin was at that age. That said, Letexier has indeed had his struggles this past season, had poor games under the FIFA radar (the Indonesia-game, the Olympics…) and he still has time on his side. So yes — I fully get your point.
At least one person. Completely agree.
DeleteFully agree with your points, @Anonymous. Reading Taylor and Makkelie’s names in KO stage, and not Turpin or Zwayer seems completely illogical, and not performance-driven.
DeleteI am surprised to see Letexier ahead of Turpin especially this year, where Turpin could easy be regarded as one of the best if not the best in Europe. I think it would have been fair to give him more than 2 group stage games ... Don't like this at all.
ReplyDeleteShouldn't come as a surprise that Letexier gets another game. He is the new poster boy of referees, and will keep being rushed to getting big matches so he can have the role Marciniak has now. Expecting at a minimum a semifinal in next year's WC, and the next CL final (as long as PSG don't feature).
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me say how stupid football fans are today. Basically, when they see and read Marciniak's name, all they do is remember the Barcelona - Inter match and keep saying he’s a Real Madrid supporter. Seriously. What I will never understand is how all these judgments come from people who know nothing about refereeing and are always based exclusively on a single match. As if that the referee had only officiated that one game in his entire life, and therefore it’s possible to make even an absolute judgment. It's unbelievable. Anyway, I strongly believe that the acceptance of referees in today’s football world is seriously deteriorating, and I can't help but feel very sad about that.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it’s clear that Collina is pushing forward his project with the Polish referee, whom he made officiate the best possible Club World Cup without giving him the final, obviously because he had already done the World Cup final, and that would have been too much, but he still got the best matches up to the semifinal. That, given the way he was used, was predictable. If we look specifically at how Collina is managing things, including Alireza Faghani, we could imagine that he could be in contention for the final. But it’s not 100% sure, in my opinion. There will be factors to consider, such as whether the Brazilian team in the final or not. Another name is Sampaio, but honestly, I haven’t had the chance to appreciate him in challenging contexts. The matches he has refereed in this competition haven’t been of a high level, and while I felt some excitement with his countryman and the red cards he showed, I haven’t had the same impression with the other experienced Brazilian referee. Of course, this is just my personal view and limited impression. A final for him would be based more on name recognition and experience rather than other merits, but that goes for Faghani as well, to be clear.
Now, I also wanted to say a couple of words about the widely discussed idea of disrespect towards certain referees. My response is general. We need to remember that there haven't been that many matches to satisfy everyone, so choices had to be made, like it or not.
That said, it's clear that some choices were already predetermined, like Marciniak, as we said, or Letexier, if he had performed well. Collina went to watch him at stadium, at least once, just as he probably did with most of the others. If Letexier had done well, he would have continued, representing UEFA’s "new wave" of refereeing. You might feel sorry for Turpin, but he has been at the top for a long time, and I don't fully agree with the idea that favoring his compatriot is a form of disrespect. Turpin has had his era, no doubt.
That said, if we want to talk about disrespect, we should be talking about African referees. I think Diego was right to stress that. Take the Senegalese referee, for instance, he was only given one match due to the way things were planned. Or Beida, who could have officiated after the group stage, but nothing. No trust at all for these officials outside UEFA. In the end, what may feel like disrespect is really just a management decision about who is deemed suitable for a certain level. As for the various UEFA referees, we also need to consider the confederation aspect. It’s clear that UEFA, now with two semifinal slots and all the previous assignments, has kind of taken it all. So you have to view it in that shadow. If you look at individual names, like Zwayer or others, and say they were disrespected, well, that kind of thinking ignores the deeper analysis of the whole tournament. Obviously, not everyone could appear for a second, third, or even fourth time. That’s how I see the things, and as always, personal opinions :)
Here’s my view on UEFA officials during the FIFA Club World Cup.
ReplyDeleteGlenn Nyberg
Nyberg opened the tournament with a significant assignment, but his campaign felt pre-determined. While competent, his role seemed limited to the group stage unless others underperformed. That said, he featured twice as fourth official—both in high-profile matches, signaling FIFA’s trust in him. Barring a string of poor decisions in the upcoming season, Nyberg seems poised for a World Cup call-up.
Espen Eskås
After a solid UEFA season, Norway’s Espen Eskås was rewarded with a Club World Cup match—but it lacked prestige, and so did his performance. He’s now part of a competitive group of “interchangeable” officials, along with names like Schärer, Peljto, and Sánchez. If he wants to remain in the FIFA picture, the Norwegian will need a consistent campaign in 25–26.
Felix Zwayer
Much has been said about Zwayer, but the reality is more strategic than snub. He refereed two games—both involving Japanese teams—and avoided the real powder kegs like PSG–Real Madrid or Fluminense–Al Hilal. Those fixtures, politically and emotionally charged, are too volatile. In contrast to UEFA’s bold use of Zwayer in a UEFA semi-final, FIFA opted for safe appointments. Expect to see him soon under the FIFA radar again—possibly at the FIFA U-21s in Chile.
Turpin vs. Letexier
Clement Turpin’s story is one of missed finals. As a top contender, he lost out on the 2022 World Cup due to the presence of Les Bleus, and EURO 2024 finals after a poor opening game. Still, his response has been admirable. Mentally resilient, Turpin remains a benchmark for professionalism.
His younger compatriot Letexier is quickly rising through the ranks. A “poster boy” for modern refereeing, Letexier impresses with his positional sense and decisiveness in key moments. His full-Brazilian Round of 16 game was a clever test: high-level, but low-risk in terms of bias accusations. A strong semi-final appointment followed. Letexier is clearly being groomed for bigger things.
István Kovács
Kovács refereed the UEFA Champions League final but barely had time to enjoy the prestige. Unfortunately, inconsistency struck again—both in match discipline (Czech Republic–Turkey) and key incidents. He appeared nervous during FIFA’s OFR announcements, possibly uneasy with the spotlight. Still, with strong backing from figures like Vassaras and Rosetti, the Romanian remains safe for World Cup 2026, especially with UEFA politics on his side.
Szymon Marciniak
The Undisputed Leader. There is no substitute for Marciniak. Both UEFA and FIFA trust him with the most volatile, high-stakes matches—like PSG vs Real Madrid, a fixture known for its sore losers. The Polish referee is one of the few who can emerge unscathed from such battles. His experience and resilience make him a lock for World Cup 2026.
Slavko Vinčić
DeleteVinčić is another certainty for 2026. A calm and effective game manager, he commands respect on the field. But his recent season lacked decisive key incidents. In Benfica–Chelsea, he needed VAR support on a crucial call. While his presence on the pitch is excellent, he hasn’t had many “standout” decisions. Whether UEFA uses data to predict match difficulty in terms of Key Match Incidents (KMIs) is unclear, but if so, Vinčić’s profile may be shaping his appointments. A top referee and manager, absolutely—but not quite in Marciniak’s tier when it comes to decision-making and charisma.
Michael Oliver
He deserves a final. Oliver has done everything right this season “outside England”, arguably outperforming even Kovács. Yet, politics and precedent continue to limit him. English club involvement and lingering perceptions like the Real Madrid–Juventus match haunt his chances. Still, he’s among UEFA’s best right now and the reward will come.
Anthony Taylor
Taylor often draws the short straw—assigned to volatile matches with high stakes and little reward. His high number of VAR overturns is less a sign of weakness than a reflection of the tight, incident-heavy fixtures he’s given. Like Spain vs. Germany or PSG–Bayern, Taylor often gets the Cüneyt Çakır treatment: used in tough games to protect others. His demeanor, though—humble, composed—earns him respect. Whether he makes the 2026 World Cup squad remains to be seen.
Danny Makkelie
Makkelie’s trajectory mirrors Taylor’s in some ways: often appointed in games that require damage control, not flair. He was used in sensitive fixtures like Real vs PSG, Italy vs Croatia and Fluminense vs Al Hilal. That shows trust, but also implies a sacrifice. Recent concerns include inconsistent foul detection and decreased sharpness in reading KMIs, possibly due to fitness, confidence, or tactical positioning. The Dutchman needs a solid, controversy-free season to reassert himself. He has the tools, but needs to rediscover the clarity and control that defined his 2019–2022 peak when he barely had any VAR overturns.