A Perfect Farewell: Slavko Vinčić Ends His Refereeing Career with the World Cup Final

The referee who led European officiating for over a decade leaves the stage at a place definitely worthy of his farewell: the FIFA World Cup Final.

And now? Time for a new challenge?

Refereeing Stats at World Cup - Chapter 3

Third and last chapter of the  feature prepared by our reader Emmanuel, a journey through some unusual statistics ahead of the World Cup, which is about to begin. 

Refereeing Stats at World Cup - Chapter 2

Second chapter of the  feature prepared by our reader Emmanuel, a journey through some unusual statistics ahead of the World Cup, which is about to begin. 

Refereeing Stats at World Cup - Chapter 1

We are pleased to present a feature prepared by our reader Emmanuel, a journey through some unusual statistics ahead of the World Cup, which is about to begin. 

Who will officiate Champions League final? More an analysis than a real prediction

Since I was asked for that, I tried to point out some key points, according to my opinion, about the process of selection for 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final referee. Not easy, but here a try.

Who will FIFA choose? An analysis by Mikael W. about the World Cup Preselection

Who will FIFA choose?

Wilton Sampaio from Brazil seems to be a safe name for 2026 WC 

WhatRef - Predict Football Referee Assignments

WhatRef - Predict Football Referee Assignments

Rosetti: "VAR Challenge is a risk. Football pace would be upset. I say no to effective time."

Roberto Rosetti has released an interview to Italian newspaper "La Stampa". We have translated it for you. 

2025 will be the eighth year for Rosetti as UEFA Head of Referees

Who will officiate UEFA finals?

Please find below a prediction about the candidates for 2021-22 UEFA CL, EL and ECL finals.

7 August 2021: Björn Kuipers day

The Dutch referee has announced that today it will be his last game before retirement. He will be in charge of Dutch Super Cup. 

Interview with Kyros Vassaras about his refereeing career: "It was a long and wonderful journey!"

On the 11th anniversary of its existence, the "School of Referees" (www.ScoalaDeArbitri.ro) conducted an interview - event, with the President of the CCA, Kyros Vassaras (55 years old), in which he talks about his career as a referee. An impressive one, with two Champions League semifinals, an Olympic Games final, participation in final tournaments (EURO, World Cup) and many other beautiful moments. But also some less pleasant...

Who will officiate Champions and Europa League finals?

 Please find below a prediction about the candidates for 2020-21 UEFA CL and EL finals.

Pierluigi Collina: "Honored to be considered nr. 1 but I also have a bit of nostalgia"

Some days ago Pierluigi Collina has released an interesting interview to the Italian newspaper "Il Corriere della Sera". Law 5 The Referee has translated it for you. 

Pierluigi Collina has been voted by France Football as best football referee ever

Who will be promoted to UEFA Elite Category?

An update of UEFA Referee Categories is expected on next days. Let's predict the new Elite referees.

Times to make choices for Rosetti and the committee

Focus on: Zwayer handball in Chelsea - Rennes

Let's have a closer look at the most discussed decision of this week's CL games: the handball whistled by German Elite referee Felix Zwayer in Chelsea - Rennes, after having been called by VAR to make an OFR. 

Rosetti and Italian referees - an affront to meritocracy in UEFA Refereeing

It should be said openly - the appointments that the Italian referees are getting at a UEFA level are becoming a bit ridiculous. There cannot be much doubt now - this is a systematic plan to work specifically to the advancement of match officials from Italy (nothing against them personally, of course!). The Italianisation of UEFA Refereeing that has taken place under Roberto Rosetti must stop if Nyon wants to credibly claim that they are running an operation that at least aims to work like a meritocracy and does not seriously demotivate referees from other nations.

Roberto Rosetti is Italian

But how did we get here in the first place? This article aims to answer some of those questions. 

Who will officiate Champions and Europa League finals? Analysis and prediction

Please find below an analysis about the candidates for 2019-20 UEFA CL and EL finals. 

Jesús Gil Manzano, Daniele Orsato, and big associations lobby in Nyon

Reading the appointment of Daniele Orsato for Real Madrid - Manchester City was essentially cursory. Reading the appointment of Jesús Gil Manzano for Olympique Lyonnais - Juventus, I checked twice to see if I were mis-reading it! Congratulations to both on great appointments, first of all.

Those two names beside each other for Wednesday's games give us a nice chance for reflection. What can we read into Gil Manzano's appointment, how Orsato's story that is four years older will have a happy ending, and the bigger picture - how much is the power of big associations lobby in Nyon a threat to meritocracy in UEFA refereeing?

Daniele Orsato during the PSV Eindhoven - Atlético de Madrid game
Italian's appointment in 2016 was viewed as surprising or unexpected

What is Clear and Obvious, Mr. Rosetti?

Perhaps the view that crucial mistakes and decisions that were correctly supported by VAR should be mutually exclusive is, perhaps, a bit quixotic, but UEFA's direction regarding evaluation of Violent Conducts and Serious Foul Play has worried us this season.

Last night, in Bruges, we reached a new nadir.

Collina turns 60: happy birthday and a nice interview

Today 13 February 2020 Pierluigi Collina turns 60. When you say "referee", very often he is the first person coming to your mind.  With a special wish for his birthday, Law 5 Blog has translated a very interesting and long interview released by La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

After a glorious career on the pitch with many honors, now Collina is working behind the scenes as head of refereeing.