UEFA Europa League 2020/2021 – First Qualifying Round

25-27 August 2020

FK Riteriai – Derry City
Referee: Ville Nevalainen (FIN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Sami Nykänen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Turkka Valjakka (FIN)
Fourth Official: Mohammed Al-Emara (FIN)
Referee Observer: Uno Tutk (EST)

Progres Niederkorn – FK Zeta
Referee: Rahim Hasanov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Zeynal Zeynalov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Namiq Hüseynov (AZE)
Fourth Official: Elçin Masiyev (AZE)
Referee Observer: Adrian Azzopardi (MLT)

FK Ventspils – Dinamo Auto
Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti (ALB)
Assistant Referee 1: Nertil Bregasi (ALB)
Assistant Referee 2: Emigers Gançi (ALB)
Fourth Official: Kridens Meta (ALB)
Referee Observer: Volodymyr Petrov (UKR)

Ordabasi Şimkent – FC Botoșani
Referee: Rauf Cabarov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Parvin Talibov (AZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Elşad Abdullayev (AZE)
Fourth Official: Kamal Umudlu (AZE)
Referee Observer: Igor Pristovnik (CRO)

Qayrat Almati – FC Noah
Referee: Kristoffer Karlsson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Joakim Nilsson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Robin Wilde (SWE)
Fourth Official: Fredrik Klitte (SWE)
Referee Observer: Emil Božinovski (MKD)

Nõmme Kalju – NŠ Mura
Referee: Tim Marshall (NIR)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Bell (NIR)
Assistant Referee 2: David Anderson (NIR)
Fourth Official: Shane Andrews (NIR)
Referee Observer: Sergejus Slyva (LTU)

KF Teuta – Beitar Jerusalem
Referee: Nikolas Neokleous (CYP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pavlos Georgiou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 2: Omiros Tziortzis (CYP)
Fourth Official: Chrysovalantis Theouli (CYP)
Referee Observer: Draženko Kovačić (CRO)

Borac Banja Luka – FK Sutjeska
Referee: Morten Krogh (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Niels Hog (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jesper Dahl (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jens Maae (DEN)
Referee Observer: Viktor Shvetsov (UKR)

Dynama Minsk – Piast Gliwice
Referee: Lazar Lukić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Dragan Bogićević (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Bojan Banović (SRB)
Fourth Official: Aleksandar Živković (SRB)
Referee Observer: Karel Vidlak (CZE)

Lincoln Red Imps – Union Titus Petange
Referee: Helgi Jonasson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 1: Johann Gudmundsson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 2: Egill Gudlaugsson (ISL)
Fourth Official: Vilhjalmur Thorarinsson (ISL)
Referee Observer: Helmut Fleischer (GER)

Neftçi PFK – FC Shkupi
Referee: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)
Assistant Referee 1: Raimonds Tatriks (LVA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jevgeņijs Morozovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Artis Ķeniņš (LVA)
Referee Observer: Orhan Erdemir (TUR)

Bodo Glimt – Kauno Žalgiris
Referee: Kaarlo Hämäläinen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jukka Honkanen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Veli Leppänen (FIN)
Fourth Official: Antti Munukka (FIN)
Referee Observer: Sandor Piller (HUN)

Apollon Limassol – FC Saburtalo
Referee: Sigurd Kringstad (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Geir Isaksen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin (NOR)
Fourth Official: Tom Hagen (NOR)
Referee Observer: João Ferreira (POR)

Alashkert FC – KF Renova
Referee: Nicolas Walsh (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Calum Spence (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Douglas Potter (SCO)
Fourth Official: Andrew Dallas (SCO)
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer (LUX)

Sumqayıt FK – KF Shkëndija
Referee: Arman Esmuratov (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 1: Sergey Vasyutin (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 2: Samat Tergewsizov (KAZ)
Fourth Official: Jandos Abjan (KAZ)
Referee Observer: Ferenc Szekely (HUN)

Olimpija Ljubljana – Vikingur Reykjavik
Referee: Walter Altmann (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Staudinger (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner (AUT)
Fourth Official: Andreas Heiss (AUT)
Referee Observer: Jan Wegereef (NED)

MOL Fehervar – Bohemian FC
Referee: Timotheos Christofi (CYP)
Assistant Referee 1: Michail Sotiriou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 2: Marios Kalogirou (CYP)
Fourth Official: Kyriakos Christodoulou (CYP)
Referee Observer: Lucilio Batista (POR)

Žalgiris Vilnius – Paide Linnameeskond
Referee: Petri Viljanen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Mikko Alakare (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Olli Jantunen (FIN)
Fourth Official: Joni Hyytiä (FIN)
Referee Observer: Jon Skjervold (NOR)

Rosenborg BK – Breidablik
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele (MLT)
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Camilleri (MLT)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Vella (MLT)
Fourth Official: Emanuel Grech (MLT)
Referee Observer: Mika Peltola (FIN)

Hammarby Fotboll – Puskas Akademia
Referee: Mario Zebec (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Borut Križarić (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Jerko Crnčić (CRO)
Fourth Official: Dario Kulušić (CRO)
Referee Observer: Bertrand Layec (FRA)

Malmö FF – Cracovia Krakow
Referee: Urs Schnyder (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Marco Zürcher (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Zürcher (SUI)
Fourth Official: Alessandro Dudic (SUI)
Referee Observer: Kenneth Clark (SCO)

AGF Aarhus – Honka Espoo
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Konstantínos Nikolaidis (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Dimitrios Natsiopoulos (GRE)
Fourth Official: Evangelos Manouchos (GRE)
Referee Observer: Ichko Lozev (BUL)

FC Vaduz – Hibernians FC
Referee: Luis Teixeira (AND)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Fernandes (AND)
Assistant Referee 2: Hugo Pereira (AND)
Fourth Official: Joan Serra (AND)
Referee Observer: Miroslav Vitković (CRO)

Keşla FK – KF Laçi
Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (GEO)
Assistant Referee 1: Davit Gabisonia (GEO)
Assistant Referee 2: Davit Akhvlediani (GEO)
Fourth Official: Irakli Kvirikashvili (GEO)
Referee Observer: Goran Mihaljević (MNE)

Maccabi Haifa – FK Željezničar
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 1: Georgi Todorov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 2: Hristo Hadzhiyski (BUL)
Fourth Official: Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL)
Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz (TUR)

CSKA Sofia – FC Sirens
Referee: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Arkadiusz Wojcik (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Bartosz Heinig (POL)
Fourth Official: Piotr Lasyk (POL)
Referee Observer: Vlado Svilokos (CRO)

Lokomotive Tbilisi – Universitatea Craiova
Referee: Miloš Djordjić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Jovan Grujić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Nikola Djorović (SRB)
Fourth Official: Momčilo Marković (SRB)
Referee Observer: Sokol Jareci (ALB)

SC Gjilani – Apoel FC
Referee: Yigal Frid (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Sagy Metzamber (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Nati Dotan (ISR)
Fourth Official: Eli Hacmon (ISR)
Referee Observer: Drago Kos (SVN)

FH Hafnarfjördur – Dunajská Streda
Referee: Jason Barcelo (GIB)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Parody (GIB)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Gordillo (GIB)
Fourth Official: Patrick Canepa (GIB)
Referee Observer: Lassin Isaksen (FRO)

Šachcior Salihorsk – Sfîntul Gheorghe Suruceni
Referee: Dragan Petrović (BIH)
Assistant Referee 1: Sreten Udovičić (BIH)
Assistant Referee 2: Damir Lazić (BIH)
Fourth Official: Luka Bilbija (BIH)
Referee Observer: Fritz Stuchlik (AUT)

The New Saints – MŠK Žilina
Referee: Manfredas Lukjančukas (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vytis Snarskis (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Vladimir Gerasimov (LTU)
Fourth Official: Robertas Valikonis (LTU)
Referee Observer: Iain Robertson Brines (SCO)

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Dinamo Batumi
Referee: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs (LVA)
Assistant Referee 1: Deniss Ševčenko (LVA)
Assistant Referee 2: Romans Platonovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Vitalijs Spasjonņikovs (LVA)
Referee Observer: Nicolae Grigorescu (ROU)

B36 Torshavn – Levadia Tallinn
Referee: Donald Robertson (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Douglas Ross (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel McFarlane (SCO)
Fourth Official: Alex Troleis (FRO)
Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen (NOR)

HŠK Zrinjski – FC Differdange
Referee: Aristotelis Diamantopoulos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Reinhard Buxbaum (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Konstantinos Psarris (GRE)
Fourth Official: Vasilios Fotias (GRE)
Referee Observer: Attila Abraham (HUN)

Valletta FC – Bala Town
Referee: Luca Barbeno (SMR)
Assistant Referee 1: Francesco Lunardon (SMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Gian Ercolani (SMR)
Fourth Official: Raffaele Delvecchio (SMR)
Referee Observer: David Fernandez Borbalan (ESP)

FK Kukesi – Slavia Sofia
Referee: Arda Kardeşler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Cevdet Kömürcüoğlu (TUR)
Fourth Official: Bahattin Şimşek (TUR)
Referee Observer: Gevorg Hovhannisyan (ARM)

Petrocub Hîncești – Bačka Topola
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Vladimir Urzică (ROU)
Fourth Official: Horia Mladinovici (ROU)
Referee Observer: Miroslav Liba (CZE)

Iskra Danilovgrad – Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Referee: Gergő Bogar (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Istvan Albert (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gergő Vígh-Tarsonyi (HUN)
Fourth Official: Peter Solymosi (HUN)
Referee Observer: Jan Carlsen (DEN)

Servette FC – MFK Ružomberok
Referee: Viktor Kopiyevskyy (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Volodymyr Vysotskyy (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Vitaliy Skoblya (UKR)
Fourth Official: Dmytro Kryvushkin (UKR)
Referee Observer: Raymond Ellingham (WAL)

FCSB – Shirak
Referee: Admir Šehović (BIH)
Assistant Referee 1: Amer Macić (BIH)
Assistant Referee 2: Goran Dujak (BIH)
Fourth Official: Haris Kaljanac (BIH)
Referee Observer: Georgi Yordanov (BUL)

NK Maribor – Coleraine FC
Referee: Kai Steen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tom Gronevik (NOR)
Fourth Official: Kristoffer Hagenes (NOR)
Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT)

Aberdeen FC – NSI Runavik
Referee: Ivar Kristjansson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 1: Birkir Sigurdarson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 2: Oddur Gudmundsson (ISL)
Fourth Official: Thorvaldur Arnason (ISL)
Referee Observer: David Malcolm (NIR)

Motherwell – Glentoran
Referee: Bram Van Driessche (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Yves De Neve (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Monteny (BEL)
Fourth Official: Kevin Van Damme (BEL)
Referee Observer: Edward Foley (IRL)

Budapest Honved – Inter Turku
Referee: Gal Leibovitz (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Tom Adi (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Matityahu Yakobov (ISR)
Fourth Official: Erez Papir (ISR)
Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange (ITA)

Shamrock Rovers – Ilves Tampere
Referee: Michal Očenaš (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Pozor (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Jekkel (SVK)
Fourth Official: Peter Ziemba (SVK)
Referee Observer: Michael Ross (NIR)

Partizan – RFS
Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan (ARM)
Assistant Referee 1: Mesrop Ghazaryan (ARM)
Assistant Referee 2: Atom Sevgulyan (ARM)
Fourth Official: Henrik Nalbandyan (ARM)
Referee Observer: Alieh Čykun (BLR)

Lech Poznan – Valmiera FC
Referee: Ondřej Pechanec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Jiri Molaček (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Jakub Hrabovsky (CZE)
Fourth Official: Ondrej Berka (CZE)
Referee Observer: Martin Hansson (SWE)

Manganelli dedicated the Champions League final to his late father

Playing in a Champions League final is the pinnacle of any player’s career. Those are the occasions a retired footballer will look back on with fondness. Even more so if they get to lift that famous trophy at the end of the night. But being involved in a Champions League final is also the highlight for any official. Just ask Mark Clattenburg who got a Champions League-themed tattoo to commemorate taking charge of the 2016 final. And there was one man who wanted to make the most of his night officiating Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon.

Step forward, assistant referee Lorenzo Manganelli. The Italian first caught our attention when he walked onto the Estadio da Luz pitch and touched the trophy on his way past. They say it’s unlucky to do that as a player but it seemed the linesman had no worries about bad omens.

Then, minutes later as the iconic Champions League anthem was played through the stadium speakers as the two sides lined up, Manganelli could be seen his hand on heart as though it was his national anthem. He was really milking this.

Then, to top it all off, he kissed his medal after receiving it at the end of the match. Amazing. There was one poignant moment that involved Manganelli, though, and one that makes him an even bigger legend. On the way to collect his medal, he showed a photograph of his father to the camera, who recently passed away due to Covid-19. Beautiful. Lorenzo Manganelli, you’re our Man of the Match and we salute you!

Source: GiveMeSport

UEFA Women’s Champions League 2019/2020 – Semi-finals

25 August 2020
Wolfsburg – Barcelona

Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (HUN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Sara Telek (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulina Baranowska (POL)
Fourth Official: Kateryna Monzul (UKR)
Referee Observer: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)

26 August 2020
Paris St. Germain – Olympique Lyonnais
Referee: Anastasia Pustovoitova (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Ekaterina Kurochkina (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Karolin Kaivoja (EST)
Fourth Official: Ivana Martinčić (CRO)
Referee Observer: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)

Dream comes true for referee Orsato

In any walk of life, fulfilling a cherished ambition brings a feeling of enduring joy and satisfaction. It’s a feeling that Italian referee Daniele Orsato is experiencing at the moment as he prepares for the biggest assignment of his refereeing career. The 44-year-old father of two from Recoaro Terme, a small town of some 6,000 inhabitants in Vicenza province in north-eastern Italy, will achieve a lifelong dream when he takes charge of Sunday’s eagerly awaited UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-German and Bayern Munich in Lisbon. “You dream about these moments coming in your career,” Orsato reflects. “And for me, the dream of a lifetime – to referee an international final, and the UEFA Champions League final at that – has come true. The first feeling I had when [UEFA Referees Committee chairman] Roberto Rosetti called me to tell me I'd been chosen was one of great excitement.” 

Sunday’s big game at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica is Orsato’s reward for the years of hard work and dedication that began when he decided as a teenager that refereeing would be his chosen path. “I was 18,” he recalls. “I played football, but I wasn’t the greatest of players! A friend of mine suggested that I try refereeing – and that’s when my story started.” The adventure so far has taken the trained electrician from local football in his native area – known for its mineral spring waters and thermal spa – through the tough apprenticeship of Italy’s Serie A to the European and world stage after gaining his FIFA international badge in 2010. Orsato – a keen cyclist who enjoys playing tennis and volleyball – has taken the road with humility. “I think humility is a great characteristic for a referee to have,” he explains. “It means that you always keep the desire to work hard and improve your standards.” Italy has produced referees of the highest calibre over the years, and Orsato says that he's been influenced by all of the officials he's watched and met. “One particular role model was Luigi Agnolin – he had great character and personality,” he says. It’s a matter of personal pride to Orsato that he'll be following in Agnolin’s distinguished footsteps on Sunday. 'Gigi', as Agnolin was known, refereed the 1988 European Champion Clubs’ Cup final between PSV Eindhoven and Benfica in Stuttgart. In addition to humility, Orsato feels that referees need other special qualities to be successful at their ‘trade’. “You have to have the desire to learn and study refereeing,” he says. “You must also be prepared to make sacrifices if you want to make progress – and you must never be satisfied; it’s vital to keep wanting to get better.” Protecting football’s image on the field is another duty for modern-day officials. “We enforce the laws, and we protect the players,” Orsato adds. “We feel very responsible for this inside the game.” 

Italy suffered particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across Europe and beyond, and Orsato was grateful during the difficult days of lockdown not only for the personal support of his wife Laura and children Gabriel and William, but also for the opportunity to maintain his fitness thanks to the special training programme drawn up by UEFA. “I read a lot and played with my children during that time,” Orsato remembers. “And I was able to use a treadmill at home. UEFA really helped us to stay fit and in shape with their programme – we were extremely fortunate to have the high-quality support of [Belgian sports scientist] Werner Helsen and his team, because it brought a certain sense of normality to our refereeing activities.” The continuing effects of COVID-19 means that Sunday’s big occasion in Lisbon will be played without spectators – a situation that Orsato regrets like every other lover of football, but which he accepts phlegmatically. “It’s a difficult situation, both for players and referees, because crowds provide you with adrenalin,” he reflects. “You miss the fans’ passion, it’s clear. What it means for a referee is that you must make sure that you maintain high levels of focus and concentration at all times.” 

Orsato and his refereeing team are counting down the hours until Sunday’s kick-off. The team’s close bond shines through at this key moment in their careers, and Orsato joins his assistant referees, compatriots Lorenzo Manganelli and Alessandro Giallatini, in relishing the challenge. “We've a terrific relationship, we’re great friends,” Orsato says. “We study every detail together and support each other on and off the field.” The dream that Orsato had on his refereeing path will gain in intensity when the teams and officials line up ahead of the kick-off. “I’ll have the Champions League anthem in my ears, and I’ll be looking up to the sky and thinking of a dear friend that has passed away,” he says. “And I’ll also be thinking of my family – they’ve been my strength in everything I’ve done.” Sunday in Lisbon will be an unforgettable occasion when Daniele Orsato’s dream becomes reality. He advises any youngster who wants to referee to emulate him and follow their dream. “Being a football referee makes you stronger temperamentally,” he says. “You learn to make decisions under pressure, and you become more responsible and strong in the face of real problems in life. I’m extremely thankful that refereeing has given me the chance to gather so much personal experience and learn so much.” 

Source: UEFA

Referee badge: UEFA vs FIFA

During the Champions League and Europa League games, the referees no longer have the FIFA badge on their chests, but the UEFA logo. It's just a visual change - but it's part of a larger conflict. "UEFA Match Official" was the badge of Felix Brych as he headed the Europa League semi-final in Cologne between Manchester United and Sevilla FC. The referee's left breast pocket was always intended for the FIFA badge in games like this, as referees must be on the FIFA list to manage a European Cup match, as is the case with Brych. However, when the Europa League and Champions League matches were resumed, the word "FIFA" had disappeared from the jerseys of all referees in favour of "UEFA".

Why? "The new referee badge is to be used in UEFA competitions to clearly show that they are UEFA competitions," said UEFA at the request of Sportschau. It took ten days and three questions to get this short answer. But is UEFA really about visibility and marketing? Or is it a show of power over FIFA? With this badge, UEFA is further differentiating itself from FIFA, which had its place on the referee jerseys for decades. In public, UEFA seems to be almost uncomfortable with the topic. On social networks, they are currently pointing out almost every day that the players' jerseys are adorned with “thanks to the helpers in the corona crisis”. In contrast, UEFA explained nowhere the fundamental change on the referee's jerseys during the current season: no tweet, no press release, and no member magazine. There was apparently no major internal communication either, because the referees themselves did not know the background of the change. "Our referees were only sent the new badges, with the note that they were to be worn in UEFA club competitions from now on," said DFB chief referee Lutz-Michael Fröhlich in an interview with Sportschau. "We don't know any more." And what does FIFA say about it? "FIFA is not commenting on this at the moment," said their response. Both organizations left unanswered the question of whether the procedure was coordinated. According to information from the Sportschau, there was no agreement on the subject. The change of the referee's badge was unilaterally carried out by UEFA. The way it was introduced and how it was communicated clearly indicates that the referee badge is now one of many parts of the eternal dispute between UEFA and FIFA. "The conflict between the two organizations is bigger than most people assume," says Sportschau expert Robert Kempe. "With his speech at the UEFA Congress, for example, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin clearly attacked FIFA President Gianni Infantino in March." At the time, Ceferin spoke clearly to Infantino that "officials are not the stars of the game, only the guards". Another current example: at the end of June, against the will and recommendation of FIFA, UEFA and CONMEBOL voted to award the 2023 Women's World Cup to Colombia and not to the joint bid from New Zealand and Australia. The mutual blockade between FIFA and UEFA when it comes to voting is legendary. The conflict is also evident on many lower levels, not least in the referee system: FIFA pushed the video assistant referee system forward with force, while UEFA put on the brakes for a long time on this issue. Currently, however, the main focus between UEFA and FIFA is the new major Club World Cup with 24 teams, which FIFA President Infantino intends to introduce. The business with the clubs in Europe belongs to UEFA as they see it, with the Champions League and the Europa League. In precisely these competitions, UEFA is now taking away media visibility from FIFA's referee badges, thereby ensuring the exclusivity of the UEFA brand.

If it were all about marketing, a harmonious solution would have been possible. As the organizer of the competitions, UEFA could have made itself visible on the right side of the chest and leave the FIFA badge in its place. This is how the AFC and CONMEBOL proceed in their competitions. Both logos are affixed to the referee's shirt chest: on the right that of the confederation and on the left that of FIFA. At UEFA, however, the right side of the chest remains free. There would also have been room on the so far empty right sleeve of the referee. Instead, however, UEFA is removing the FIFA logo from UEFA competitions - it is a clear sign of independence. Apart from their external appearance, nothing changes for the referees. A place on the FIFA list remains the pre-requisite for appointments in the European competitions, as stated in the regulations of the Champions League and the Europa League. The badge on the jersey is not important. "But the FIFA logo is an honour for the referees, and it has been backed by years of work," says Alex Feuerherdt from the referee podcast "Collinas Erben". "It indicates that the referee in question is allowed to conduct football matches worldwide." A return to the old principle is not in sight, on the contrary. In the qualifying games for the new season in the European competitions, the new badge can already be seen on the jerseys of the referees.

Source: Sportschau

UEFA Champions League 2020/2021 – Second Qualifying Round

25-26 August 2020

PAOK – Besiktas
Referee: Daniele Doveri (ITA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Matteo Passeri (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Cecconi (ITA)
Fourth Official: Gianpaolo Calvarese (ITA)
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel (FRA)

Tirana – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Kaspar Sjöberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Magnusson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Mikael Hallin (SWE)
Fourth Official: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE)
Referee Observer: Vadims Direktorenko (LVA)

AZ Alkmaar – Viktoria Plzen
Referee: Luis Godinho (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Teixeira (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Campos (POR)
Fourth Official: Andre Narciso (POR)
Referee Observer: Matteo Trefoloni (ITA)

Qarabağ – Sheriff Tiraspol
Referee: Furkat Atazhanov (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 1: Sergey Kalachyov (KAZ)
Assistant Referee 2: Darkhan Tulegenov (KAZ)
Fourth Official: Grigoriy Moskovchenko (KAZ)
Referee Observer: Michal Beneš (CZE)

Celje – Molde
Referee: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan de Vries (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Joost van Zuilen (NED)
Fourth Official: Siemen Mulder (NED)
Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís (CYP)

Suduva – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Žunič (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Grega Kordež (SVN)
Fourth Official: David Smajc (SVN)
Referee Observer: Marian Ružbarsky (SVK)

Lokomotiva Zagreb – Rapid Wien
Referee: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Alonso Fernandez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Martinez Munuera (ESP)
Fourth Official: Santiago Jaime Latre (ESP)
Referee Observer: Stephane Lannoy (FRA)

Ludogorets – Midtjylland
Referee: Denys Shurman (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Korniyko (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Oleksandr Zhukov (UKR)
Fourth Official: Mykola Kryvonosov (UKR)
Referee Observer: Miroslav Tulinger (CZE)

Dinama Brest – Sarajevo
Referee: Loukas Sotiriou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 1: Charalampos Georgiou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 2: Nikos Egglezou (CYP)
Fourth Official: Vasilis Dimitriou (CYP)
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi (SMR)

Legia Warszawa – Omonia
Referee: Nathan Verboomen (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Hillaert (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Ruben Wyns (BEL)
Fourth Official: Erik Lambrechts (BEL)
Referee Observer: Vitor Melo Pereira (POR)

CFR Cluj – Dinamo Zagreb
Referee: Antonio Nobre (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Nuno Pereira (POR)
Fourth Official: Joao Bento (POR)
Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

Young Boys – KI/Slovan Bratislava
Referee: Athanasios Tzilos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Vasileios Nikolakakis (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Meintanas (GRE)
Fourth Official: Dimitrios Karantonis (GRE)
Referee Observer: Vladimír Medved (SVK)

Celtic – Ferencvaros
Referee: Allard Lindhout (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Charles Schaap (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Bas van Dongen (NED)
Fourth Official: Jeroen Manschot (NED)
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge (NOR)

UEFA Youth League Final 2020: Kavanagh (ENG)

Chris Kavanagh sees his appointment to referee the UEFA Youth League final not only as an ideal opportunity to gain valuable career experience – but also to use his skills to help the young players themselves to profit from the occasion. Kavanagh is looking forward eagerly to the prospect of managing potential stars of tomorrow in Tuesday’s big game between Benfica and Real Madrid at Colovray stadium in Nyon. “I feel a sheer sense of pride at being selected,” says the 34-year-old from Manchester, who began refereeing at the tender age of 13 and has risen up the pyramid to become an established match official in the high-pressure, high-pace environment of the English Premier League. “It’s an important day for myself and all of the refereeing team – it’s another big step on our career development path, and it’s up to us to perform well on the day.” Kavanagh and his compatriots – assistants Daniel Cook and Sian Massey, and fourth official David Coote – are also acutely aware of their key role in acting as ‘mentors’ to the young players on the field during the final. “It’s paramount that we help the players through the match as well,” he reflects. “It’s a big experience for them, they’re still learning the game. Of course, our main job is to referee but, where possible, we can still act as ‘educators’ in terms of reminding the players to show respect to the officials and the other team.”

Kavanagh, who still lives in his home region, took up refereeing when his team coach advised him to attend a course while still a young player. “He basically said to me that my brain and feet didn’t coordinate that well as a player! So he told me about this referees’ course. I felt I had nothing to lose, and would learn more about the game and its laws in any case. I did the course, refereed my first game and never looked back.” Impressive career progress took Kavanagh from local league assignments through the English structure into the Football League and eventually up to the summit, the Premier League, where he made his debut in 2017. His FIFA international badge followed in 2019. “When I started refereeing Football League matches in England, I saw this as an opportunity that I shouldn’t waste,” he says. “It was the time to learn, develop and push on. I felt it was the moment to get really serious about my refereeing and work even harder. When I became a Premier League referee, I was elated at what I’d managed to achieve, not only for myself, but also for my family and others who had helped me along the way.” Of the many attributes needed to be a top referee, Kavanagh has worked on calmness as a key priority. “There’s a lot going on around you, a lot happening in the environment, and if you allow yourself to get caught up in situations, it’s easy to lose your focus,” he explains. “I find it’s best to step back and remind yourself that you’re there to be in charge of such situations – if you can keep your calm and focus when the pressure is at its highest, then it helps you to find the correct decision to take.” Howard Webb, the Englishman who took charge of matches at the highest domestic and international levels, including UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup finals, has been a special role model along Kavanagh’s career path. “He was at the top of his game when I was coming through the refereeing ranks,” he says. “The whole package he had – managing players, his movement on the field, how he conducted himself – were things that I looked up to.” The keen countryside walker, golfer and reader of books on psychology says that the absence of spectators at Premier League matches hasn’t lessened the intensity levels on the pitch. “Of course, you’d like the fans to be there, they add to the drama,” he says. “But I’ve found that the intensity hasn’t changed at all – games are still highly competitive, high in quality and fast-paced.” Total focus and teamwork will be the order of the day at Colovray on Tuesday, “Myself, Dan and Sian officiate regularly as a team, so we know how to work together, and I know David extremely well,” says Kavanagh. “There might be a few nerves around, honestly speaking, but we’ll prepare calmly for the game. We won’t let the emotion of the occasion take over – we’ll just be looking forward to getting the match under way. There’ll be time afterwards to savour the achievement of refereeing a European final.” Finally, what advice would Chris Kavanagh give to a youngster who, just as he did at 13, fancies giving refereeing a try? “Go for it! Don’t have any regrets later thinking ‘I should have done it’. If you’re thinking ‘Should I?’… then do it!” (Source: UEFA)

25 August 2020

Benfica Lisbon – Real Madrid

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)

Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook (ENG)

Assistant Referee 2: Sian Massey (ENG)

Fourth Official: David Coote (ENG)
Referee Observer: Marc Batta (FRA)

UEFA Champions League Final 2020: Orsato (ITA)

The UEFA Referees Committee has announced that Daniele Orsato will referee the 2020 UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München. The match will be played at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon on Sunday 23 August at 21:00 CET. The 44-year-old Italian, an international referee since 2010, will be taking charge of his first major UEFA final, having been entrusted with officiating at eight matches in the UEFA Champions League this season, including Real Madrid’s round of 16 first leg against Manchester City in February. Orsato has also refereed a quarter-final match at the current UEFA Europa League final tournament which is being played in Germany, while last season he was the fourth official for the UEFA Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal. (Source: UEFA)

23 August 2020 

Paris Saint Germain – Bayern München 

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA) 

Assistant Referee 1: Lorenzo Manganelli (ITA) 

Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA) 

Fourth Official: Ovidiu Hategan (ROU) 

VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA) 

AVAR 1: Marco Guida (ITA) 

AVAR 2: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP) 

AVAR 3: Roberto Diaz Perez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Šajn (SVN)

Referee Makkelie relishing big Cologne date

Danny Makkelie is preparing for one of the most important refereeing assignments of his career so far – and is thankful that the unprecedented events of an extraordinary year have opened his eyes to just how much he loves both refereeing and football. The 37-year-old Dutchman takes charge of Friday’s UEFA Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter Milan at Stadion Köln in Cologne with a feeling of greater appreciation after the long hiatus endured by European football amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “When there was no football, I really missed the game, and I really missed refereeing,” he says. “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s not there. I certainly learned during that period what a privilege and pleasure it is to be a referee.” 

Makkelie says that to be a referee was his ‘calling’ from an extremely young age. The son of a Dutch Royal Marine, he was born on Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea that forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. His parents returned to the Netherlands, and as a small boy in a new environment, he discovered that he enjoyed playing a leading role in primary school sports activities. By the age of ten, he was taking charge of football and basketball sessions. “I really enjoyed being a leader, and that feeling has stayed with me as part of my personality,” he says. “I like facing challenges, taking responsibility.” By his teens, Makkelie was refereeing adult matches and earning praise from the players for his performances. “It made me believe that I could perhaps make a career of refereeing,” he reflects. He was invited by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) to join their refereeing set-up – starting him off on an exciting road ahead. “My father was a crucial figure at that time,” he says. “I was so young that I didn’t have my driving licence yet – but he encouraged me to follow my path. He was my biggest supporter, and he drove me to my matches. I can’t tell you how important he was.” Refereeing his first professional match at the age of 22, Makkelie has risen through the ranks at domestic and international level to become an established and assured match official. “You need a strong personality,” he emphasises. “You must be able to handle the pressure, and you must have the authority that means that players are able to accept your decisions.” Makkelie also names fellow Dutchman, former FIFA referee and current UEFA referee development panel member Jaap Uilenberg, as the key figure in shaping his personality as a referee. “His experience has been invaluable – he knows how to motivate me and get me focussed. It’s because of him that I’m where I am as a referee.” 

However, Makkelie makes one thing crystal clear – “As a referee, I’m nothing alone.” His two assistant referees at the Cologne final are compatriots Mario Diks and Hessel Steegstra, while two more Dutch officials, Kevin Blom and Jochem Kamphuis, are part of the video assistant referee team. “We’ve been together as a team now since 2015, and we have a fantastic relationship – we’re friends, we trust each other, we share responsibility and win together. I can’t emphasise the value of teamwork enough. Alone you may go faster – but together you can go further…” Sadly, the continuing impact of COVID-19 means that no spectators can be present for the big game in Cologne. “This doesn’t make any difference in terms of what you expect in terms of your performance,” Makkelie says of the experience of refereeing ‘behind closed doors’. “You still have to do the best job possible, you have to be totally focussed on what you’re doing, whatever the circumstances.” Makkelie describes himself as “a real competitor in anything I do – I’m someone who really hates losing!” He enjoys his time away from refereeing watching films and listening to music at his village farmhouse between Rotterdam and Utrecht. Working for the KNVB in helping young referees develop also sees him giving back the experience that he has acquired in abundance over the years. 

“I’m proud and delighted,” he says of his appointment for the UEFA Europa League final. “Especially when there are so many other excellent referees who would have deserved to have been selected as well.” There’s also a special word of thanks to UEFA for the European body’s assiduous drive to set up a comprehensive training programme for Europe’s referees during the COVID lockdown period. “Even when there were no games, we were all kept fully involved in refereeing,” he says. Danny Makkelie’s determination to succeed as a referee shines like a beacon: “I’m someone who always wants to get the best results possible, to achieve the highest quality that I can. And I hope that the refereeing team can show on Friday that we’re worthy of being part of this great European football occasion.” 

Source: UEFA

UEFA Women’s Champions League 2019/2020 – Quarter-finals

21 August 2020
Glasgow City – Wolfsburg
Referee: Tess Olofsson (SWE, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Camilla Stendahl (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Francesca Monte (ITA)
Fourth Official: Sara Persson (SWE)
Referee Observer: Maria Luisa Villa (ESP)

Atletico de Madrid – FC Barcelona
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Chrysoula Kourompylia (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić (CRO)
Fourth Official: Ivana Martinčić (CRO)
Referee Observer: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)

22 August 2020
Arsenal – Paris St. Germain
Referee: Esther Staubli (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Susann Küng (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (ESP)
Fourth Official: Jana Adamkova (CZE)
Referee Observer: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)

Olympique Lyonnais – Bayern Munchen
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Maryna Striletska (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Oleksandra Ardasheva (UKR)
Fourth Official: Sara Persson (SWE)
Referee Observer: Maria Luisa Villa (ESP)