UEFA Youth League – Play-offs

9 February 2016
Ajax – Sevilla
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduard Beitinger (GER)
Fourth Official: Dennis Higler (NED)
Referee Observer: Rene Temmink (NED)

Anderlecht – Arsenal
Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Tegoni (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianmattia Tasso (ITA)
Fourth Official: Wesley Alen (BEL)
Referee Observer: Paul Allaerts (BEL)

Middlesborough – Dynamo Kyiv
Referee: Svein-Erik Edvartsen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1:Magnus Lundberg (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Erik Engan (NOR)
Fourth Official: David Webb (ENG)
Referee Observer: Peter Jones (ENG)

10 February 2016
Salzburg – AS Roma
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Adrian Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: George Neacşu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Sebastian Gishamer (AUT)
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner (AUT)

Midtjylland – Atlético Madrid
Referee Jonathan Lardot (BEL)
Assistant Referee 1: Laurent Conotte (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Frédéric Godelaine (BEL)
Fourth Official: Morten Krogh (DEN)
Referee Observer: Jan Carlsen (DEN)

Príbram – CSKA Moskva
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (BUL)
Assistant Referee 1: Ivo Kolev (BUL)
Assistant Referee 2: Georgi Doynov (BUL)
Fourth Official: Vojtěch Severýn (CZE)
Referee Observer: Vaclav Krondl (CZE)

Celtic – Valencia
Referee: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Nunn (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Edward Smart (ENG)
Fourth Official: Donald Robertson (SCO)
Referee Observer: John Fleming (SCO)

Elfsborg – Real Madrid
Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Aron Härsing (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Dmitri Vinogradov (EST)
Fourth Official: Per Melin (SWE)
Referee Observer: Leif Sundell (SWE)

UEFA Futsal Euro 2016 – Quarter-finals

8 February 2016
Serbia – Ukraine
Referee 1: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU, photo)
Referee 2: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Third Official: Fernando Gutierrez (ESP)
Timekeeper: Gerald Bauernfeind (AUT)

Portugal – Spain
Referee 1: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Referee 2: Ondřej Černý (CZE)
Third Official: Tomasz Frak (POL)
Timekeeper: Lukáš Peško (SVK)

9 February 2016
Russia – Azerbaijan
Referee 1: Pascal Lemal (BEL)
Referee 2: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Third Official: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Timekeeper: Tomasz Frak (POL)

Kazakhstan – Italy
Referee 1: Kamil Çetin (TUR)
Referee 2: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)
Third Official: Lukáš Peško (SVK)
Timekeeper: Ivan Shabanov (RUS)

UEFA Futsal Euro 2016 – Group Stage

2 February 2016
Serbia – Slovenia
Referee 1: Ondřej Černý (CZE, photo)
Referee 2: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Third Official: Pascal Lemal (BEL)
Timekeeper: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)

Spain – Hungary
Referee 1: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Referee 2: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)
Third Official: Lukáš Peško (SVK)
Timekeeper: Timo Onatsu (FIN)

3 February 2016
Russia – Kazakhstan
Referee 1: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)
Referee 2: Fernando Gutiérrez (ESP)
Third Official Gerald Bauernfeind (AUT)
Timekeeper Gábor Kovács (HUN)

Italy – Azerbaijan
Referee 1: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Referee 2: Oleg Ivanov (UKR)
Third Official: Kamil Çetin (TUR)
Timekeeper: Tomasz Frak (POL)

4 February 2016
Slovenia – Portugal
Referee 1: Ivan Shabanov (RUS)
Referee 2: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Third Official: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)
Timekeeper: Lukáš Peško (SVK)

Hungary – Ukraine
Referee 1: Gerald Bauernfeind (AUT)
Referee 2: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)
Third Official: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Timekeeper: Admir Zahovič (SVN)

5 February 2016
Kazakhstan – Croatia
Referee 1: Oleg Ivanov (UKR)
Referee 2: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Third Official: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Timekeeper: Ondřej Černý (CZE)

Azerbaijan – Czech Republic
Referee 1: Admir Zahovič (SVN)
Referee 2: Gerald Bauernfeind (AUT)
Third Official: Tomasz Frak (POL)
Timekeeper: Saša Tomić (CRO)

6 February 2016
Ukraine – Spain
Referee 1: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Referee 2: Kamil Çetin (TUR)
Third Official: Lukáš Peško (SVK)
Timekeeper: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)

Portugal – Serbia
Referee 1: Fernando Gutiérrez (ESP)
Referee 2: Pascal Lemal (BEL)
Third Official: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Timekeeper: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)

7 February 2016
Croatia – Russia
Referee 1: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)
Referee 2: Admir Zahovič (SVN)
Third Official: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Timekeeper: Tomasz Frak (POL)

Czech Republic – Italy
Referee 1: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Referee 2: Ivan Shabanov (RUS)
Third Official: Oleg Ivanov (UKR)
Timekeeper: Pascal Lemal (BEL)

Referees Atkinson and Clattenburg earn more than the Prime Minister

The top flight official, who will represent Britain at Euro 2016, pockets £90,000-a-season basic, with some matches fetching him up to £4,000 a pop.

Martin Atkinson (photo) pocketed over £8,000 more than British Prime Minister David Cameron last season. The Premier League referee banked a mammoth £150,650 during the 2014-2015 campaign. That's £8,150 more than Tory leader and PM Cameron, whose annual salary stands at £142,500. Top flight referees are paid £90,000 per season and receive match fees on top of that amount, with domestic games worth £450, while European and international ones worth an eye-watering £4,000. During the 2014-2015 season, Atkinson refereed six Champions League matches, two Europa League matches and three European Championship qualifiers, raking in £44,000 in the process. The 37 domestic games he officiated saw him earn £16,650. Fellow referee Mark Clattenburg also pocketed more than Cameron, coming away with £150,200 - just £450 less than Atkinson. Michael Oliver, another top flight official, placed third in the referees' money table. In December, Atkinson and Clattenburg were confirmed among the 18 referees appointed to officiate matches at the European Championship in France this summer. 

Source: The Mirror

How are UEFA referees educated?

Education is paramount for referees, and this week's UEFA winter referee courses in Cyprus brought a wealth of technical and instruction sessions with a view to helping referees learn and progress. Educating and instructing referees is high on the list of UEFA's priorities within its programme for match officials, in particular the young referees just setting out on an international career.

UEFA refereeing officer Hugh Dallas and his Referees Committee colleague Vladimir Sajn have been hard at work in Cyprus this week, conducting a series of education sessions at the European body's winter courses. The aim is to help the match officials achieve the standards of quality that have made European referees respected across the game. "There is much more instruction for the young introductory course referees, because they have to know what UEFA expects from them, and owing to the importance of having a consistent application and interpretation of the Laws of the Game," said Dallas, a former top international referee himself. There is less instruction but more discussion on the advanced course, as the elite referees prepare for the second half of the club competition season. "We are seeing the young referees for the first time," said Dallas, "so we pay considerable attention to them on and off the field of play. We not only emphasise the need for consistency in the laws but also give advice on match management, because the top referees must be good man managers. We ask them to use their personality on the field, as well as how to manage specific incidents and the manner in which they should communicate with the players. In addition, while they should be themselves, they can also learn a great amount from our elite referees, so we demonstrate and give examples of how the top referees would act and react in given situations. This is achieved not only in the classroom but also on the field of play, where we had the young referees participating in practical exercises with players." A significant examination for referees at UEFA courses involves checking their knowledge of the Laws of the Game. "If unusual incidents take place on the field, then our officials must be ready to arrive at the correct decision," Dallas explained. "We also must ensure that the referees are up to date with the competition regulations as well. The young referees are tested on the basic Laws of the Game, and we also appreciate their national associations testing the referees on these laws in preparation for our courses".

Dedication is the key word for Dallas and Sajn in producing hundreds of match incidents that are shown to the referees to analyse and arrive at the correct decisions, which includes highlighting any changing trends that the match officials need to be aware of. "We have a network of TV spotters around Europe," said Dallas. "Their role is to highlight interesting match incidents from our top competitions, which are identified for educational purposes and forwarded to UEFA, where I and my colleague Vlado Sajn select the most interesting ones. These incidents are then used for our various courses throughout the year. This material is also produced for the national associations for their own needs, so it's a top-down educational programme. We will also produce material for the competing teams in the Euro 2016 final tournament in France, and prior to the commencement of the competition, every team will be visited by members of our Referees Committee to ensure that the players and coaches are aware of what guidelines our referees have been given. We did this prior to the Euro final tournaments in 2008 and 2012 with huge success, and I must say that the players responded excellently."

Dallas, like his colleagues within the UEFA refereeing structure, derives great pleasure from helping the young referees set off on their career path which, in some instances, takes them to the very top to officiate at major finals. "It's very rewarding," he reflected. "For example, when I came on to the Referees Committee, I was appointed to coach Howard Webb and Alberto Undiano from Spain, among others. I had the pleasure of working with them in their early years and it was great to witness them progress to the very top level. I feel you can always offer advice which can improve not only the individual referee but also the overall standards, and I think it is so important to have former experienced top referees passing on their wisdom and knowledge to new generations of young match officials".

Source: UEFA

UEFA referees face exciting challenges

UEFA has urged its top referees to reach even higher levels of excellence this spring and summer – and is showing young newcomers to the international list the qualities they need to progress along a successful career path. The European body's latest winter advanced and introductory courses for men and women referees in Limassol, Cyprus provide the key platform for briefing the match officials ahead of their coming assignments in, among others, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Women's Champions League. In addition, 18 elite men referees are stepping up their preparations for duty at UEFA Euro 2016 in France in June and July.

"The UEFA Referees Committee decided some years ago to offer courses which bring together elite men and women referees, and newcomers starting out on the international scene," Referees Committee chairman and UEFA first vice-president Ángel Villar Llona told the referees in Limassol. "This has brought excellent results. In particular, I would like to direct my words at the young referees who are new to the international game. It would be a shame to be among experienced international referees here, and not learn from them. Use every chance and every minute to learn from those with a lot of experience to offer." Villar Llona also congratulated the 18 match officials who have been selected to officiate at UEFA Euro 2016. "They face an important test this summer in taking charge of matches in the first EURO with 24 teams," he reflected. "This means that they can show the world how good they are, but it also carries a great responsibility in terms of preparation and training. And in February, already, the major European club competitions resume, and the success of these extraordinary events will also depend on the referees, men and women, who join the players as important actors in the matches. I urge everyone to prepare to face this challenge". The referees were also briefed about the UEFA Executive Committee's decision last month to introduce goal-line technology for UEFA Euro 2016, as well as for the 2016/17 UEFA Champions League from the play-offs onwards. The system will work alongside additional assistant referees, who will continue to monitor all activity in and around the penalty area.

UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina gave a presentation to the young international newcomers about what it takes to become a top referee. "You need talent, but talent is not enough," he explained. "Talent must be aligned to hard work, and courage, which is needed to take difficult decisions quickly under pressure in important matches with high stakes. You have to learn to cope with this pressure. Preparation is key", he added. "As an athlete, you must be in top physical condition. Tiredness means less lucidity and more chances to make a mistake, particularly at the end of a game. You should study the tactics of the teams you referee and the players who play for them. You must know the Laws of the Game and their correct interpretation. Learn from mistakes. Protect players from serious injury caused by reckless challenges, protect yourselves on the field, and protect the image of the game". 

Source: UEFA

Collina: “Assistant referees are checked for their shape”

Leading assistant referees have been in Cyprus this week for their latest UEFA course. UEFA's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina tells us about the role and training of assistant referees.

- What is the reason for bringing the assistant referees to Cyprus this week?

- Pierluigi Collina: To prepare for matches in UEFA competitions in the second half of the season and because we consider the contribution of assistant referees to be crucial. It is obviously important that referees are on top form, but they need assistant referees to be at the top of their game as well for a good overall performance.

- Does assistant referee training have its own specific characteristics?

- Collina: Absolutely. The training of assistant referees compared with referees is different in terms of physical preparation. We have training programmes and fitness tests that are specific to assistants. The focus is more on speed, in particular over short distances, as well as acceleration, agility, changing direction and sideways running. We put particular emphasis on training for offside incidents. We have created a special computer-based system for the assistants when they are back home, in which offside situations have been set up and they can practise taking the correct decisions.

- Good communication and teamwork between referees, assistant referees and additional assistant referees is essential. What work do you do with assistant referees?

- Collina: The assistants use the communication system at matches and they have to work out a way to be very fast, on time, clear and convincing in their communication. We give them guidelines and criteria, and it is part of their pre-match preparation with the referee and additional assistants to agree on what works best for the team in terms of communication during a match.

- You ask referees to prepare for matches by studying teams' tactics and players' characteristics. Do you make the same request to assistant referees?

- Collina: Yes. They should be fully prepared in knowing how teams play, because the way teams play defensively, for instance, can make each match completely different, especially regarding offside situations. We ask them to study players and know what they are likely to do on the field. For example, a player may be good with his left foot, but not so good with his right, so it may be more difficult for that player to make a long pass with his right foot. If assistants know this, they can often predict what a player will do next. It is one of their tasks to look ahead and prepare for what happens next.

- In addition to the UEFA referee fitness team in Cyprus, Werner Helsen and Koen Put, you have brought four assistant referee experts – Leif Lindberg, Philip Sharp, Giovanni Stevanato and Maciej Wierzbowski.

- Collina: It is important to bring onboard people who have had many years of experience on the field of play. Frankly, myself and the UEFA referee officers here, Hugh Dallas and Marc Batta, while we coach the referees, we can't give fully specialist help to assistant referees. I've never been an assistant referee in my life! So it's good to have former top assistants with us who have the knowledge and who bring additional value to our work.

- How has the role of the assistant referee changed over the years, especially in the high-level game?

- Collina: The speed of the game is the main change. Everything is done faster. This, and the ability of players to do difficult things very quickly, has made the job of the referees and assistants more demanding. But I must say that we are pleased with what we see from the assistants at matches, in training and in the tests. If you compare today with six, seven years ago, there is a huge difference in terms of image. The assistant referees are checked for their shape. For example, they are tested for body fat percentage, because this is important. If you are five kilos overweight, it is difficult for an assistant referee to be fast in running the line. 

- Some of the assistant referees also face a challenging summer because they will be part of the refereeing team at UEFA Euro 2016. What's the programme between now and then?

- Collina: For Euro we will have 18 referee teams – each consisting of a referee, two assistant referees, two additional assistant referees, and one assistant referee on standby for any possible problem that might occur between the end of February, when we make the announcement about the full referee teams selected for Euro 2016, and the beginning of the competition in June. So we are now hard at work preparing the specific Euro course which will take place in France in the third week of April. All the referee teams – referees, assistants and additional assistants – will be there. They will undergo fitness tests and review the application of the technical instructions they have received.

Source: UEFA

Dallas: “You are not linesmen anymore; those days are over”

Assistant referees have gone home from the UEFA winter course in Cyprus with a wealth of advice and have been left in no doubt about the growing importance of their role in the game.

Europe's top assistant referees have been encouraged to keep up the high standards shown at their winter training course in Cyprus when they return to action in UEFA's major competitions this month – with a number of them anticipating the challenge of being part of UEFA Euro 2016. More than 50 assistants were provided with expert coaching in the various facets of their crucial job over three days on the Mediterranean island. "We want you to have a consistent approach in applying the Laws of the Game and meet the high standards that UEFA expects of you in our top competitions," they were told by UEFA refereeing officer Hugh Dallas. Offside – a core element of an assistant's job – teamwork and effective communication with their colleagues, awareness of the game, mental toughness, maintaining top physical condition, concentration and focus were among the central points of the practical and theoretical training.

Former FIFA World Cup final assistant referees Leif Lindberg and Philip Sharp, together with experienced colleagues Giovanni Stevanato and Maciej Wierzbowski, provided specialist input. "It's not only a privilege to have you here in Cyprus," Dallas explained, "but it's also a privilege for you to receive such expert analysis and advice from your former colleagues." In addition, Dallas's UEFA referee officer colleague Marc Batta and physical fitness experts Werner Helsen and Koen Put joined UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina in forming a tried and trusted expert team for the assistants' winter course. Dallas urged the assistants to think like referees, saying. "You are not a linesman anymore – those days are over. You are now assisting the referee in making accurate decisions, in particular on incidents that happen within your area of responsibility. Be ready to offer assistance to the rest of the referee team and remain calm, confident and composed in doing so." The assistants have been told to streamline communication with their fellow match officials in order to facilitate accurate decision-making. "Take time and make sure you are clear," said Dallas. "It's not a conversation. Communication should be short, sharp and accurate, with discussions kept to a minimum as per UEFA's clear guidelines."An awareness of game situations is considered key. "Pay attention to changes in a match, such as when a substitution is made and when a goal is scored," instructed Dallas. "The tempo in a match might increase, tactics might suddenly change – and these are changes that can affect you, so you must remain focused and concentrated".

The full referee teams for UEFA Euro 2016 will be chosen at the end of February, with two assistant referees being assigned to each of the 18 referees along with two additional assistant referees, whose task will be to assist the referee in judging incidents in and around the penalty area. Dallas said the qualities shown in Cyprus augured well for future assignments. "I haven't ever seen a group of assistant referees that were so fit and full of desire, and I congratulate you," he concluded. "This was something that was clearly evident during the various physical activities on the training field."

Source: UEFA

Copa Libertadores – Preliminary Round (First Leg)

2 February 2016
River Plate – Universidad de Chile
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Lucas Germanotta (ARG)
Fourth Official: Silvio Trucco (ARG)
Referee Observer: Martin Vazquez (URU)

Huracan – Caracas
Referee: Patricio Polic (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Fourth Official: Claudio Puga (CHI)
Referee Observer: Luis Pasturenzi (ARG)

3 February 2016
Cesar Vallejo – Sao Paulo
Referee: Roddy Zambrano (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Vera (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Macias (ECU)
Fourth Official: Vinicio Espinel (ECU)
Referee Observer: Antonio Arnao (PER)

Puebla – Racing
Referee: Daniel Fedorczuk (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Nievas (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Pastorino (URU)
Fourth Official: Jonathan Fuentes (URU)
Referee Observer: Gilberto Alcala (MEX)

4 February 2016
Independiente del Valle – Guarani
Referee: Juan Soto (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Lopez (VEN)
Fourth Official: Marlon Escalante (VEN)
Referee Observer: Miguel Erazo (ECU)

Oriente Petrolero – Santa Fe
Referee: Pericles Cortez (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Kleber Gil (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
Fourth Official: Dewson Freitas (BRA)
Referee Observer: Hebert Aguilera (BOL)

AFC U-23 Championship Final 2016: Al-Jassim (QAT)

30 January 2016

Japan – Korea
Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE)
Fourth Official: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE)
Reserve AR: Wang Dexin (CHN)