UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 – First Qualifying Round (First Leg)

6-7 July 2021

HJK Helsinki – Buducnost Podgorica
Referee: Nicolas Laforge (BEL, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Laurent Conotte (BEL)
Assistant Referee 2: Florian Lemaire (BEL)
Fourth Official: Jasper Vergoote (BEL)
Referee Observer: Sabri Çelik (TUR)

Ferencvárosi TC – FC Prishtina
Referee: David Munro (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel McFarlane (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Calum Spence (SCO)
Fourth Official: Euan Anderson (SCO)
Referee Observer: Tomasz Mikulski (POL)

Flora Tallinn – Hibernians FC
Referee: Lazar Lukić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Dragan Bogićević (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Bojan Banović (SRB)
Fourth Official: Momčilo Marković (SRB)
Referee Observer: Kóstas Kapitanís (CYP)

Žalgiris Vilnius – Linfield FC
Referee: Alex Troleis (FRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Dan Hojgaard (FRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Hermansen (FRO)
Fourth Official: Kári á Høvdanum (FRO)
Referee Observer: Mika Peltola (FIN)

CS Fola Esch – Lincoln Red Imps
Referee: Michal Očenáš (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomáš Vorel (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Poláček (SVK)
Fourth Official: Peter Ziemba (SVK)
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

CFR Cluj – Borac Banja Luka
Referee: Jochem Kamphuis (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Mario Diks (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Rogier Honig (NED)
Fourth Official: Joey Kooij (NED)
Referee Observer: Boško Jovanetić (SRB)

KF Shkendija – NS Mura
Referee: António Nobre (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Ribeiro (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Pedro Mota (POR)
Fourth Official: Miguel Nogueira (POR)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Antonov (MDA)

Bodo Glimt – Legia Warszawa
Referee: Juxhin Xhaja (ALB)
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha (ALB)
Assistant Referee 2: Dojando Myftari (ALB)
Fourth Official: Olsid Ferataj (ALB)
Referee Observer: Niklas á Lídarenda (FRO)

Dinamo Tbilisi – Neftçi PFK
Referee: David Fuxman (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nati Dotan (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Matityahu Yakobov (ISR)
Fourth Official: Idan Leiba (ISR)
Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

Slovan Bratislava – Shamrock Rovers
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Maximilian Weiss (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Jasmin Sabanovic (AUT)
Fourth Official: Stefan Ebner (AUT)
Referee Observer: Lucílio Batista (POR)

Malmö FF – Riga FC
Referee: Kaarlo Hämäläinen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Peter Aravirta (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Sami Nykänen (FIN)
Fourth Official: Antti Munukka (FIN)
Referee Observer: Vladimír Medved (SVK)

KF Teuta – Sheriff Tiraspol
Referee: Amine Kourgheli (BLR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jury Chomčanka (BLR)
Assistant Referee 2: Viktar Hiecikaŭ (BLR)
Fourth Official: Dzianis Ščarbakoŭ (BLR)
Referee Observer: Raymond Ellingham (WAL)

Maccabi Haifa – Qayrat Almati
Referee: Milovan Milačić (MNE)
Assistant Referee 1: Aleksandar Djikanović (MNE)
Assistant Referee 2: Dragan Vujović (MNE)
Fourth Official: Miloš Savović (MNE)
Referee Observer: Sergey Zuev (RUS)

PFC Ludogorets – Šachcior Salihorsk
Referee: Rohit Saggi (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Geir Isaksen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Morten Jensen (NOR)
Fourth Official: Marius Grotta (NOR)
Referee Observer: Attila Ábrahám (HUN)

Connah's Quay Nomads – Alashkert FC
Referee: Vasílis Dimitríou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 1: Níkos Englézou (CYP)
Assistant Referee 2: Mários Dimitriádis (CYP)
Fourth Official: Mários Christofórou (CYP)
Referee Observer: Neale Barry (ENG)

GNK Dinamo – Valur
Referee: Genc Nuza (KOS)
Assistant Referee 1: Fatlum Berisha (KOS)
Assistant Referee 2: Bujar Selimaj (KOS)
Fourth Official: Dardan Çaka (KOS)
Referee Observer: Darko Čeferin (SVN)

CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 – Semi-finals (Matches 25-26)

5 July 2021

Brazil – Peru
Referee: Roberto Tobar (CHI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Claudio Rios (CHI)
Fourth Official: Alexis Herrera (VEN)
Reserve AR: Edwar Saavedra (BOL)
VAR: Derlis Lopez (PAR)
AVAR 1: Eber Aquino (PAR)
AVAR 2: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Ubaldo Aquino (PAR)

6 July 2021
Argentina – Colombia
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Lopez (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Fourth Official: Juan Soto (VEN)
Reserve AR: Byron Romero (ECU)
VAR: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
AVAR 1: Cristian Garay (CHI)
AVAR 2: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Enrique Caceres (PAR)

UEFA Euro 2020 – Semi-final 1 (Match 49)

6 July 2021

Italy – Spain
Referee: Felix Brych (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth Official: Sergei Karasev (RUS)
Reserve AR: Igor Demeshko (RUS)
VAR: Marco Fritz (GER)
AVAR 1: Christian Dingert (GER)
AVAR 2: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
AVAR 3: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas (SCO)

Kuipers will be Euro 2020 final referee

According to Fanatik, the referees have been appointed for the final stages of Euro 2020. Germany's Felix Brych will referee the Italy - Spain match in the first semi-final and Dutchman Danny Makkelie will whistle the England - Denmark match in the other semi-final. Dutchman Björn Kuipers was assigned the final. While 45-year-old Cüneyt Çakir was the strongest candidate for the final, as a result of appointments in which lobbying activities were active, UEFA appointed 48-year-old Björn Kuipers, who is in his last big tournament.

While Dutch referees will take part in both semi-final and final, Turkish referee Cüneyt Çakir and his team, who were invited to England, are returning home after the appointments were announced. Cüneyt Çakir went down in history as the referee with the most matches in the European Championship. After the 3 matches he refereed at Euro 2020, he reached a total of 9 matches, surpassing Anders Frisk and became the holder of the record.

Source: Fanatik

Referee Gräfe is suing DFB for age discrimination

The 47-year-old Bundesliga referee Manuel Gräfe takes legal action against the German Football Association. "I'm suing the DFB for age discrimination", said Gräfe in an interview with Zeit Magazin. "The DFB takes away what I enjoy. Of course, there are also financial losses and I am trying at least to assert them".

Gräfe had to end his career at the end of last season despite good performances because he reached the age limit of 47 years set by the DFB. “I would have liked to continue. My feet, knees, and hips are fine. But the DFB insists on an age-limit guideline", complained the Berliner and emphasized: "I feel as if I could whistle until I were 50 or longer." In court, he wants to fight for the entire referee community, as the rule also affects other colleagues and even has more serious consequences for the lower divisions. Gräfe, who had received praise from many coaches and players, made it clear: "I will no longer referee myself, even if I would succeed with my complaint". In other European leagues, the age limit no longer applies, for example in England. The 50-year-old Martin Atkinson whistles in the Premier League to this day.

In the conversation, Gräfe not only argues against the DFB, but also against his former colleague Felix Zwayer, about whom he said in 2018 "How can someone like that get to the top of the German refereeing?" In the 2005 Robert Hoyzer scandal, Zwayer accepted a small amount of money from Hoyzer and initially did not report the manipulation process. "Anyone who once accepted money and kept Hoyzer's manipulation secret for half a year shouldn't referee professional football", said Gräfe again about Zwayer, who participates in the Champions League, among other things. “Here we are again at the DFB. They also promote Zwayer, despite his average performances”, he says.

Source: Der Spiegel

Rocchi confirmed Serie A Designator

After being elected AIA President, Alfredo Trentalange continued the changes by proposing new members for the Italian Referees Committees at all levels. At the top, Gianluca Rocchi will take over from his former referee colleague and then boss Nicola Rizzoli. On the other hand, Matteo Trefoloni will continue to lead the Technical Section for the 2020/21 season.

CAN
Chair: Gianluca Rocchi
Members: Elenito Di Liberatore, Andrea Gervasoni, Lorenzo Manganelli

CAN C
Chair: Maurizio Ciampi
Members: Gianluca Cariolato, Fabio Comito, Pasquale Rodomonti, Mauro Tonolini, Carina Vitulano

CAN 5 Elite
Chair: Angelo Galante

CAN 5
Chair: Francesco Falvo

CON Professionisti
Chair: Luigi Stella

CON 5
Chair: Francesco Peroni

Source: AIA

Trofeo Acevedo 2020/21: Mateu Lahoz

First Division

Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (photo)
Assistant Referee: Pau Cebrian Devis

Second Division
Referee: Alejandro Muniz Ruiz
Assistant Referee: Alejandro Estevez Iglesias

Women's First Division
Referee: Maria Martinez Madrona
Assistant Referee: Matilde Estevez-Garcia

Concacaf Gold Cup 2021 – Preliminary Round (First Round)

2-3 July 2021

Haiti – St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Ojay Duhaney (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Jassett Kerr (JAM)
Fourth Official: Adonai Escobedo (MEX)
VAR: Chris Penso (USA)
AVAR: Ricardo Montero (CRC)

Bermuda – Barbados
Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Micheal Barwegen (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Iroots Appleton (ATG)
Fourth Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
VAR: Armando Villarreal (USA)
AVAR: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)

Trinidad and Tobago – Montserrat
Referee: Bryan Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Michel Morales (MEX)
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez (USA)
VAR: Carlos Ayala (MEX)
AVAR: Said Martinez (HON)

Guadeloupe – Bahamas

Referee: Reon Radix (GRN)

Assistant Referee 1: Caleb Wales (TRI)

Assistant Referee 2: Logan Brown (USA)

Fourth Official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (CAN)

VAR: Chris Penso (USA)

AVAR: Keylor Herrera (CRC)

Guatemala – Guyana

Referee: Juan Calderon (CRI)

Assistant Referee 1: William Arrieta (CRI)

Assistant Referee 2: Henri Pupiro (NIC)

Fourth Official: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)

VAR: Arturo Cruz (MEX)

AVAR: Juan Rangel (MEX)

AFC Champions League – Group Stage (East Region, Matchday 3)

29 June - 1 July 2021

Pohang Steelers – Johor Darul Tazim
Referee: Shaun Evans (AUS, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: George Lakrindis (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Cao Yi (CHN)
Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN)

Ratchaburi FC – Nagoya Grampus
Referee: Omar Al Yaqoubi (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammed Al Abakry (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Yousef Al Shamari (QAT)
Fourth Official: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ)

Cerezo Osaka – Port FC
Referee: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Yoon Jae-Yeol (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Park Sang-Jun (KOR)
Fourth Official: Kim Dae-Yong (KOR)

Guangzhou FC – Kitchee SC
Referee: Ali Shaban (KUW)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahmoud Abu-Thaher (JOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Al Rashdi (UAE)
Fourth Official: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)

Kaya Iloilo – Ulsan Hyundai
Referee: Hussein Yehia (LBN)
Assistant Referee 1: Yousef Al Shamari (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Watheq Al Swaiedi (IRK)
Fourth Official: Saoud Al Adba (QAT)

Pathum United – Viettel FC
Referee: Hanna Hattab (SYR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ali Ahmad (SYR)
Assistant Referee 2: George Lakrindis (AUS)
Fourth Official: Shaun Evans (AUS)

Kawasaki Frontale – United City
Referee: Hasan Akrami (IRN)
Assistant Referee 1: Ali Mirzabeigi (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Saeid Ghasemi (IRN)
Fourth Official: Mooud Bonyadifard (IRN)

Daegu FC – Beijing FC
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoish (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Badr Al Shamrani (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Taleb Al Marri (QAT)
Fourth Official: Omar Al Ali (UAE)

Jeonbuk Motors – Tampines Rovers
Referee: Ahmad Ibrahim (JOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ayman Obeidat (JOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al Maqaleh (QAT)
Fourth Official: Abdelrahman Al Jassim (QAT)

Chiangrai United – Gamba Osaka
Referee: Ahmed Al Kaf (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al Amri (OMA)
Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al Ghaithi (OMA)
Fourth Official: Masoud Tufaylieh (SYR)

UEFA Euro 2020 – Quarter-finals (Matches 47-48)

3 July 2021

Czech Republic – Denmark
Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Sander van Roekel (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Fourth Official: Sergei Karasev (RUS)
Reserve AR: Igor Demeshko (RUS)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
AVAR 1: Kevin Blom (NED)
AVAR 2: Filippo Meli (ITA)
AVAR 3: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Referee Observer: Nikolai Levnikov (RUS)

Ukraine – England
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth Official: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Reserve AR: Juan Yuste Jimenez (ESP)
VAR: Marco Fritz (GER)
AVAR 1: Christian Dingert (GER)
AVAR 2: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
AVAR 3: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)