tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10502180994997116872024-03-18T07:20:22.925-11:00Refereeing WorldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6046125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-71120532131816339952024-03-18T07:16:00.005-11:002024-03-18T07:19:51.789-11:00UEFA U-21 Euro 2025 Qualifiers (Matchday 8)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOlxLTwLDnZ8UR6FeYhVaAkW_W07rfne7s03f_GJId5RORnSLMzNBT0a4fGGUADjK_t0Vqm0MeFYmdWsl1R8sypZiof2copB25RybOSXDbhnH1hyphenhyphenf6icaxSu0O3WnEvuFPxytqmzdlFdZCr7qv7KOfN2B-uCeTvP5IEJcqa8zifhqr2t9k-3GU0qCvQ/s225/henessy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdOlxLTwLDnZ8UR6FeYhVaAkW_W07rfne7s03f_GJId5RORnSLMzNBT0a4fGGUADjK_t0Vqm0MeFYmdWsl1R8sypZiof2copB25RybOSXDbhnH1hyphenhyphenf6icaxSu0O3WnEvuFPxytqmzdlFdZCr7qv7KOfN2B-uCeTvP5IEJcqa8zifhqr2t9k-3GU0qCvQ/w200-h200/henessy2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div>21-22 March 2024<div><br /><i>North Macedonia – Gibraltar</i><br />Referee: Robert Hennessy IRL (photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Emmett Dynan IRL<br />Assistant Referee 2: Allen Lynch IRL<br />Fourth Official: Eoghan O’Shea IRL<br />Referee Observer: Kostadin Gerginov BUL<br /><br /><i>Israel – Poland</i><br />Referee: Pierre Gaillouste FRA<br />Assistant Referee 1: Alexis Auger FRA<br />Assistant Referee 2: Valentin Evrard FRA<br />Fourth Official: Romain Lissorgue FRA<br />Referee Observer: Zoltan Szarka HUN<br /><br /><i>Portugal – Faroe Islands</i><br />Referee: Joonas Jaanovits EST<br />Assistant Referee 1: Aron Härsing EST<br />Assistant Referee 2: Neeme Neemlaid EST<br />Fourth Official: Karl Koppel EST<br />Referee Observer: Luc Wouters BEL<br /><br /><i>Andorra – Croatia</i><br />Referee: Oliver Reitala FIN<br />Assistant Referee 1: Jukka Honkanen FIN<br />Assistant Referee 2: Olli Jantunen FIN<br />Fourth Official: Dennis Antamo FIN<br />Referee Observer: John Ferry NIR<br /><br /><i>Belgium – Malta</i><br />Referee: Genc Nuza KOS<br />Assistant Referee 1: Edmond Zeqiri KOS<br />Assistant Referee 2: Granit Hyseni KOS<br />Fourth Official: Mentor Ajeti KOS<br />Referee Observer: Ian Stokes IRL<br /><br /><i>Scotland – Kazakhstan</i><br />Referee: Sven Jablonski GER<br />Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER<br />Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger GER<br />Fourth Official: Martin Petersen GER<br />Referee Observer: Stephen Tanner ENG</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-4211479735485365202024-03-17T18:01:00.010-11:002024-03-18T07:14:22.256-11:00UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 – Quarter-finals (First Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB17W30vUrlijOst048ek4tLDI4mo3nVO1PzMUKU3-QFNMSTpAp6LCSPDzzwtlnaxOanJ8mte1Zi2JuwmXGhMIbda6UpdVeHoaVEHKj45-rqzTTi60RxKk1S_-OsjJZsGkoQ48Du1_8htNPq43EN8vX0F7mOqqIt9dJeMQ9KcXbSNEtIcVlyuG1jtKIg/s251/caputi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB17W30vUrlijOst048ek4tLDI4mo3nVO1PzMUKU3-QFNMSTpAp6LCSPDzzwtlnaxOanJ8mte1Zi2JuwmXGhMIbda6UpdVeHoaVEHKj45-rqzTTi60RxKk1S_-OsjJZsGkoQ48Du1_8htNPq43EN8vX0F7mOqqIt9dJeMQ9KcXbSNEtIcVlyuG1jtKIg/w152-h199/caputi.jpg" width="152" /></a></div></div>19 March 2024<div><i> AFC Ajax – Chelsea FCW</i><br />Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi ITA (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Tiziana Trasciatti ITA<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Eliana Fernandez Gonzalez ESP<br /> Fourth Official: Marta Huerta De Aza ESP<br />VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA<br />AVAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA <br /> Referee Observer: Esther Azzopardi MLT <br /><br /><i> SL Benfica – Olympique Lyonnais</i><br />Referee: Ewa Augustyn POL<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska POL<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Julia Bukarowicz POL<br /> Fourth Official: Lina Lehtovaara FIN<br />VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL<br />AVAR: Bartosz Frankowski POL<br />Referee Observer: Claudine Brohet BEL<br /><br />20 March 2024<br /><i>BK Häcken – Paris St. Germain</i><br />Referee: Frida Klarlund DEN<br />Assistant Referee 1: Amina Gutschi AUT <br />Assistant Referee 2: Monica Lokkeberg NOR<br />Fourth Official: Riem Hussein GER<br />VAR: Sascha Stegemann GER<br />AVAR: Katrin Rafalski GER<br />Referee Observer: Dagmar Damkova CZE<br /><br /><i>SK Brann – FC Barcelona</i><br />Referee: Alina Peşu ROU<br />Assistant Referee 1: Daniela Costantinescu ROU<br />Assistant Referee 2: Georgia Komisopoulou GRE<br />Fourth Official: Eleni Antoniou GRE <br />VAR: Ovidiu Haţegan ROU<br />AVAR: Horațiu Feșnic ROU<br />Referee Observer: Nelly Viennot FRA</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-27380288123706237052024-03-17T18:00:00.006-11:002024-03-18T07:17:00.183-11:00International Friendly Matches – March 2024<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w4Ks2KAaI11KH5R5FmDdkDZH97_GePHhdZ3lzCIoYFh2ii3MbWsmPqurnJYDaaluNb3uG0Xx4FoRBqn0Dui2KMLYqbut-RqDDazNECYjWKXejPGV01iu1r1OsUNmRmeMCOqpOF5COGaUmF1vHyLbOOhc3-NycD8yVL5L8Vsy-R44uSO1lKsixKfhPw/s440/peljto.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="293" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w4Ks2KAaI11KH5R5FmDdkDZH97_GePHhdZ3lzCIoYFh2ii3MbWsmPqurnJYDaaluNb3uG0Xx4FoRBqn0Dui2KMLYqbut-RqDDazNECYjWKXejPGV01iu1r1OsUNmRmeMCOqpOF5COGaUmF1vHyLbOOhc3-NycD8yVL5L8Vsy-R44uSO1lKsixKfhPw/w133-h200/peljto.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div><i>Slovenia – Portugal </i><div>Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH (photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH<br />Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH<br />Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović BIH <br /><br /><i>Sweden – Albania</i><br />Referee: Marcel Bîrsan ROU<br />Assistant Referee 1: Sebastian Gheorghe ROU<br />Assistant Referee 2: George Neacşu ROU<br />Fourth Official: Victor Wolf SWE<br /><br /><i>San Marino – St. Kitts and Nevis</i><br />Referee: Deborah Bianchi ITA<br />Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA<br />Assistant Referee 2: Stefania Signorelli ITA<br />Fourth Official: Mattia Andruccioli SMR</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-91223436125431191072024-03-16T18:43:00.009-11:002024-03-16T18:47:38.307-11:00CONMEBOL U-20 Libertadores Final 2024: Betancur (COL)<p>17 March 2024</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefuuvLbyqb60MVxPBDvOdoA9rNincsMc1KnqX55CuzNOiu-B7PW1nhewU4biZhcaGgUBDZphrSS4FcUaU6K4uXx1BlCateKITmFC9jyei9ufs7A0KFoPyY4WahmAL3nrT80NAmCvwDeMyz0Osz_BGm7xIaZq9YsSMGPFUX-vvvhieGiBFm9A1h2mlPA/s259/betancur2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefuuvLbyqb60MVxPBDvOdoA9rNincsMc1KnqX55CuzNOiu-B7PW1nhewU4biZhcaGgUBDZphrSS4FcUaU6K4uXx1BlCateKITmFC9jyei9ufs7A0KFoPyY4WahmAL3nrT80NAmCvwDeMyz0Osz_BGm7xIaZq9YsSMGPFUX-vvvhieGiBFm9A1h2mlPA/w200-h150/betancur2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><i>Boca Juniors – Flamengo</i><br />Referee: Carlos Betancur (COL, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: David Fuentes (COL)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Mary Blanco (COL)<br />Fourth Official: Mathias De Armas (URU)<br />Reserve AR: Pablo Llarena (URU)<br />VAR: Francisco Gilabert (CHI)<br />AVAR: Gabriel Ureta (CHI)<br />Referee Assessor: Cesar Escano (PER)<br />VAR Supervisor: Carlos Pastorino (URU)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-48966495950813728672024-03-16T18:43:00.008-11:002024-03-16T18:47:11.477-11:00Lannoy sacked by FFF<div style="text-align: justify;">The head of professional French referees Stephane Lannoy has been sacked by the French Football Federation (FFF) along with his VAR counterpart Sebastien Moreira, according to L’Équipe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUvyv-GK_VXqKOUfE2OMe-CSGstD-QMffJAwru6NaY57wuB81jEuJWCNApD0PyaPf5U7zvitb_Pf0z0KepHL80rfhW9QWK7qV4h7cNB5RT3SFS3rGgfkliPoPuOjwMJm5EUtqF-P6m0vFqqRs7KyKs1bBDXcw8jyjByUlCZ7upjiCzpaAx53Fww_j0A/s828/lannoy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="828" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUvyv-GK_VXqKOUfE2OMe-CSGstD-QMffJAwru6NaY57wuB81jEuJWCNApD0PyaPf5U7zvitb_Pf0z0KepHL80rfhW9QWK7qV4h7cNB5RT3SFS3rGgfkliPoPuOjwMJm5EUtqF-P6m0vFqqRs7KyKs1bBDXcw8jyjByUlCZ7upjiCzpaAx53Fww_j0A/w308-h278/lannoy.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">French refereeing has been under the spotlight since the start of the second half of the season, with head of professional refereeing Lannoy not seeing eye to eye with the refereeing technical director Antony Gautier and subject to criticism from several referees unhappy with his participation in a number of training courses. Certain referees have also judged Lannoy to be too close to presidents of certain clubs, as well as guilty of technical errors on his watch, especially when it comes to the utilisation of VAR. Gautier will take over as head of referees on an interim basis until the end of the season, with a further review expected over the summer as there are no obvious candidates for the role currently.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Arbitrage-lannoy-a-recu-sa-lettre-de-licenciement/1454499">L’Equipe</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-16970416257592600752024-03-16T18:28:00.022-11:002024-03-16T18:46:22.835-11:00AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Final 2024: Dong (CHN)<div>16 March 2024</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRF8MRowk6-Aw8ptuNEF7Cny_5NSKBx7vBPosGzr8SUOEeqR00mYQ9oHf4mhGrmem56qUtkOKd8R2MAcJe_WgAoREvYMhPoONLg3BcgM2Lpz1XLm9pxfTeJpoBtN3e6wLY8-7f5TyphLIXOg0XVZWUwxa3Vnm8toPs-3frqa6NXjlRrsABWg3WRUGhQ/s298/dong.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="298" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRF8MRowk6-Aw8ptuNEF7Cny_5NSKBx7vBPosGzr8SUOEeqR00mYQ9oHf4mhGrmem56qUtkOKd8R2MAcJe_WgAoREvYMhPoONLg3BcgM2Lpz1XLm9pxfTeJpoBtN3e6wLY8-7f5TyphLIXOg0XVZWUwxa3Vnm8toPs-3frqa6NXjlRrsABWg3WRUGhQ/w192-h113/dong.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><i>Japan – Korea DPR</i><br />Referee: Dong Fangyu (CHN, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Xie Lijun (CHN)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Hintong Supawan (THA)<br />Fourth Official: Le Thi Ly (VIE)<br />Reserve AR: Sabreen Al-Abadi (JOR)<br />Referee Assessor: Maria Rebello (IND)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-60724434366649144712024-03-15T16:59:00.007-11:002024-03-15T17:04:02.484-11:00UEFA primes top young match officials for progress<div style="text-align: justify;">Over the past week, young referees and assistant referees from seven national associations (Croatia, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) have been learning at our CORE course, an introductory programme designed for officials who are working towards their international badges. The course offers a range of discussions, seminars and training sessions to help them advance in their careers, providing an intensive 360-degree preparation for elite-level football. Dutch referee Alex Bos, 29, believes the programme will be of huge benefit as he prepares to take the next step in his career. "It's great to go in-depth and work hard on what is our passion," Bos said. "There are so many things that referees must do to help us make the right decisions. We are all at a high level in our own countries, but it's good that we can discuss and develop in this setting and see how things are done in other leagues."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoVqJ7kcUVle_ZEWG4F5QgukXrw7-LJ-Fee50GwmRpcYlPoTbSLIg8-xa9h2Aa7XYlNG65iyvm1Y0blVP150BzL1VO9Hfw8cVthr4JXTx-yrsECzUiB8n1ZjPP07YbCBDLABhbp_4jLLwy4waFFWGcltQGI3z_Kv126AKDbiHZfUa2tB4IdgAoJlX6A/s987/core1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="987" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoVqJ7kcUVle_ZEWG4F5QgukXrw7-LJ-Fee50GwmRpcYlPoTbSLIg8-xa9h2Aa7XYlNG65iyvm1Y0blVP150BzL1VO9Hfw8cVthr4JXTx-yrsECzUiB8n1ZjPP07YbCBDLABhbp_4jLLwy4waFFWGcltQGI3z_Kv126AKDbiHZfUa2tB4IdgAoJlX6A/s320/core1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">UEFA kicked off the CORE programme in 2010, targeting and developing young and promising match officials to prepare them for the intensity and ever-growing demands of elite-level football. This edition was the 58th such programme, which has helped to prepare more than 1,300 officials for the rigours of UEFA competition. As well as offering practical and technical guidance, CORE helps to create a community among officials and familiarity between groups ahead of joining UEFA's international refereeing list. David Elleray, a former elite referee and now Technical Director at the IFAB, football's lawmakers, has been involved with the UEFA CORE programme since its launch 14 years ago. "We have given you a lot of information and would like you to take some time to absorb that information," he told participants. "CORE is designed to give you ideas which are technical, physical, dietary and mental, which help with preparation and administration, with the addition of some broader lifestyle ideas. The motto of CORE is to learn and enjoy. we hope you have learnt a lot and enjoyed it. CORE is very special to a lot of people and the philosophy, learning and enjoyment are something that will stay with you."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_1osgaArI5Iw8t_UGAPbwSeZzIAn7wi5kh4VJyYVuDXkQLdt62bjGFuAJs_rMyttTi81MVj_bvqwNZj6RHzJT-mBwa6DsermCQbDVUhiMiK38L9VFWP3i139j4oompTKfUC2ayMaq8XHCeTCfd0xOJAvhyMhq5yJSSaHbY5-9VpWT4qYmyS3jECaJw/s987/core2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="987" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_1osgaArI5Iw8t_UGAPbwSeZzIAn7wi5kh4VJyYVuDXkQLdt62bjGFuAJs_rMyttTi81MVj_bvqwNZj6RHzJT-mBwa6DsermCQbDVUhiMiK38L9VFWP3i139j4oompTKfUC2ayMaq8XHCeTCfd0xOJAvhyMhq5yJSSaHbY5-9VpWT4qYmyS3jECaJw/s320/core2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A visit from Szymon Marciniak, who refereed last season's UEFA Champions League final, as well as the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, rounded off an invaluable week for the young cohort. The Pole, who was a student on the first-ever CORE course, offered insights into his career and important advice for the future. "I started here, exactly like you," said the 43-year-old. "Now, I am in a different place, but nothing comes for free. Here at CORE, you get great coaches, great mentors, and when you are here it means you are talented, but nothing is for free. Hard work is also very important, as are the people behind us who gave us all those tools, so listen to those who want to help you." Marciniak's message seemed to leave an impression on the participants, who now return to their domestic leagues ready to implement some of the lessons learnt over the past week. "Szymon is a very, very, very big example and like a hero because of how he has performed and what he achieved," said Bos. "He has a very nice story and we are honoured that he was here. He's very humble, shows us also that he made mistakes and how he tries to avoid it. I was there for an hour without taking a breath, only listening."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/028b-1a65f46af954-6fcfc99b1203-1000--uefa-primes-top-young-officials-for-progress/">UEFA</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-77499969374905719302024-03-13T06:44:00.004-11:002024-03-13T07:05:34.812-11:00UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8et5CRsHxASzo2lng80Q5qo21Q77q2wSMmjJUspxTPtpBBhTs6PznqxYYv76BmPVJifRoxWOZlk-fK-qe64pEbgr2w_WvlhI8GZh8X3iXKWC__PSINrxmVW578JAdar4vmVewxg-EJdrTCxB9fEnP9Q8QrhmX-yHNwA58e2AfuPXRc_xwgMO3xyXmQ/s274/collum.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="184" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8et5CRsHxASzo2lng80Q5qo21Q77q2wSMmjJUspxTPtpBBhTs6PznqxYYv76BmPVJifRoxWOZlk-fK-qe64pEbgr2w_WvlhI8GZh8X3iXKWC__PSINrxmVW578JAdar4vmVewxg-EJdrTCxB9fEnP9Q8QrhmX-yHNwA58e2AfuPXRc_xwgMO3xyXmQ/w161-h243/collum.jpg" width="161" /></a></div></div>14 March 2024<div><br /><i>Viktoria Plzen – Servette FC</i><br /> Referee: William Collum SCO (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Francis Connor SCO<br /> Assistant Referee 2: David McGeachie SCO<br /> Fourth Official: Nicolas Walsh SCO<br /> VAR: David Coote ENG<br /> AVAR: Andrew Dallas SCO<br /> Referee Observer: Uno Tutk EST<br /> <br /><i> Fenerbahçe – Union St. Gilloise</i><br /> Referee: Nikola Dabanović MNE<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Vladan Todorović MNE<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Srdjan Jovanović MNE<br /> Fourth Official: Miloš Bošković MNE<br /> VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP<br /> AVAR: Fran Jović CRO<br /> Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold NOR<br /> <br /><i> PAOK – GNK Dinamo</i><br /> Referee: Harm Osmers GER<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Robert Kempter GER<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Dominik Schaal GER<br /> Fourth Official: Robert Schröder GER<br /> VAR: Sören Storks GER<br /> AVAR: Benjamin Brand GER<br /> Referee Observer: Jan Wegereef NED<br /> <br /><i> ACF Fiorentina – Maccabi Haifa</i><br /> Referee: Irfan Peljto BIH<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrišimbegović BIH<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo BIH<br /> Fourth Official: Miloš Gigović BIH<br /> VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera ESP<br /> AVAR: Ivan Bebek CRO<br /> Referee Observer: Joao Ferreira POR<br /> <br /><i> Aston Villa – AFC Ajax</i><br /> Referee: Orel Grinfeld ISR<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Roi Hassan ISR<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Idan Yarkoni ISR<br /> Fourth Official: Gal Leibovitz ISR<br /> VAR: Ziv Adler ISR<br /> AVAR: Roi Reinshreiber ISR<br /> Referee Observer: Bernardino Gonzalez Vazquez ESP<br /> <br /><i> Club Brugge – Molde FK</i><br /> Referee: Radu Petrescu ROU<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac ROU<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Grigoriu ROU<br /> Fourth Official: Marcel Bîrsan ROU<br /> VAR: Ovidiu Hațegan ROU<br /> AVAR: Sebastian Colțescu ROU<br /> Referee Observer: Manuel Diaz Vega ESP<br /> <br /><i> LOSC Lille – Sturm Graz</i><br /> Referee: Matej Jug SVN<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič SVN<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali SVN<br /> Fourth Official: David Šmajc SVN<br /> VAR: Nejc Kajtazovič SVN<br /> AVAR: Asmir Sagrkovič SVN<br /> Referee Observer: Rien Koopman NED<br /> <br /><i> Maccabi Tel Aviv – Olympiakos SFP</i><br /> Referee: Maurizio Mariani ITA<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni ITA<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni ITA<br /> Fourth Official: Andrea Colombo ITA<br /> VAR: Marco Di Bello ITA<br /> AVAR: Gianluca Aureliano ITA<br /> Referee Observer: Peter Sippel GER</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-8689095498154428752024-03-12T17:18:00.004-11:002024-03-12T17:21:08.007-11:00UEFA Europa League 2023/2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrS-aVKlFFwCjBeaA_k2eIkTha2FXNWMvIm4es4HYMSNrSvJlhzMt20_YYXCvQQ-vkpEvVl1F2EmZtl58arlrfZyp9ISJXAy69HLs95t1gjll12F0ChCGTCP2Qg4OnWOn6exDUf5VzHLNK5EBbAIszqBi0KsbokNLZGPybk08aO5b_jwoyDyIxPk9Sw/s251/kovacs.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrS-aVKlFFwCjBeaA_k2eIkTha2FXNWMvIm4es4HYMSNrSvJlhzMt20_YYXCvQQ-vkpEvVl1F2EmZtl58arlrfZyp9ISJXAy69HLs95t1gjll12F0ChCGTCP2Qg4OnWOn6exDUf5VzHLNK5EBbAIszqBi0KsbokNLZGPybk08aO5b_jwoyDyIxPk9Sw/w189-h236/kovacs.jpg" width="189" /></a></div></div>14 March 2024<div><br /><i> Villarreal CF – Olympique de Marseille</i><br /> Referee: Istvan Kovacs ROU (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu ROU<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene ROU<br /> Fourth Official: Andrei Chivulete ROU<br /> VAR: Cătălin Popa ROU<br /> AVAR: Horațiu Feșnic ROU<br /> Referee Observer: Dejan Filipović SRB<br /> <br /><i> Rangers FC – SL Benfica</i><br /> Referee: Ivan Kružliak SVK<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko SVK<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor SVK<br /> Fourth Official: Peter Kralovič SVK<br /> VAR: Christian Dingert GER<br /> AVAR: Michal Očenaš SVK<br /> Referee Observer: Stefan Messner AUT<br /> <br /><i> West Ham United – SC Freiburg</i><br /> Referee: Marco Guida ITA<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli ITA<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Giorgio Peretti ITA<br /> Fourth Official: Daniele Chiffi ITA<br /> VAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA<br /> AVAR: Luca Pairetto ITA<br /> Referee Observer: Luis Medina Cantalejo ESP<br /> <br /><i> Slavia Praha – AC Milan</i><br /> Referee: Glenn Nyberg SWE<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi SWE<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderqvist SWE<br /> Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck SWE<br /> VAR: Dennis Higler NED<br /> AVAR: Pol van Boekel NED<br /> Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere BEL<br /> <br /><i> Liverpool FC – Sparta Praha</i><br /> Referee: Artur Dias POR<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Paulo Soares POR<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Ribeiro POR<br /> Fourth Official: Gustavo Correia POR<br /> VAR: Tiago Martins POR<br /> AVAR: Hugo Miguel POR<br /> Referee Observer: Drago Kos SVN<br /> <br /><i> Brighton & Hove Albion – AS Roma</i><br /> Referee: Felix Zwayer GER<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp GER<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller GER<br /> Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER<br /> VAR: Bastian Dankert GER<br /> AVAR: Sascha Stegemann GER<br /> Referee Observer: Leslie Irvine NIR<br /> <br /><i> Atalanta BC – Sporting CP</i><br /> Referee: Sandro Schärer SUI<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Bekim Zogaj SUI<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni SUI<br /> Fourth Official: Lukas Fähndrich SUI<br /> VAR: Fedayi San SUI<br /> AVAR: Lionel Tschudi SUI<br /> Referee Observer: Carlos Velasco Carballo ESP<br /> <br /><i> Bayer Leverkusen – Qarabag FK</i><br /> Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG<br /> Fourth Official: Andrew Madley ENG<br /> VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG<br /> AVAR: Jarred Gillett ENG<br /> Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-19080395166643580872024-03-12T07:22:00.009-11:002024-03-12T07:33:58.447-11:00Ponnet: 85 years of class and top international experience<div style="text-align: justify;">Former international referee Alexis Ponnet turned 85. To mark the occasion, the Belgium FA posted this story.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLsdw3oqcY00l1XMHU9QzdtmogCeYGNjExnqzJ7lG-iuQrDboSbqjGcM-F15BF0PqLgjMsPQA8SOAQbZ_f9Kwv4QyS46OA_ek6sPEuk49t_tx5fhG-A8AvUSFmvYmTGSA4P_839ug3es9soU6g7t9M9fIhUySFLIrkLd9uXwsxgrMx1WafBeRFnKEdw/s850/ponnet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="850" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLsdw3oqcY00l1XMHU9QzdtmogCeYGNjExnqzJ7lG-iuQrDboSbqjGcM-F15BF0PqLgjMsPQA8SOAQbZ_f9Kwv4QyS46OA_ek6sPEuk49t_tx5fhG-A8AvUSFmvYmTGSA4P_839ug3es9soU6g7t9M9fIhUySFLIrkLd9uXwsxgrMx1WafBeRFnKEdw/s320/ponnet1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Summer 2019. The double glass door of the federation building on the Avenue Houba de Strooper slides open. Across the green mat, an immaculate grey man with movie star allure but no frills in sky blue shirt under dark blue festoon strides into the clinical entrance hall of the famous Glass House. Light beige trousers and cognac-coloured shoes, his now thinning grey hair combed in a line to the left and on his nose rests fine-framed glasses. All class! Alexis -Alex to friends- Ponnet. Paul Newman in front of his undoubtedly numerous admirers. We are in full production for the anniversary book around the 125 years of the RBFA with the theme 'moving heritage'. And the 'éminence grise' among the Belgian referee corps cannot be missing. Like an accomplished mannequin, he poses in front of the rough grey canvas. Eyes on infinity. Looking back on a richly filled career with a satisfied smile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__aYI33RSvJyngrw5f2eusRscFEsngcg9nneU9NLEgL2YQU5In9BuhbLKX9BPjcrTQGq6luI62xTyDoslr-vcFGNEVNeNwl_17kRobck9_uvzCTjiNH8LcycuoxYKRG1GUS7M76EU0v6QxXoJ6oFQFpILz1RoOblECiLcP4HfuOGt9uoC3moIvMF68w/s850/ponnet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="850" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__aYI33RSvJyngrw5f2eusRscFEsngcg9nneU9NLEgL2YQU5In9BuhbLKX9BPjcrTQGq6luI62xTyDoslr-vcFGNEVNeNwl_17kRobck9_uvzCTjiNH8LcycuoxYKRG1GUS7M76EU0v6QxXoJ6oFQFpILz1RoOblECiLcP4HfuOGt9uoC3moIvMF68w/s320/ponnet2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However beautiful and quasi-flawless this career has been, yet it is often the not-so-pretty images that loom up when one contemplates the man's life. On hearing the name Ponnet, I - and with me many others - spontaneously think back to those images of Monday, 28 February 1983. During the extra time of a match between the military teams of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Ponnet sent Saudi player Jamal Farhan off the pitch with a red card. A few minutes later, when Ponnet had sent off a second Saudi player, Farhan steps back onto the pitch and knocks out our Belgian number one. The footage is shown around the world. Farhan is suspended for life and Ponnet, for whom it was literally a blue Monday, spends a night in hospital.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-viC1Pv1YPJwguM-IXgC0LiR_ykzjxQHvYCljnsKuxLr4cdn6L9IGfj2lBND_9mqDWjDCedU_wUHA0_hA5686UhFK5Egypz3SweDe1iSkO-9thK4iQmSOFOD7dxnJdgqIFa2EYIhdIjItb6r_QzE9odJiXIphcShVX7FNDPUgFhQIU8ItvXkj7GGyUg/s600/ponnet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-viC1Pv1YPJwguM-IXgC0LiR_ykzjxQHvYCljnsKuxLr4cdn6L9IGfj2lBND_9mqDWjDCedU_wUHA0_hA5686UhFK5Egypz3SweDe1iSkO-9thK4iQmSOFOD7dxnJdgqIFa2EYIhdIjItb6r_QzE9odJiXIphcShVX7FNDPUgFhQIU8ItvXkj7GGyUg/s320/ponnet3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The charming man from Brussels had a thing for red cards, even if they did not exist in his first match. His first match was one between two Brussels teams, he recalls. "Then I also sent three players to the dressing room," he told Brussels weekly Bruzz in 2010. "There were no cards back then and I just said 'dressing room!' or 'go take a shower!' Still, I didn't think it was anything for me. Fortunately, my father persuaded me and I got addicted to it anyway." What followed was a career with many high peaks and few deep valleys. Strict but fair. On the pitch, he did not tolerate players talking back. If he ever refereed a lesser match, he blamed it on fatigue. For a living, he ran his own print shop where he was often obliged to work through the night to get everything done on time. Yet this did not affect his richly filled career with no fewer than five European finals including the 1987 European Cup final between FC Porto and Jean-Marie Pfaff's Bayern Munich that was knocked out by Algerian Rabah Madjer's wonderful header. In those golden 80s, the Red Devils also had their first glory years and let this play precisely to the disadvantage of our top referees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAe3ol3WkGehc66aCmfgwhCJd69dIqI4ygIcFFWceAwwxjXdq5zVX1uRURcEU-JViiMYGBS648ZNDkILQ79gV9PYcNLeYZzrGQuK9W_fVEVxFTdOcImyDQM13kyolCPeUUj3YT1N7HKM_iamGBgCkuJXYpOaLmJ3C779PMMADBZ6Nd8yXnl8e9KZvRQ/s1200/ponnet4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAe3ol3WkGehc66aCmfgwhCJd69dIqI4ygIcFFWceAwwxjXdq5zVX1uRURcEU-JViiMYGBS648ZNDkILQ79gV9PYcNLeYZzrGQuK9W_fVEVxFTdOcImyDQM13kyolCPeUUj3YT1N7HKM_iamGBgCkuJXYpOaLmJ3C779PMMADBZ6Nd8yXnl8e9KZvRQ/s320/ponnet4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"In 1986, I had a chance to referee the World Cup final, but because the Belgians did so well, I was 'allowed' to go home. If your country makes it to the quarterfinals, you're out as a referee." In any case, it did not prevent him from holding a place within the top 20 internationally renowned referees. The current climate surrounding Belgian refereeing, and Belgian club football as a whole, undoubtedly makes him particularly sad. Fifteen years ago, as chairman of the Pro League ethics committee, he tried to give professional football a better image. Unsuccessfully. But no one will point the finger at him for that. Wishing you a very happy birthday, Alex Ponnet. Come again soon for another photo. I have a feeling that it will not be that different from the previous one, by the way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.rbfa.be/en/news/alexis-ponnet-85-years-class-and-experience-international-refereeing">RBFA</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-57075225456014781352024-03-10T19:20:00.010-11:002024-03-11T03:16:04.471-11:00UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg, II)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharQ3uQR85kXkoHNvqJwUyENlKXhtaF5ejVQmSm434TDF2vhibxhP4DDmf6UBqirRuygWUsoc1BVpRzocNRWzlyrYAcuZznSoWpf1iaEfa7I1A0KbH7gpk5pMVm2_XH_L9oJxnnjp5DEY3S0MrByD93FOH-QX2JUhtR1XUGgld1pxKyyZJxm5a0a7giw/s440/makkelie2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="321" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharQ3uQR85kXkoHNvqJwUyENlKXhtaF5ejVQmSm434TDF2vhibxhP4DDmf6UBqirRuygWUsoc1BVpRzocNRWzlyrYAcuZznSoWpf1iaEfa7I1A0KbH7gpk5pMVm2_XH_L9oJxnnjp5DEY3S0MrByD93FOH-QX2JUhtR1XUGgld1pxKyyZJxm5a0a7giw/w180-h234/makkelie2.jpg" width="180" /></a></div></div>12 March 2024<div><i>FC Barcelona – SSC Napoli</i><br />Referee: Danny Makkelie NED (photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra NED<br />Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries NED<br />Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout NED<br />VAR: Rob Dieperink NED<br />AVAR: Clay Ruperti NED<br />Referee Observer: Stavros Tritsonis GRE</div><div><br /><i>Arsenal FC – FC Porto</i><br />Referee: Clement Turpin FRA<br />Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA<br />Assistant Referee 2: Erwan Finjean FRA<br />Fourth Official: Ruddy Buquet FRA<br />VAR: Jerôme Brisard FRA<br />AVAR: Willy Delajod FRA<br />Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos CRO<br /><br />13 March 2024<br /><i>Atletico de Madrid – Inter Milano</i><br />Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL <br />Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL<br />Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL<br />Fourth Official: Paweł Raczkowski POL<br />VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL<br />AVAR: Bartosz Frankowski POL <br />Referee Observer: Neale Barry ENG <br /><br /><i>Borussia Dortmund – PSV Eindhoven</i><br />Referee: Daniele Orsato ITA<br />Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone ITA<br />Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Giallatini ITA <br />Fourth Official: Fabio Maresca ITA<br />VAR: Paolo Valeri ITA <br />AVAR: Massimiliano Irrati ITA <br />Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz AUT </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-83550230043746222852024-03-10T19:18:00.007-11:002024-03-10T19:30:04.321-11:00CONMEBOL Libertadores 2024 – Third Round (Second Leg)<div></div>12-14 March 2024<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6fnsLO24owpQkE1eO8H3NKzotcXvokDE4XcaDPD5wSnP0uVV4OFMb35d5QnMeA2mqI9LtOPAHLCXzifvRd4jV0z0WcDPkfSdFYoVYE7PjeRBRMhvcXOdJ3UqpgUfqQP5Yv7txgOUtUge9S2LJMEJyaXAkZ1j9r7NjAJrCzT6kZ7x9QsMfw66zN5F4A/s445/matonte.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="416" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6fnsLO24owpQkE1eO8H3NKzotcXvokDE4XcaDPD5wSnP0uVV4OFMb35d5QnMeA2mqI9LtOPAHLCXzifvRd4jV0z0WcDPkfSdFYoVYE7PjeRBRMhvcXOdJ3UqpgUfqQP5Yv7txgOUtUge9S2LJMEJyaXAkZ1j9r7NjAJrCzT6kZ7x9QsMfw66zN5F4A/w187-h200/matonte.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><br /><i>Palestino – Nacional</i><br />Referee: Andres Matonte (URU, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Taran (URU)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Barreiro (URU)<br />Fourth Official: Gustavo Tejera (URU)<br />VAR: Leodan Gonzalez (URU)<br />AVAR: Richard Trinidad (URU)<br />Referee Assessor: Carlos Ulloa (CHI)<br />VAR Supervisor: Victor Carrillo (PER) <br /><br /><i>Colo Colo – Sportivo Trinitense</i><br />Referee: Anderson Daronco (BRA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Pires (BRA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Alves (BRA)<br />Fourth Official: Rodrigo Klein (BRA)<br />VAR: Wagner Reway (BRA)<br />AVAR: Fabricio Vilarinho (BRA)<br />Referee Assessor: Christian Schiemann (CHI)<br />VAR Supervisor: Pericles Cortes (BRA) <br /><br /><i>Red Bull Bragantino – Botafogo</i><br />Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Alexander Guzman (COL)<br />Assistant Referee 2: John Leon (COL)<br />Fourth Official: John Hinestroza (COL)<br />VAR: Juan Lara (CHI)<br />AVAR: John Perdomo (COL)<br />Referee Assessor: Rodrigo Joia (BRA)<br />VAR Supervisor: Patricio Polic (CHI) <br /><br /><i>Nacional – Always Ready</i><br />Referee: Dario Herrera (ARG)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti (ARG)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Cristian Navarro (ARG)<br />Fourth Official: Andres Merlos (ARG)<br />VAR: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)<br />AVAR: German Delfino (ARG)<br />Referee Assessor: Jorge Larrionda (URU)<br />VAR Supervisor: Luis Vera (ECU)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-39345440347775606372024-03-10T19:17:00.009-11:002024-03-11T08:37:46.511-11:00Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ehYTVcxyYihijxYsR1kcEzh92HVv92WjIzVK04BwQXi9dhtO4GNA8WP3VMVxJEUdQ9S5t_Z8Z__K2L3v9iWL9l3z9txNUvnSCSaStdgOH8QVFmlYOY00PzU8LWXBAoVxCSa1QDDC4A08eM6DGwUVYA7lUJPdc3y6unwWEvzfLv-tRr7yiklBPrIatA/s240/nation.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="240" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ehYTVcxyYihijxYsR1kcEzh92HVv92WjIzVK04BwQXi9dhtO4GNA8WP3VMVxJEUdQ9S5t_Z8Z__K2L3v9iWL9l3z9txNUvnSCSaStdgOH8QVFmlYOY00PzU8LWXBAoVxCSa1QDDC4A08eM6DGwUVYA7lUJPdc3y6unwWEvzfLv-tRr7yiklBPrIatA/w200-h175/nation.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div>12-14 March 2024<br /><br /><i>Columbus Crew – Houston Dynamo</i><br />Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Wales (TRI)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)<br />Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)<br />VAR: Oscar Macias (MEX)<br />AVAR: Daneon Parchment (JAM)<br /><br /><i>CF Pachuca – Philadelphia Union</i><br />Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Keytzel Corrales (NCA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: William Chow (CRC)<br />Fourth Official: Selvin Brown (HON)<br />VAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)<br />AVAR: Benjamin Whitty (CAY)<br /><br /><i>Tigres UANL – Orlando City</i><br />Referee: Ivan Barton (SLV)<br />Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Henri Pupiro (NCA)<br />Fourth Official: Said Martinez (HON)<br />VAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)<br />AVAR: Tristley Bassue (SKN)<br /><br /><i>SV Robinhood – CS Herediano</i><br />Referee: Julio Luna (GUA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Emmanuel Aguirre (NCA)<br />Fourth Official: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)<br />VAR: Daneon Parchment (JAM)<br />AVAR: Tristley Bassue (SKN)<br /><br /><i>Inter Miami – Nashville SC</i><br />Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Michael Barwegen (CAN)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa (CAN)<br />Fourth Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (CAN)<br />VAR: Erick Miranda (MEX)<br />AVAR: Guillermo Pacheco (MEX)<br /><br /><i>Club America – CD Guadalajara</i><br />Referee: Mario Escobar (GUA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Luis Ventura (GUA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Humberto Panjoj (GUA)<br />Fourth Official: Walter Lopez (GUA)<br />VAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)<br />AVAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)<br /><br /><i>LD Alajuelense – New England Revolution</i><br />Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra (MEX)<br />Fourth Official: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)<br />VAR: Guillermo Pacheco (MEX)<br />AVAR: Erick Miranda (MEX)<br /><br /><i>CF Monterrey – FC Cincinnati</i><br />Referee: Juan Calderon (CRC)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Juan Mora (CRC)<br />Assistant Referee 2: William Arrieta (CRC)<br />Fourth Official: Keylor Herrera (CRC)<br />VAR: Daneon Parchment (JAM)<br />AVAR: Tristley Bassue (SKN)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-42867206020070410392024-03-10T19:16:00.003-11:002024-03-10T19:16:49.546-11:00Youngest ever Russian FIFA referee passed away<div style="text-align: justify;">Former chairman of the Inspection Committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU) and former FIFA referee Alexey Spirin has passed away at the age of 72, Azernews reports. It is noted that Spirin died on January 31. "The Russian Football Union expresses sincere condolences to the family and friends of Alexey Spirin", the statement said.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SCZ0xD3O8w-2TcGAbpEiFmRnIQxrGW8JeGAScg-nEi7vZl637i05kiVTFu5XvSDWjhUcrLXZIhp9VOjLUVwpbW-4PE95eztVh6y9F8iwJ8vKvsxVPd8mKshp8JkywBcrdCHzzVmV6SFhGDYtWDQOFSxRhP1j6fOcjuEpiv6gQmfcLUKsV7Jc7QaMsg/s1200/spirin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SCZ0xD3O8w-2TcGAbpEiFmRnIQxrGW8JeGAScg-nEi7vZl637i05kiVTFu5XvSDWjhUcrLXZIhp9VOjLUVwpbW-4PE95eztVh6y9F8iwJ8vKvsxVPd8mKshp8JkywBcrdCHzzVmV6SFhGDYtWDQOFSxRhP1j6fOcjuEpiv6gQmfcLUKsV7Jc7QaMsg/s320/spirin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spirin was the youngest FIFA referee (at 35 years old) in the history of Soviet football. He officiated over 50 international matches at club and national team levels, including the first leg of the UEFA Cup final in 1991, matches of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, and the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. After retiring as a referee, he worked in various positions within the RFU, including as general secretary, and also headed the RFU Inspection Committee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.azernews.az/sports/223021.html">AzerNews</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-36561010813643514922024-03-10T08:27:00.010-11:002024-03-10T08:38:23.638-11:00Concacaf Women's Gold Cup Final 2024: Borjas (HON)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYOOeqdEj-hc4EbNsUHIIz7gl5KHtTC5v_dOR30Z6QndSpVF84qHMsbMd-mtCLxF6wQRzy2wEH8s3dycKIx2Vb4Oc6Afco_vRvxtwG98TmylzaU8KCSoMubNE6U3VPYlpT01d60V0TsB-9Tlz7Ft-uZvINw3QmGvps0WDPSufx0I3wvQCTLbUE1g6sg/s225/borjas2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYOOeqdEj-hc4EbNsUHIIz7gl5KHtTC5v_dOR30Z6QndSpVF84qHMsbMd-mtCLxF6wQRzy2wEH8s3dycKIx2Vb4Oc6Afco_vRvxtwG98TmylzaU8KCSoMubNE6U3VPYlpT01d60V0TsB-9Tlz7Ft-uZvINw3QmGvps0WDPSufx0I3wvQCTLbUE1g6sg/w195-h195/borjas2.jpg" width="195" /></a></div></div>10 March 2024<div><br /><i>USA – Brazil</i><br />Referee: Melissa Borjas (HON, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Shirley Perello (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Lourdes Noriega (HON)<br />Fourth Official: Odette Hamilton (JAM)<br />Reserve AR: Stephanie Yee-Sing (JAM)<br />VAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)<br />AVAR: Daneon Parchment (JAM)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-58764244729498953832024-03-08T18:31:00.002-11:002024-03-08T18:31:12.157-11:00Liga MX name Garcia as first woman referee in 20 years<div style="text-align: justify;">Katia Garcia is set to become the first woman in two decades to referee a Liga MX match, according to the Mexican federation's Referees Committee. The 31-year-old, who officiated Concacaf W Gold Cup semi-final win for the U.S. women's national team over Canada, will travel back to Mexico to officiate Pachuca vs. Queretaro at the Estadio Hidalgo this Saturday. The match will mark just the second time that Liga MX has had a female referee. The last woman to officiate in a Liga MX match was Virginia Tovar in 2004.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYJnq48JHhTApn2xzV0W8xtUvo6lXAE0ODiytMypkJOpPWDu1iAlb-aLrw1fAndkcbMZXnjWP5xqgLmyvGacoNmT0MpjANgypPbAr4TQzMeV3RzRgPQ1QFAKWw-KficCr8zattVxiRktWyhQGiCuw_iVpe1P1VZbhASLk5h21OZ7rjp0tvXhZNviFw/s1472/garcia24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1472" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYJnq48JHhTApn2xzV0W8xtUvo6lXAE0ODiytMypkJOpPWDu1iAlb-aLrw1fAndkcbMZXnjWP5xqgLmyvGacoNmT0MpjANgypPbAr4TQzMeV3RzRgPQ1QFAKWw-KficCr8zattVxiRktWyhQGiCuw_iVpe1P1VZbhASLk5h21OZ7rjp0tvXhZNviFw/s320/garcia24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Born in Mexico City and refereeing at the professional level since 2016, Garcia has had experience in competitions such as the 2023 Women's World Cup, She Believes Cup, Liga MX Femenil and Liga de Expansion. Earlier in the W Gold Cup semifinal, Garcia dealt with a rain-soaked pitch that was deemed as "unplayable" by Canada coach Bev Priestman. Despite the conditions, a match commissioner appeared to indicate to Garcia to continue the waterlogged game. Pachuca, currently third in the standings on goal differential, will have a chance to take first in the Liga MX table when they face 10th-placed Queretaro.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39676158/liga-mx-name-garcia-first-woman-referee-20-years">ESPN</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-59008126178724688292024-03-08T18:27:00.006-11:002024-03-11T08:40:00.072-11:00UEFA Youth League 2023/2024 – Quarter-finals<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKnoXOx5LxLVzFOKecjdj1WdeyqH6WMMRsTPAoNnZ0pvJpnPey1cT7hZWbvVK6tlIeNI8k0qY0mBf56aIfmOweWG5X1EAGtDAUSkPe2j0VswXZrbvZsK4xmDAU4GDnyZ1T9NVyVu9L3SqyjUsrfJiOAZQb44KqLtvbY2ea3z_tVWgGjToaqhfaJhntA/s170/frid.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="135" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKnoXOx5LxLVzFOKecjdj1WdeyqH6WMMRsTPAoNnZ0pvJpnPey1cT7hZWbvVK6tlIeNI8k0qY0mBf56aIfmOweWG5X1EAGtDAUSkPe2j0VswXZrbvZsK4xmDAU4GDnyZ1T9NVyVu9L3SqyjUsrfJiOAZQb44KqLtvbY2ea3z_tVWgGjToaqhfaJhntA/s1600/frid.jpg" width="135" /></a></div></div>12-13 March 2024<div><br /><i> Bayern München – Olympiakos SFP</i><br /> Referee: Yigal Frid ISR (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Hur ISR<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Snir Weintraub ISR<br /> Fourth Official: Michael Bacher GER</div><div>Referee Observer: Martin Hansson SWE <br /> <br /><i> FC Nantes – FC Copenhagen</i><br /> Referee: Elçin Masiyev AZE<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Elşad Abdullayev AZE<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Rahman Imami AZE<br /> Fourth Official: Guillaume Paradis FRA<br /> Referee Observer: William Young SCO</div><div><br /><i> AC Milan – Real Madrid</i><br /> Referee: Sven Jablonski GER<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Lasse Koslowski GER<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger GER</div><div>Fourth Official: Kevin Bonacina (ITA)<br /> Referee Observer: Lucilio Batista POR</div><div><br /><i> FSV Mainz – FC Porto</i><br /> Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili GEO<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Davit Akhvlediani GEO<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Davit Gabisonia GEO<br /> Fourth Official: Patrick Schwengers GER<br /></div><div>Referee Observer: Jorn-West Larsen DEN</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-24514672292526983752024-03-08T18:25:00.007-11:002024-03-08T18:25:54.605-11:00The inspiration behind Reibelt’s journey to the summit<div style="text-align: justify;">Casey Reibelt would like nothing better than to be an inspiration for a new generation of local match referees after experiencing a “treasured” World Cup on home soil last year. The Australian referee knows better than most just how inspirational a local role model can be. Referee for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Tammy Ogston lived just a few suburbs away in her Brisbane hometown. Reibelt’s career was still in its fledgling stage, but seeing a local colleague working at the most elite stage imaginable brought a realisation that an international career in top-level football was possible. The phrase ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it’ has rarely been more fitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjhsv7P9rWyoHAzAbT4bNzKI2DaRDQFhq3r7SW3B5kgsV7pV_fQhJUSisHJOsVzGzi7JyIAGyHR7vf6KGGnuukj2q4ZKgf9tBPkYcm_4MccYu1Q4eeSkn2TN8EL-Kn0T_1TK8eYlhpn8nbngo_4kx1hkTgwZLzKuorI2UKwG3-IZ7Ylgqo6K7SFEh9A/s259/reibelt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjhsv7P9rWyoHAzAbT4bNzKI2DaRDQFhq3r7SW3B5kgsV7pV_fQhJUSisHJOsVzGzi7JyIAGyHR7vf6KGGnuukj2q4ZKgf9tBPkYcm_4MccYu1Q4eeSkn2TN8EL-Kn0T_1TK8eYlhpn8nbngo_4kx1hkTgwZLzKuorI2UKwG3-IZ7Ylgqo6K7SFEh9A/s1600/reibelt1.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A teenage Reibelt started out as a young kid who “just loves football”, looking for some extra pocket money. Soon enough and prior to commencing her senior career at national league level in 2008, Reibelt saw first-hand just how dedicated Ogston was to her craft. “I was really lucky when I was coming through as a young ref that we had a couple of FIFA referees based in Brisbane. Jacqui Hurford, Krystyna Szokolai and Tammy Ogston – all had been involved in FIFA competitions and the Olympics,” Reibelt said. “I remember one of the first ever training sessions I went to, I saw Tammy Ogston do the beep test and I will never forget Tammy was the last, or one of the last still running: male or female. I saw her and I thought, ‘I just want to be like her, pushing boundaries and showing everyone what I can do’. I was very lucky to have those role models early on in my career. I watched the [2007] Final and thought that ‘this is amazing that an Australian is doing the Final of the Women’s World Cup’. She was definitely an early inspiration and set the standard."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYW75x1q4TrHsfyR6Kuy3ojCU9IgCblzJ6vxMbFj1FAQ1SC5rCh2pqPX4UUY014SgeHwFGloWftDzZeejhCfsFPiqwNFQ5l2229cZzk9hQgUDIe1YxznBIGjPsxCk1eaKaCUfjwEWnEuwDTi6OA2Ukl8kz0BsACcTP3NtIuooCggWH2aBYEQ8TOHcDg/s3500/reibelt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2334" data-original-width="3500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYW75x1q4TrHsfyR6Kuy3ojCU9IgCblzJ6vxMbFj1FAQ1SC5rCh2pqPX4UUY014SgeHwFGloWftDzZeejhCfsFPiqwNFQ5l2229cZzk9hQgUDIe1YxznBIGjPsxCk1eaKaCUfjwEWnEuwDTi6OA2Ukl8kz0BsACcTP3NtIuooCggWH2aBYEQ8TOHcDg/s320/reibelt2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast forward a decade and a half, and Reibelt’s resume could barely be lengthier. The second Australian woman to referee a professional men’s match, Reibelt last year became the first among her countrywomen to referee an AFC Champions League match. A hunger for self-improvement resulted in Reibelt collecting her FIFA badge in 2014, subsequently officiating in numerous countries. Along with fellow Queenslander Kate Jacewicz, that journey was capped by a home World Cup last year. “I was lucky enough at the start of my career that a lot of those [women referee] trailblazers were still active. I was always asking questions, be it ‘what is it like, did they accept you, how did you get there’. I always wanted to hear how they got there because it was something I really wanted myself. I loved watching the recent Asian Cup with an all-female trio on one of the Australian games,” Reibelt said. “What really makes me feel good is that we now have young boys and girls watching and seeing female referees and thinking it is normal, and I love that.” Last weekend the 36-year-old, who also operates as a Video Match Official, brought up her 100 national league match milestone. Though still needing to squeeze in training between her day job as a teacher, the occasion provided yet another reminder of just how much incremental growth there has been. Reibelt says barely a day goes by when she is not asked - or thinks about - the special experience that was the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand. “I’m sure there would have been plenty of young boys and girls that were motivated seeing the full stadiums, quality of games and general excitement and thinking ‘maybe one day I can referee a game like that’. One of the best parts of being a referee is being involved in exciting matches, with high quality football and with high challenges. The performance of the match officials [in 2023] was just excellent. The improvements in fitness and the quality of the match officials was evident. That support we received from FIFA was second to none. The whole experience was something I will treasure for the rest of my life. I really hope that our young match officials - especially female match officials - see myself and others, and want to challenge themselves, want to push those boundaries and not give up when it gets hard.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.fifa.com/technical/refereeing/news/the-inspiration-behind-casey-reibelts-journey-to-the-summit">FIFA</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-67711128582222136712024-03-05T05:42:00.013-11:002024-03-05T05:47:11.942-11:00UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 – Round of 16 (First Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbh0Zy6yo47sOR2nHat-eP8OrvktzL3Qi_2NA0Xq4KU0t-uEyDpspRxX-iol2Jtqy637o5UVKc0qooib_7hHHtIMyuGYkbjlZJiNIl6qjvFedvAs3dam1T0nmYNKCdiIG0u3Or_s5g1uKUd6VVMOELNUxWySLeaQ23Ijlo58SdBS6u1Sm4EXY6tukzQ/s293/jorgi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="172" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbh0Zy6yo47sOR2nHat-eP8OrvktzL3Qi_2NA0Xq4KU0t-uEyDpspRxX-iol2Jtqy637o5UVKc0qooib_7hHHtIMyuGYkbjlZJiNIl6qjvFedvAs3dam1T0nmYNKCdiIG0u3Or_s5g1uKUd6VVMOELNUxWySLeaQ23Ijlo58SdBS6u1Sm4EXY6tukzQ/s1600/jorgi.jpg" width="172" /></a></div></div>7 March 2024<div><br /><i>AFC Ajax – Aston Villa</i><br /> Referee: Enea Jorgji ALB (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha ALB<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Ridiger Çokaj ALB<br /> Fourth Official: Eldorjan Hamiti ALB<br /> VAR: Luca Pairetto ITA<br /> AVAR: Aleandro Di Paolo ITA<br /> Referee Observer: Gylfi Orrason ISL<br /> <br /><i> Molde FK – Club Brugge</i><br /> Referee: Filip Glova SVK<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Polaček SVK<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bednar SVK<br /> Fourth Official: Martin Dohal SVK<br /> VAR: Fedayi San SUI<br /> AVAR: Michal Očenaš SVK<br /> Referee Observer: Markus Nobs SUI<br /> <br /><i> Sturm Graz – LOSC Lille</i><br /> Referee: Bartosz Frankowski POL<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek POL<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Jakub Winkler POL<br /> Fourth Official: Daniel Stefanski POL<br /> VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL<br /> AVAR: Pawel Pskit POL<br /> Referee Observer: Haim Yaakov ISR<br /> <br /><i> Olympiakos SFP – Maccabi Tel Aviv</i><br /> Referee: Craig Pawson ENG<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Simon Bennett ENG<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Ian Hussin ENG<br /> Fourth Official: John Brooks ENG<br /> VAR: Christopher Kavanagh ENG<br /> AVAR: Jarred Gillett ENG<br /> Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian FRA<br /> <br /><i> Servette FC – Viktoria Plzen</i><br /> Referee: Morten Krogh DEN<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Rasmussen DEN<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Steffen Bramsen DEN<br /> Fourth Official: Mikkel Redder DEN<br /> VAR: Jonas Hansen DEN<br /> AVAR: Jakob Kehlet DEN<br /> Referee Observer: Michael Riley ENG<br /> <br /><i> Union St. Gilloise – Fenerbahçe</i><br /> Referee: Joao Pinheiro POR<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR<br /> Fourth Official: Miguel Nogueira POR<br /> VAR: Tiago Martins POR<br /> AVAR: Hugo Miguel POR<br /> Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci ALB<br /> <br /><i> GNK Dinamo – PAOK</i><br /> Referee: Aliyar Aghayev AZE<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov AZE<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Akif Amirəli AZE<br /> Fourth Official: Elçin Masiyev AZE<br /> VAR: Sascha Stegemann GER<br /> AVAR: Pascal Müller GER<br /> Referee Observer: Terje Hauge NOR<br /> <br /><i> Maccabi Haifa – ACF Fiorentina</i><br /> Referee: Donatas Rumsas LTU<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandr Radius LTU<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Dovydas Sužiedelis LTU<br /> Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis LTU<br /> VAR: David Coote ENG<br /> AVAR: Stuart Attwell ENG<br /> Referee Observer: Ante Vučemilović-Šimunović CRO</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-413243065241145582024-03-05T05:41:00.012-11:002024-03-05T05:44:46.575-11:00UEFA Europa League 2023/2024 – Round of 16 (First Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSbBf5rUUxae-PcFZYq40exsV0TCBPSqndTfb4ULsin6nkmb9B7JcEGnQqXqX3PV2JtK8vpj7VBn5ZCijeNMhYB6O7O9_x5a0jz9N_jeVj41CysAuGKW5HOqvt1kTexj2dCncuzUe_lPeE0iUHvcM1WIZZQvGotoQ5pUEgIrrPkHzRvVhA6slI9zR2w/s225/siebert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSbBf5rUUxae-PcFZYq40exsV0TCBPSqndTfb4ULsin6nkmb9B7JcEGnQqXqX3PV2JtK8vpj7VBn5ZCijeNMhYB6O7O9_x5a0jz9N_jeVj41CysAuGKW5HOqvt1kTexj2dCncuzUe_lPeE0iUHvcM1WIZZQvGotoQ5pUEgIrrPkHzRvVhA6slI9zR2w/w200-h199/siebert.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div>6 March 2024<div><i>Sporting CP – Atalanta BC</i><br />Referee: Daniel Siebert GER (photo)<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel GER<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn GER<br />Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager GER<br />VAR: Bastian Dankert GER<br />AVAR: Christian Dingert GER<br /> Referee Observer: Kostas Kapitanis CYP <br /><br />7 March 2024<br /><i>Sparta Praha – Liverpool FC</i><br /> Referee: Jose Sanchez Martinez ESP<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Raul Cabanero Martinez ESP<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Inigo Prieto Lopez ESP<br /> Fourth Official: Jesus Gil Manzano ESP<br /> VAR: Juan Martinez Munuera ESP<br /> AVAR: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea ESP<br /> Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu ROU<br /> <br /><i> AS Roma – Brighton & Hove Albion</i><br /> Referee: François Letexier FRA<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA<br /> Fourth Official: Pierre Gaillouste FRA<br /> VAR: Jerôme Brisard FRA<br /> AVAR: Willy Delajod FRA<br /> Referee Observer: David Fernandez Borbalan ESP<br /> <br /><i> Qarabag FK – Bayer Leverkusen</i><br /> Referee: Benoît Bastien FRA<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani FRA<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Aurelien Berthomieu FRA<br /> Fourth Official: Jeremie Pignard FRA<br /> VAR: Benoît Millot FRA<br /> AVAR: Eric Wattellier FRA<br /> Referee Observer: Ichko Lozev BUL<br /> <br /><i> Olympique de Marseille – Villarreal CF</i><br /> Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük NED<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Erwin Zeinstra NED<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Johan Balder NED<br /> Fourth Official: Joey Kooij NED<br /> VAR: Pol van Boekel NED<br /> AVAR: Clay Ruperti NED<br /> Referee Observer: Marian Ružbarsky SVK<br /> <br /><i> SL Benfica – Rangers FC</i><br /> Referee: Tobias Stieler GER<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Christian Gittelmann GER<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Robert Kempter GER<br /> Fourth Official: Harm Osmers GER<br /> VAR: Marco Fritz GER<br /> AVAR: Sören Storks GER<br /> Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin SVN<br /> <br /><i> SC Freiburg – West Ham United</i><br /> Referee: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez ESP<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Jose Naranjo Perez ESP<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Pau Cebrian Devis ESP<br /> Fourth Official: Jose Munuera Montero ESP<br /> VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP<br /> AVAR: Cesar Soto Grado ESP <br /> Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz TUR<br /> <br /><i> AC Milan – Slavia Praha</i><br /> Referee: Halil Meler TUR<br /> Assistant Referee 1: Mustafa Eyisoy TUR<br /> Assistant Referee 2: Kerem Ersoy TUR<br /> Fourth Official: Arda Kardeşler TUR<br /> VAR: Alper Ulusoy TUR<br /> AVAR: Abdulkadir Bitigen TUR <br /> Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski MKD</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-20507483079614653712024-03-05T05:40:00.014-11:002024-03-10T19:22:35.296-11:00Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup – Semi-finals<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbCxgWWGmjWZEvpo9VaYcATa_xEo6q4EFNVk46DyifGpLkOqP2wDSzQlQyNRLQOUCY8p2Y1-3-wcjU9khxx87G0MogxGBr8hyphenhyphen6XcqcomkRNbDEiXZTM9fQS6OgVsrPSktx2CVjnlpoXxKnuKZ_3gMvK9uYL5OpsndzwoV-Y-xzPbb_L9h-WlsCfO1rA/s1200/penso.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbCxgWWGmjWZEvpo9VaYcATa_xEo6q4EFNVk46DyifGpLkOqP2wDSzQlQyNRLQOUCY8p2Y1-3-wcjU9khxx87G0MogxGBr8hyphenhyphen6XcqcomkRNbDEiXZTM9fQS6OgVsrPSktx2CVjnlpoXxKnuKZ_3gMvK9uYL5OpsndzwoV-Y-xzPbb_L9h-WlsCfO1rA/w194-h196/penso.jpg" width="194" /></a></div></div>6 March 2024<div><br /><i>Brazil – Mexico</i><br />Referee: Tori Penso (USA, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Brooke Mayo (USA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)<br />Fourth Official: Myriam Marcotte (CAN)<br />Reserve AR: Carissa Douglas-Jacob (TRI)<br />VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)<br />AVAR: Ekaterina Koroleva (USA)<br /><br /><i>Canada – USA</i><br />Referee: Katia Garcia (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Enedina Caudillo (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Karen Diaz (MEX)<br />Fourth Official: Karen Hernandez (MEX)<br />Reserve AR: Stephanie Yee-Sing (JAM)<br />VAR: Daneon Parchment (JAM)<br />AVAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-7946175425583054152024-03-03T19:04:00.006-11:002024-03-06T11:46:04.475-11:00UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 – Round of 16 (Second Leg, I)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywS-TOfWbAq5ZBX6pmVJWmb3EmVv9YZbRQx0YSuJ78zmlen4j9pewFhGcGJsECE1El28k3zUqQKYsC5FGOKuDt_4g95OK0ADqRLLG2YJDEGGFiw_zX2N3q7Zdr_nWKiPka5uoVFw8tn3DkhlnI7VubTHZuxjjTZA2W9aZq3_KxH3upEtFmc7BwNXIdA/s275/vincic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywS-TOfWbAq5ZBX6pmVJWmb3EmVv9YZbRQx0YSuJ78zmlen4j9pewFhGcGJsECE1El28k3zUqQKYsC5FGOKuDt_4g95OK0ADqRLLG2YJDEGGFiw_zX2N3q7Zdr_nWKiPka5uoVFw8tn3DkhlnI7VubTHZuxjjTZA2W9aZq3_KxH3upEtFmc7BwNXIdA/s1600/vincic.jpg" width="183" /></a></div></div>5 March 2024<div><i>Bayern München – Lazio</i><br />Referee: Slavko Vinčić SVN (photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Tomaž Klančnik SVN<br />Assistant Referee 2: Andraž Kovačič SVN<br />Fourth Official: Matej Jug SVN<br />VAR: Nejc Kajtazovič SVN<br />AVAR: Rade Obrenovič SVN<br />Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson SWE<br /><br /><i>Real Sociedad – Paris St. Germain</i><br />Referee: Michael Oliver ENG<br />Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt ENG<br />Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Cook ENG<br />Fourth Official: Robert Jones ENG<br />VAR: Stuart Attwell ENG<br />AVAR: David Coote ENG<br />Referee Observer: Lucilio Batista POR<br /><br />6 March 2024<br /><i>Real Madrid – RB Leipzig</i><br />Referee: Davide Massa ITA<br />Assistant Referee 1: Filippo Meli (ITA<br />Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio ITA<br />Fourth Official: Marco Di Bello<br />VAR: Massimiliano Irrati ITA<br />AVAR: Paolo Valeri ITA<br />Referee Observer: Bjorn Kuipers NED<br /><br /><i>Manchester City – FC Copenhagen</i><br />Referee: Espen Eskas NOR<br />Assistant Referee 1: Isaak Bashevkin NOR<br />Assistant Referee 2: Anders Dale NOR<br />Fourth Official: Rohit Saggi NOR<br />VAR: Dennis Higler NED<br />AVAR: Rob Dieperink NED<br />Referee Observer: William Young SCO</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-77667066387267645482024-03-03T19:03:00.003-11:002024-03-03T19:04:17.602-11:00IFAB approves permanent concussion substitutes<div style="text-align: justify;">The IFAB approved several changes to and clarifications of the Laws of the Game relating to players in relation to permanent concussion substitutes, player equipment, fouls and misconduct, and penalty kicks during its 138th Annual General Meeting (AGM), hosted by the Scottish Football Association at Loch Lomond, Scotland.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8YeO5BjxqRxmLrv2gsXKC7RtXNGRPUS2u9eApUuULgwIZyHSdJaK6ctm8Aw4NpC4XmUsJks1zt2oq502SeN63r4fq8HRQFU7z4PH6efOQr9t0G1PqE2mhk9BmBn8sOZAjroncruvCYm1Ln0E1NErCOQMUy1aDXTmAW0wzEIlEMlBKJJqh-ciugn_rA/s318/ifab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8YeO5BjxqRxmLrv2gsXKC7RtXNGRPUS2u9eApUuULgwIZyHSdJaK6ctm8Aw4NpC4XmUsJks1zt2oq502SeN63r4fq8HRQFU7z4PH6efOQr9t0G1PqE2mhk9BmBn8sOZAjroncruvCYm1Ln0E1NErCOQMUy1aDXTmAW0wzEIlEMlBKJJqh-ciugn_rA/s1600/ifab.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Changes and clarifications for the Laws of the Game 2024/25</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next edition of the Laws of the Game, which will come into effect on 1 July 2024, will feature the following changes and clarifications:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Law 3 (The Players): Additional permanent concussion substitutions to be a competition option in accordance with the necessary protocol.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Law 3 (The Players) and Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment): Each team must have a team captain who wears an identifying armband.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment): Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards, which remain a compulsory part of their equipment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct): Handball offences that are not deliberate, and for which penalties are awarded, are to be treated in the same way as other fouls.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Law 14 (The Penalty Kick): Part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark, and encroachment by outfield players will be penalised only if it has an impact.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although the changes will take effect from 1 July 2024, competitions starting before that date may implement them earlier or delay their implementation until no later than the start of the subsequent competition.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Trials confirmed</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Detailed protocols for three trials in domestic competitions below the top two tiers aimed at improving participant behaviour were approved, namely:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Only a team’s captain being able to approach the referee in certain situations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- The introduction of cooling-off periods to allow the referee to require teams to go to their own penalty area.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Increasing the time limit for the goalkeepers holding the ball to eight seconds, otherwise possession will revert to the opposing team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. The current guidelines to temporary dismissals in youth and grassroots football were improved. Any potential wider application will only be considered once the impact of these changes have been reviewed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. The IFAB decided to extend FIFA’s trial where the referee publicly announces the final decisions and the reasoning after a video assistant referee (VAR) review or lengthy VAR check to other competitions. Participating competitions will require permission from The IFAB and will have to commit to FIFA’s refereeing and technology guidelines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Other topics</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">FIFA confirmed that it would launch a global campaign to raise awareness of how to recognise the symptoms of concussion and treat it appropriately, while The IFAB also requested relevant medical data analyses to be provided to the subsequent AGM in line with the amendment to Law 3 regarding this topic. In addition, members received an update on The FA’s trials with body cameras at grassroots level and with a ban on “deliberate heading” at U-12 level and below. The IFAB also received an update on the offside trial which has been undertaken at U-18 level in Italy and agreed to further trials.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Source: <a href="https://www.theifab.com/news/the-ifab-approves-permanent-concussion-substitutes-among-several-changes-to-the-l">IFAB</a></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-14194813154181082532024-03-03T19:02:00.005-11:002024-03-05T05:39:14.094-11:00Concacaf Champions Cup 2024 – Round of 16 (First Leg)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnhBchV3Rr-3vLiIGedD1283a9EUsl1bwezfUbWNR42vS3rGXiZajQmVKN1siSvNa9z3MUhgHXMWanEs-CBHMeOudrbadD0Nv_r4Bz0G9rkSFWYVTAzV1wvH8IZ_8gYAHXe29ApR1esaBMFx0xMs09zLIkiSCM_Dci43hFbMVrrRTPwCxSJMYayTEZw/s225/cornejo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnhBchV3Rr-3vLiIGedD1283a9EUsl1bwezfUbWNR42vS3rGXiZajQmVKN1siSvNa9z3MUhgHXMWanEs-CBHMeOudrbadD0Nv_r4Bz0G9rkSFWYVTAzV1wvH8IZ_8gYAHXe29ApR1esaBMFx0xMs09zLIkiSCM_Dci43hFbMVrrRTPwCxSJMYayTEZw/w181-h176/cornejo.jpg" width="181" /></a></div></div>5-7 March 2024<div><br /><i>Philadelphia Union – CF Pachuca</i><br />Referee: Ismael Cornejo (SLV, photo)<br />Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Zachari Zeegelaar (SUR)<br />Fourth Official: Oshane Nation (JAM)<br />VAR: Ivan Barton (SLV)<br />AVAR: Benjamin Whitty (CAY)<br /><br /><i>Orlando City SC – Tigres UANL</i><br />Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Keytzel Corrales (NCA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Raymundo Feliz (DOM)<br />Fourth Official: Julio Luna (GUA)<br />VAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)<br />AVAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)<br /><br /><i>CS Herediano – SV Robinhood</i><br />Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Marco Bisguerra (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Michel Espinoza (MEX)<br />Fourth Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX)<br />VAR: Allen Chapman (USA)<br />AVAR: Tristley Bassue (SKN)<br /><br /><i>New England Revolution – LD Alajuelense</i><br />Referee: Adonai Escobedo (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Sanchez (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Enrique Bustos (MEX)<br />Fourth Official: Victor Caceres (MEX)<br />VAR: Oscar Macias (MEX)<br />AVAR: Tristley Bassue (SKN)<br /><br /><i>Houston Dynamo – Columbus Crew</i><br />Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Cory Richardson (USA)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Logan Brown (USA)<br />Fourth Official: Victor Rivas (USA)<br />VAR: Oscar Mejia (MEX)<br />AVAR: Benjamin Whitty (CAY)<br /><br /><i>CD Guadalajara – Club America</i><br />Referee: Said Martinez (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez (HON)<br />Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)<br />VAR: Adonai Escobedo (MEX)<br />AVAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)<br /><br /><i>FC Cincinnati – CF Monterrey</i><br />Referee: Selvin Brown (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Orellana (HON)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Emmanuel Aguirre (NCA)<br />Fourth Official: Juan Calderon (CRC)<br />VAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)<br />AVAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)<br /><br /><i>Nashville SC – Inter Miami</i><br />Referee: Marco Ortiz (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 1: Christian Espinosa (MEX)<br />Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)<br />Fourth Official: Daniel Quintero (MEX)<br />VAR: Oscar Mejia (MEX)<br /> AVAR: Benjamin Whitty (CAY)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1050218099499711687.post-62324046502406943152024-03-03T19:00:00.005-11:002024-03-05T05:36:39.214-11:00MLS referee replaced after photos in Miami jersey<div style="text-align: justify;">The referee for Saturday's MLS game between Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC was replaced by the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) after pictures emerged on social media of the original assignee, Guilherme Ceretta, wearing an Inter Miami jersey. Ceretta was replaced by Jaime Herrera, with Ivan Cid Cruz stepping in for Herrera as the fourth official and Bruno Rizo and Regis Cardoso remaining as the match's assistant referees. The pictures were <a href="https://x.com/MLSRefStats/status/1763949948968570926?s=20">first revealed by the X account @MLSRefStats</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEwbMOXWdvNBskhulbMH3d5y_TPBrqfeTBZN5smIzMYjCDhd0SadK2ixcPgeIkaV20AF6Saw6dqBYQuIu8edG1xoFhEso-cFf_twJUmq7G0YPV7hjHqMERkRkVAPBpQtPa2BJC6bXMsTQFc4pvTdLngAspWKwtG5oQbHKYFKJSHDW5NvRZ28-E-iviw/s275/ref%20miami.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEwbMOXWdvNBskhulbMH3d5y_TPBrqfeTBZN5smIzMYjCDhd0SadK2ixcPgeIkaV20AF6Saw6dqBYQuIu8edG1xoFhEso-cFf_twJUmq7G0YPV7hjHqMERkRkVAPBpQtPa2BJC6bXMsTQFc4pvTdLngAspWKwtG5oQbHKYFKJSHDW5NvRZ28-E-iviw/s1600/ref%20miami.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A spokesperson for PRO, which assigns referees to officiate matches in MLS, confirmed to ESPN: "Referee Guilherme Ceretta was removed from the game due to a potential conflict." The change comes at an awkward time for PRO, which is engaged in a lockout of referees belonging to the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union attempting to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with PRO. In the interim, PRO has been using replacement referees pulled from other professional leagues as well as the collegiate and youth ranks. "As long as the focus stays on fighting organized labor rather than utilizing the most well-trained, experienced officials in the league, you will continue to stray from promoting the very best of the game," PSRA president Peter Manikowski said in a statement to ESPN on Saturday. "Sporting integrity provisions are in our CBA and we take them very seriously. But when the league perceives these professional officials are asking for too much, the first thing to go is the sporting integrity backstops like rigorous fitness testing, medical checks, background checking and anti-doping. Talks on a new CBA between PRO and the PSRA appear to be at a standstill. The previous CBA expired on Jan. 15, though the two sides agreed to extend the terms in a bid to continue negotiations. On Feb. 15, the PSRA membership overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement reached between PRO and the PSRA executive board, with 95.8% of the PSRA union membership voting against ratification. PRO responded the next day by locking out the PSRA referees. The PSRA has since offered a counter-proposal, which PRO not only rejected, but responded by saying that the terms of the tentative agreement amounted to its best offer. In a letter from PRO general manager Mark Geiger to the PSRA membership, Geiger added that if the PSRA didn't approve the terms contained in the tentative agreement by March 11, its next offer "will include less favorable terms in some areas." (<i>Source: <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/39639554/inter-miami-referee-replaced-photos-team-jersey-orlando-city">ESPN</a>)</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm9RWORDpvkYKC8ae8viI93e81e30Hv-mlZJYUzhGrTBuCasPvyddtBrsQNOD2w0VNDf6OfFcy7YdwcMLXi1Mix2YRB_epMRU9HIjjBb_H1ywsmFwYmjQjV6fGiBYbeq4RIjuk8cCRCN86grIXx3NyTmhGEPMMivnk4SA6I8_RICeycyiL60O6yUN9w/s2160/ceretta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="2160" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm9RWORDpvkYKC8ae8viI93e81e30Hv-mlZJYUzhGrTBuCasPvyddtBrsQNOD2w0VNDf6OfFcy7YdwcMLXi1Mix2YRB_epMRU9HIjjBb_H1ywsmFwYmjQjV6fGiBYbeq4RIjuk8cCRCN86grIXx3NyTmhGEPMMivnk4SA6I8_RICeycyiL60O6yUN9w/s320/ceretta.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The decision to remove Ceretta de Lima, a referee with a respectable history in Brazil, raises several questions about independence and transparency in the refereeing process. While some argue that the photos alone should not be enough to question the integrity of an experienced referee, others contend that the perception of impartiality is as important as impartiality itself. In a sport where trust in refereeing is essential, MLS seems to have opted for a cautious approach to preserve the integrity of the game. Ceretta de Lima's situation also sheds light on the pressures faced by referees in an increasingly scrutinized environment. With the rise of social media and video technology, every decision by a referee is subject to meticulous and sometimes ruthless analysis. While the decision to remove Ceretta de Lima may be seen as a prudent measure to preserve the integrity of the game, it also raises concerns about the lack of clarity and consistency in referee appointment criteria. While some question why a referee with Ceretta de Lima's history and reputation would be appointed to a game involving a club he apparently admires, others argue that his competence as a referee should be the sole criterion considered. As leagues seek to preserve the integrity of the game, it is essential to ensure that referees are appointed based on their ability to make impartial and objective decisions. At the same time, it is important to recognize the pressures and challenges faced by referees in an increasingly scrutinized environment. The question remains: where to draw the line between competence and perception on the field? (<i>Source: <a href="https://mlsmultiplex.com/posts/brazilian-referee-removed-from-mls-classic-match-for-alleged-conflict-of-interest-01hr621n49e6">MLS Multiplex</a></i>)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com