Referee appointment for the first leg of 2025/26 UEFA Champions League semifinal, Atlético Madrid - Arsenal, to be played on 29 April 2026.
21:00 CET - Madrid (Estadio Metropolitano)
CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID (ESP) - ARSENAL FC (ENG)
Referee: Danny Makkelie NED Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED
Fourth Official: Serdar Gözübüyük NED
Video Assistant Referee: Dennis Johan Higler NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
UEFA Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras GRE
So,the conclude is that race for CL final for Makkelie is over. Now its on race between Oliver and Letexier! Of course we should not forget the 2016 and 2023 scenarios but it seems clear now.
ReplyDeleteWhat if PSG and Arsenal go through to the final?
DeleteI disagree. If Makkelie was out of the race, as a referee from a fully neutral country, he would have been nominated for the return leg in London; so, UEFA are clearly still keeping him 'alive' for the final. Clearly, they are making him work for it though...
DeleteThe situation for both second legs is quite clear; UEFA have to decide whether to unreject** the referees of the last two CL finals, or 'promote' a referee beyond what they would like:
Arsenal-Atletico: unrejecting Vincic vs. a referee from Fra/Ger
Bayern-PSG: unrejecting Kovacs vs. Mariani
(** this is supposing that Vincic was rejected for Bayern-Real, which imo he should be with an 8,0 score, and also supposing that the information reported by Isaac Fouto was correct about Kovacs/DOGSO).
@Mikael W: absolutely agree.
DeleteI agree on the choice in Bayern-PSG, but isn't Marciniak still an option for Arsenal-Atletico?
DeleteAnd if you consider Mariani for the game in Munich, he should also be an alternative for London.
I have a question Mikael. Do you consider Oliver to also be a Final candidate in the event that Arsenal are not involved?
DeleteIf so, does this not create a conflict of interest for Makkelie, who would therefore be (much) more likely to officiate the final if Arsenal wins his match?
If Atletico go through, Oliver emerge as the number one favorite for the final
ReplyDeleteYes, it can be problem if PSG vs Arsenal in the final. Yes,all of us will say Makkelie,but Uefa RC neeed tho show guts and appoint him to PSG again after 2022.
ReplyDeleteExcellent and deserved for Makkelie .. Though I hope this doesn't mean the end of the tournament for him!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t be surprised if Makkelie is still a candidate for the final. First of all, I think the committee faces challenges in appointing the semi-final matches after the major controversies in recent weeks. Secondly, appointing Makkelie for a first leg is safer than for a return leg. And if they have him in mind for the final, but only in the scenario that PSG go out in the semi-finals, they risk him ending up with nothing: no semi-final and no final.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Mikael , if Makkelie is not a final candidate at all, uefa would give him the return in London. Easy choice when Marcinaik is struggling with his physical condition.
ReplyDeleteI wonder we will see Oliver in a semi . As Nolan wrote, For the English there is also the risk he ends up with nothing, no SF or F so he should get a SF first leg in the Europa league ?
Braga-Freiburg: Oliver
DeleteN.Forest-A.Villa: Pinheiro
Shakhtar-C.Palace: Hernandez
Rayo-Strasbourg: Taylor
What do you think? Unobtrusive 'Michael Oliver' 2.0 for the Premier League derby, a game for Oliver himself in the semifinals, Taylor already did Celta in the last round second leg, and better to keep Hernandez away from the EL (Iberian neighbours; with his foul recognition he would face lots of dissent in English derby and I think UEFA know this) and he can do the 'neutral' game in Poland. It is my opinion that Marciniak won't referee another match this season in UEFA club comps, since having not taken the fitness test at Limassol, substituting himself out of Liverpool-Gala in the warm-up, and only returning this very weekend domestically (remember that his standing is higher in FIFA than UEFA).
Ah, now it comes to mind: even if it wasn't his fault (reported by teammate and not called by VAR), the missed red card in the Conference QF should really end Pinheiro's season in UEFA comps. In that case the specialist for English derbies in the Europa League, Felix Zwayer, can be the referee at Nottingham! :)
DeleteYap agree with Mikeal on Zwayer but the second leg at Villa Park feels better for the ref who did last year's final
DeleteThere is also a fifa observer for the form check, Trefoloni. Zwayer makes sense
Deleteuefa might save Letexier for a final available for him, UEL or CL
Very good appointment for Makkelie well deserved and much on merit, IMO that's put him in the front running for the final come end of May.
ReplyDeleteWith Oliver everything hangs in the balance EL final already eliminated, Conference league you still have Crystal Palace which could have been a fair compensation for a UEFA final this year
I'm almost sure that, unfortunately, this is last CL match for Makkelie this season; SF appointment rule him out for final match giving priority to Oliver and Letexier; the only combination PSG-Arsenal in the final could give him a new hope. Fully agree that Zwayer will be the man for the english derby in EL; Sanchez martinez could be an option ofr Braga-Friburg
ReplyDeleteIn theory, anything is possible (Marciniak even refereed the second leg of the semifinals and the final in the same year), but it’s true that it’s quite unlikely, given how the committee has treated Makkelie—he should have been refereeing this final years ago...
DeleteIt’s not impossible, the semi final options were very very limited . Rosetti can’t take any risks after all the recent controversies especially with a hot team like Atletico. Btw Clattenburg handled Atletico in the semi and final in 2016. And maybe we will see Oliver in a uel-semi as well bcause with Arsenal there is a risk he ends up with nothing
DeleteYep,but then again his history with PSG and their owner is not so bright,we all remember how he stormed towards him in 2022 after his performance,so then again I would not be so sure if Psg get to the final that we'll see Makkelie.
DeleteGiven that the Dutch has been assigned for a first leg and not a second, in my opinion we can't rule him out from candidates for the final, as very neutral name looking at the nationality of the last four teams.
ReplyDeleteFor him, it will be a "wait and see": doing well on Wednesday, and then keeping the hope...
At the moment I would not really dare to make any predictions. It feels like a ‘waiting game’: a) how Makkelie performs, b) the final match-up, and third c) will we see Oliver and Letexier as well. They are in a similar position to Makkelie, as each of them still has a team in the semi-finals that could rule them out of the final.
ReplyDeleteThis season reminds me quite a bit of 2023, when Rosetti also had a very narrow pool for the semi-finals due to controversy. Some seasons feel almost scripted with a clear candidate for the final from an early stage. In other cases, Rosetti is forced into certain decisions due to club nationalities and controversies, and that seems to be the situation now?
What is the most ‘credible’ choice for Rosetti in his position as Chairman of the committee? All things considered, it would not surprise me if RR has a bit of a headache right now. Oliver is a strong candidate in case of a PSG vs Atleti final match-up, although a team like Barcelona would probably have suited his English ‘game manager style’ better than Atletico. Not impossible, but… The Spanish club from Madrid has often led to difficult choices in the past, such as Clattenburg in 2016 or Kuipers’ second Europa League final in 2018.
In any case, a real masterclass in the semi-final could be a strong springboard towards the final. That applies not only to Makkelie but also to the others if appointed. Who will have the ‘momentum’; the best form at the right moment. I will be supporting whoever is selected and look forward to see how things unfolds!
Schlager seems to have refereed the big egyptian clash between Pyramids and Ahly with a penalty given in the end to Pyramids
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/38946807/uefa-referee-arrested-suspected-sex-assault-boy/
ReplyDeleteWe are aware of the often sensationalist tone of this newspaper; however, if the facts are true, this is definitely not good news. The person is reported as a "referee", but it is possible that he might actually be an assistant or VAR. We will see whether there will be any updates or not. Basically, I always tend not to believe it that much.
Such matters must be paid no mind without evidence of wrong doing. Even if this (horrible) magazine does have its facts right (via some act of divine intervention, no doubt), one must also be mindful the possibility of a false accusation by an angry fan, as well as other situations in which the accused is not guilty.
DeleteWeiß man welches Spiel das gewesen sein soll? Der Bericht ist ziemlich schwach
DeleteCould Eskås/Nyberg be candidates for second legs or final? No passport problem for them.
ReplyDeleteIn semi only Nyberg, because two Norwegian referee observers next week in CL Pedersen and Hauge, for final two early for both IMO.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, congratulations to Schärer. He has been given a great opportunity by UEFA and made the most of it, even though he wasn’t working with his regular assistant referees (although, to be fair, the Spanish ARs are excellent). Personally, I didn’t like the handball punishment, but that’s more my general dislike of UEFA’s overly strict handball rule.
ReplyDeleteA match like PSG vs. Bayern in a 1st leg is a dream scenario for a referee: both teams play attractive, attacking, football-focused games, with relatively few fouls and, importantly, very little simulation. Add nine goals and you get a spectacular match where the referee will naturally receive praise, but also benefits from the style of play. That’s something we shouldn’t lose sight of. It’s a much “nicer” game compared to, let’s say, Juventus vs. Galatasaray, where it’s far more difficult to establish a consistent line due to simulation and exaggerated falling. UEFA can, through its appointment policy, influence the narrative around a referee. Top matches - especially in the 1st legs between high-quality teams - tend to generate more positive feedback.
That said, the return leg will likely be a much tougher challenge (see Bayern vs. Real as an example). Both teams may resort to different methods to secure qualification for the final. We’ll see how that plays out.
Atlético vs. Arsenal, in my view, will be a different type of game. Here, the referee will need to rely more on match control rather than benefitting from attractive and attacking flowing football - both teams are known to play more cautiously. Think of it as a chess match rather than a full-gas-spectacle - but certainly no less challenging for the officials.
I don't know if anyone else have published this.
ReplyDeleteLothar D'Hondt and Roman Benoit M. Devillers have been appointed to officiate in 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. Maika Vanderstiche and Melissa Rossignol have been appointed to officiate in 2026 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup.
FA Cup Final 2026
ReplyDeleteReferee Darren England
AR1 Timothy Wood
AR2 Akil Howson
FO Sam Barrott
VAR Peter Bankes
AVAR Nick Hopton
First Major final for England and Howson...Wood was AR in the 2023 League Cup Final. With the same trio already appointed to United vs Liverpool on Sunday England will be under big pressure. Pretty sure Kavanagh would have been first choice before the season but it would have been hard to appoint him considering his performance in the Villa vs Newcastle early round game, likely to be him next year.
I think after Kavanaugh, Brooks and Hooper would have been the other choices but both have been injured this season (Hooper is still injured and Brooks has just returned in the lower leagues). As mentioned Kavanaugh had a really poor performance in an earlier round ruling him out and therefore England gets the final!
DeletePerhaps in part this weekend's appointment could be used to justify the final appointment. Gillett seemed to be the only other possible name (with someone else appointed in the SF in that case). Kavanagh would have deserved it based on his season overall, but not on his cup appointment. The only issue for me is that he was the referee who gave a penalty (for handball, VAR: Donohue), which seemed to be due to not knowing the law and completely misintepreting it, and somehow that seems to have been mostly glossed over with little done afterwards. Other than that, England has had an okay season, and is probably right to be first on the list after the injured and Kavanagh
DeleteGillett did a semi final so was out of contention for the final. Bankes could have also been an option but would have been unlikely as he already officiated the league cup final this and now he is injured as well. Premier league has had a bit of a injury crisis this season!
DeleteIn all honesty, Darren England has been a very poor referee in this modern era. His foul recognition is inconsistent as his positioning and overall mechanics are also very weak and of the worst in league. There are many areas of concern and when you see him getting appointments like this, it feels more like a farewell recognition rather than something based on his performances this season. It seems to be an appreciation of his longevity, as they deep down know this could be his final season.
DeleteTony Harrington is another one who was having a decent season until getting injured.
DeleteEngland is only 40. He’s got a few more years to go yet, it may however be time to hand in his FIFA badge soon, this may be a bit of an appreciation for that.
DeleteWell, no comments so far, very different game compared to yesterday's one. Maybe teams will do more in second half. So far nothing to say about Makkelie.
ReplyDeleteYou called it ;)
DeleteYes, I called it . Incredible timing. :)
Deletevery soft Pen. Correctly confirmed by VAR but not good decision.
ReplyDeleteCorrect penalty called by Makkelie!
ReplyDeleteVery soft but supportable pen. Would prefer not to see this given in a sf.
ReplyDeletePenalty kick for the visitors and scored imo a clear PK correct decision by makkelie no hesitation
ReplyDeleteFor me it’s more a penalty than not
ReplyDeleteCorrect penalty
ReplyDeleteDid not expect Makkelie to award this penalty, usually has a higher threshold. Still, correct VAR to stay silent
ReplyDeleteAlso surprising with how he let the game flow with sometimes a lot of contact and here for a small one he’s giving it.
DeleteSoft but definitely a push. Good penalty
ReplyDeleteCompare this PK with Olmo situation! That Olmo situation was far more PK for Barca than this one, but Makkelie whistled it tonight. And many commentators here stated that foul on Olmo was not enough for PK.
ReplyDeleteIt absolutely cannot be said that this is 100% a penalty. In terms of the criteria, I think Makkelie didn’t have to award it. For a VAR intervention, probably not... but in any case, it’s a very difficult decision.
ReplyDeleteSoft PK imo no pushing action just both hands touching the back of the opponent and clear exaggeration by Gyokeres. Really close to the atletico Barcelona situation with Olmo.
ReplyDeleteBorderline penalty. Cannot say it’s really right or really wrong.
ReplyDeleteI suggest an argument for the call by Makkelie, using both arms, that is very often assessed as "something more". I think other referees wouldn't have called it, but in reality one can say nothing about the,penalty call, clear action by defender.
ReplyDeleteIf you call this, VAR will not intervene. Never incorrect. Body charge. Careless foul.
ReplyDeleteA justified penalty for Arsenal. A clear trip—well spotted by Makkelie.
ReplyDeleteFlawelles perfrmance by Makkelie in Madrid in 1H. May he continiue like this!
ReplyDeleteClip: https://streamff.com/v/0d3ca7a6
ReplyDeleteany sanction=?
DeleteBut if he whistles it he have to show a card … no?
ReplyDeleteThis was my thought too, a YC should have been issued here (DOGSO attempt).
DeleteMany similarities to last night - the referee finds himself a bit square on and, thus, misses the key detail of the duel (that Gyokeres waits for Hancko to collide into him). The decision remains okay though and, again like last night, the VAR was completely right to clear the call.
The overall manner that Makkelie handled the first half was good. No penalty 24' was correct, the holding was not enough. Good preventative action against potential dissenting behaviour after the halftime whistle.
Agree 100% well said Mikael
DeleteThanks Mikael. I thought the same
DeleteI can only assume from his position he adjudged it as SPA rather than DOSGO (position and number of defenders)
DeleteVery soft penalty to be in a CL semifinal. Except that, Makkelie is in full control of the match. Not a difficult one to be honest
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between this play and the one in the Real Madrid-Bayern match in the first leg?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIf you mean the situation at the end of game for Oliver, that one for me was more penalty than play on, defender was not interested in playing ball and he committed a similar action to this one. But the difference, to answer your question, is that there were different referees in the two games, so different perceptions.
DeleteVery soft penalty. Not completely wrong, but IMO no penalty would be better decision
ReplyDeletePenalty a little soft but correct... I suppose. Certainly not one for VAR to get involved. Same goes if he hadn't awarded it though.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise uneventful for Makkelie, who will be hoping for more of the same. Let's see
Reminds of soft penalty (on Sterling) that Makkelie gave in England vs Denmark at the semifinal in Euro 2020
ReplyDeleteStop down playing makkelie for a rather 75% penalty call yet the same incident was PK yesterday
DeleteNever a similar situation. Look at the position of the striker in front of the goal. This is a 100% goal if he wasn’t fouled.
DeleteTo be fair the more you watch it the better a decision it looks. Perfect description above "careless foul" prevented Arsenal player taking possession
ReplyDeleteA great first half - to me a typical Makkelie performance
Holding with both arms, push in the back. The attacker had a shooting opportunity in a dangerous position. All in all, too blatant and probably better to penalize imo.
ReplyDeleteThe two most difficult games of the season in these SF legs, and we see the two best performances from the two best referees. One must say UEFA got it spot on with assignments, and these both should also get the return legs.
ReplyDeleteThis has been a very difficult game for Makkelie (which coincidentally is dutch for "magnificent") but every decision has been correct, and again we see his style being something out of a movie. He has such grace and swagger, which gains him all the respect from the players and managers. Few would ever question one of his calls.
How is this a difficult game.. it’s a rather easy one
DeleteFor now both games are not difficult at all imo
DeleteI love this blog so much and also analyse the matches and referee's performances with the different people here, but sometimes I feel quite gaslighted. You cannot justify everything in order to "protect" the referees.
ReplyDeleteSo, today is a good decision by Makkelie, but the other day, a crystal clear penalty commited by Llorente to Olmo (far more penalty than this one) was waived on by Turpin and VAR and that action was praised and applauded here (too soft, you do not call that penalty in a crucial match, etc.).
I know: different matches, different referees, but UEFA should strive for consistency in the application of the laws, otherwise fans and everyone in the game feel numb and confused.
If you are talking about solving the problem of lack of consistency, it's a noble intention, but those who are on the pitch know it's impossible.
DeleteNot all incidents are perceived the same way.
Otherwise, it would be easy. If you compare the same referee in different matches, it's more understandable, but asking all referees to see things the same way on grey incidents like penalties seems impossible to me.
One can work on handballs because they are peculiar events, but contacts always depend on something that is seen in a certain way or not on the pitch.
I think this Blog is the best blog of football refereeing in the world. Of course, I support and love all referees at this level like you. But I wonder if you would comment the same way if a referee with a lower "aura", as you put it, gave this penalty. I think this penalty is very soft
ReplyDeleteHe gave 2 FK instead of letting the advantage quite frustrating for the players
ReplyDeleteClear penalty for Atletico. OFR
ReplyDeleteWe really are watching the same game as yesterday 😀.
ReplyDeleteYep,we will 8 more goals for sure also😉🤣
DeleteYeah it's like a script
DeleteUnder a refereeing point of view, but not from the teams.
DeletePenalty by referee in first half, then OFR for handball in second.
OFR PK correct decision for the home side
ReplyDeleteMore of a penalty than yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Very similar situation, except that here the position of the arm is far less natural.
DeleteMama mia here we go again two incidents comparable to yesterday's game
DeleteCould this missed penalty mean that he lost his chance for the final?
ReplyDeleteI will repeat my comment of yesterday's thread. The UEFA guidance needs to change if we are giving penalties when there is a clear deflection off the player's body.
ReplyDeleteThere is a deflection on this situation ?
DeleteYes it hits White's shin and deflects up on to the hand if you watch closely.
DeleteCorrect penalty and OFR . Nice way to balance things up. I like Makkelie his calm manner
ReplyDeleteCorrect handball, arm is in an unnatural position making his body bigger.
ReplyDeleteBad positioning by Makkelie, not allowing him to see it live
ReplyDeleteIndeed but his positioning is the expected for a corner kick. Nonetheless, he should have adjusted to try antecipate a situation like this
DeleteNow, the assessment for this one should be a rather deliberate movement to intercept the ball, this was punished by officials.
ReplyDeleteWe must say they are different incidents, both handballs, but the argument behind both of them is very similar, the defenders don't pay attention in avoiding this contact, rather, they allow it.
I know for some people it's hard, but still that's consistent.
The coach of Athletico can do everything!
ReplyDeleteTerrible behaviour in every match and nothing happens! Are the referees told to use different laws versus him?
Has the rule about deflection from body changed?
ReplyDeletehttps://streamff.com/v/33c45642 Clip of the OFR for handball
ReplyDeleteDelayed whistle in some off his calls can lead to some confusion,he should make those calls quicker.
ReplyDeleteThe atmosphere clearly changed, it can becoming a challenging game here.
ReplyDeleteMateu Lahoz is so harsh against his former colleagues on TV. Today is referring to Makkelie as "this little guy" and saying he lost trust by UEFA in the last two years and is trying to prove himself today.
ReplyDeleteHe said that the first penalty is too soft and should not be whistled in a SF; he does not understand why Makkelie was not sent to the monitor to assess better the situation.
He says he is whistling everything and does not let the game flow, according to him, he wants only to survive him and is hurting the "spectacle".
Pure Mateu!
That is treason
DeleteThis coming from the king of whistling/carding every foul.
DeleteIt is impossible that Mateu can think about an OFR regarding the first penalty whistled by Makkelie, if he really said that, he said that on purpose, knowing that he was wrong.
Deletepathetic comment by mateu
DeleteLahoz becomes the Gräfe of Spain:-))) It‘s sad when people make the job of their former colleagues harder due to personal ego
DeleteHe said that many times he arrived at the dressing room, saw about a penalty he whistled, and he was very sad he was not sent to the monitor to assess better the situation as he had only seen "half" of the situation.
DeleteHe says you cannot whistle that penalty in a Champions League SF.
Mateu thinks more about the whole game and the reception, that about being a referee I believe.
Mateu Lahoz 🤮
DeleteMateu: Much better on the field than in a TV-studio!!!
DeleteSoft PK called by Makellei imo not pen
ReplyDeleteThe Bayern coach was booked for a triviality during the match against Real. Yet today, both coaches are bouncing around on the touchline like jumping jacks—and nothing happens. Why?
ReplyDeleteGhost penalty from makkelie
ReplyDeleteShould be a yc for a dive
ReplyDeleteOFR no penalty good work by VAR
ReplyDeleteMakkelie is definitely bringing the match and his own performance to complete chaos. Another OFR, and after this I think his chances of refereeing the final have dropped by 50%.
ReplyDeleteAgain we see a spectacular, perfect decision. No other referee would spot this penalty, but Makkelie has the best vision of any referee in the world. Outstanding!
ReplyDeleteYep,just like his time management at Euro 24 😉
DeleteWhy not YC for dive?
ReplyDeleteThen that's grey zone that should not then be checked.
No dive at all, clear contact, BUT definitely not enough for PK!
DeleteWhat a disaster performance from Makkelie tonight.
ReplyDeleteOnly one main error very difficult to spot in real time, so no disaster at all.
DeletePlease read at least twice your comments before publishing.
Maybe this second OFR was the end of Makkelie‘s chances for the final
ReplyDeleteThere is a small step on foot from the images we're seeing. They're not 100% clear, however, I really don't see this as a clear and obvious error. Clearly, Rosetti's 'I don't want soft penalties', is listened to more than Rosetti's 'I don't want microscopic VAR interventions'
ReplyDeleteThe camera angle had to be much better. From these two angles we didn’t see much.
DeleteDoes this mean that Makkelie’s chances for the Final gone with the wind???
ReplyDeleteVAR in UEFA is going down a wrong path, way too aggressive with their interventions. This tripping penalty kick was not a clear error.
ReplyDeleteAgree!!
DeleteAnother referee opton for the final gone tonight
ReplyDeletePossible that this one was called in cooperation with AR1, who had a better view: the perception can be about a late challenge / step on foot but in reality it's more no contact. This was the reason why VAR intervened. I must say a word about Simeone once again, UEFA should really take personal actions against him, it's unacceptable what he does on the bench. Cards don't solve the issue, more serious sanctions should be expected... I lose my nerves only watching him on TV.
ReplyDeleteExact, I hate to see him in every match!!
DeleteI don't understand anything about VAR or its protocols anymore. (Although I think the intervention is appropriate in this case)
ReplyDeleteDont think makkelie is possible for final now. Maybe Scharer if arsenal and psg final?
ReplyDeleteSchaerer after all this? Let’s be realistic… Vincic is more likely to get another final than that happening. It wouldn’t be fair to the other referees, to be honest.
DeleteAfter Vincic's performances the last 10 months, he should be happy when he is still Elite next season. But I know where he comes from, so...
DeleteMakkelie thought Hancko had stepped on his opponent's foot. And he and Higler thought the video showed that he hadn't.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, was the game restarted with a dropped ball to the keeper? I thought the ball was outside the penalty area when Makkelie blew the whistle.
Yes, this is a classic case in which you can see the "Rosetti threshold" for penalties and VAR working accordingly. But it's just own UEFA use of it and I will repeat once again, as long as VAR is used differently in all different competitions, internationally and domestically, it would be impossible to ask for the even minimun consistency.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about the penalty in Arsenal vs. Leverkusen in the first leg; it was a much more dubious play for VAR to intervene.
DeleteIs it the channel I’m watching the game on or we don’t hear at all his whistle which seems to be the case for the players as well on the PK situation
ReplyDeleteThe yc to hanko shouldnt be removed?
ReplyDeleteThe yellow card is for dissent, not for the foul
DeleteIt was for dissent so no
DeleteThanks :D
DeleteMateu going ballistic now, saying he does not understand refereeing anymore (says the penalty should not have been whistled) and that Turpin and Vincic had bad days at the office, Marciniak is semi injured and for that reason UEFA had to try to "recover" this "chico" (little young guy) for tonight as they have not have trusted referees to use.
ReplyDeleteHe says that the "experiment" of Schärer went well but he was let down by VAR, as he believes the handball should not have been whistled.
He definitely does not hold back!
He's on a contrarian agenda against everything that moves around both CTA-RFEF & UEFA RefCom, as he feels personally wronged by both organizations.
DeleteWell Mateu is the last one allowed to say something after his double-digit disaster in ARGNED.
DeleteI believe Makkelie couldn’t referee Argentina at the WC2022 Thanks to him
Never a clear and obvious error. Penalty even a better decision, imo. Simple late careless kick. Higler's gut feeling that two soft penalties against Atlético would be too much being a deciding factor, imo. You shouldn't send the referee to the monitor without any proof of error! Overall, Makkelie with suboptimal foul recognition today. :/
ReplyDeleteExcellent comment!
DeleteYes, that's also my opinion.
DeleteThe contact is not strong, but the attacker neither initiates it nor starts falling before the contact.
Makkelie is still in the run in for the final... when you get corrected by VAR there's no issue for example Sanchez Pinheiro Turpin Letexier all corrected by VAR (OFR) yet they were praised for their performances so anything can happen
ReplyDeleteYes, it would be completely rigged if he doesn't get the final after this display. World class.
DeleteWell, that only occurs for Letexier. The others mentioned payed the prize or didn't recieve any help like in Pinheiro's case (although he got a nice appointment, can't understand this management anymore).
DeleteMy final assessments on the three penalties:
ReplyDelete1) it is a supportable call, with defender from behind using both arms, not all referees would whistle it but very far away from being a mistake, question is why defender should make that action? Correct by VAR in all cases to stay silent.
2) Handball. It is a correct VAR intervention according to UEFA ideas about handballs, similar to Spanish and Italian assessments, but different from other countries, still, the movement of arm stopping ball in that way can't allow some people to think in a different way, while it seems in England people are capable of that.
3) One can understand what Makkelie maybe in cooperation with the assistant referee guessed here, in the end the contact is soft, but strictly to protocol, wouldn't be worthy of an intervention. In this case, there can be a very different point of view by VAR, thinking about Rosetti guidelines involving the rather soft penalties, but another VAR maybe wouldn't have made same reasoning. And that's something to be discussed.
For me in the end, I want to repeat, it's very impossible to ask for consistency when we have VAR and it's used so differently according to the competition. A normal fan or somebody interested in football, can't understand for sure what is a clear and obvious mistake.
1) 100% spot on analysis. Borderline penalty, some refs will give it some refs won't. For me, it's a little soft, but completely supportable.
Delete2) Clear handball and good VAR intervention. The arm makes the body unnaturally bigger and the deflection is not enough to negate that.
3) Shocking VAR intervention. There is nothing that shows me the penalty kick was wrong, in fact I think penalty was the better outcome even after watching everything. There is no clear and obvious error here. Like yesterday's handball, VAR was too overzealous here. The default should be to uphold the referee's decision unless there is clear evidence to the contrary.
I will repeat myself, we need to move the burden of the intervention on the teams. Introduction of the challenge, like in any other sport, will reduce the complexity and the pressure on VARs
Delete@Marco it is still early in the season but the new FVS system with two challenges per manager in the Canadian Premier League seems to be working well, quick reviews, and let the referee who made the call assess themselves without a VAR in their official who may have a completely different view, as in case of Eze penalty yesterday.
DeleteLook at the last two final referees Vincic and Kovacs had very bad games but still considered for the second leg of this season
ReplyDeleteMakkelie wasn't bad tonight; I actually liked that he allowed a physical game, but the overall impression was still off. Between the VAR-awarded penalty and the overturned one, I think it's too much for UEFA to give him the final, so I’m fairly certain his club season is over.
ReplyDeleteI believe the top two candidates now are Oliver and Letexier, in that order. However, if the final happens to be PSG vs. Arsenal, we might see a surprise. In that case, I think UEFA will go with a safe bet—a referee from a top league with big-match experience. He may have made some mistakes, but they weren't significant enough to make his appointment controversial: Mariani.
First, congrats on Makkelie performance tonight. In game of such pressure he showed that he is strong decision maker,even when and if he made mistake,so he did pretty solid job. First,second penalty was hard to spot live,and thats why Var is here. Thrid penalty was 50/50,and thats also why Var is here.He was accepted by players,lead game in modern way. Did he lost chances for the final,not, becouse all referees that are candidates have VAR removed decisions this season. We will see the final teams,than we can speak.
ReplyDeleteNot just strong decision maker, but strong muscles too! 🤤 Pretty solid job is an understatement, this was flawless through and through. One can't say he put a foot wrong today and if there is any justice in the world, he will referee the final (I would suggest Schärer as 4O and Letexier as VAR).
DeleteVAR is here for 50/50? Then we have a very different view.
DeleteMy wrong, I sad that situation for me was 50/50, but I meant that VAR is here if mistake is happend, and to save the game and correct it.
DeleteI think Makkelie has had a very positive season, with some OFRs in these last games but this shouldn't immediately eliminate him from the competition, if it's true, as it is, that the performances of other referees haven't been so outstanding. We will just have to wait and see what happens in the second legs of the semifinals and then to follow.
ReplyDeleteSecond one thing, I saw some comments that officiating Legend Mateu Lahoz said about refereeing. I dont undertand him, he have officiating everything(what was possible due to his quality) in carrer, and will be remembered by maybe the best UCL FINAL REFEREE PERFOMRANCE EVER. But,this is not the way to speak about collegues!
ReplyDeleteI think he is going to be more remembered for Netherlands-Argentina... Fairly or unfairly.
DeleteYes he is a traitor who speaks ill of other referees because of jealousy! He never reached the heights of tonight's referee Danny Desmond Makkelie and it's evident what Lahoz is saying is unfair and incorrect.
Delete"He never reached the heights of tonight's referee Danny Desmond Makkelie "
DeleteMateu reached Final of Champions league ,something Desmond has never reached...
Also had plenty big matches in his career.
So how can you say that he never reached Makkelie?
Why do they only ever show VAR replays in slow motion? Football isn't played in slow motion.
ReplyDeleteAnyway my summary is as follows:
-1st PK Slightly soft but correct, VAR correct to stay silent
-2nd PK I personally prefer no PK but understand the law says it is to be given, so VAR technically correct to intervene
-3rd PK again soft but not an obvious error for me, VAR should stay silent. If no PK, why no YC for attacker? Maybe Higler didn't want to allow 2 soft PK in one game...
I think the last OFR is another very good example of how UEFA's contradictory guidelines of "we don't want soft penalties" and "VAR is for clear errors only" mean consistency is impossible. I prefer no penalty here but I struggle to see it as a clear error.
ReplyDeleteThat was nervous performance by Makkelie! The occasion seemed to affect him especially in the second half not the level expect from a referee of his experience.
ReplyDeleteThe handball decision around the 51st minute was confusing. He can easily give advantage but instead blew the whistle, then seemed to hesitate or change his mind.
I don't think Makkelie necessarily had a bad game, generally, I thought he did rather well. But the optics of two OFRs isn't great, and might be enough to push for a different name in case of a PSG v Arsenal final. For me, Siebert has to be the next name on the list, but more through lack of options than much else. On a seperate note, lots of lightning and storms around the match tonight. Nice to see we had a game, unlike will be the case this summer
ReplyDeleteSiebert has really deserved to get a CL final, I feel. He is more consistent than anyone else and brings a unique toolkit, has his own very special way of dealing with tough games and tricky situations. A referee fit for any match up. There's a certain aura around him, you just feel he's the man for the big moments. It really would make sense to see him get the final, it would be well overdue for sure. One can't deny this.
DeleteOverall, a solid performance from Makkeli, enjoying full acceptance among the players. The chance of reaching the final remains alive.
ReplyDelete1st penalty: smartly done by the attacker, but still better to whistle it because the two arm hold is blatant and the striker is in a clear scoring position. FWIW that push in the back in RMA-BAY was also a pen for me.
ReplyDelete2nd penalty: correct. More a penalty than yesterday’s handball.
3rd penalty: better to not whistle it. I can understand why Makkelie assessed it as a trip or step on the foot live. Good VAR intervention imo.
Tough game on big calls for the referee. In the end they didn’t influence the end result imo, 1-1 was a fair score.
Full sequence: https://streambug.org/cv/f343b6
ReplyDeleteBest replay: https://www.streambug.org/cv/08abf6
The better decision was not to award the penalty in 78'. If you look at the full sequence, you can see Eze's touch was deliberately heavy, ie his only intention was to 'win' the step on foot penalty by getting there first. Eze no longer has the ball under control when the contact happens. From the images available, the contact looks borderline between play on and careless. So, Euro Soccer Ref is right: to change the on-field decision, you have to present CLEAR evidence to the referee that the call was wrong. Did Higler have any clear CLEAR evidence? If he did, then it wasn't shown to Makkelie during the OFR - the angles were absolutely inconclusive. You cannot (or at least should not) try to achieve 'balance' as a VAR in this way, even if probably it will be tacitly approved by UEFA.
However, tonight there has been a clear outcome vis the final - the referee will not be Danny Makkelie. The mark that Vassaras will be able to award the Dutch referee will not exceed 7,4 with there having been two OFRs where the on-field decision was reversed; any grade ≤7,7 is deemed as a rejected mark by UEFA. I'm very sorry for Makkelie, but I think there is now no possible scenario where he is the referee at Budapest in May. Now, to me it looks like:
Atletico-Bayern: Oliver
Atletico-PSG: Oliver
Arsenal-Bayern: Letexier
Arsenal-PSG: [the leading German candidate?]
Mateu's comments also need to be addressed (Quilava is absolutely right in what he says), I have been thinking about this topic for a long time now.
DeleteHmm. Can you please explain why Kovacs could have 2 OFR last season in the quarter final and still get the UCL final ? Why are some referees rejected after 2 OFR and other not?
DeleteThe second OFR pertained mostly to a reverse crossover missed offside by Tunyogi. I'm happy to be corrected, but I'm sure Kovacs' mark that night was 7,9 and not below.
DeleteNo first OFR, YC upgraded to RC (Dogso), Second OFR was a PK for a Handball
DeleteSo two OFR and the Romanian was still appointed to the final
I never comment on here, but I love to hear everyone's opinion wghich is why I read it pretty regularly. VAR and Handling Offences - Nobody knows this, it's too complicated, I don't even try to get into it. What I do know is what a fouls is, and I'm really struggling to understand a reason why VAR intervenes on the Eze penalty, none nada.
ReplyDeleteI see comments about it being "soft" but you realize that everything every little contact in slow motion looks like soft, we should know this by now. If I look at that incident in real time, I'm going stonewall penalty, if I watch it in slow-mo maybe I go, I'm ok with the onfield decision either way, but in no circumstance is this decision being overtured anything short of a blunder. I will be incredibly surprised if Higler is ever appointed for a UCL knockout again. This is an incredibly consequential deceion, and I've watched it over 100 times and I still can't find a single reason how that is a clear and obvious error.
Regarding the 3rd incident, I get what people are saying about the “clear evidence@ part, but honestly, my take is that - especially because the consultation took quite a while - Higler was discussing with Makkelie what he saw. Makkelie probably told him he spotted foot-on-foot contact, and that’s why Higler sent him to the screen. The idea that Higler pulled him over just because of a “balance act” is pure speculation.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Mateu's words are not the harshest a former Spanish WC ref has said about Makkelie: Then-CTA-RFEF president Medina Cantalejo was recorded in a private conversation the morning after Sevilla - Juventus (2023 EL SF 2nd leg, in which he gave a 2YC to a Sevilla player for a DtR offence not knowing he was already booked, similar to Vincic in BAYRMA), in which among other things he calls Makkelie "a very bad referee" (muy malo), "overrated" (supervalorado, actually a lexical mistake as the correct word is "sobrevalorado") and an "idiot" (tonto), saying that "the refereeing (performance) yesterday was Regional-category like".
ReplyDeleteWow . I guess he didn’t watch the Europa league final 2020 won by Sevilla, one of the most challenging UEFA finals I can remember
DeleteToday's Makkelie is far away from that version of him.
DeleteMedina Cantalejo's words don't describe Makkelie, they describe Medina himself. It's regrettable that someone could speak of a colleague like that.
DeleteWho do you think will officiate the return legs in the UEFA Champions League?
ReplyDeleteBayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain — Szymon Marciniak
Atlético Madrid vs Arsenal — François Letexier
How are they going to use Letexier on a PSG match?
DeleteI suspect you'll see neither of them, for what it's worth.
Bayern-PSG: Kovacs
DeleteAtletico-Arsenal: Mariani (or Marciniak, if he is fully recovered)
Marciniak on Monday 4.05 in polish Ekstraklasa - Radomiak vs Lechia. So - impossible in CL semifinals.
DeleteWhere did you get the idea that Kovacs will be in Munich after the controversial incident at Camp Nou?
DeleteEveryone can agree that in terms of practical law application and clarity, pro football is 100 % totally out of control lately. Zero consistency, always controversy, huge media talk. It’s a mess but it’s entertaining.
ReplyDeleteBut the mess it's also because all people don't accept any Referee decision anymore
DeleteSorry to say it, but ordinary people's reactions are quite reasonable, as there are (too) many cases where VARs don't accept on-field decisions, overreaching the initial understanding of what is "a clear and obvious error" as an excuse for intervening.
DeleteI think we can agree with both messages, but it is nowadays clear that people don't accept referees anymore. How many insults on social media, how many direct messages sent. We are in trouble
DeleteWhen you make a decision against a team you are the problem. The team is not the problem anymore, the infringement is not, even clear VC, clear DOGSO, the ref is the problem
All the discussion around the 3rd incident... There is a short moment, right after the overturn, when Makkelie explains the decision by making a ball gesture. If that is what he and VAR have agreed upon, there is something very very wrong about the decision. It's not even a "clear and obvious" discussion anymore.
ReplyDeleteAnd as other have pointed out, Simeone's behaviour should not be tolerated
Two former English players commented on Simeone's eccentric behavior, particularly towards referees:
ReplyDeleteThe strikers saw a penalty initially awarded and subsequently overturned after VAR review, a move that provoked heated reactions, including from Diego Simeone, who, after the first decision, gestured vehemently while referee Danny Makkelie went to review the images.
This behavior did not go unnoticed, and legendary English footballer Steve McManaman was particularly critical. "I observed the behavior of Diego and his assistants. It was awful. Furthermore, they constantly insulted the fourth referee. If a situation like this had happened in the opposite area, Simeone would have gone crazy and insisted with all his might that it was a penalty. Honestly, his behavior is terrible." "That's why people don't like Atlético and their black magic," he argued.
Martin Keown, former Arsenal player and England international, shared a similar opinion, considering that the Argentinian consciously exerted pressure on the referee: "Simeone loves to create scenes and drama. I thought the referee ended up giving in to the pressure. A coach should maintain decency. I don't want to exaggerate the criticism, but we saw something very wrong. He orchestrates the public, but he also orchestrates the referees. It's true that Mikel Arteta also tries to do the same, but with much less success. Simeone, however, is a master at it."