Euro matches record for Cakir

Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir established a new record with 9 matches refereed at three Euros (2012, 2016, 2020). He was also fourth official in two other games: Euro 2021 final Spain – Italy and England – Scotland during the Euro 2020 group stage. Cakir refereed 200 international matches, with 56 at the national team level.

Euro 2012

Ukraine – Sweden (group stage)

Italy – Ireland (group stage)

Portugal – Spain (semi-final)

Euro 2016

Portugal – Iceland (group stage)

Belgium – Ireland (group stage)

Italy – Spain (round of 16)

Euro 2020

Hungary – Portugal (group stage)

Ukraine – Austria (group stage)

Croatia – Spain (round of 16)

Source: TFF

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2021

FIFA has announced the names of the match officials who will officiate at the forthcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Russia 2021. A total of 24 FIFA beach soccer referees from 24 different countries will take charge of the matches. For the first time in FIFA’s history the selection of the match official for the most important Beach Soccer competition has been made following a new structured preparation program. The 24 referees have been selected from an open list of potential candidates, which have prepared the World Cup over the last two years. The competition will take place at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow between 19 and 29 August 2021. (Source: FIFA)

AFC

1. Ebrahim Akbarpour (IRN, 1982)

2. Turki Al Salehi (OMA, 1976)

3. Yuichi Hatano (JPN, 1981)

4. Suhaimi Mat Hassan (MAS, 1976)

CAF

1. Hamdi Bchir (TUN, 1985)

2. Hany Farouk (EGY, 1987)

3. Said Hachim (MAD, 1979)

CONCACAF

1. Juan Angeles (DOM, 1979)

2. Gumercindo Batista (PAN, 1980)

3. Gonzalo Carballo (SLV, 1982)

CONMEBOL

1. Gustavo Dominguez (PAR, 1978)

2. Lucas Estevao (BRA, 1985)

3. Aecio Fernandez (URU, 1983)

4. Micke Palomino (PER, 1981)

5. Mariano Romo (ARG, 1981)

OFC

1. Aurelien Planchais-Godefroy (TAH, 1981)

UEFA

1. Sofien Benchabane (FRA, 1984)

2. Roman Borisov (RUS, 1981)

3. Francisco De Oses Bumedien (ESP, 1992)

4. Sergio Soares (POR, 1979)

5. Vitali Gomolko (LTU, 1989)

6. Ingilab Mammadov (AZE, 1983)

7. Gionni Matticoli (ITA, 1975)

8. Lukasz Ostrowski (POL, 1985)

Nazemi: “Refereeing futsal is more difficult than football”

She has recently been selected to officiate at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania. As a trailblazer in the Iranian refereeing community, Nazemi wants to do her best in the upcoming tournament. The Iranian official talked about the experience of officiating in the men’s competitions: “It’s a great feeling to be the representative of Iranian futsal – and football– in the World Cup. It was the target that I set for myself after whistling the final match of the 2018 Youth Olympics Women's Futsal Tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now I am grateful that I’ve been able to make my dreams come true. I have officiated in the men’s futsal competitions in the past. It is more difficult than whistling in women’s matches. In terms of physical contact and the game's speed, you will face more challenges in male competitions. Also, as a referee who has worked both in football and futsal, I can say that refereeing in futsal is much more difficult than in football because it’s full of clashes and you have to decide in a fraction of a second!” she said.

Nazemi has also officiated in the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship and the UEFA Women’s Futsal Euro 2019 semi-final contest between Spain and Russia in Portugal. She explained about the difficulty that she has faced on the way to glory: “It is a path that I started 20 years ago. During all these years, I tried with perseverance and motivation to fight all the problems in my path because I believed in my goal. People have often said that women aren’t good referees. I used it as a motivating tool. I’m sure that it will not take 20 years for those who have followed this path after me, and they will reach their goal much sooner. It is because that some of the problems that I faced in my career have been solved over the years. However, the situation is still difficult for the Iranian female referees”, Nazemi concluded.

Source: Tehran Times

Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 – Group Stage (Matches 17-20)

18 July 2021

USA – Canada
Referee: Adonai Escobedo (MEX, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Michel Morales (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Henri Pupiro (NCA)
Fourth Official: Keylor Herrera (CRC)
VAR: Carlos Ayala (MEX)
AVAR: Juan Rangel (MEX)

Martinique – Haiti
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zumba (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Geovany Garcia (SLV)
Fourth Official: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
VAR: Timothy Ford (USA)
AVAR: Fernando Hernandez (MEX)

Guatemala – Trinidad and Tobago 

Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicholas Anderson (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Iroots Appleton (ATG)
Fourth Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (CAN)
VAR: David Gantar (CAN)
AVAR: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)

Mexico – El Salvador
Referee: Said Martinez (HON)
Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez (HON)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez (HON)
Fourth Official: Reon Radix (GRN)
VAR: Allen Chapman (USA)
AVAR: Selvin Brown (HON)

Kuipers seems likely to continue as FIFA referee: “I am not there yet”

Björn Kuipers will not stop as an international referee for the time being, he said at a recent press conference. The 48-year-old referee was in charge of the European Championship final between Italy and England on Sunday evening, which ended 1-1 after 120 minutes and was won by the Italians on penalties. It was assumed that it was Kuipers' last match as an international referee, but he is not there yet.

"I have also read the newspapers and the reactions, 'A very strong farewell to Kuipers' international career', but I am not there yet", said Kuipers. He says that he has always dreamed of a European and World Cup final. With the whistle for the European Championship final on Sunday evening, a dream has come true, says Kuipers. In a year and a half, the World Cup in Qatar is on the program. At a World Cup, two referees from the same country are not usually allowed to whistle, so that Kuipers could get in the way of Danny Makkelie. Kuipers was asked whether he will consider this. "I don't know yet; I'll think about it. The KNVB must support you to remain an international referee, if they want to extend your FIFA badge for a year. If the KNVB does that, you must continue to perform. When you do that, you can remain active on the international stage", said Kuipers. At the same time, he indicates that he does not yet want to make the decision for his permanent assistants Erwin Zeinstra and Sander van Roekel to stop on the international stage. "The team wants to continue, but I am not going to make the decision yet. I am not alone, so I also have to deal with my family. I have been refereeing for more than 12 years and had been away a lot; that requires a lot of time. I'm going to think about that in the coming weeks".

The KNVB announced in a statement that Kuipers, Van Roekel and Zeinstra have been appointed as national knights. "Björn Kuipers' team is a great ambassador of the KNVB and of the Dutch refereeing. Kuipers, Van Roekel and Zeinstra are an example for their fellow referees and assistant referees due to their positive attitude and behaviour, dedication and commitment", wrote the KNVB in a statement. "They show time and again that their success is the result of hard work, a lot of training and the willingness to constantly improve themselves", the KNVB statement continues. "Their success is a source of inspiration for boys and girls to start refereeing as well. Many of them see Kuipers as their great example".

Source: Voetbal Zone

Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 – Group Stage (Matches 15-16)

17 July 2021

Grenada – Qatar
Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Logan Brown (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Mora (CRC)
Fourth Official: Daneon Parchment (JAM)
VAR: Arturo Cruz (MEX)
AVAR: Leon Barajas (MEX)

Panama – Honduras
Referee: Bakary Gassama (GAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Djibril Camara (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Micheal Barwegen (CAN)
Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi (USA)
VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)
AVAR: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)

Italian Referee Awards 2020/2021

The National Committee of the Italian Referees Association has issued the National Awards for the 2020/2021 season.

Stefano Farina Award (best referee in the merit ranking): Daniele Orsato (photo)

Giovanni Mauro Award (most distinguished international referee): Marco Di Bello

Andrea Lastrucci Award (best futsal/beach soccer referee in the merit ranking): Pasquale Falcone

Maurizio Mattei Award (best assistant referee in the merit ranking): Giorgio Peretti and Fabiano Preti

Claudio Pieri Award (best observer in the merit ranking): Domenico Messina

Luigi Agnolin Award (best 3rd division referee in the merit ranking): Matteo Marcenaro

Sergio Gonella Award (most distinguished regional referee manager) to Fabio Vicinanza

Concetto Lo Bello Award (most distinguished national referee manager): Marcello Marcato

Riccardo Lattanzi Award (most distinguished section president): Giulio Di Bartolomeo

AIA President Award (most distinguished for Ethics, Technique, Organization, and Humanity): Lucia Abruzzese

Source: AIA

CAF Champions League Final 2021: Ndabihawenimana (BDI)

17 July 2021

Al Ahly – Kaizer Chiefs
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (BDI)
Assistant Referee 1: Elvis Noupue (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Dick Okello (UGA)
Fourth Official: Eric Otogo-Castane (GAB)
VAR: Redouane Jiyed (MAR)

Euro 2020 referee Oliver sings along at Wembley, as England’s fan, during the same competition

English referee Michael Oliver was seen singing along to football chants as he attended England's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy on Sunday. The 36-year-old official attended Wembley Stadium in a black t-shirt and blue jeans and made the most of being out of the spotlight after a stressful time officiating games at the tournament and in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.

Oliver, along with Anthony Taylor - who won deserved praise for his management of the of Christian Eriksen collapse - led the English representations at the Euros this summer. The former even took charge of Spain's quarter-final victory over Switzerland, which Luis Enrique's side won via a penalty shootout in Saint Petersburg. But Oliver was seen back on home soil at the weekend but was in the stands rather than on the pitch leading proceedings. And he was recorded belting out Gala's 'Freed from Desire' as well as clapping and bouncing along to the song as it played over the tannoy system at Wembley in a video clip which has surfaced online.

Oliver - who has taken charge of 342 competitive matches across various competitions since becoming an EFL referee in 2007 - also posed for photos with supporters inside the stadium. But the Northumberland-born official did not see a favourable result for the Three Lions despite getting behind them, with Roberto Mancini's men winning on penalties after Leonardo Bonucci had cancelled out Luke Shaw's early opener.

After being introduced to refereeing by his father Clive, Oliver began doing it when he was just 14. Eight years later - after becoming the youngest ever Football League referee and youngest Premier League fourth official - he became the youngest referee to officiate at Wembley after taking charge of the 2007 Conference National play-off final between Exeter and Morecambe. In August 2010, Oliver broke Stuart Attwell's record of being the youngest ever Premier League referee at the age of 25 years and 182 days old when he officiated Birmingham’s 2-1 against Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew's. Involvement in the latter stages of the FA Cup came three years later when he took charge of eventual winners Wigan's semi-final against Millwall, before he officiated Arsenal's 2014 Community Shield win against Manchester City in 2014. He was selected for Champions League duty two years later where he took charge of three group stage games, with his first being Sporting Lisbon against Legia Warsaw. Oliver also refereed Leicester City's FA Cup final win against Chelsea in May prior to his involvement at the Euros.

Source: Daily Mail

Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 – Group Stage (Matches 13-14)

16 July 2021

Guadeloupe – Jamaica 

Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Frank Anderson (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Fourth Official: Jose Torres (PUR)
VAR: David Gantar (CAN)
AVAR: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)

Suriname – Costa Rica
Referee: Fernando Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
Fourth Official: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
VAR: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
AVAR: Jair Marrufo (USA)