UEFA Champions League 2019/2020 – Play-Offs (First Leg)

20-21 August 2019

CFR Cluj – Slavia Praha
Referee: Cüneyt Çakir (TUR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin Duran (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Fourth Official: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)
VAR: Mete Kalkavan (TUR)
AVAR: Ali Palabiyik (TUR)
Referee Observer: Eugen Strigel (GER)

Apoel – Ajax
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrián Devís (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Díaz Pérez (ESP)
Fourth Official: José Munuera Montero (ESP)
VAR: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)
AVAR: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Linzer ASK – Club Brugge
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Tomasz Musial (POL)
VAR: Pawel Gil (POL)
AVAR: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel (GER)

GNK Dinamo – Rosenborg BK
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
Fourth Official: Daniele Doveri (ITA)
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
AVAR: Marco Guida (ITA)
Referee Observer: Oğuz Sarvan (TUR)

BSC Young Boys – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Mario Diks (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Fourth Official: Kevin Blom (NED)
VAR: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
AVAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Referee Observer: Kýros Vasáras (GRE)

Olympiakos – Krasnodar
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Yuste Jiménez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Alonso Fernández (ESP)
Fourth Official: José Sánchez Martínez (ESP)
VAR: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (ESP)
AVAR: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski (MKD)

UEFA Europa League 2019/2020 – Play-Offs (First Leg)

22 August 2019

Legia Warszawa – Rangers FC
Referee: Benoît Bastien (FRA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Frédéric Haquette (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Mugnier (FRA)
Fourth Official: Benoît Millot (FRA)
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner (AUT)

FC Astana – Bate Barysaŭ
Referee: Serhiy Boyko (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Semen Shlonchak (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Oleksandr Korniyko (UKR)
Fourth Official: Anatoliy Abdula (UKR)
Referee Observer: Iain Robertson Brines (SCO)

Ararat Armenia – F91 Dudelange
Referee: Harald Lechner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Heidenreich (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Maximilian Kolbitsch (AUT)
Fourth Official: Julian Weinberger (AUT)
Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić (SRB)

Malmö FF – Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv
Referee: Paweł Raczkowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Michał Obukowicz (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Radosław Siejka (POL)
Fourth Official: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Antonov (MDA)

FK Suduva – Ferencvárosi TC
Referee: Manuel Schüttengruber (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Brandner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Steinacher (AUT)
Fourth Official: Sebastian Gishamer (AUT)
Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís (CYP)

Feyenoord – Hapoel Beer Sheva
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonņikovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)
Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin (SVN)

PFC Ludogorets – NK Maribor
Referee: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Hummelgaard (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Heine Sørensen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jens Maae (DEN)
Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)

FC København – Riga FC
Referee: Bas Nijhuis (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Bas van Dongen (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Joost van Zuilen (NED)
Fourth Official: Siemen Mulder (NED)
Referee Observer: Volodimir Petrov (UKR)

AEK Athens – Trabzonspor
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Foltyn (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Seidel (GER)
Fourth Official: Sören Storks (GER)
Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)

FCSB – Vitória SC
Referee: Matej Jug (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež (SVN)
Fourth Official: Nejc Kajtazovič (SVN)
Referee Observer: Juan Fernández Marín (ESP)

PSV Eindhoven – Apóllon Limassol
Referee: Aliaksiej Kuĺbakoŭ (BLR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dzmitry Žuk (BLR)
Assistant Referee 2: Jury Chomčanka (BLR)
Fourth Official: Viktar Šymusik (BLR)
Referee Observer: Vítor Melo Pereira (POR)

KAA Gent – HNK Rijeka
Referee: Daniel Stefański (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dawid Golis (POL)
Fourth Official: Damian Sylwestrzak (POL)
Referee Observer: Yuri Baskakov (RUS)

Strasbourg Alsace – Eintracht Frankfurt
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomáš Somoláni (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
Fourth Official: Filip Glova (SVK)
Referee Observer: Haim Jakov (ISR)

AZ Alkmaar – Royal Antwerp
Referee:
Assistant Referee 1:
Assistant Referee 2:
Fourth Official:
Referee Observer:

SC Braga – Spartak Moskva
Referee: Xavier Estrada Fernández (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Íñigo Prieto López (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: José Naranjo Pérez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Pablo González Fuertes (ESP)
Referee Observer: Michaíl Koukoulákis (GRE)

Celtic FC – AIK Stockholm
Referee: Tamás Bognár (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Balázs Buzás (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Péter Kóbor (HUN)
Fourth Official: Péter Solymosi (HUN)
Referee Observer: Vladimír Medved (SVK)

Linfield FC – Qarabağ FK
Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane De Almeida (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Bekim Zogaj (SUI)
Fourth Official: Fedayi San (SUI)
Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos (CRO)

Torino FC – Wolverhampton Wanderers
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Tavares (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Santos (POR)
Fourth Official: João Pinheiro (POR)
Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)

Espanyol de Barcelona – Zorya Luhansk
Referee: Tobias Stieler (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Pickel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
Fourth Official: Harm Osmers (GER)
Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine (NIR)

FK Partizan – Molde FK
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: György Ring (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Vencel Tóth (HUN)
Fourth Official: Ádám Farkas (HUN)
Referee Observer: Michael Ross (NIR)

Slovan Bratislava – PAOK FC
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Bojan Zobenica (CRO)
Fourth Official: Igor Pajač (CRO)
Referee Observer: Sándor Piller (HUN)

CONMEBOL Libertadores 2019 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

20-22 August 2019

Gremio – Palmeiras
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Bonfa (ARG)
Fourth Official: Jose Argote (VEN)
VAR: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
AVAR 1: Fernando Rapallini (ARG)
AVAR 2: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
VAR Observer: Enrique Caceres (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Sergio Cristiano (BRA)

LDU Quito – Boca Juniors
Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Alexander Guzman (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dionisio Ruiz (COL)
Fourth Official: Gustavo Murillo (COL)
VAR: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
AVAR 1: Nicola Gallo (COL)
AVAR 2: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
VAR Observer: Dario Ubriaco (URU)
Referee Assessor: Francisco Mondria (CHI)

Flamengo – Internacional
Referee: Roberto Tobar (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Claudio Rios (CHI)
Fourth Official: Guillermo Guerrero (ECU)
VAR: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
AVAR 1: Esteban Ostojich (URU)
AVAR 2: Nicolas Taran (URU)
VAR Observer: Sergio Correa (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Rodolfo Otero (ARG)

River Plate – Cerro Porteno
Referee: Victor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jonny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Victor Raez (PER)
Fourth Official: Juan Soto (VEN)
VAR: Raphael Claus (BRA)
AVAR 1: Alexis Herrera (VEN)
AVAR 2: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
VAR Observer: Patricio Polic (CHI)
Referee Assessor: Jose Buitrago (COL)

CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2019 – Quarter-finals (First Leg, II)

20-22 August 2019

Atletico Mineiro – La Equidad
Referee: Mario Diaz de Vivar (PAR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Cañete (PAR)
Fourth Official: Ivo Mendez (BOL)
VAR: Daniel Fedorczuk (URU)
AVAR 1: Gery Vargas (BOL)
AVAR 2: Christian Lescano (ECU)
VAR Observer: Mauricio Espinosa (URU)
Referee Assessor: Juan Cardellino (URU)

Corinthians – Fluminense
Referee: Andres Rojas (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: John Leon (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Wilmar Navarro (COL)
Fourth Official: Carlos Herrera (COL)
VAR: German Delfino (ARG)
AVAR 1: Facundo Tello (ARG)
AVAR 2: Gabriel Popovits (URU)
VAR Observer: Ana Oliveira (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Roberto Perassi (BRA)

Super Cup referee Frappart honoured by historic appointment

What a year it’s been for Stéphanie Frappart… The French referee will look back on 2019 as a time when the hard work and sacrifices she has made to reach the summit of her trade paid off in the most handsome of fashions – and history now beckons for her when she handles Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup match between Liverpool and Chelsea in Istanbul. It will be the first time that a female official has taken charge of a major UEFA men's competition showpiece match. 

Frappart (35) has already created history in her native France, and she serves as a shining example of what can be achieved as a female referee. In April, she became the first female match official to take charge of a French domestic men’s Ligue 1 match when she officiated at the encounter between Amiens and Strasbourg. After several years of gathering experience in France’s men’s Ligue 2, she has been promoted on a permanent basis into the pool of referees for the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season. The summer brought Frappart another momentous accolade – she was appointed to take charge of the FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the United States and the Netherlands on home soil in Lyon in July. Now, she is relishing the prospect of her central role in the curtain-raiser to the new UEFA club competition season. Frappart will lead a team made up mostly of female officials. She will be accompanied by assistant referees Manuela Nicolosi (France) and Michelle O'Neill (Republic of Ireland). The fourth official will be Turkey's Cüneyt Çakır. “I’m very happy, and it was really a surprise,” said Frappart, who comes from the Val-d'Oise department close to Paris. “I didn’t expect to be given the Super Cup assignment – it’s a great honour for me, and for female referees as well. I hope it serves as an example to female referees, and to any young girls who may aspire to be a referee.” 

UEFA Referees Committee chairman Roberto Rosetti has absolutely no doubts about Frappart’s qualities: "Stéphanie has proved over a number of years that she is one of the best female referees, not just in Europe but across the world. She has the ability to officiate on the biggest stage, as she proved at this year's Women's World Cup final. I hope this match in Istanbul will provide her with yet more experience as she enters the prime of her refereeing career." 

Frappart has vivid memories of the day in Lyon two months ago when she handled the Women’s World Cup climax. “It was magnificent – all the more so because it was in France,” she recalls. “The stadium was packed for a big occasion featuring two fine teams. It was an exceptional moment. I’m sure that the final, and the entire World Cup, has attracted new supporters to women’s football. The tournament showed just how women’s football has developed in terms of technique, tactics and fitness.” She began refereeing at 13. “I played football, but I also wanted to learn about the Laws of the Game, so I started refereeing, and continued both playing and refereeing until the age of 20, when I had to make a choice. At the time, women’s football structures were still developing, so I felt that it would be better for me to go on as a referee.” From then, Frappart has worked assiduously to reach the highest levels. “I never set myself any great targets, really,” she reflects. “I’ve basically taken things from match to match along the way. I’ve not had a role model, but I’ve watched a lot of referees and they’ve all had some influence on me. A lot of people within the French FA have also given me good advice to follow.” The historic Ligue 1 assignment in Amiens last spring was important for Frappart – “but I wouldn’t actually say that it was a challenge, because I’d already been refereeing in Ligue 2 for five years. Now that I’m in the Ligue 1 pool for next season, the aim is to do my very best and be successful.” Frappart, a keen outdoor sports fan, will prepare for the Super Cup encounter with her usual diligence. “I think as a team, we’ll all have a chance to savour the occasion before and after the match,” she reflects, “but it’s essential that we’re fully concentrated on the game at the right time. We’ll be able to study the two teams beforehand – this opportunity to learn how the teams play is a big help to us, it’s crucial for us.” The management skills that take referees to the top of the tree will also help the team of officials deal with events on the field. “I think it’s essential that referees are respected by the players on the field, and that they can live with the pressures,” she says. 

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin hails Frappart’s historic Super Cup appointment. “As an organization, we place the utmost importance on the development of women's football in all areas,” he says. “I hope the skill and devotion that Stéphanie has shown throughout her career to reach this level will provide inspiration to millions of girls and women around Europe, and show them there should be no barriers in order to reach one's dream." A memorable night in Istanbul awaits Stéphanie Frappart and her colleagues. And for any young girl or woman who will watch the game with dreams of emulating her, what is her advice? “You’ve got to have a passion for football, certainly, if you want to be a referee,” she says. “And if you have… then why not try it?” 

Source: UEFA

UEFA Europa League 2019/2020 – Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg)

13-15 August 2019

Dundalk FC – Slovan Bratislava
Referee: Robert Schörgenhofer (AUT, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Markus Gutschi (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner (AUT)
Fourth Official: Alan Kijas (AUT)
Referee Observer: Salustià Ciprés (AND)

Nõmme Kalju – F91 Dudelange
Referee: Sergey Lapochkin (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Averyanov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Dmitriy Zhvakin (RUS)
Fourth Official: Vitaliy Meshkov (RUS)
Referee Observer: Attila Ábrahám (HUN)

Linfield FC – FK Sutjeska
Referee: Miroslav Zelinka (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Paták (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Petr Caletka (CZE)
Fourth Official: Emanuel Marek (CZE)
Referee Observer: Adrian Azzopardi (MLT)

Atrómitos FC – Legia Warszaw
Referee: Bas Nijhuis (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Bas van Dongen (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig (NED)
Fourth Official: Siemen Mulder (NED)
Referee Observer: João Ferreira (POR)

Vitória SC – FK Ventspils
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu (TUR)
Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler (TUR)
Referee Observer: Matteo Trefoloni (ITA)

FC Saburtalo – Ararat Armenia
Referee: Mykola Balakin (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Andriy Skrypka (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ihor Alokhin (UKR)
Fourth Official: Oleksandr Derdo (UKR)
Referee Observer: Michális Argyroú (CYP)

HJK Helsinki – Riga FC
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Fredrik Klyver (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Mahbod Beigi (SWE)
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Referee Observer: Eugen Strigel (GER)

Dinamo Tbilisi – Feyenoord
Referee: Sascha Stegemann (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Achmüller (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
Fourth Official: Robert Schröder (GER)
Referee Observer: Miroslav Liba (CZE)

Spartak Moskva – FC Thun
Referee: Bojan Pandzic (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Joakim Nilsson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Gustavsson (SWE)
Fourth Official: Kaspar Sjöberg (SWE)
Referee Observer: Sabri Çelik (TUR)

Šachcior Salihorsk – Torino FC
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Grigoriu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Marcel Bîrsan (ROU)
Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán (ESP)

Apóllon Limassol – Austria Wien
Referee: Paweł Gil (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Konrad Sapela (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcin Borkowski (POL)
Fourth Official: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Referee Observer: Petteri Kari (FIN)

Mladá Boleslav – FCSB
Referee: Jonathan Lardot (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Florian Lemaire (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Romain Devillers (BEL)
Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen (BEL)
Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos (CRO)

Yeni Malatyaspor – FK Partizan
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies (ENG)
Fourth Official: David Coote (ENG)
Referee Observer: René Temmink (NED)

HŠK Zrinjski – Malmö FF
Referee: Artyom Kuchin (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 1: Yevgeniy Belskiy (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 2: Sergey Vasyutin (KAZ)
Fourth Official: Daniyar Sakhi (KAZ)
Referee Observer: Kaj Østergaard (DEN)

Zorya Luhansk – CSKA Sofia
Referee: Amaury Delerue (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Frédéric Haquette (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe Jeanne (FRA)
Fourth Official: Olivier Thual (FRA)
Referee Observer: Uno Tutk (EST)

Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv – Neftçi PFK
Referee: Daniele Doveri (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Costanzo (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessio Tolfo (ITA)
Fourth Official: Fabrizio Pasqua (ITA)
Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)

FK Sūduva – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Referee: Tore Hansen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Øystein Ytterland (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin (NOR)
Fourth Official: Espen Eskas (NOR)
Referee Observer: Thóroddur Hjaltalín (ISL)

Bate Barysaŭ – FK Sarajevo
Referee: Kevin Blom (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Davie Goossens (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder (NED)
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout (NED)
Referee Observer: Raymond Ellingham (WAL)

AIK Stockholm – Sheriff Tiraspol
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: David Biton (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Dvir Shimon (ISR)
Fourth Official: Ziv Adler (ISR)
Referee Observer: Antonio Damato (ITA)

Hapoel Beer Sheva – IFK Norrköping
Referee: Anastásios Papapétrou (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Iordánis Aptósoglou (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Trýfon Petrópoulos (GRE)
Fourth Official: Ángelos Evangélou (GRE)
Referee Observer: Goran Mihaljević (MNE)

Trabzonspor – Sparta Praha
Referee: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Hummelgaard (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Heine Sørensen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jens Maae (DEN)
Referee Observer: Sándor Piller (HUN)

The New Saints FC – PFC Ludogorets
Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Kõiv (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Aron Härsing (EST)
Fourth Official: Joonas Jaanovits (EST)
Referee Observer: Luc Wouters (BEL)

Viktoria Plzeň – Royal Antwerp
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Damiano Di Iorio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Rosario Abisso (ITA)
Referee Observer: Aleksei Spirin (RUS)

AEK Athens – Universitatea Craiova
Referee: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pagès (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: François Boudikian (FRA)
Fourth Official: Johan Hamel (FRA)
Referee Observer: Jaap Uilenberg (NED)

Valletta FC – FC Astana
Referee: Stephan Klossner (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Remy Zgraggen (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Zürcher (SUI)
Fourth Official: Stefan Horisberger (SUI)
Referee Observer: Viktor Shvetsov (UKR)

Áris Thessaloniki – Molde FK
Referee: Robert Harvey (IRL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wayne McDonnell (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Gavin (IRL)
Fourth Official: Paul McLaughlin (IRL)
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer (LUX)

RC Strasbourg – Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Referee: John Beaton (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Mulvanny (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane (SCO)
Fourth Official: David Munro (SCO)
Referee Observer: Robert Malek (POL)

AZ Alkmaar – FC Mariupol
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Jakub Winkler (POL)
Fourth Official: Daniel Stefański (POL)
Referee Observer: Drago Kos (SVN)

KAA Gent – AEK Larnaca
Referee: Martin Strömbergsson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Allheim (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Mikael Hallin (SWE)
Fourth Official: Patrik Eriksson (SWE)
Referee Observer: Paulius Malžinskas (LTU)

PSV Eindhoven – FK Haugesund
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: César Noval Font (ESP)
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernández (ESP)
Referee Observer: Iain Robertson Brines (SCO)

Eintracht Frankfurt – FC Vaduz
Referee: Nikola Dabanović (MNE)
Assistant Referee 1: Milutin Djukić (MNE)
Assistant Referee 2: Vladan Todorović (MNE)
Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković (MNE)
Referee Observer: Vladimír Medved (SVK)

SC Braga – Brondby IF
Referee: Aleksey Eskov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Dmitri Mosyakin (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Nikolai Yeryomin (RUS)
Fourth Official: Vasili Kazartsev (RUS)
Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange (ITA)

Wolverhampton Wanderers – FC Pyunik
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Dovydas Sužiedėlis (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Vytis Snarskis (LTU)
Fourth Official: Donatas Šimenas (LTU)
Referee Observer: Shmuel Shteif (ISR)

Rangers FC – FC Midtjylland
Referee: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Cecconi (ITA)
Fourth Official: Piero Giacomelli (ITA)
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

Aberdeen FC – HNK Rijeka
Referee: Harald Lechner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Heidenreich (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Maximilian Kolbitsch (AUT)
Fourth Official: Julian Weinberger (AUT)
Referee Observer: Gerard Perry (IRL)

RCD Espanyol – FC Luzern
Referee: Manuel Sousa (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Álvaro Mesquita (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Nuno Manso (POR)
Fourth Official: Cláudio Pereira (POR)
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi (SMR)

UEFA Champions League 2019/2020– Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg)

13-14 August 2019

Qarabağ FK – Apoel FC
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Lasse Koslowski (GER)
Fourth Official: Martin Petersen (GER)
Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen (DEN)

Rosenborg BK – NK Maribor
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Charles Schaap (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Jeroen Manschot (NED)
Referee Observer: Bo Karlsson (SWE)

Dynamo Kyiv – Club Brugge
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Bojan Zobenica (CRO)
Fourth Official: Mario Zebec (CRO)
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner (AUT)

Ferencvárosi TC – GNK Dinamo
Referee: Ruddy Buquet (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Guillaume Debart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Julien Pacelli (FRA)
Fourth Official: Frank Schneider (FRA)
Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz (TUR)

FC København – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Gediminas Mažeika (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vytautas Šimkus (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Vytenis Kazlauskas (LTU)
Fourth Official: Robertas Šmitas (LTU)
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen (NOR)

AFC Ajax – PAOK FC
Referee: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Lee Betts (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin (ENG)
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley (ENG)
Referee Observer: Kostas Kapitanís (CYP)

Olympiakos FC – Medipol Başakşehir
Referee: Robert Madden (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Douglas Ross (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: David Roome (SCO)
Fourth Official: Gregory Aitken (SCO)
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge (NOR)

Linzer ASK – FC Basel
Referee: Aliyar Ağayev (AZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Akif Amirali (AZE)
Fourth Official: Orxan Mammadov (AZE)
Referee Observer: Haim Jakov (ISR)

Celtic FC – CFR Cluj
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonņikovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)
Referee Observer: Luciano Luci (ITA)

FC Porto – FC Krasnodar
Referee: Marco Guida (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniele Bindoni (ITA)
Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca (ITA)
Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2019 – Quarter-finals (Second Leg, I)

13-15 August 2019

Independiente Del Valle – Independiente
Referee: Roberto Tobar (CHI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Claudio Rios (CHI)
Fourth Official: Carlos Herrera (COL)
VAR: Julio Bascuñan (CHI)
AVAR 1: Eduardo Gamboa (CHI)
AVAR 2: Jose Retamal (CHI)
VAR Observer: Jorge Osorio (CHI)
Referee Assessor: Henry Gambetta (PER)

Colon – Zulia
Referee: Eber Aquino (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Zorrilla (PAR)
Fourth Official: Ulises Mereles (PAR)
VAR: Diego Haro (PER)
AVAR 1: Arnaldo Samaniego (PAR)
AVAR 2: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
VAR Observer: Martin Vazquez (URU)
Referee Assessor: Patricio Polic (CHI)

IFAB Clarification: Law 16 - Goal Kick

This year’s changes to Law 16 - The Goal Kick have often led to the game being restarted quickly and positively, but there are two situations which have generated questions from across the football world which we would like to clarify. 

1. Goalkeeper ‘lifting’ the ball to a team mate who heads/chests it back to the goalkeeper

There has been much debate about whether, at a goal kick, the goalkeeper is permitted to ‘lift’ the ball to a team mate to head or chest it back to the goalkeeper to catch and then put into play. The views of technical and refereeing experts about whether this is within the ‘spirit’ of the Laws is divided so the matter will be discussed by The IFAB. Until then, this practice should not be permitted nor should it be penalized. If it occurs the referee should order the goal kick to be re-taken (but without any disciplinary action).

2. Opponent in the penalty area when a goal kick is taken

Law 16 requires all opponents to be outside the penalty area until the goal kick is taken and if an opponent remains inside or enters the penalty area before the kick is taken and plays, challenges or touches the ball, the goal kick is retaken. However, Law 16 also applies the ‘quick’ free kick principles outlined in Law 13 – Free Kicks, 3. Offences and sanctions that if any opponents are in the penalty areas because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue. In practical terms, this means that referees should manage goal kicks (and defending team free kicks in their own penalty area) in the same way as they manage free kicks: 

- Unless the kick is taken quickly, opposing players should be required to be outside the penalty area and remain outside until the kick has been taken. 

- If the kick is taken quickly and an opponent genuinely did not have time to leave the penalty area, the opponent may not interfere with or prevent the taking of the kick but may intercept the ball once it is in play. This is allowed because the defending team, as at a quick free kick, tried to gain an advantage by taking the kick quickly and if this ‘goes wrong’ the Law is not there to ‘save’ them. 

- Players who deliberately remain inside or enter the penalty area before the kick is taken should not gain an unfair advantage, even if the kick is taken quickly. If an opposing player commits an offence (as outlined above) the goal kick is retaken; there is no disciplinary sanction unless the offence occurs a number of times (persistent misconduct). Referees are skilled at managing 9.15m at free kicks and they should apply these skills and principles to the management of goal kicks and defending team free kicks in their own penalty area. 

Source: IFAB

Concacaf League 2019 – Preliminary Round

First Leg, 1-2 August 2019

Forge FC – Antigua GFC
Referee: Juan Calderon (CRC, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta (CRC)
Fourth Official: Ricardo Montero (CRC)

Real Esteli – Santa Tecla
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ian Anderson (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan (USA)

Alianza FC – San Francisco FC
Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Tiraz (GUA)
Fourth Official: Oscar Reyna (GUA)

Robinhood – AS Capoise
Referee: Okeito Nicholson (JAM)

Belmopan Bandits – Deportivo Saprissa
Referee: Nitzar Sandoval (NCA)

Comunicaciones FC – CD Marathon
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Jeramine Yeel (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)
Fourth Official: Sherwin Johnson (GUY)

Second Leg, 7-9 August 2019

Santa Tecla – Real Esteli
Referee: Tristeley Bassue (SKN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mario Parry (SKN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ike Inniss (GUY)
Fourth Official: Trevester Richards (SKN)

AS Capoise – Robinhood
Referee: Reon Radix (GRN)
Assistant Referee 1: Kevon Clarke (BRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Wasnah Barnarde (ATG)
Fourth Official: Hector Martinez (HON)

Deportivo Saprissa – Belmopan Bandits
Referee: Jose Torres (PUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jairo Morales (PUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Limanuel Sola (PUR)
Fourth Official: William Anderson (PUR)

San Francisco FC – Alianza FC
Referee: Diego Montano (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Andres Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Espinosa (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jorge Perez (MEX)

Antigua GFC – Forge FC
Referee: Randy Encarnacion (DOM)
Assistant Referee 1: Helpys Feliz (DOM)
Assistant Referee 2: Walter Cid (DOM)
Fourth Official: Ivan Barton (SLV)

CD Marathon – Comunicaciones FC
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Geovany Garcia (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Douglas Bermudez (SLV)
Fourth Official: Jaime Herrera (SLV)