2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers, October 2025. Referee assignments for MD8.
Group H
15:00 CET - Serravalle (San Marino Stadium)
SAN MARINO - CYPRUS
Referee: Əliyar Ağayev AZE
Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov AZE
Assistant Referee 2: Akif Əmirəli AZE
Fourth Official: Elçin Məsiyev AZE
Video Assistant Referee: Paweł Malec POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tamás Bognár HUN
UEFA Referee Observer: David Malcolm NIR
UEFA Delegate: Márton Esterházy HUN
Group C
18:00 CET - Glasgow (Hampden Park)
SCOTLAND - BELARUS
Referee: Marian Alexandru Barbu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Mircea Mihail Grigoriu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: George Florin Neacșu ROU
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Roland Kovacs ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hațegan ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Adrian Sorin Costreie ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Lucílio Cardoso Cortez Batista POR
UEFA Delegate: Mirosław Ryszka POL
Group G
18:00 CET - Amsterdam (Johan Cruijff ArenA)
NETHERLANDS - FINLAND
Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN
Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Alen Borošak SVN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Asmir Sagrković SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter SUI
UEFA Delegate: Mauro Tonolini ITA
Group L
18:00 CET - Tórshavn (Tórsvøllur)
FAROE ISLANDS - CZECHIA
Referee: Andrea Colombo ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Giovanni Baccini ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Davide Imperiale ITA
Fourth Official: Luca Pairetto ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Doveri ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Michaíl Koukoulákis GRE
UEFA Delegate: Florin Prunea ROU
Group C
20:45 CET - Copenhagen (Parken - Connected by 3)
DENMARK - GREECE
Referee: Michael Oliver ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG
Assistant Referee 2: James Mainwaring ENG
Fourth Official: John Brooks ENG
Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett AUS
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Stuart Attwell ENG
UEFA Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST
UEFA Delegate: Eugène Westerink NED
Group G
20:45 CET - Kaunas (Dariaus ir Girėno stadionas)
LITHUANIA - POLAND
Referee: Ondřej Berka CZE
Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Nádvorník CZE
Assistant Referee 2: Kamil Hájek CZE
Fourth Official: Marek Radina CZE
Video Assistant Referee: Gianluca Aureliano ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Daniele Paterna ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Jon Eilif Skjervold NOR
UEFA Delegate: Diana Bulgaru MDA
Group H
20:45 CET - Bucharest (Arena Națională)
ROMANIA - AUSTRIA
Referee: Davide Massa ITA
Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA
Fourth Official: Simone Sozza ITA
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Fabbri ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Rosario Abisso ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Mehmet Murat Ilgaz TUR
UEFA Delegate: Luis Cuervas del Real ESP
Group L
20:45 CET - Varaždin (Gradski stadion Varteks)
CROATIA - GIBRALTAR
Referee: Oleksii Derevinsʹkyy UKR
Assistant Referee 1: Viktor Matyash UKR
Assistant Referee 2: Oleksiy Myronov UKR
Fourth Official: Klym Zabroda UKR
Video Assistant Referee: Viktor Kopiyevsʹkyy UKR
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Denys Shurman UKR
UEFA Referee Observer: Barış Şimşek TUR
UEFA Delegate: Ignas Marcinkevičius LTU
Monday 13 October 2025
20:45 CET - Belfast (Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park)
NORTHERN IRELAND - GERMANY
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Ángel Nevado Rodríguez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso ESP
Fourth Official: César Soto Grado ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valentín Pizarro Gómez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Alan Mario Sant MLT
UEFA Delegate: Paolo Rondelli SMR
Group A
20:45 CET - Trnava (City Arena - Štadión Antona Malatinského)
SLOVAKIA - LUXEMBOURG
Referee: Rade Obrenovič SVN
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik SVN
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež SVN
Fourth Official: Martin Matoša SVN
Video Assistant Referee: Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Valerio Marini ITA
UEFA Referee Observer: Ichko Lozev BUL
UEFA Delegate: Milovan Đukanović MNE
Group B
20:45 CET - Gothenburg (Ullevi)
SWEDEN - KOSOVO
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout NED
Video Assistant Referee: Clay Ruperti NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER
UEFA Delegate: Jaroslav Doležal CZE
Group B
20:45 CET - Ljubljana (Stadion Stožice)
SLOVENIA - SWITZERLAND
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: Benjamin Brand GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli ITA
UEFA Delegate: Roxana Berceanu ROU
Group D
20:45 CET - Reykjavík (Laugardalsvöllur)
ICELAND - FRANCE
Referee: Orel Grinfeld ISR
Assistant Referee 1: Roi Hassan ISR
Assistant Referee 2: Matityahu Yakobov ISR
Fourth Official: Gal Leibovitz ISR
Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Sven Wolfensberger SUI
UEFA Referee Observer: Marián Ružbarský SVK
UEFA Delegate: Outi Saarinen FIN
Group D
20:45 CET - Kraków, POL (Stadion Cracovii)
UKRAINE - AZERBAIJAN
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer AUT
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel AUT
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner AUT
Fourth Official: Walter Altmann AUT
Video Assistant Referee: Manuel Schüttengruber AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Christian-Petru Ciochirca AUT
UEFA Referee Observer: Paweł Gil POL
UEFA Delegate: Olesea Berdea MDA
Group J
20:45 CET - Cardiff (Cardiff City Stadium)
WALES - BELGIUM
Referee: Daniel Siebert GER
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER
Video Assistant Referee: Pascal Müller GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Harm Osmers GER
UEFA Referee Observer: Gylfi Þór Orrason ISL
UEFA Delegate: Per Svärd SWE
Group J
20:45 CET - Skopje (Nacionalna arena “Todor Proeski”)
NORTH MACEDONIA - KAZAKHSTAN
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Iván Massó Granado ESP
Fourth Official: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Javier Iglesias Villanueva ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel FRA
UEFA Delegate: Aurel Mihail Ionescu ROU
Tuesday 14 October 2025
Group I
18:00 CET - Tallinn (A. Le Coq Arena)
ESTONIA - MOLDOVA
Referee: Igor Pajač CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Bojan Zobenica CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Mihalj CRO
Fourth Official: Dario Bel CRO
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
Assistant Referee 1: Bojan Zobenica CRO
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Mihalj CRO
Fourth Official: Dario Bel CRO
Video Assistant Referee: Mario Zebec CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fran Jović CRO
UEFA Referee Observer: Neale Barry ENG
UEFA Delegate: Déspina Koxénoglou GRE
Group E
20:45 CET - Valladolid (Estadio José Zorrilla)
SPAIN - BULGARIA
Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Erwan Finjean FRAAssistant Referee 2: Brice Parinet Le Tellier FRA
Fourth Official: Jérémie Pignard FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jan Boterberg BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere BEL
UEFA Delegate: Georges Lüchinger LIE
Group E
20:45 CET - Kocaeli (Yıldız Entegre Kocaeli Stadyumu)
TÜRKİYE - GEORGIA
Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene ROU
Fourth Official: Andrei Chivulete ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcel Birsan ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene ROU
Fourth Official: Andrei Chivulete ROU
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa ROU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcel Birsan ROU
UEFA Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB
UEFA Delegate: Gilles Petitmangin FRA
Group F
20:45 CET - Lisbon (Estádio José Alvalade)
PORTUGAL - HUNGARY
Referee: Srđan Jovanović SRB
Assistant Referee 1: Uroš Stojković SRBAssistant Referee 2: Milan Mihajlović SRB
Fourth Official: Novak Simović SRB
Video Assistant Referee: Momčilo Marković SRB
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jelena Cvetković SRB
UEFA Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís CYP
UEFA Delegate: Jiří Novák CZE
Group F
20:45 CET - Dublin (Aviva Stadium)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - ARMENIA
Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu FRA
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann SUI
UEFA Delegate: Vignir Már Þormóðsson ISL
Group I
20:45 CET - Udine (Bluenergy Stadium)
ITALY - ISRAEL
Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pages FRA
Fourth Official: François Letexier FRA
Video Assistant Referee: Bastien Dechepy FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
Video Assistant Referee: Bastien Dechepy FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bram Van Driessche BEL
UEFA Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel GER
UEFA Delegate: Balázs Makray HUN
Group K
20:45 CET - Riga (Daugavas stadions)
LATVIA - ENGLAND
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis GRE
Fourth Official: Christos Vergetis GRE
Video Assistant Referee:Angelos Evangelou GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis GRE
Fourth Official: Christos Vergetis GRE
Video Assistant Referee:Angelos Evangelou GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Georgi Yordanov BUL
UEFA Delegate: Victor Marius Radu ROU
Group K
20:45 CET - Encamp (Estadi de la FAF)
ANDORRA - SERBIA
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou GREAssistant Referee 1: Tryfon Petropoulos GRE
Assistant Referee 2: Iordanis Aptosoglou GRE
Fourth Official: Vassilis Fotias GRE
Video Assistant Referee: Athanasios Tzilos GRE
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Spyridon Zampalas GRE
UEFA Referee Observer: Kevin Parry WAL
UEFA Delegate: Richard Havrilla SVK
Interesting having an English referee for a match which has a large bearing on Scotland
ReplyDeleteI just find that unbelievable.
DeleteKnew Oliver will ref that match. Hugely crucial match for both teams. If Greece lose they’re out.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a lack of attention for Georgian referees, I just can't really find any other reason.
ReplyDeleteAstonishing to have a referee from Second group for the important game FAR-CZE.
ReplyDeleteAnd at the same time, referees with CL experience on games like LVA-AND and SMR-CYP...
While for Colombo you can say "it's Faroe Islands...", the problem are rather in the other appointments. The Azeri referee gets very often such treatment, going to officiatethe easiest national teams but at same time getting certain experience in Champions League. That's absolutely not logic. While for Kabakov, even if there were issues at the Summer Course (one could find only this argument), the appointment is still a bad one, given his experience, at a certain point it would be better a NO APPOINTMENT to keep something logical.
DeleteBut this is how it also works, referees in UEFA are used like committee wants, if there is a need to push somebody, no matter the game and the stage of competition, it's OK, while others must always wait years and years. It's a general point, but the basic truth can't really be argued.
I think UEFA plays it a bit too safe with Vincic. He’s a top (!) referee — he gets big games and even politically sensitive ones like Israel–Italy — but usually early on, when the stakes aren’t that high.
ReplyDeleteOnce we reach the decisive final rounds, he tends to disappear from the spotlight and avoids the high-pressure (top) clashes. That feels a bit underwhelming for someone of his calibre.
Netherlands–Finland is a fine appointment, but again, a safe one. Finland isn’t exactly fiery, and the Dutch are heavy favorites in this group — they could even lose 4–0 to Poland and still top the group.
For a UCL final and EURO semi-final ref, I’d expect a more daring and more challenging appointment.
Important game for Oliver. Can expect this to be a tough match. Faroes vs Czech can also be something challenging - Faroes quite strong at home. Nothing special with the rest of the appointments but nice to see Berka with an opportunity again.
ReplyDeleteNo Scottish referees appointed this window at all seems odd - quite hard to explain their treatment just now.
Beaton and Walsh worked in the last window though.
DeleteIn general, all the First group referees, who are appointed on MD7/8 so far, haven't had a game on MD5/6 - so this seems to be a strategy and explains some choices.
Terrible treatment which i just cant understand and nobody on this blog seems to point out, and countless questions ive asked have been ignored.
DeleteDeserved appointment for Siebert!
ReplyDeleteInteresting appointment for Munuera who hasn't had any league games since he was taken off Nice vs Roma because of injury. Big games in the UK for Siebert and Manzano.
ReplyDeleteI posted yesterday CL observers, here are Europa and Conference League.
ReplyDeleteEL
Brann-Rangers
João Ferreira (POR)
Lyon-Basel
Hugh Dallas (SCO)
Braga-Cvena Zvezda
Markus Nobs (SUI)
Genk-Real Betis
Marinus Koopman (NED)
Go Ahead Eagles-Aston Villa
Stephane Lannoy (FRA)
FCSB-Bologna
Kenneth William Clark (SCO)
Feyenoord-Panathinaikos
Gediminas Mazeika (LTU)
Fenerbahçe-Stuttgart
Neale Barry (ENG)
Salzburg-Ferencvaros
Elmir Pilav (BIH)
Freiburg-Utrecht
Stefano Podeschi (SMR)
Celta Vigo-Nice
Stefan Messner (AUT)
Nottingham-Porto
Lassin Isaksen (FRO)
Celtic-Sturm Graz
Pascal Pierre Garibian (FRA)
Malmo-Dinamo Zagreb
Shmuel Shteif (ISR)
Lille-PAOK
Luis Medina Cantalejo (ESP)
Roma-Viktoria Plzen
Vlado Svilokos (CRO)
Maccabi Tel Aviv-Midtjylland
Karen Nalbandyan (ARM)
Young Boys-Ludogorets
Howard Webb (ENG)
CL
DeleteRapid Vienna-Fiorentina
Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD)
Strasbourg-Jagiellonia
William Collum (SCO)
Shkendija-Shelbourne
Michael Argyrou (CYP)
Rijeka-Sparta Praga
Hannes Kaasik (EST)
Drita-Omonia
Yevhen Aranovskiy (UKR)
Shakhtar-Legia
Igor Pristovnik (CRO)
Breidablik-KuPS
Ferenc Szekely (HUN)
Hacken-Rayo Vallecano
Uno Tutk (EST)
AEK-Aberdeen
Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)
Cracovia-Noah
Lee Evans (WAL)
Shamrock-Celje
Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)
Sigma-Rakow
Christos Nicolaides (CYP)
Samsunspor-Dinamo Kiev
Nicolae Grigorescu (ROU)
Lincoln Red Imps-Poznan
Ladislav Gadosi (SVK)
Hamrun-Lausanne
Aleh Chykun (BLR)
AZ-Slovan Bratislava
Baris Simsek (TUR)
Crystal Palace-AEK Larnaca
Ruud Bossen (NED)
Mainz-Zrinjski
Goran Mihaljevic (MNE)
Rosetti, guest at an event, stated today that the best VAR intervention is represented by a silent video sequence, lasting between 12 and 15 seconds at most, where the referee reviewing it immediately understands the error for which the VAR called and instantly corrects it. It's about a situation that must be striking, impactful in the game. But once the replays are increasing, along with the opinions that follow, it can't longer be called a clear VAR intervention.
ReplyDeleteSo my answer: "Dear Rosetti, I fully agree with you, but if this is to be the true VAR, considering all the reviews we see at the monitor in UEFA games, we are ruined. You can talk all you want about consistency…”
14/10
ReplyDeleteLVA-ENG: Sidiropoulos GRE
ITA-ISR: Turpin FRA
TUR-GEO: Petresku ROU
POR-HUN: Jovanovich SRB
EST-MDA: Pajac CRO
IRL-ARM: Bastien FRA
AND-SRB: Papapetrou GRE
Turpin, Vincic and Marciniak. And that's the story with Italy :)
ReplyDeleteNow for Italy - Norway, but rather unimportant game because Norway will be surely group winner at that time, I think. So, clearly as for now Italy - Israel is a more important one.
Good prediction by a reader in the other discussion, Zwayer can get that one on November.
Even if Italy play against San Marino,
Deletean elite referee will be assigned to this game
I think you guys are grossly underestimating (or simply ignoring) the geopolitical and security concerns around the Israeli national team right now. Not *everything* is about Italy. These two matches were always going to have two of the best of the best.
DeleteWhen collina was the head of uefa referee there was justy and integrity throughout that era we didn't see Any French referee officiate any European final although uefa president was French super star michel platini and today we what is happing uefa head referee nepotism and favouristm it is the standard
ReplyDeleteWhile Hungarian referees totally missed MD1 and MD 2 in UCL,UEL,UECL round and totally missed from European Qualifiers rounds in October.
Delete@Marko: Last season, according to weltfussball.at, at least István Vad senior still saved the honor of his country and refereed a match in the Conference League at the age of 71:
Deletehttps://www.weltfussball.at/schiedsrichter_profil/istvan-vad/3/1/conference-league-2024-2025/
It is an important information? No connection with my comment. You are not funny, if you think that :)
DeleteVery good appointment for Petrescu, getting the most important game in that group.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest: Italy vs Norway doesn’t need a top Elite if Norway remains unbeaten. The goal difference is +26, compared to Italy’s +7.
ReplyDeleteThere might be more behind Zwayer’s observation by Rizzoli. Think: Arab Cup. I also suspect the German is the favorite for this season’s UCL final — even though Oliver and Letexier are currently ahead, age could be a deciding factor.
Really poor decision from AR1 to incorrectly disallow the goal for SCO, correctly overturned by VAR
ReplyDeleteI thought AR1 was a bit unlucky to be fair - trailing leg of a defender on the far side behind the attacker, which always looks worse in freeze frame. This is exactly what VAR should be used for.
DeleteNot that bad. Looks worse on the freeze frame than it actually was.
DeleteOne mandatory yellow card missed in glasgow 45’! Otyer than that good from the Romanian.
DeleteUnfortunately I can't report a great first half for Barbu in Glasgow. The goal decision aside he's lacked any presence and has missed two clear cautions. One for SCO for reckless use of arms and one for BLR for a reckless challenge. Fitness has been good but his movement for me is too central and too reactive which gives the impression he's catching up to play but has an excellent sprint to mask it. First time seeing this referee and for me certainly room for improvement.
ReplyDeleteGood Barbu first half. Agree one missed yellow for reckless but it was quite an unusual aerial challenge. I wouldn't be too harsh on this. The rest - nothing special to say but doing a good job
ReplyDeleteWhy did Vincic stop the play here? Nethelands still had possession and the situation hadn't changed at all.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/e2721b
Unnecessary of course
DeleteWhat a carry on in Glasgow between Barbu and the VAR team! Ultimately the correct decision but it took 5 minutes to decide.
ReplyDeleteReally difficult situation in Glasgow, 3 incidents to check in one play. Potential offside, potential handball by attacker and then defender. VAR for me excellent there and great communication from Barbu with both captains. Good work by VAR and referee to rule in favour of defending team (BLR)
ReplyDeleteNow a clear missed foul led to a Belarus goal.
ReplyDeleteNow VAR rules out goal for BLR, foul missed by Barbu, clear knee on knee contact, correctly reviewed and overturned.
ReplyDeleteMessy few minutes for Barbu
ReplyDeleteHes now missed two mandatory yellow cards.
DeleteSCO goal now correctly ruled out for offside on a side note AR2 has had an excellent game so far
ReplyDeletePretty sure he was the one who was dropped as Kovac's AR2 after a few mistakes last season.
DeleteNoting to report in Amsterdam. Easy game for the Slovenian crew.
ReplyDeleteIn the second half, six moments of substitution + 1 goal = 1 minute extra time.
DeleteBut still, no one complained.
Uefa Delegate in Glasgow just snatched the subs board out Fourth officials hand.
ReplyDeleteFourth official just shaking his head and looking utterly miserable during that procedure has been the highlight
DeleteThat’s not the delegate. That’s Belarus changing their mind. Delegate high in the tribune. Wears a suit
DeleteFor me Barbus performance left a lot to be desired. 2 clear YC's missed in the first half and the poor/unfortunate missed offside. The second half wasn't much better I have to say. Another missed YC and then 3 VAR checks. The first one was a really difficult situation to interpret missing the attacking handball is understandable, missing the defending handball again understandable. Then to miss the attacking player wrap his arms around the ball and just award nothing is not, thankfully the correct decision in the end was reached. The BLR goal being ruled out is a mistake for me, it's a clear foul and should be spotted. The SCO goal disallowed is a quick check following a good call from AR2. I really didn't like his presence or personality to deal with situations. A smile and a shake of the head are not enough. Correct cautions in the end for dissent and a reckless challenge and correct added time played but for me not the best night for him.
ReplyDelete+1 Excellent analysis!
DeleteVAR very slow for what were simple checks. Belarus goal disallowed for a soft foul which on field was correct decision. Normal contact for a player under pressure.. referee team failed to impress overall. The double handball easily missed so no effect on performance
DeleteBarbu, very challenging game in Glasgow but for me poor performance.
ReplyDeleteClips of the most interesting incidents:
58'
https://streambug.org/cv/ad409e
Fully agree with osmanabbot, the referee put in trouble VAR allowing the game to go on. With many potential calls, he decided to let everything go on. Then, Hategan needed a very long time, but honestly in this case he was justified. Only good thing was the explanation to captains after OFR to make everything clear about the decision, but still more is expected. I never like such a statement, but this was a case in which field referee relied on VAR without engaging himself. Too weak body language, he didn't make strong signals of play on, but just made that arms gesture like "I'm sorry"... not good to be watched, at least for me.
63'
https://streambug.org/cv/7bfa1a
Goal disallowed after OFR, I agree about the foul, but it should have been spotted by referee. This is the worst VAR intervention, as we know, for a "normal" foul play, it must be considered as very rare, and not a good signal, definitely for a referee missing it.
90'
Bonus clip, Belarusian team official with fourth official, Kovacs' brother. One can see a lack of respect in his action, but the Romanian allowed that (could have been sent off).
https://streambug.org/cv/4dbb40
Well, if I add this game to his CL debut, the moment for the Romanian, who should be considered a raising star by UEFA, if we stay at the recent appointments he got, must be seen as very, very negative. To add, I don't understand for sure what is happening in Romania with all these referees just getting a bit of CL and relevant games but nobody with a clear path (Petrescu, Fesnic, Barbu...).
I don't understand the Romanian situation either...4 (!) Referees in CL is a lot, I'm sorry.
DeleteThere are other referees (a lot, I’d say) who deserve a CL debut more than Fesnic (last season) and Barbu…which seem to have been chosen at random...
I think Fesnic is a backup for Istvan Kovacs, because he is younger then Radu Petrescu. Radu Petrescu is 42 years, I think too old for going to Elite and Horatiu Fesnic is only 35 years. funny that Barbu is older then Fesnic with two years. And about Barbu yesterday didn't impress me much and I only watch first half ot the game with an important observer who was Lucilo Cordez Batista. Fesnic is the only roumanian referee from Category 1 who didn't had a game in this rounds. I don't know if him will be at Madrid next week.
DeleteChefren, do you see any next steps for a Category 2 referee in MD3?
ReplyDeleteJumping from UEL to EL?
I'd bet on Colombo!
Or any other name?
Not Chefren, but I’d say names like Masiyev, Al-Emara, Derevinskiy, Fahndrich, Nuza, Stojcevski, Redder, Ocenas might have their chance…why not Schlager,Alberola…
DeleteAbout Colombo, let's remember he will be in Qatar for FIFA Under 7 World Cup. It will start on 3 November, so quite sure he will get a game on 21-23 October week and indeed, after a good one like Far Oer - Czech Republic, he could be planned for Europa League debut.
DeleteDerevinskyi, Fotias, Saggi, Barbu, Vergoote and Van Der Eijik are the other referees who will fly to Qatar, and indeed some of them have been already assigned to a EL debut.
Following the path he had so far, Elchin Masiyev seems indeed another name quite sure of making his EL debut soon.
Maybe Al Emara as well, but I expect him less than other names.
Redder has been followed for a while, but no hurry I think.
About Alberola, I would give him another Conference League game before.
One should also mention Dudic with 5 Conference League assignments and the Talents and Mentors program, but the performances definitely don't talk in favor of him so far...
Watching referee during warm up at Hampden, I was impressed by his fitness and demeanour. During the game I can only describe his performance as pretty dire. Very unconvincing and flustered looking during the whole game. Relied on VAR too much and gave a very poor display.
ReplyDeleteDon’t think we’ll see him much in future CL UEL Qualifiers etc.
Guys, good evening. One OT question, El Classico for two weeks. Chances for Soto Grado, or Busquets Ferrer to take it? Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteI would go for Ferrer as i think soto will be used in the other classico in the later stage of the season.
ReplyDeleteA good offside decision by AR1 in Belfast
ReplyDeleteWatching the game with no commentary so reliant on my own eyes but a good offside decision by AR1 in Belfast to correctly disallow NIR goal.
ReplyDeleteI love watching Siebert he reminds me so much of Dr Brych.
ReplyDeleteCorrect call by VAR in Wales - Belgium, penalty for handball, open arm.
ReplyDeleteOFR in WAL-BEL, Penalty for handball, hand is in unatural position ans correct var intervention.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/889cc1
DeleteMakkelie with a weird and arrogant approach so far
ReplyDeleteFirst goal by Iceland : phantom (or extremely soft) foul leading to a free kick. On the free kick, the attacker pushes the defender with both arms, then scores. VAR stays silent.
ReplyDeleteI've not had full focus on game so apologies if I missed anything but so far an expected performance from Manzano in Belfast. Missed a YC (for himself) ;) after colliding with the NI player but apart from that a good performance and both cautions correct. Fitness excellent and good support from both AR's
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think 45`+1 UKR-AZE for SFP.Kicking the head with studs.VAR was silent. Referee is Sebastian Gishamer
ReplyDeleteTough evening for Gil y Manzano so far ...
ReplyDeleteHad a good first half. Probably missed a german yellow in the second but nothing terrible so far
Delete@ TC021002: I don't think the players of both teams would agree with you. I see upcoming frustration on either side.
DeleteAnother handball penalty conceded by Wales, this time easier for Siebert to spot who gives it on field.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Siebert!
ReplyDeleteMakkelie showing zero interest, is angry at everyone and gives freekicks for everything in Sweden-Kosovo
ReplyDeletePardon, but with all my respect your comment seems a non-sense.
DeleteIMO Mekkelie performance in SCOKOS has been really good, with calm and effective decision and a great control on technical and disciplinary profile, showing to take always the match in his hands.
Yeah Makkelie was excellent today, full control of the match, no big mistakes
DeleteDisagree, absolutely one must admit he was in full control but for me that is mostly because players were very calm. Which is kind of strange because the game was very important for both teams especially the home team. However, the game was very slow and with a lot of interruptions and I think he contributed a lot to that with an, in many cases unsupportable, low level when it comes to free kicks. Also showing zero interest in managing the time-wasting from the away team and also some strange stops in play for “injuries” like cramp(!), or when he stopped play when gk had ball in his hand only to yell at a home player for protesting for gk holding the ball for to long and then proceeding with a drop ball to the keeper (and no caution for protesting). If players had been as hot tempered as one could expect for an important game like this he would have had a very hard time. Now he got away with a poor performance cause players didn’t react but it’s still a bad performance
DeleteHow one can display Makkelie’s performance as bad honestly is beyond me…
DeleteI saw an efficient and smooth performance in which he was trusted by the players and his decisions went accepted without complaints.
The number of whistled fouls regular for international games and I didn’t have the feeling he was unnecessarily slowing down the game.
Two cautions (one of which for time wasting of the away GK, so he did show interest in that) sufficient for keeping full control.
No controversies in the penalty areas.
The only thing which he could have handled differently was the incident where the SWE attacker prevented the KOS GK to release the ball within 8 seconds. Simply awarding the IFK to GK KOS would have been the more sensible solution.
All in all an expected level performance IMHO, so I’m obviously more on the level of ITAREF and anty75 on this one.
Poor game management my Gil Manzano at the end of the game creating unnecessary problems for himself
ReplyDeleteManzano didn't seem very clear tonight. Always nervous, rather imprecise. Not up to his potential. It's a shame.
DeleteI was at the match in Belfast. I thought he had a good first half, the German players was always surrounding him, but he waved them away.
Delete2nd half he wasnt so good. Booking NI players but letting German players off for same. Wirtz should have been booked for diving. Only adding 2 mins injury time too when there was a number of subs.
There were 2x Cautions for Germany in the second half, and 1 for NI.
DeleteOne further caution for NI after the final whistle.
IMHO, excellent match by Manzano. Had a challenging match fully under control. All fouls identified correctly, great card management.
ReplyDeleteOnly thing to subtract are the 2 minutes added on.
There were 3x double substitutions and one single situation, in the second half.
ReplyDeleteI recall more than one German free kick taking well over one minute from stoppage to restart.
Two Additional minutes didn't seem appropriate.
Three minutes were actually added on, but the ball was in play for only 42 seconds from start of additional time until the final whistle.
Zwayer with more yellow cards and fouls against Slovenia than Switzerland. Does Mr. Ceferino agree? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHow was Munuera performance in Skopje?
ReplyDeleteVery challenging game, not a good performance, one must still look at the difficulty but he should have done better.
DeleteJust for an overall impression (but there is more):
6' https://streambug.org/cv/b5ea65
12' https://streambug.org/cv/ff843b
45' https://streambug.org/cv/10b646
58' https://streambug.org/cv/77a555
71' https://streambug.org/cv/bc37d4
90'+3 https://streambug.org/cv/72588d
I think that the foul in 90'+3, last clip, can explain the nature of the game, many fouls by both sides, more from KAZ, as one could have maybe expected. The Spanish referee tried to go on but in my opinion he didn't leave his mark in this game.
Ukraine - Azerbaijan possible RC for SFP:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/89a91c
Was given angles not good for say something.But there was more yellow
DeleteOT: FIFA Arab Cup referees announced. Last tournament of the WC26 cycle.
ReplyDeleteUEFA (2): Nyberg (SWE) & Eskas (NOR)
Conmebol (2): Garay (CHI) & Benítez (PAR)
Concacaf (3): Elfath (USA), Escobar (GUA) & Calderón (CRC)
CAF (2): Atcho (GAB) & Omar (EGY)
AFC (4): Al-Jassim (QAT), Ma Ning (CHN), Al-Kaf (OMA) & Makhadmeh (JOR)
OFC (1): Kawana-Waugh (NZL)
VARs: Jarred Gillett (ENG), Dennis Higler (NED), Fedayi San (SUI), Antonio García (URU), Rodolpho Toski (BRA), Allen Chapman (USA), Benjamín Pineda (CRC), Lahlou Benbraham (ALG), Abdullah Al-Shehri (KSA), Khamis Al-Marri (QAT), Junpei Iida (JPN) & Sivakorn Pu-udom (THA)
So, after having to forfeit two U20 World Cups in a row due to injury, no debut in a FIFA competition whatsoever for Schärer by the time WC26 selection is made (I assume January/February), which makes me think he has little chance of going to the Americas next summer despite being one of the best referees in UEFA.
DeleteI feel very, very sorry for the Swissman, incredible bad luck.
OT:Mobbing that was allowed and went unpunished in Algeria vs Uganda....
ReplyDeleteJust wow.
Thank God for Uefa and their guidelines.
I dont think I have seen poorly officiated game like this in a long time.
Delete31' POR-HUN Serbian refereeing team ( mostly VAR) missed a clear penalty for handball.
ReplyDelete37' second missed penalty for handball..
DeleteThat’s not a penalty because the defender kicks the ball against his own hand from very short distance. No penalty is the correct decision.
DeleteYes for me it seemd too, bit the ball comes from the Hungarian. And whats your opinion for other one ?
DeleteIMO again, no penalty because the defender is only supporting himself.
DeleteShocking end of Qatar vs United Arab Emirates by Ilgiz Tantashev, Qatar persistently wasted time for several minutes in added time yet Tantashev didn’t add anything on to the original allotment. The commentator was shocked, he was expecting the game to go on for several more minutes. Honestly I have to wonder if AFC told him to end the game early, this was the worst I’ve ever seen since Janny Sikazwe’s infamous moment.
ReplyDeleteAgree,atleast 2 to 3 minutes missed there.
DeleteThrowing cups on to the field,laying down by QAT players and plenty timewasting.
Yet not one second was added.
Also,clear,stonewall RC missed,if there was not VAR that would have been huge miss by Tantashev.
I don’t think the red card was a *huge* miss, it’s one of those where the exact point and mode of contact matters an awful lot; if you don’t see that 100%, it’s not a red card. Appropriate use of VAR; obviously, the preference would be to get it right on the field.
DeleteI would even say more than 3 minutes should have been added, actually. Adding nothing is crazy and really isn’t a good look for the AFC.
A straightforward first 45 minutes for Sidiropoulos and then some interest with the VAR intervention for ENG penalty. 3 cautions all correct (31' for reckless, 41' for SPA (pull) and 45+1' for holding in the penalty area) and the VAR intervention is a difficult one for the referee to spot live as a player is in-between the player pulling and the attacker, exactly what VAR is for. You can only referee what's Infront of you and the Greek official has managed this first half well but I can't imagine he will have had too many easier first halves than this one.
ReplyDeleteNothing major to add in the second half, 2 more cautions both correct and a very easy night's work for the Greek team.
Deletegood spot by Turpin to award a PK for italy. clear careless foul, one could probably argue for reckless, but no card is fine for me.
ReplyDeleteThe defender wanted to play the ball but didn't see the Italian forward behind him. So Turpin assessed it as "accident" and IMO correctly decided not to show YC
DeleteOverall, very good performance by him yesterday. And once again, his style, gestures and even the manner of wearing the jersey with pulled-up sleeves remind me about John Blankenstein.
In case someone wanted to know:
ReplyDeleteCONCACAF Qualifiers this month
MD3
HONCRC- W. Lopez (GUA)
HAINCA- Caceres (MEX)
SLVPAN- Fischer (CAN)
SURGUA- F. Hernandez (MEX)
BERTRI- Luna (GUA)
CUWJAM- B. Lopez (GUA)
MD4
CRCNCA- Cornejo (SLV)
HONHAI- Nation (JAM)
CUWTRI- Ramos (MEX)
JAMBER- Radix (GRN)
PANSUR- Brown (HON)
SLVGUA- Lauziere (CAN)
To comment on Bastien & his team in IRL-ARM. I think overall they had a good game. Potential card for ARM player in 1st half not given for a SPA/lack of respect offence, personally would have liked to seen it given but otherwise a quiet first half. Happy with his management and cards in the 2nd half, good card for IRL #2 for reckless challenge on goalkeeper, maybe got too tunnel visioned on the flash point that sparked from that which allowed a 2nd small confrontation off to the side to form unsupervised. Correct red for VC for ARM #11 but the management of this situation was messy for my taste, took too long to produce the red card for what was a pretty clear offence. Gave the impression he was uncertain. AR2 looking right at the incident which was very close and maybe didn't communicate clearly? Otherwise only further comment is missed FK for ARM outside the IRL penalty area near the end of the match.
ReplyDeleteFrom my seat in the ground both ARs had excellent offside decisions throughout the game, very good decision by AR1 to rule out IRL 2nd goal for offside in APP.
Frappart seemed to lose some control over technical areas towards the end with both management teams doing as they pleased, but happy to see her call Bastien over to caution IRL management for clear dissent.
Overall a good performance, no VAR interventions and no need for any either in my opinion
Thank you, a very interesting read!
DeleteHere the red card incident:
https://streambug.org/cv/1542b8
I agree that Bastien wanted to take time and he was not 100% sure, you shouldn't wait so long before issuing a red card after such behavior, because the confrontation between players can escalate. However I think good cooperation by AR2. They just could have gone with more determination.
And here the YC you mentioned for the action on keeper:
Deletehttps://streambug.org/cv/70fe46
Agree that this one was rather deliberate and on purpose. Player could have easily stopped himself before.
I think watching back the YC incident now, could we expect Bastien to be a bit more alert here? Coleman comes in from a distance with eyes only on the keeper. Definitely enough time and space to stop or change direction in order to avoid the collision. Seems a little like Bastien is caught flat footed and not expecting anything more, but maybe I'm being too harsh?
DeleteHere the two mentioned penalty area incidents from Portugal - Hungary. I agree with Ersöglü77 above for both situations and the explanations.
ReplyDelete31' https://streambug.org/cv/6518a4
37' https://streambug.org/cv/4c70d5
OFR and penalty for an off-the-ball incident in Andorra - Serbia, referee Anastasios Papapetrou.
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/bca1b6
I think correct call and YC is OK.
John Beaton not appointed in Scotland this weekend very unusual? Potentially a CL debut?
ReplyDeleteI am not certain. His usual assistants (McGeachie and Stewart) are appointed separately, would be very odd preparation for a UCL game not to have had a game since 28th Sept. I would suspect MacDermid would be in the UECL on Thursday. Last 2 games with his usual assistants and an u21 euros qualifier in between.
DeleteAfter having skipped both MD1 and 2 for unknown reasons, it's unlikely to get directly CL, he should start at maximum from EL, I think. But given that he was in good consideration by UEFA, it was not good for him to miss all games so far...
DeleteOr is it just the schools
DeleteIn his country are off and he is on holiday.