FIFA Confederations Cup Final 2017: Mazic (SRB)

2 July 2017

Final
Germany – Chile
Referee: Milorad Mažic (SRB, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Milovan Ristic (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Dalibor Djurdjevic (SRB)
Fourth Official: Damir Skomina (SVN)
VAR 1: Clement Turpin (FRA)
VAR 2: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
AVAR: Artur Soares Dias (POR)

Match for Third Place
Portugal – Mexico
Referee: Fahad Al Mirdasi (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdulah Al Shalwai (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammed Al Abakry (KSA)
Fourth Official: Bakary Gassama (GAM) 
VAR 1: Sandro Ricci (BRA)
VAR 2: Jean-Claude Birumushahu (BDI)
AVAR: Enrique Caceres (PAR)

Busacca (FIFA): "VAR is not infallible"

The FIFA Head of Refereeing, Massimo Busacca, spoke about a key episode at the Confederations Cup: "In the possible penalty kick situation during the semi-final Chile – Portugal things could have been done better, but we are still in the VAR trial phase and we need just to oil the mechanism and prepare the referees to the best of their potential. There are some good areas where the use of technology has already made a decisive contribution, and I am referring to offside, personal exchanges, and violent gestures, but if there is an interpretation, such as fouls in the penalty area, then a gray line will remain possible. The VAR will not resolve all situations that can be interpreted; it is impossible, it will not happen, but it can definitely be improved".

Busacca reviewed the game situation with the referees to understand what prompted them not to intervene. Meanwhile, a myth has been wiped out: it is not the referee who requires the intervention of the technology. Whoever is in front of the monitors (VARs) always reviews the decisive actions of a game and can independently report to the referee on the field the possible mistake. When it is obvious, the referee is usually confident in the VAR’s suggestion. If, on the other hand, there are some margins of interpretation, then the suggestion is to review the contact. This was missed in the semi-final Chile – Portugal. Busacca evaluates it as a mistake caused by inexperience. It's undergoing testing. "This contact has been seen from many different angles and technologies, and who has the best view is the VAR”, explained Busacca. “Today, the penalty seems to be obvious with the slow-motion, but if you change the angle to the real one, there were doubts, it seemed like a normal contact of the game, perhaps normal contact for Chile players too; they did not protest, they were usually fierce, the referee was close, he saw and evaluated. Although it did not seem a clear and obvious mistake for the VARs, they could have taken a step further by asking referee Faghani to review the action, taking advantage of a different angles than the one he had on the field, and then decide, because we want the referees to continue to take responsibility".

These tests also serve to look at the quality of referees chosen as VARs. Not everyone is brought to the VAR and, above all, not everyone has the personality to intervene on the choice of a colleague. Faced with clear episodes, the task is easy, while everything is complicated where there is an interpretation. However, it will remain on some issues, such as handball. In short, there will be a natural selection of referees that can work as VARs. Italy is already very far ahead of the work this year due to the work of Roberto Rosetti (head of the project for the Italian League). That is why the VAR "live experiment" in Serie A will be a huge help for FIFA in view of the 2018 World Cup, where technology will be used. Another hand will come from the Bundesliga. In short, Busacca will then pull the numbers and these two experiences will affect the list of referees/VARs to be brought to Russia. Italy hopes to double. It would mean green light for Gianluca Rocchi and Daniele Orsato.

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport

Clattenburg snubbed by Hall of Fame

Mark Clattenburg has been snubbed by the referees’ Hall of Fame - but, incredibly, his support team have all been included. The former Premier League whistler, 42, officiated both the Champions League and Euro finals in 2016. But that double was not enough for Clattenburg to be recognised by Professional Game Match Officials Limited chief Mike Riley as one of the all-time top officials. However, Clattenburg’s team - which includes assistants Simon Beck, Jake Collin, and additional assistants Anthony Taylor and Andre Marriner - were all inducted. Beck, Collin, Taylor and Marriner were on duty for the Champions League showpiece between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Milan plus the Euro final between hosts France and Portugal last summer. And SunSport understands Clattenburg’s ref colleagues were astonished at his omission at the annual officials’ conference at Heathrow. 

Clattenburg quit the Premier League this year after slating a lack of support from the officials’ governing body. He has become Saudi Arabia’s new head of referees. His new post will involve working with Saudi referees to improve performance and professionalise the set-up, while he will also take charge of some league games. He has signed a one-year rolling contract.

Source: The Sun

UEFA Regions Cup 2017

Istanbul, 1-9 July 2017

Referees
1. Nikolay Yordanov (BUL)
2. Michael Tykgaard (DEN)
3. Lasha Silagava (GEO)
4. Thóroddur Hjaltalín (ISL)
5. Artyom Kuchin (KAZ, photo)
6. Dimitar Mečkarovski (MKD)

Assistant Referees
1. Mesrop Ghazaryan (ARM)
2. Goran Dujak (BIH)
3. Jerko Crnčić (CRO)
4. Michaíl Sotiríou (CYP)
5. Serghei Trofan (MDA)
6. Alan Camilleri (MLT)
7. Radosław Siejka (POL)
8. Erik Weiss (SVK)

FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 – Semi-finals

28 June 2017
Portugal – Chile
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Reza Sokhandan (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammadreza Mansouri (IRN)
Fourth Official: Fahad Al Mirdasi (KSA)
VAR 1: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
VAR 2: Abdulah Al Shalwai (KSA)
AVAR: Jair Marrufo (USA)

29 June 2017
Germany – Mexico
Referee: Nestor Pitana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Hernan Maidana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Belatti (ARG)
Fourth Official: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
VAR 1: Sandro Ricci (BRA)
VAR 2: Elenito Di Liberatore (ITA)
AVAR: Artur Soares Dias (POR)

UEFA Europa League – First Qualifying Round (First Leg)

29 June 2017

Rangers FC – Progrès Niederkorn

Referee: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE, photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Magnus Sjöblom (SWE)

Assistant Referee 2: Peter Magnusson (SWE)

Fourth Official: Bojan Pandžić (SWE)

Referee Observer: Manuel Díaz Vega (ESP)

Saint Johnstone – FK Trakai

Referee: Fran Jović (CRO)

Assistant Referee 1: Ivica Modrić (CRO)

Assistant Referee 2: Hrvoje Radić (CRO)

Fourth Official: Ivan Vučković (CRO)

Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Irtysh Pavlodar – Dunav Ruse

Referee: Arnold Hunter (NIR)

Assistant Referee 1: Richard Storey (NIR)

Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Nethery (NIR)

Fourth Official: Lee Philip Tavinder (NIR)

Referee Observer: Andrejs Sipailo (LVA)

FC Shirak – ND Gorica

Referee: Mikhail Vilkov (RUS)

Assistant Referee 1: Aleksey Vorontsov (RUS)

Assistant Referee 2: Dmitriy Cheltsov (RUS)

Fourth Official: Vladimir Seldyakov (RUS)

Referee Observer: Rusmir Mrković (BIH)

Kayrat Almaty – FK Atlantas

Referee: Ömar Paşayev (AZE)

Assistant Referee 1: Namiq Hüseynov (AZE)

Assistant Referee 2: Mübariz Haşımov (AZE)

Fourth Official: Aliyar Ağayev (AZE)

Referee Observer: Vencel Tóth (HUN)

FK Ventspils – Valur Reykjavík

Referee: Rahim Hasanov (AZE)

Assistant Referee 1: Yaşar Abbasov (AZE)

Assistant Referee 2: Vaqif Musayev (AZE)

Fourth Official: Rauf Cabarov (AZE)

Referee Observer: Are Habicht (EST)

FC Pyunik – Slovan Bratislava

Referee: Ádám Farkas (HUN)

Assistant Referee 1: István Albert (HUN)

Assistant Referee 2: Balázs Szert (HUN)

Fourth Official: Péter Solymosi (HUN)

Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović (SRB)

FK Partizani – Botev Plovdiv

Referee: Bryn Markham-Jones (WAL)

Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Beckett (WAL)

Assistant Referee 2: Ross Edwards (WAL)

Fourth Official: David Morgan (WAL)

Referee Observer: Karen Nalbandyan (ARM)

AS Trenčín – Torpedo Kutaisi

Referee: Timothy Marshall (NIR)

Assistant Referee 1: Paul Robinson (NIR)

Assistant Referee 2: Georgios Argyropoulos (NIR)

Fourth Official: Steven Taylor (NIR)

Referee Observer: Robert Sedlacek (AUT)

Levadia Tallinn – Cork City

Referee: Jørgen Daugbjerg (DEN)

Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Wollenberg (DEN)

Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Nørgaard (DEN)

Fourth Official: Sandi Putros (DEN)

Referee Observer: Ján Fašung (SVK)

Dynamo Minsk – NSÍ Runavík

Referee: Oleksandr Derdo (UKR)

Assistant Referee 1: Viktor Matyash (UKR)

Assistant Referee 2: Volodymyr Vysotskyy (UKR)

Fourth Official: Vitaliy Romanov (UKR)

Referee Observer: Václav Krondl (CZE)

Shakhtsior Salihorsk – FK Sūduva

Referee: Aleksandr Aliyev (KAZ)

Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Pavlov (KAZ)

Assistant Referee 2: Sergey Vassyutin (KAZ)

Fourth Official: Denis Izmaylov (KAZ)

Referee Observer: Karel Bohuněk (CZE)

VPS Vaasa – Olimpija Ljubljana

Referee: Petr Ardeleánu (CZE)

Assistant Referee 1: Jakub Hrabovský (CZE)

Assistant Referee 2: Tomáš Mokrusch (CZE)

Fourth Official: Karel Hrubeš (CZE)

Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)

Dinamo Batumi – Jagiellonia Białystok

Referee: Erik Lambrechts (BEL)

Assistant Referee 1: Karel De Rocker (BEL)

Assistant Referee 2: Jo De Weirdt (BEL)

Fourth Official: Nathan Verboomen (BEL)

Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold (NOR)

KF Shkëndija – Dacia Chișinău

Referee: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)

Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Borkowski (POL)

Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Niemirowski (POL)

Fourth Official: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)

Referee Observer: Uno Tutk (EST)

Lyngby BK – Bangor City

Referee: Stávros Mántalos (GRE)

Assistant Referee 1: Chrístos Akrívos (GRE)

Assistant Referee 2: Antónios Karatzíkas (GRE)

Fourth Official: Geórgios Komínis (GRE)

Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

Nõmme Kalju – B36 Tórshavn

Referee: Leóntios Tráttou (CYP)

Assistant Referee 1: Aristídis Chrístou (CYP)

Assistant Referee 2: Stélios Nikíta (CYP)

Fourth Official: Giórgos Nikoláou (CYP)

Referee Observer: Ihor Ishchenko (UKR)

Ferencvárosi – Jelgava

Referee: Vasílis Dimitríou (CYP)

Assistant Referee 1: Sotíris Víktoros (CYP)

Assistant Referee 2: Andréas Andréou (CYP)

Fourth Official: Loúkas Sotiríou (CYP)

Referee Observer: Miroslav Vitković (CRO)

Beitar Jerusalem – Vasas FC

Referee: Nenad Djokić (SRB)

Assistant Referee 1: Nemanja Petrović (SRB)

Assistant Referee 2: Uroš Stojković (SRB)

Fourth Official: Milan Ilić (SRB)

Referee Observer: Raymond Ellingham (WAL)

Odds BK – Ballymena United

Referee: Edin Jakupović (BIH)

Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović (BIH)

Assistant Referee 2: Damir Lazić (BIH)

Fourth Official: Admir Šehović (BIH)

Referee Observer: Fritz Stuchlik (AUT)

FK Haugesund – Coleraine FC

Referee: Alexandru Tean (MDA)

Assistant Referee 1: Anatolie Bodean (MDA)

Assistant Referee 2: Victor Mardari (MDA)

Fourth Official: Gabriel Tupicica (MDA)

Referee Observer: Stefan Messner (AUT)

AEK Larnaca – Lincoln FC

Referee: Nikolaj Hänni (SUI)

Assistant Referee 1: Raffael Zeder (SUI)

Assistant Referee 2: Sertac Kurnazca (SUI)

Fourth Official: Alain Bieri (SUI)

Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

Zaria Bălți – FK Sarajevo

Referee: Aléxandros Aretópoulos (GRE)

Assistant Referee 1: Ioánnis Toumbakáris (GRE)

Assistant Referee 2: Iordánis Dimitriádis (GRE)

Fourth Official: Anastássios Papapétrou (GRE)

Referee Observer: John Ward (IRL)

Santa Coloma – NK Osijek

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT)

Assistant Referee 1: Jurgen Spiteri (MLT)

Assistant Referee 2: William Debattista (MLT)

Referee Observer: Oğuz Sarvan (TUR)

Levski Sofia – FK Sutjeska

Referee: Martin Lundby (NOR)

Assistant Referee 1: Reidar Gundersen (NOR)

Assistant Referee 2: Geir Isaksen (NOR)

Fourth Official: Espen Eskås (NOR)

Referee Observer: Hans Reijgwart (NED)

Zira PFK – Differdange

Referee: Daniyar Sakhi (KAZ)

Assistant Referee 1: Yuriy Tikhonyuk (KAZ)

Assistant Referee 2: Alibek Aubakirov (KAZ)

Fourth Official: Marat Iskakov (KAZ)

Referee Observer: Igor Șațkii (MDA)

Chikhura Sachkhere – SCR Altach

Referee: Erez Papir (ISR)

Assistant Referee 1: David Biton (ISR)

Assistant Referee 2: Lioz Edi (ISR)

Fourth Official: Idan Leiba (ISR)

Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav (BIH)

Fola Esch – Milsami Orhei

Referee: Dennis Antamo (FIN)

Assistant Referee 1: Jonas Turunen (FIN)

Assistant Referee 2: Ville Koskiniemi (FIN)

Fourth Official: Jari Järvinen (FIN)

Referee Observer: Nuno Castro (POR)

Klaksvík – AIK

Referee: Michal Očenáš (SVK)

Assistant Referee 1: Michal Tomčík (SVK)

Assistant Referee 2: František Ferenc (SVK)

Fourth Official: Gabriel Michlian (SVK)

Referee Observer: Haim Jakov (ISR)

IFK Norrköping – FC Prishtina

Referee: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)

Assistant Referee 1: Raimonds Tatriks (LVA)

Assistant Referee 2: Jevgēņijs Morozovs (LVA)

Fourth Official: Andris Treimanis (LVA)

Referee Observer: Ilkka Koho (FIN)

Connah Quay Nomads – HJK Helsinki

Referee: George Găman (ROU)

Assistant Referee 1: Mircea Grigoriu (ROU)

Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Mitruți (ROU)

Fourth Official: Sebastian Colțescu (ROU)

Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen (DEN)

FC Midtjylland – Derry City

Referee: Markus Hameter (AUT)

Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel (AUT)

Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Witschnigg (AUT)

Fourth Official: Andreas Heiss (AUT)

Referee Observer: Marinus Koopman (NED)

Bala Town – FC Vaduz

Referee: Alain Durieux (LUX)

Assistant Referee 1: Claude Ries (LUX)

Assistant Referee 2: Joaquim Da Silva (LUX)

Fourth Official: Frank Bourgnon (LUX)

Referee Observer: Gaetano De Gabriele (MLT)

KF Skënderbeu – Sant Julià

Referee: Robert Hennessy (IRL)

Assistant Referee 1: Wayne McDonnell (IRL)

Assistant Referee 2: Allen Lynch (IRL)

Fourth Official: Bernard Connolly (IRL)

Referee Observer: Kaj Natri (FIN)

FK Vojvodina – MFK Ružomberok

Referee: Halil Meler (TUR)

Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)

Assistant Referee 2: Osman Bilir (TUR)

Fourth Official: Ümit Öztürk (TUR)

Referee Observer: Eugen Strigel (GER)

Maccabi Tel Aviv – KF Tirana

Referee: Tihomir Pejin (CRO)

Assistant Referee 1: Goran Pataki (CRO)

Assistant Referee 2: Kruno Šarić (CRO)

Fourth Official: Dario Bel (CRO)

Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter (SUI)

NK Domžale – Flora Tallinn

Referee: João Da Silva (POR)

Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Rodrigues (POR)

Assistant Referee 2: Nelson Cordeiro (POR)

Fourth Official: Gonçalo Paiva (POR)

Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski (MKD)

Tre Penne – FK Rabotnički

Referee: Jason Barcelo (GIB)

Assistant Referee 1: Johan Ward (GIB)

Assistant Referee 2: Juan Villada (GIB)

Fourth Official: Yaroslaff Borg (GIB)

Referee Observer: Sergey Zuev (RUS)

Crvena Zvezda – Floriana FC

Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)

Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Peter Aravirta (FIN)

Assistant Referee 2: Mikko Alakare (FIN)

Fourth Official: Kaarlo Hämäläinen (FIN)

Referee Observer: Edward Foley (IRL)

Široki Brijeg – Ordabasy Shymkent

Referee: Ferenc Karakó (HUN)

Assistant Referee 1: Theodoros Georgiou (HUN)

Assistant Referee 2: Oszkár Lémon (HUN)

Fourth Official: Balázs Berke (HUN)

Referee Observer: Geórgios Bíkas (GRE)

Mladost Lučani – İnter Bakı

Referee: Aleksey Matyunin (RUS)

Assistant Referee 1: Aleksey Lunev (RUS)

Assistant Referee 2: Anton Kobzev (RUS)

Fourth Official: Yevgeniy Turbin (RUS)

Referee Observer: Bernardino González Vázquez (ESP)

Mladost Podgorica – Gandzasar Kapan

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (IRL)

Assistant Referee 1: Emmett Dynan (IRL)

Assistant Referee 2: Darragh Keegan (IRL)

Fourth Official: Raymond Matthews (IRL)

Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci (ALB)

Crusaders – Liepāja

Referee: Anders Poulsen (DEN)

Assistant Referee 1: Niels Høg (DEN)

Assistant Referee 2: Elvis Boric (DEN)

Fourth Official: Peter Larsen (DEN)

Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann (SUI)

Valletta – Folgore

Referee: Dzianis Shcharbakou (BLR)

Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Hetsikau (BLR)

Assistant Referee 2: Yauheniy Ramanau (BLR)

Fourth Official: Viktar Shymusik (BLR)

Referee Observer: Salustià Ciprés (AND)

St. Joseph – AEL Limassol

Referee: Petur Reinert (FRO)

Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Christiansen (FRO)

Assistant Referee 2: Jan Hermansen (FRO)

Fourth Official: Lars Müller (FRO)

Referee Observer: Nicolae Grigorescu (ROU)

FK Željezničar – FK Zeta

Referee: Kirill Levnikov (RUS)

Assistant Referee 1: Vyacheslav Semenov (RUS)

Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Abusuyev (RUS)

Fourth Official: Vladimir Moskalev (RUS)

Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen (FRO)

Videoton – Balzan

Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (MKD)

Assistant Referee 1: Nikola Karakolev (MKD)

Assistant Referee 2: Kushtrim Lika (MKD)

Fourth Official: Nikola Kostencev (MKD)

Referee Observer: Marián Ružbarský (SVK)

Lech Poznań – FK Pelister

Referee: Luís Godinho (POR)

Assistant Referee 1: António Godinho (POR)

Assistant Referee 2: José Monteiro (POR)

Fourth Official: Bruno Paixão (POR)

Referee Observer: Sándor Piller (HUN)

KR Reykjavík – SJK Seinäjoki

Referee: Zbyněk Proske (CZE)

Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Nádvorník (CZE)

Assistant Referee 2: Radek Kotík (CZE)

Fourth Official: Pavel Julínek (CZE)

Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić (SRB)

Stjarnan – Shamrock Rovers

Referee: Tomasz Musial (POL)

Assistant Referee 1: Konrad Sapela (POL)

Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Mucha (POL)

Fourth Official: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Referee Observer: Jan Wegereef (NED)

UEFA Champions League – First Qualifying Round (First Leg)

27-28 June 2017

Hibernians – Tallinn
Referee: Fedayi San (SUI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Stéphane Almeida (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Carmine Sangiovanni (SUI)
Fourth Official: Sascha Amhof (SUI)
Referee Observer: Igor Pristovnik (CRO)

Alashkert – Santa Coloma
Referee: Stefan Apostolov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 1: Georgi Todorov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 2: Georgi Doynov (BUL)
Fourth Official: Nikola Popov (BUL)
Referee Observer: Volodymyr Petrov (UKR)

The New Saints – Europa FC
Referee: Luca Barbeno (SMR)
Assistant Referee 1: Francesco Lunardon (SMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Salvatore Tuttifrutti (SMR)
Fourth Official: Raffaele Delvecchio (SMR)
Referee Observer: Plarent Kotherja (ALB)

Víkingur – Trepça
Referee: Juri Frischer (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Dmitri Vinogradov (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Aron Härsing (EST)
Fourth Official: Kristo Tohver (EST)
Referee Observer: Pjetur Sigurdsson (ISL)

Linfield – La Fiorita
Referee: Duje Strukan (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Goran Perica (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Mario Pepur (CRO)
Fourth Official: Goran Gabrilo (CRO)
Referee Observer: Antonio Almeida Costa (POR)

Copa Sudamericana – Round 2 (First Leg, I)

27 June 2017
Defensa y Justicia – Chapecoense
Referee: Diego Haro (PER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl López (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Víctor Raez (PER)
Fourth Official: Henry Gambetta (PER)
Referee Assessor: Saúl Laverni (ARG)

Fuerza Amarilla – Santa Fe
Referee: Eber Aquino (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zorrilla (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Cáceres (PAR)
Fourth Official: José Méndez (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Claudio Puga (CHI)

28 June 2017
Patriotas – Corinthians
Referee: Mario Diaz de Vivar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
Fourth Official: Julio Quintana (PAR)
Referee Assessor: José Buitrago (COL)

29 June 2017
Ponte Preta – Sol de América
Referee: José Argote (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos López (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Fourth Official: Alexis Herrera (VEN)
Referee Assessor: Paulo Silva (ARG)

Racing – Independiente Medellín
Referee: Andreson Daronco (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Danilo Manis (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires (BRA)
Fourth Official: Wagner Reway (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Ubaldo Aquino (PAR)

Fluminense – Universidad Católica
Referee: Gustavo Murillo (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Humberto Clavijo (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dionisio Ruiz (COL)
Fourth Official: Harold Perilla (COL)
Referee Assessor: Ana Paula de Oliveira (BRA)

5 July 2017
Palestino – Flamengo
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ivan Núñez (ARG)
Fourth Official: Diego Abal (ARG)
Referee Assessor: Juan Lugones (BOL)

6 July 2017
Sport Recife – Arsenal
Referee: Gery Vargas (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Baldiviezo (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Roger Orellana (BOL)
Fourth Official: Juan Nelio García (BOL)
Referee Assessor: Sergio Cristiano (BRA)

FIFA: “Referees have complained of VARs shouting loudly and at the same time into their ear piece”

Refereeing at the Confederations Cup in Russia may have been chaotic at times, but Video Assistant Referees have prevented major mistakes from being made, football's governing body says.

FIFA's head of refereeing Massimo Busacca says video reviews have not always looked good in tests at the tournament and admitted "many aspects should be improved" including faster, clearer communication after slow reviews have confused players, coaches and fans. "We are certain that this can reduce refereeing errors," Busacca told a news conference. His choice of words suggests eliminating errors completely at the World Cup is too tough a goal. "We are convinced if used correct(ly), it can reduce many mistakes. But not eliminate. We are here only to reduce," he said. The former international referee said that communications between referees and the video assistants sitting in a darkened room outside the stadium needed serious improvement. Match officials have complained of video assistants shouting loudly and at the same time into the referee's ear piece during games, a verbal assault that does not help clear decision making. The former World Cup referee says he is positive about the new system being approved for use at next year's tournament in Russia. Busacca insists the most important point at the two-week rehearsal tournament is that technology helped referees avoid major errors in 12 games so far. FIFA research cites video replays helping referees overturn six "game-changing decisions." Referees' judgment in a further 29 "major incidents" was confirmed correct on review. Busacca says FIFA must convince more member federations to help by using video reviews in their national competitions. We need our team, our referees, in member associations to do it every day." He expressed irritation that referees in Russia were being criticized when they only had five days to prepare and member federations were hesitating to use the technology. He said it was crucial that referees had deep exposure to working with VARs before next year's World Cup in Russia, where the technology is expected to be used. The change in refereeing, he said, was fundamental, with science replacing emotion. "Up until now decision are made in the heat of the moment. This is a new way to decide, without emotion." Busacca rejected charges that weaker referees were being used at the Confederations Cup and that they were less able to deal with more senior VARs. He said he was appalled by the behavior of Mexican and New Zealand players who became involved in a mass confrontation toward the end of their game. The referee could have sent several players off. "Don't blame the referee. Blame the players. That is terrible behavior," he said. Players were already learning how to abuse the video referee system by surrounding referees and putting pressure on them to consult the VAR. "For now, it's not good looking. But at the end the honesty is good".

Source: ESPN