2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League, referee appointments for Semifinals (Second Legs).
21:00 CET - Strasbourg (Stade de La Meinau)
RC STRASBOURG ALSACE (FRA) - RAYO VALLECANO DE MADRID (ESP) Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
UEFA Referee Observer:Stavros Tritsonis GRE
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI
21:00 CET - London (Selhurst Park)
CRYSTAL PALACE FC (ENG) - SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR)
Referee: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Enrique Naranjo Pérez ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: José María Sánchez Martínez ESP
Fourth Official: José María Sánchez Martínez ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT
UEFA Delegate: Ronald Zimmermann GER
21:00 CET - Strasbourg (Stade de La Meinau)
ReplyDeleteRC STRASBOURG ALSACE (FRA) - RAYO VALLECANO DE MADRID (ESP)
Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK
Fourth Official: Nicholas Walsh SCO
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fedayi San SUI
UEFA Referee Observer:Stavros Tritsonis GRE
UEFA Delegate: Kurt Zuppinger SUI
21:00 CET - London (Selhurst Park)
CRYSTAL PALACE FC (ENG) - SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR)
Referee: Alejandro Hernández ESP
Assistant Referee 1: José Naranjo ESP
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Sánchez Rojo ESP
Fourth Official: José María Sánchez ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ESP
UEFA Referee Observer:Konrad Plautz AUT
UEFA Delegate: Ronald Zimmermann GER
One should never forget how big is Kruzliak reputation under the eyes of committee :)
ReplyDeleteExpected Hernandez Hernandez but not in Conference League. Given the first leg score, this is one of the potentially easiest clash, but of course we can't know whether appointment had been made before or not.
However we can also add that management of Ukrainian teams by committee in appointing them has been always, let's say, very flexible, and this is a fact.
Is this game enough as last UEFA appearance for the referee from Canary Islands, to be accepted as big Spanish name for WC 2026?
In summary, UEFA has appointed 15 referees for the World Cup (including Sandro Schärer, who is presumably only intended to serve as a fourth official). In contrast, in the 12 semifinal matches of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, only seven (!) of them are used, with the addition of Ivan Kruzliak, Davide Massa, Donatas Rumsas, and Daniel Siebert, as well as Joao Pinheiro appearing twice. In this extreme form, certainly very remarkable. If Sandro Schärer is not categorized as a World Cup referee "in the strict sense," it would even be only 6 out of 12 games = 50% that are officiated by World Cup referees ...
ReplyDelete... by DIFFERENT World Cup referees.
DeleteI agree strange choice, but tbf France an England have 4 referees and it's difficult to appoint them in those competition with the remainder teams. But i don't know if it's a choice or FIFA not wanting UEFA to take risks with their potential top refs with a month to go before WC after the Marciniak physical incident.
DeleteHdz Hdz finally gets a match, well as Chefren commented l don't see this game has his last Uefa match prior to WC but also on the hand 3 games left and honestly speaking i don't see any final he fits ( deserves) so he should be considered for a UEFA super Cup final maybe
ReplyDeleteAccording to confirmation from FIFA's refereeing committee and the French Football Federation, referee Willy Delajod will be added to the 2026 World Cup as a VAR referee.
ReplyDeleteKruzliak with a big test today. This Rayo team will try to do everything to qualify, incluinding tactical fouls, waste of time etc. I can see some cards flying there.
ReplyDeleteHernandez with about 3 advantages played in the build up to the 2nd Palace goal.
ReplyDeleteClip of Hernández's "triple advantage" in Palace - Shakhtar:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.streambug.io/cv/4b6797
Only one gesture was very clear, I think. Not to discret him, but he was also lucky I think, that's important for a referee!
DeleteExcellent HH here.
DeletePenalty for handball by Kruzliak in the last minutes of the game:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamin.me/v/a1fc187b
Clear penalty
DeleteCRYSHK
ReplyDelete41' PAI handball
https://streambug.org/cv/2386d6
52' Goal after advantage(s)
https://streambug.org/cv/c55b1b
I watched the game in full. Hernández Hernández, as always, with maaany play-on calls but today every of them was fully accepted by players. Some remark: don't combine it with soft defensive free kicks because it gives a bad impression of being inconsistent (but I know that for UEFA avoiding controversies is everything...). Fair game, players behaved really well, no bad blood, etc. No mandatory cards missed. Well done!
I was in the stadium for this match! My impressions are exactly the same as what you wrote (the game’s opening YC was good and deserves praise imo). What you can’t see from the television sequence is the extent to watch the linesman Sanchez Rojo panicked in the 41’ incident - too ‘stressed’ with being the official who had the best view of the potential handball, he indicated the restart as being a goalkick, which led even Hernandez to look out to him in confusion. The game ultimately restarted, correctly, with a corner. It was ‘mission accomplished’ with this good performance by the Spanish referee, and I think he won’t either be referee or fourth official (the latter for being too ‘suggestive’) for any of the three finals.
DeleteBut on the other hand, the game was done and dusted by the first leg so overall easy match to put under control . Again Job well Hdz Hdz.
Delete