FIFA replaced Garrido from the 1982 World Cup semi-final France-Germany

Portuguese Antonio Garrido (1932-2014) refereed France three times as part of the 1982 World Cup cycle, including the qualifying phase. The name of Antonio Garrido inevitably brings back memories of the French team at the 1982 World Cup, where he refereed the first and the last match: France-England, in Bilbao and France-Poland, in Alicante.

Antonio da Silva Garrido was born on 3 December 1932, in Marinha Grande, a town of some 12,000 inhabitants located 130 km north of Lisbon. He became an international referee in 1973. While continuing to work as an accountant, he refereed 29 European Cup matches and 13 matches between national teams. He refereed his first World Cup match on 2 June 1978 in the supercharged atmosphere of the Monumental in Buenos Aires, where Argentina started their tournament against Hungary. The Portuguese referee will be strongly criticized by the press, accusing him of having been too permissive with the local team against the Hungarians who had opened the score very early. The Argentinians won the match (2-1) by scoring the winning goal in the last 10 minutes. The match was influenced by the sending-off of the two stars of the Hungarian team, Andras Törőcsik and Tibor Nyilasi, which destroyed their hopes. This match will remain the black point of the Portuguese referee, but that will not prevent him from achieving a good international career. In 1980, he was the first Portuguese appointed to referee the Champions Cup final. In Madrid, Nottingham Forest won 1-0 against Hamburg. Garrido had already refereed the German club in 1977 on the occasion of the first leg of the European Super Cup against Liverpool. Twenty days after the European final, we find Garrido in Naples for a match of the first round of Euro 1980, where the Squadra Azzurra is held in check (0-0) by Belgium, which prevents them from qualifying for the final. Five players have been cautioned: two Italians and three Belgians. In May 1981, he refereed the final of the Festival Espoirs de Toulon, where Brazil defeated Czechoslovakia.

On 18 November 1981, Antonio Garrido refereed the decisive match France-Netherlands to win a ticket for the Spanish World Cup. At the start of the second half, he awarded a free kick for France following a foul by Neeskens on Platini. The French captain shoots it with the right foot, twenty meters from Van Breukelen's goal, but the ball is pushed back by the wall. The Dutch emerge, but the Portuguese referee whistles a free kick again, in the same place. Dutchman Van de Korput controlled the ball with his hand. Platini's new attempt, this time, is the right one. The ball goes around the orange wall and surprises the Dutch goalkeeper. Antonio Garrido is therefore at the origin of the Spanish adventure of the French team. We find him in Bilbao, at the San Mames, where the Blues, in white, face the England team. A bad memory for Michel Hidalgo's men who conceded a goal after 27 seconds and who largely lost the match (3-1), overwhelmed on all counts. Garrido issues a warning to Englishman Terry Butcher on the half hour mark. He is then scheduled to referee the Seville semi-final where France must face West Germany. But the tournament's referees committee wants to avoid the same referee leading the same team twice. It is ultimately Charles Corver, the Dutchman, who will be the referee for Sevilla. The Portuguese referee will see again the French team despite everything since he is appointed to referee the match for third place, which opposes the losers of the semi-finals. This match, played in Alicante, is a farewell gift from FIFA to Antonio Garrido who, aged 50, is ending his career at the end of the tournament. Mainly made up of its substitutes, the France B team faces a full Polish team, but a little tired. However, they won 3-2. Gerard Soler will be the last player to whom the Portuguese referee will have given a caution, after having sanctioned the Poles Buncol and Wojcicki. Antonio da Silva Garrido died in September 2014 at the age of 81. At the end of his career as a referee, he remained in the world of football as a member of the Refereeing Council of the Portuguese federation, FIFA referee instructor, commissioner of refereeing at the World Cup and UEFA observer. In 1983, he was decorated with the title of Officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henri, one of the highest honours in Portugal.

Source: Chroniques Bleues

Concacaf Women’s Championship 2022

Mexico, 4-18 July 2022

Referees

1. Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (CAN, photo)
2. Myriam Marcotte (CAN)
3. Marianela Araya (CRC)
4. Astrid Gramajo (GUA)
5. Melissa Borjas (HON)
6. Odette Hamilton (JAM)
7. Katia Garcia (MEX)
8. Francia Gonzalez (MEX)
9. Tatiana Guzman (NCA)
10. Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
11. Tori Penso (USA)

Assistant Referees
1. Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
2. Ivette Santiago (CUB)
3. Iris Vail (GUA)
4. Lourdes Noriega (HON)
5. Shirley Perello (HON)
6. Jassett Kerr (JAM)
7. Stephanie Yee Sing (JAM)
8. Enedina Caudillo (MEX)
9. Mayte Chavez (MEX)
10. Karen Diaz (MEX)
11. Sandra Ramirez (MEX)
12. Lidia Ayala (SLV)
13. Mijensa Rensch (SUR)
14. Felisha Mariscal (USA)
15. Brooke Mayo (USA)
16. Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)
2. Chantal Boudreau (CAN)
3. Marianela Araya (CRC)
4. Melissa Borjas (HON)
5. Shirley Perello (HON)
6. Odette Hamilton (JAM)
7. Stephanie Yee Sing (JAM)
8. Enedina Caudillo (MEX)
9. Mayte Chavez (MEX)
10. Karen Diaz (MEX)
11. Francia Gonzalez (MEX)
12. Sandra Ramirez (MEX)
13. Tatiana Guzman (NCA)
14. Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)
15. Felisha Mariscal (USA)
16. Brooke Mayo (USA)
17. Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
18. Tori Penso (USA)

Referee Assessors
1. Leonel Leal (CRC)
2. Jeffrey Solis (CRC)
3. Jose Camargo (MEX)
4. Esfandiar Baharmast (USA)

Referee Technical Instructors
1. Michelle Pye (CAN)
2. Hector Vergara (CAN)

Referee Fitness Instructors
1. Kelesha Antoine (ATG)
2. Alan Brown Morgan (CRC)

FIFA World Cup 2022 Referee Seminar (UEFA)

The referees selected for the World Cup in Qatar, including six Spaniards, have completed the last FIFA seminar before the “most important event of the year” at the facilities of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). It was held over 3 days at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas, with the presence of all the European referees, assistants and VARs selected for the World Cup.

According to a statement issued by the Spanish organization, the head of the FIFA Referee Department, Massimo Busacca, thanked the RFEF and its Technical Referees Committee (CTA) for their help in organizing the last course before the World Cup in Qatar. “We must give many thanks to the Spanish Federation and its team that gave us everything we needed to prepare the most important event in the world. We know the center and it is difficult to find something better than what is here”, said Busacca. On the other hand, Busacca referred to the state of the referees. “They are fine, they are hungry, same as for a player this is the most important event for a referee”. In addition, he valued the level of the Spanish referees. “The Spanish championship is very important and needs good referees. If they are there it is because they are very good”. A thank you to which the president of the CTA, Luis Medina Cantalejo, has reciprocated, assuring that it is “an honor” that FIFA looks at the RFEF VOR facilities “to make this course so important that it is the last one before the World Cup. They have received one hundred percent of support from the RFEF and CTA. It is a pride for us that six Spanish referees are going to the World Cup”, concluded the head of Spanish refereeing. The six Spanish officials selected by FIFA are Antonio Mateu Lahoz, Pau Cebrian Devis and Roberto Diaz Perez as trio on the field, and Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez, Juan Martinez Munuera and Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea to act as VARs.

Source: Sports Finding

Polish referee made grovelling apology in Leeds dressing room

A referee made such a huge error in a Champions League match between Leeds and Real Madrid he came into the dressing room to apologise afterwards. At Elland Road in 2001, the two group-toppers faced off in what was a game to decide who would go through first and second. Alan Smith got the hosts off to a good start with a goal on six minutes. But just a minute later, the La Liga giants brought the game level when striker Raul put the ball home with his hand. But despite the goal being a clear foul, referee Ryszard Wojcik did not see the incident and the goal stood. Real went on to win the game 3-2 and ended up topping the group.

Leeds, however, were furious with what happened - though a sheepish Wojcik did go in and apologise to David O’Leary's men after the match. Their match report - still active on their official site - reads: "A calamitous boob by apologetic referee Ryszard Wojcik had a major hand in United's 3-2 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, leaving manager David O'Leary in a philosophical mood. The Polish official trooped into the Leeds dressing room after the final whistle to hold his hands up to his first -half blunder that allowed the current European champions to equalise just a minute after Alan smith had put Leeds ahead as early as the sixth minute. Raul's blatant handball was evident to all in the Bernabeu, except the one man who counted and then to make matters worse a freak bounce on a shot from Luis Figo deceived Nigel Martyn to put Real ahead shortly before half-time." The Leeds boss said: "The first goal is a handball, the second is a freak and we should have had a penalty at the end when Alan Smith got his toes stood on in the box. It takes a big man to come in and admit that he made a mistake of that magnitude. But the referee did that and he apologised for it. He said he did not see it and if he didn't see it, he couldn't give the decision." Real coach Del Bosque said: "I don't want to talk about the referee. I don't talk about referees. You will have to ask Raul.”

Source: Daily Star

Bastien voted best Ligue 1 referee

Every year, French referees receive their honors during the UNFP Trophies Award. This year, Benoit Bastien was voted best Ligue 1 referee, while Cyril Gringore (best Ligue 1 assistant), Olivier Thual (best Ligue 2 referee) and Stephane Vignatelli (best Ligue 2 assistant) were also rewarded. This is the first trophy of his career for the 39-year-old referee.

Benoît Bastien did not forget his colleagues during his acceptance speech. “I want to dedicate this individual trophy to all the referees. It is the work of a whole team, that of the refereeing team. It rewards the results of a successful season for French refereeing in Ligue 2 and Ligue 1, but also internationally with increasingly important performances and appointments”, said Bastien, who notably recalled that French referees were present in the quarter-finals of all European competitions, a Europa League semi-final and reached its highest point with the Champions League final. Clement Turpin has been appointed by UEFA to referee the final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France – a first in 36 years for a Frenchman – where he was accompanied by his Nicolas Danos and Cyril Gringore, as assistants, and… Benoît Bastien as fourth official.

Source: UNFP

Ghandour, 20 years later: "The performance of my assistants was disastrous, but I am not responsible”

Gamal Al-Ghandour is not easy to locate. Egypt is a giant country, and the referee of the controversial South Korea-Spain match of the World Cup 2002 (0-0 and defeat on penalties) is a very popular and requested face. And not only because of those mistakes that prevented our team from reaching the semi-finals of the Asian event. Al-Ghandour and the journalist have known each other for years - the day after the game I interviewed him at Narita airport (Tokyo). There is confidence and, once put into action, the former Egyptian referee has no problem talking about what he considers "excellent refereeing". So, he repeats it to us 20 years later. Two decades are celebrated on 22 June. 20 years that are remembered with rage here, since Spain, led by Jose Antonio Camacho, fell just short of the top four in the Korean/Japanese World Cup.

After a few calls, we found Gamal in a hotel in Cairo, where he was attending a commitment from his current occupation as a commentator for BeIn Sports. "The one in Korea - he tells us - was my second World Cup, after refereeing three games in France 98. And I think that in 2002 I had a better performance, always clarifying the following: I speak of my own decisions, of what I decided, without taking responsibility for my assistants.” The architects of that outrage were the Ugandan assistant Ali Tomusange and the main artist, the one who signalled for goal kick after Joaquin's cross, the legendary Michael Ragoonath, from Trinidad and Tobago. "The truth is that the performance of the two assistants was disastrous", shoots Al-Ghandour. “The only debatable play was Morientes' goal”. Already in extra time (0-0), in the second minute, the most scandalous play came. The disallowed goal for Morientes, which would have led to the Spanish victory, as Ragoonath considered that Joaquin's ball had gone off the field. "The mistakes of my assistants should not be counted towards my performance," Gamal insists. Not everything was there. There were three very dubious offsides by Joaquin (minute 99), Morientes (110') and Mendieta (113') - the first two had been left alone against the goalkeeper - that ended with one last decision: the extra time ends in 120', when Spain was about to take a corner. Since then, Ghandour has not spoken or heard from his assistants: " I haven't heard from them again. I think the Ugandan was in the African Referees Committee, but I didn't know anything else. Curiously, two days after the game, we had a meeting with FIFA and it was agreed that my only mistake, as referee, was not to give the red card to the Spaniard [De Pedro or Mendieta, he doesn't remember] for a violent tackle when I only awarded a yellow card”.

The Spanish fans will always remember his refereeing. 20 years later, not a single Spaniard with a certain football memory will forget what, for many, was a "historic robbery". Al-Ghandour tells us: "In 2019 I visited Spain for a TV program and I think that, since then, my public image in this country changed and the Spanish could see that I was not wrong and that the mistakes were clearly made by my assistants. I think the perception of La Roja fans changed after that program." Al-Ghandour refers to the documentary series 'The Others', with Antoni Daimiel, which Movistar broadcasted in 2019. "I was with Lopez Nieto - the Spanish referee in the 2002 World Cup - and we explained the mistakes that were made in that game. We discussed all the controversial actions and people are no longer against me... or at least I think so. In fact, in that same World Cup, in the Spain-Paraguay match, I gave them a penalty, and nobody remembers that... but only everything that happened against Korea. It didn't look like a penalty and only I saw it. The images later showed that it was a penalty against Raul," says Gamal. Spain won 3-1 and that penalty was the last Spanish goal (Hierro). "The Spanish - says Al-Ghandour - cannot blame me for that defeat against Korea, because, before the end of the game, they had several clear chances. They could have won before reaching the penalty shoot-out. In a game only the referee is judged, but sometimes we cannot support the decisions of our assistants. I confirm myself: I did an excellent refereeing. In fact, FIFA gave me a score of 8.7 out of 10 that day. Analyzing the plays - he continues -, for me there is only one debatable decision and that is the disallowed goal, since Joaquin's cross did not leave the field. That is the main point of discussion". It was so serious that, since that game, FIFA modified the criteria in the appointment of the refereeing trios. Since then, the three referees, plus the fourth official, are usually from the same country to facilitate communication and rapport between them and to avoid that explosive mixture of an Egyptian, an Ugandan and a Trinidadian, which cost Spain their elimination. "Of course, with VAR, there would have been no mistake and perhaps Spain would have reached the semi-finals," Gamal points out. Al-Ghandour keeps the shirt from that match. Marca asked him to show it in a photograph, but Gamal thought it was... too much: "I'm proud of what I did, personally, in that match, but I don't want to stir up the susceptibility of the Spanish fans, who can start to remember it again on the networks", he indicates from Cairo with some prudence.

The cover of Marca the day after that 22 June 2002 headlined "It's gross", and it was not only because of the refereeing suffered by Camacho's men. Let us remember that Spain played against one of the hosts, Hiddink's Korea, which reached its historical World Cup peak. Days before, the Koreans had eliminated Italy in the round of 16 with another controversial refereeing by Ecuadorian Byron Moreno (2-1 in extra time). In 2015, within the framework of the investigation by the United States Department of Justice into FIFA for multiple corruption issues, that match, Korea-Spain, returned to the center of public attention as various charges were involved in its organization exposed by corruption. It has nothing to do with what happened on the field, surely, but it is one more reason for controversy. A controversy that does not end 20 years later. And if not, watch again... the summary of that game.

Interestingly, the former Egyptian referee claims to be a lover of Spain: "It's a shame that this happened to me, because both I and my family love Spain. My children are great fans of Real Madrid and they have enjoyed La Decimocuarta a lot. It makes me sad because even when it was the final of the Nations League, between Spain and France, and there was a refereeing error that led to Mbappe's goal, the Spanish, on social networks, said that it was my fault, that I was in the VAR [laughs]". Gamal continues the story: "The proof that my refereeing was not so bad is that, during the match, the La Roja players did not protest me, but only my assistants. They all went against them, not against me. Nobody claimed anything from me during the game. One more proof that I did a good performance," the Egyptian proudly points out, 20 years after that controversy. And so, this story ends, with an Al-Ghandour who, thanks to his refereeing career, which is not based on this game obviously, was a star when he refereed in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and still is today. Not surprisingly, in refereeing circles in Africa he is considered one of the best on the continent in all their history. At Euro 2000, and not being European, he managed two group stage matches in Belgium and the Netherlands. After retiring from refereeing, he was the referee commissioner of the Egyptian Federation on several occasions, although he left it a few months ago due to discrepancies with the leadership. Currently, he is one of the star commentators of BeIn Sports, at the Egyptian level. A familiar face... and recognized.

Source: Marca

CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022

Morocco, 2-23 July 2022

Referees
1. Salima Mukansanga (RWA, photo)
2. Lidya Abebe (ETH)
3. Maria Rivet (MRI)
4. Bouchra Karboubi (MAR)
5. Ndidi Madu (NGA)
6. Vincentia Amedome (TOG)
7. Dorsaf Ganouati (TUN)
8. Akhona Makalima (RSA)
9. Shahenda El-Maghrabi (EGY)
10. Mame Faye (SEN)
11. Shamira Nabadda (UGA)
12. Sonia Kore (CIV)
13. Aissata Lam (MTN)
14. Viana Letticia (ESW)
15. Suavis Iratunga (BDI)
16. Antsino Twanyanyukwa (NAM)

Assistant Referees
1. Carine Atezambong (CMR)
2. Lidwine Rakotozafinoro (MAD)
3. Bernadettar Kwimbira (MWI)
4. Queency Victoire (MRI)
5. Diana Chikotesha (ZAM)
6. Mimisen Iyorhe (NGA)
7. Fatiha Jermoumi (MAR)
8. Houda Afine (TUN)
9. Fanta Kone (MLI)
10. Yara Atef (EGY)
11. Mona Atallah (EGY)
12. Kanjinga Mujanayi (CGO)
13. Mariem Chedad (MTN)
14. Nafissatou Yekini (BEN)
15. Asma Ouahab (ALG)
16. Hamdi Soukaina (MAR)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Lahlou Benbraham (ALG)
2. Ahmed El-Ghandour (EGY)
3. Ahmed Hossam (EGY)
4. Ahmad Heerallal (MRI)
5. Samir Guezzaz (MAR)
6. Zakaria Brindisi (MAR)
7. Fatima Zahra (MAR)
8. Haythem Guirat (TUN)

Trofeo Acevedo 2021/22: De Burgos Bengoetxea

First Division (men)

Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea (photo)
Assistant Referee: Diego Sanchez Rojo

First Division (women)
Referee: Zulema Gonzalez Gonzalez
Assistant Referee: Rita Cabanero Mompo

Second Division
Referee: Juan Pulido Santana
Assistant Referee: Fabian Blanco Rodriguez

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Qualifiers – UEFA (Matchday 9)

23-28 June 2022

Bulgaria – Israel
Referee: Martina Molinaro (ITA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Veronica Martinelli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefania Signorelli (ITA)
Fourth Official: Anastasiya Romanyuk (UKR)
Referee Assessor: Wendy Toms (ENG)

Latvia – Luxembourg
Referee: Kateryna Usova (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Maryna Striletska (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Svitlana Hrushko (UKR)
Fourth Official: Kristina Kozoroh (UKR)
Referee Assessor: Olga Tanschi (MDA)

Moldova – Romania
Referee: Caroline Lanssens (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Ella De Vries (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Irmgard Van Meirvenne (BEL)
Fourth Official: Viki De Cremer (BEL)
Referee Assessor: Silvia Spinelli (ITA)

Belarus – Czech Republic
Referee: Kristina Georgieva (BUL)
Assistant Referee 1: Yordanka Korcheva (BUL)
Assistant Referee 2: Ekaterina Petkova (BUL)
Fourth Official: Galia Echeva (BUL)
Referee Assessor: Ana Minić (SRB)

Ukraine – Scotland
Referee: Triinu Vaher (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Anni Koppel (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Karolin Kaivoja (EST)
Fourth Official: Reelika Turi (EST)
Referee Assessor: Ivana Vlaić (BIH)

Georgia – Ireland
Referee: Melis Özcigdem (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Deybet Gök (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Mürvet Yavuztürk (TUR)
Fourth Official: Neslihan Muratdagi (TUR)
Referee Assessor: Emilia Wnuk (POL)

Moldova – Lithuania
Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Rocio Puente Pino (ESP)
Fourth Official: Paola Cebollada Lopez (ESP)
Referee Assessor: Sjoukje de Jong (NED)

Estonia – Kazakhstan
Referee: Silvia Gasperotti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Tiziana Trasciatti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Nidaa Hader (ITA)
Fourth Official: Anastasiya Romanyuk (UKR)
Referee Assessor: Aušra Kancė (LTU)

Ukraine – Hungary
Referee: Sarah Zangeneh (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Monica Lokkeberg (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Line Nymoen (NOR)
Fourth Official: Emilie Torkelsen (NOR)
Referee Assessor: Knarik Grigoryan (ARM)

Netherlands – Belarus
Referee: Simona Ghisletta (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Belinda Pierre (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Laetitia Nuara (SUI)
Fourth Official: Laura Mauricio (SUI)
Referee Assessor: Dilan Iscan (TUR)

UEFA U-19 Euro 2022

Slovakia, 18 June – 1 July 2022

Referees
1. Nathan Verboomen (BEL, 1988, photo)
2. Morten Krogh (DEN, 1988)
3. Goga Kikacheishvili (GEO, 1991)
4. Manfredas Lukjančukas (LTU, 1991)
5. Matthew De Gabriele (MLT, 1988)
6. Antonio Nobre (POR, 1988)

Assistant Referees
1. Turkka Valjakka (FIN)
2. Mathias Hillaert (BEL)
3. Deniz Sokolov (BUL)
4. Steffen Bramsen (DEN)
5. Davit Gabisonia (GEO)
6. Edgaras Bučinskas (LTU)
7. Luke Portelli (MLT)
8. Pedro Martins (POR)

Fourth Officials
1. Gergő Bogar (HUN, 1991)
2. Adam Ladebäck (SWE, 1992)

Referee Observers
1. Juan Fernandez Marin (ESP)
2. Vitor Melo Pereira (POR)
3. Jorn-West Larsen (DEN)
4. Marian Ruzbarsky (SVK)