Futsal Finalissima Final 2022: Rodriguez (URU) & Espindola (CHI)

18 September 2022

Final
Portugal – Spain
Referee 1: Daniel Rodriguez (URU, photo)
Referee 2: Christian Espindola (CHI)
Third Referee: Yuri Garcia (COL)
Timekeeper: Jose Villar (VEN)

Match for Third Place
Argentina – Paraguay
Referee 1: Mario Espichan (PER)
Referee 2: Jonathan Herbas (ECU)
Third Referee: Gean Telles (BRA)
Timekeeper: Daniel Manrique (COL)

Serbian referee changes his mind after watching a video on fan’s phone

A referee who disallowed a goal has changed his mind after a fan who took a video of the shot showed him a replay on a mobile phone when he came over to the sideline. The match official in one of Serbia's lower-tier competitions originally ruled out the goal for offsides after a player for the team in the blue strip headed the ball home from a free kick.

But a hilarious viral video shows the referee studying a clip of the shot that was taken by a spectator dressed in a pink shirt, who leans over the fence to show him the footage. Another man in a black shirt - who is on the field and appears to be connected to the side that had the goal disallowed - argues with the official as he reviews the footage while other spectators join in as they attempt to have the ruling overturned. The referee then takes the phone onto the field, still studying the video, as players from both sides gather to find out if he will reverse his decision. He appears to watch the footage several times before awarding the goal, which sends the blue-clad players into a frenzy as they run away to celebrate. It's unclear whether the competition's rules state that decisions can be overturned based on video evidence - especially when it's been provided by a fan instead of footage shot for television. The hilarious incident is a far cry from the high-pressure, high-stakes use of video assistants in top-flight competitions around the world, including England's Premier League. The EPL reviews broadcast footage using as many angles as possible, all shot in high-resolution and replayed in super slow motion. If the video review assistant (VAR) believes the referee has made an error, they can recommend the ruling be overturned. A recent report stated that the EPL is set to use semi-automated offsides instead of the manually drawn lines the VAR currently works with, after the system was successfully trialled in the Champions League. The new system works by sending an automated alert to the VAR official when a player is offside, using tracking technology and artificial intelligence for instant decisions. (Source: Daily Mail)

Serbian chiefs reportedly didn't take too kindly to the incident from a lower league match going viral around the world - allegedly stripping Stefan Lazovic of his duties. The decision has prompted outrage from fans online - with former Manchester United star Nemanja Matic among those to have offered their support to the axed whistler. Matic, now of Roma, commented on a piece supporting Lazovic with two hands raised emoji - agreeing with the points made. The post by Instagram account ftbl.serbia read: "Support for Stefan Lazovic! Why should only he suffer, why such a rigorous sentence, why a lifetime ban from trial? How is it possible that there is no penalty for the delegate and all other authorities from the responsible FS of that district? How could the match be allowed to be played without one assistant referee?! Who is responsible here? Why does Stefan's spear break? At the end of the day, the fact that he watched the video and changed the decision, just shows that he wanted everything to be fair! He talks about the fact that he was not a slave to his vanity, but he admitted and corrected his mistake. Well, this video went around the world and now millions of people have heard about the "over there" football clubs Popovic and Apollon, as well as the village of Vrnjci! In short, we appeal to the judges' organisation and the competent authorities - now you change the decision! Let the VAR system work for you too and cancel the penalty. Correct the error!” Plenty of other commenters agreed with the post. One wrote: "Punishment for correcting a wrong decision." While a second added: "He always turns out to be an honest man, he didn't harm anyone, he just did the right thing, good for Stefan Lazovic." (Source: The Sun)

Futsal: Indirect free kick for scoring by accidental handball

FIFA recently updated the Futsal Laws of the Game 2022-23, incorporating some futsal-specific changes, while also bringing the Laws in line with some modifications recently made in football.

Law 1 – The Pitch

If a defending-team player moves or overturns their own goal and:

· the ball does not enter or touch the goal, play is stopped and:

- if it was accidental, the match is restarted with a dropped ball;

- if it was deliberate, the match is restarted with an indirect free kick and the offending player must be cautioned.

· the ball touches but does not enter the goal, play is stopped and:

- if it was accidental, the match is restarted with a dropped ball;

- if it was deliberate, the match is restarted with a penalty kick and the offending player must be sent off for denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

· the ball enters the goal (wholly passing over the goal line) between the normal position of the goalposts, with or without touching the goal, a goal is allowed and the offending player must be cautioned if it was deliberate.

Law 5 – The Referees

Video Support

The use of video support (VS) is only permitted when the match/competition organisers have fulfilled all the VS protocol and implementation requirements (as set out by FIFA) and received written permission from FIFA. The referees make use of VS when a team’s head coach (or, in the head coach’s absence, another designated team official) challenges a decision in relation to:

· Goal/no goal

· Penalty kick/no penalty kick

· Direct red cards

· Mistaken identity

In addition, VS can be used at the referees’ discretion when there is a disagreement between the two referees regarding an incident in one of the above-mentioned categories. VS can also be used at the referees’ discretion in the following situations:

· If the chronometer malfunctions

· If the chronometer is incorrectly (re)started/stopped by the timekeeper pursuant to the provisions of Laws 6 and 7

· To verify whether a goal has been scored

· To confirm whether the ball entered the goal before the acoustic signal for the end of a period. VS involves one or more replays of the incident. The referees will review the replay footage directly and the referee will make the final decision. The initial decision does not change unless the replay footage shows that a “clear and obvious error” was committed or a “serious missed incident” occurred.

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play

Kick-off Procedure

· The referee tosses a coin and the team that wins the toss decides whether to take the kick-off in the first or second period.

· Unless stated otherwise in the competition regulations, the home team chooses which goal to attack in the first period.

· The team that did not take the kick-off in the first period takes the kick-off to start the second period.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

Direct free kick

A direct free kick is also awarded if a player commits any of the following offences:

· a handball offence that is deliberate and/or involves the hand/arm making the player’s body unnaturally bigger (except for the goalkeeper within their penalty area)

Handling the ball (…)

It is a direct-free-kick offence if a player:

· deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball.

· touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised.

The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player outside the penalty area. If the goalkeeper handles the ball inside their penalty area when not permitted to do so, an indirect free kick is awarded but there is no disciplinary sanction. However, if the offence is playing the ball a second time (with or without the hand/arm) after a restart before it touches another player, the goalkeeper must be sanctioned if the offence stops a promising attack or denies an opponent or the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Indirect free kick

An indirect free kick is awarded if a player: (…)

· scores in the opponents’ goal:

o directly from their hand/arm (including by the goalkeeper), provided that it is accidental and the hand/arm did not make their body unnaturally bigger;

o immediately after accidentally touching the ball with their hand/arm, provided that the hand/arm did not make their body unnaturally bigger.

If a player does not score immediately after accidentally touching the ball with their hand/arm, play should be continued, provided that the hand/arm did not make the player’s body unnaturally bigger.

Law 12 – DOGSO

If a defending-team player commits an offence without attempting to play the ball (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball, etc.) and the number of attacking players is greater than the number of defending players, this must be considered a DOGSO situation, even if the goal is guarded by the goalkeeper.

Practical Guidelines – Advantage

If the offence was denying the opposing team an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour. If the offence was interfering with or stopping a promising attack, the player is not cautioned (see Law 12 – Advantage). However:

· If the offence was a reckless challenge or a holding offence, the offending player must be cautioned (see the section dedicated to Law 12 below).

· If the offence involved the use of excessive force, the offending player must be sent off.

Practical Guidelines – Handling the ball

If a player scores in the opponents’ goal immediately after accidentally touching the ball with their hand/arm, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents. However:

· If a goal is not scored and the hand/arm did not make the player’s body unnaturally bigger, play is to be continued.

· If the ball goes off the pitch over the goal line, a goal clearance is awarded to the opponents. If a player scores a goal after a team-mate has accidentally touched the ball with their hand/arm, including immediately thereafter, the goal is awarded.

Source: FIFA

Spanish female referees reach deal to end strike

Spain's new professional women's league will finally get to start after a deal was struck to end a strike by the referees who demanded better wages and work conditions, confirmed the Spanish football federation. The federation said a "historic" agreement with the government's main sports body will allow the women referees to gain professional status. The season had been scheduled to kick off earlier this month but was delayed after referee teams did not show up.

This will be the first season of a fully professional women's league in Spain, after its players campaigned for years for better working conditions and pay. The referees and referee assistants, who are all women, complained their own concerns had not been addressed by the new women's league. The women's league had put the blame on the federation and government officials in charge of sports policy. The referees complained they only made €320 and assistants €160 per game. Under the new agreement, referees will earn €1666 per game. Assistants will earn €1066 per game and fourth officials will be paid €250 for each fixture. Despite the increase, the Liga Femenina said the agreed wages are much lower than what the Spanish FA and the referees had initially requested -- to be paid a similar amount to referees in Spain's men's second division. "For the Liga Femenina and its clubs that would have meant €5m spent on refereeing per season, that is 70% of our income generated from TV rights," a league statement said. "Faced with this position that is far away not only from the reality of women's football, but also from the socio-economic context that the country is going through, the Liga Femenina has always been firm in its defence of a project that is sustainable over time and that, above all, respects the work and effort of so many people who fought for this project." Barcelona, the 2021 Champions League winners, have won the Spanish league for the past three seasons.

Source: ESPN

Futsal Finalissima (UEFA-CONMEBOL) 2022

Argentina, 15-18 September 2022

Referees
1. Henry Gutierrez (BOL)
2. Gean Telles (BRA, photo)
3. Ricardo Messa (BRA)
4. Christian Espindola (CHI)
5. Daniel Manrique (COL)
6. Yuri Garcia (COL)
7. Jonathan Herbas (ECU)
8. Mario Espichan (PER)
9. Daniel Rodriguez (URU)
10. Jose Villar (VEN)

Referee Coordinator
Cesar Figueredo (URU)

UEFA Europa Conference League 2022/23 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

15 September 2022

CFR Cluj – Sivasspor
Referee: Allard Lindhout (NED, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mario Diks (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Fourth Official: Joey Kooij (NED)
Referee Observer: Milorad Mažić (SRB)

Slavia Praha – Ballkani
Referee: Willy Delajod (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Finjean (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe Jeanne (FRA)
Fourth Official: Thomas Leonard (FRA)
Referee Observer: Juan Fernandez Marin (ESP)

Djurgardens – Molde
Referee: Gergo Bogar (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Balazs Szalai (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Theodoros Georgiou (HUN)
Fourth Official: Mihaly Kapraly (HUN)
Referee Observer: Haim Jakov (ISR)

KAA Gent – Shamrock Rovers
Referee: Visar Kastrati (KOS)
Assistant Referee 1: Besnik Morina (KOS)
Assistant Referee 2: Granit Hyseni (KOS)
Fourth Official: Genc Nuza (KOS)
Referee Observer: Rene Temmink (NED)

Zalgiris – Basel
Referee: Iwan Griffith (WAL)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Beckett (WAL)
Assistant Referee 2: Johnathon Bryant (WAL)
Fourth Official: Bryn Markham-Jones (WAL)
Referee Observer: Jorn-West Larsen (DEN)

Pyunik – Slovan Bratislava
Referee: Gal Leibovitz (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Yossi Babayoff (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: Rostislav Talis (ISR)
Fourth Official: Nael Odeh (ISR)
Referee Observer: Lucilio Batista (POR)

Apollon Limassol – Dnipro
Referee: Adam Farkas (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Balazs Szert (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Garai (HUN)
Fourth Official: Bence Csonka (HUN)
Referee Observer: Ladislav Gadosi (SVK)

AZ – Vaduz
Referee: Nicholas Walsh (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Graeme Stewart (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Calum Spence (SCO)
Fourth Official: Alan Muir (SCO)
Referee Observer: Niklas Lidarenda (FRO)

RFS – Heart of Midlothian
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD)
Assistant Referee 1: Dejan Kostadinov (MKD)
Assistant Referee 2: Goce Petreski (MKD)
Fourth Official: Jovan Kachevski (MKD)
Referee Observer: Shmuel Shteif (ISR)

Istanbul Başakşehir – Fiorentina
Referee: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Garrido (ESP)
Fourth Official: Miguel Ortiz (ESP)
Referee Observer: Pavel Saliy (KAZ)

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Villarreal
Referee: William Collum (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: David McGeachie (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Francis Connor (SCO)
Fourth Official: David Dickinson (SCO)
Referee Observer: Michal Benes (CZE)

Lech – Austria Wien
Referee: Peter Kjaergaard (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Dennis Rasmussen (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ole Kronlykke (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jakob Sundberg (DEN)
Referee Observer: Georgios Bikas (GRE)

FCSB – Anderlecht
Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Roland Riedel (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Santino Schreiner (AUT)
Fourth Official: Christopher Jaeger (AUT)
Referee Observer: Fredy Fautrel (FRA)

Silkeborg – West Ham
Referee: Fabio Verissimo (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Pedro Martins (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Campos (POR)
Fourth Official: Miguel Nogueira (POR)
Referee Observer: Gunnar Jonsson (ISL)

Partizan – OGC Nice
Referee: Andrew Madley (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Cook (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Neil Davies (ENG)
Fourth Official: John Brooks (ENG)
Referee Observer: Andrejs Sipailo (LVA)

FC Köln – Slovacko
Referee: Yevhenii Aranovskyi (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Viktor Matyash (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Valentyn Kutsev (UKR)
Fourth Official: Yaroslav Kozyk (UKR)
Referee Observer: Domagoj Vučkov (CRO)

Worried for his safety, the referee suspended Ligue 2 match in France

Three red cards, match interrupted after a spectator entered the field threatening the referee. In the 56th minute, shortly after the referee Pierre Gaillouste issued a third red card against a Metz player, a spectator escaped the vigilance of the stewards and entered the field to attack him, before being caught and evacuated by the security service. In the process, the referee went to the benches and told the coaches that he was suspending the match because the safety of the refereeing team was no longer assured, according to comments from the fourth official taken up by the broadcaster. The interruption lasted 25 minutes and the match was able to resume after a public announcement indicating that the match would be definitively stopped if a new incident will happen.

The first half had been crazy, in the good sense of the term, since the Metz led 3-1 thanks to a double from Ablie Jallow and an own goal from Vincent Manceau from the second minute. Jeremy Livolant had meanwhile temporarily equalized from the penalty kick. But at the half-hour mark, referee Pierre Gaillouste showed a first red card to a Metz player: Kiki Kouyate, cautioned at first, was sent-off for having vehemently contested this sanction and precipitated the defeat of his team. Stephen Quemper first reduced the score for the Bretons at the start of added time before the referee awarded a second penalty kick in favor of Guingamp. Goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja, who was returning from a three-match suspension, was penalized for touching Livolant on an aerial outing and was directly sent off by the referee. The Lorraine goalkeeper came out of the field in tears after this very severe decision. Gaetan Courtet did not tremble to bring the Guingampais up just before the break. Shortly after returning from the locker room, Mr. Gaillouste, copiously whistled and insulted by the public, sent off a third Metz player, Danley Jean-Jacques, for a violent tackle on the tibia of Tristan Muyumba. The match was then interrupted and after the resumption, Metz, reduced to only eight players, defended heroically but ended up cracking against effective Guingampais by conceding three new goals from Dylan Louiserre, Warren Tchimbembe and Livolant. (Source: Le Figaro)

Both French referee unions, SAFE (pro) and UNAF (amateur), denounced these serious incidents. “Shocking images and facts. The serious incidents that have marked professional football since the start of the championship are appalling”, denounce the two unions.” The SAFE and the UNAF can only strongly condemn the gestures and acts of violence observed which give a very bad image of football to the amateur world. Last season was marked by violent attacks on amateur football pitches and the UNAF has wanted an increase in sanctions for several years. These images, which are chilling for some people, always lead to more difficulties in the accomplishment of the mission of referees in Leagues and District competitions”, indicates the press release. (Source: SAFE)

UEFA Europa League 2022/2023 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

15 September 2022

Olympiacos – Freiburg 

Referee: Matej Jug (SVN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Matej Zunic (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Manuel Vidali (SVN)
Fourth Official: David Smajc (SVN)
VAR: Rade Obrenovic (SVN)
AVAR: Dragoslav Peric (SVN)
Referee Observer: Michael Ross (NIR)

Midtjylland – Lazio
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (MNE)
Assistant Referee 1: Milutin Djukic (MNE)
Assistant Referee 2: Vladan Todorovic (MNE)
Fourth Official: Milos Boskovic (MNE)
VAR: Nejc Kajtazovic (SVN)
AVAR: Asmir Sagrkovic (SVN)
Referee Observer: Alexandru Deaconu (ROU)

Feyenoord – Sturm Graz
Referee: Jerome Brisard (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Aurelien Drouet (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alexis Auger (FRA)
Fourth Official: Bastien Dechepy (FRA)
VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
AVAR: Angelos Evangelou (GRE)
Referee Observer: Guy Goethals (BEL)

Sheriff – Manchester United
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Radoslaw Siejka (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik (POL)
Fourth Official: Tomasz Musial (POL)
VAR: Pawel Pskit (POL)
AVAR: Pawel Malec (POL)
Referee Observer: Alan Sant (MLT)

Real Sociedad – Omonia
Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Koiv (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Karolin Kaivoja (EST)
Fourth Official: Juri Frischer (EST)
VAR: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)
AVAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
Referee Observer: Michalis Koukoulakis (GRE)

Qarabag – Nantes
Referee: Enea Jorgji (ALB)
Assistant Referee 1: Denis Rexha (ALB)
Assistant Referee 2: Ridiger Çokaj (ALB)
Fourth Official: Juxhin Xhaja (ALB)
VAR: Luca Pairetto (ITA)
AVAR: Giacomo Paganessi (ITA)
Referee Observer: Costas Kapitanis (CYP)

Trabzonspor – Crvena Zvezda
Referee: Sascha Stegemann (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Gittelmann (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Mark Borsch (GER)
Fourth Official: Robert Schroeder (GER)
VAR: Benjamin Brand (GER)
AVAR: Dominik Schaal (GER)
Referee Observer: Frank De Bleeckere (BEL)

AS Monaco – Ferencvaros
Referee: Espen Eskas (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Engan (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Bashevkin (NOR)
Fourth Official: Rohit Saggi (NOR)
VAR: David Coote (ENG)
AVAR: Constantine Hatzidakis (ENG)
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)

Bodo Glimt – Zürich
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Mikael Berchebru (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guillaume Debart (FRA)
Fourth Official: Johan Hamel (FRA)
VAR: Benoit Millot (FRA)
AVAR: Pierre Gaillouste (FRA)
Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT)

Dynamo Kyiv – AEK Larnaca
Referee: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Hummelgaard (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Victor Skytte (DEN)
Fourth Official: Sandi Putros (DEN)
VAR: Jeroen Manschot (NED)
AVAR: Clay Ruperti (NED)
Referee Observer: Robert Malek (POL)

Rennes – Fenerbahçe
Referee: Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dzmitry Zhuk (BLR)
Assistant Referee 2: Aleh Maslianka (BLR)
Fourth Official: Viktar Shymusik (BLR)
VAR: Tiago Martins (POR)
AVAR: Luis Godinho (POR)
Referee Observer: Antonio Damato (ITA)

Real Betis – Ludogorets
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 1: Haralds Gudermanis (LVA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aleksejs Spasjonnikovs (LVA)
Fourth Official: Aleksandrs Golubevs (LVA)
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
AVAR: Marco Fritz (GER)
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

AS Roma – HJK Helsinki
Referee: Radu Petrescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mircea Grigoriu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Marcel Birsan (ROU)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
AVAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Referee Observer: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)

St. Gilloise – Malmö FF
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcin Boniek (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Jakub Winkler (POL)
Fourth Official: Krzysztof Jakubik (POL)
VAR: Piotr Lasyk (POL)
AVAR: Krzysztof Myrmus (POL)
Referee Observer: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)

Braga – Union Berlin
Referee: Filip Glova (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Polacek (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Bednar (SVK)
Fourth Official: Michal Ocenas (SVK)
VAR: Marco Guida (ITA) 

AVAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)

Spain: “How much is worth the dignity of a female referee?”

"How much is worth the dignity of a female referee who dedicates 24 hours to this activity?" With such a simple but resounding question, international assistant referee Guadalupe Porras Ayuso questioned those responsible for the  failed start of the Spanish Professional Women's Football League (LPFF) this past weekend.

The representatives of the female referees and assistant referees have explained in the City of Football how the negotiations have developed in recent months and how the inflexibility of the LPFF, without the ability or willingness to move from its initial positions, has led to the current stage of stoppage suffered by the highest category of women's football in Spain. "We have not paralyzed football. We already have the professional women’s league and we are the only group that is not recognized as professional," said FIFA referee Marta Huerta de Aza. 

Both Marta Huerta and the rest of her teammates thanked the female players for their support, "who fought before for the same rights that we are now demanding," as well as the help and solidarity provided by their teammates, referees of First and Second Division, some of them present this Monday, the referees of non-professional categories, the RFEF itself, UEFA, FIFA and the mediation work of the Higher Sports Council with its president, Jose Manuel Franco, in the lead.

Marta Frias Acedo has explained that the claims are not limited to the financial part, but include aspects relevant to any worker, such as social rights, sick leave due to injury and everything related to the existence of an employment contract that is now denied to this group: "They have ignored us, we have not been the ones who have paralyzed women's football. On the contrary, we are looking forward to taking the field."

The head of women's refereeing at the CTA, Yolanda Parga, has asked for respect from those responsible for the LPFF, while reiterating the support of the Committee to the female referees. "We do not force anything in this situation. We hope that they will soon be recognized as professionals like the rest of the participants in Spanish women’s football - they deserve it", concluded Parga.

Source: RFEF

UEFA Champions League 2022/2023 – Group Stage (Matchday 2)

13 September 2022

Viktoria Plzen – Inter Milano
Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Bekim Zogaj (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Jonas Erni (SUI)
Fourth Official: Lukas Fähndrich (SUI)
VAR: Fedayi San (SUI)
AVAR: Lionel Tschudi (SUI)
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge (NOR)

Sporting CP – Tottenham Hotspur
Referee: Srdjan Jovanović (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Uroš Stojković (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Milan Mihajlović (SRB)
Fourth Official: Novak Simović (SRB)
VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
AVAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Referee Observer: Pascal Garibian (FRA)

Liverpool – Ajax
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rui Tavares (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Paulo Soares (POR)
Fourth Official: Antonio Nobre (POR)
VAR: Tiago Martins (POR)
AVAR: Luis Godinho (POR)
Referee Observer: Michael Argyrou (CYP)

Porto – Club Brugge
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Polychronis Kostaras (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Lazaros Dimitriadis (GRE)
Fourth Official: Aristotelis Diamantopoulos (GRE)
VAR: Angelos Evangelou (GRE)
AVAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
Referee Observer: David Malcom (NIR)

Bayer Leverkusen – Atletico Madrid
Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Bennett (ENG)
Fourth Official: Darren England (ENG)
VAR: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)
AVAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
Referee Observer: Viktor Kassai (HUN)

Bayern München – Barcelona
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NED)
Fourth Official: Allard Lindhout (NED)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
AVAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Referee Observer: Laurent Duhamel (FRA)

Olympique Marseille – Eintracht Frankfurt
Referee: Jose Sanchez Martinez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Raul Cabanero Martinez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Inigo Prieto Lopez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez (ESP)
VAR: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
AVAR: Marco Guida (ITA)
Referee Observer: Vitor Melo Pereira (POR)

14 September 2022
AC Milan – Dinamo Zagreb
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Barbero Sevilla (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Angelo Nevado Rodriguez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea (ESP)
VAR: Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
AVAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Referee Observer: Markus Strömbergsson (SWE)

Shakhtar Donetsk – Celtic
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Soderkvist (SWE)
Fourth Official: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE)
VAR: Dennis Higler (NED)
AVAR: Rob Dieperink (NED)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Sajn (SVN)

Rangers – Napoli
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrian Devis (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Diaz Perez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Jose Munuera Montero (ESP)
VAR: Marco Fritz (GER)
AVAR: Tiago Martins (POR)
Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann (SUI)

Chelsea – Salzburg
Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Pozor (SVK)
Fourth Official: Peter Kralovic (SVK)
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
AVAR: Luis Godinho (POR)
Referee Observer: Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)

Real Madrid – Leipzig
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Daniele Bindoni (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefano Alassio (ITA)
Fourth Official: Rosario Abisso (ITA)
VAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
AVAR: Marco Guida (ITA)
Referee Observer: Björn Kuipers (NED)

Manchester City – Borussia Dortmund
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Ciro Carbone (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
Fourth Official: Luca Massimi (ITA)
VAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)
AVAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter (SUI)

FC Copenhagen – Sevilla FC
Referee: Irfan Peljto (BIH)
Assistant Referee 1: Senad Ibrisimbegović (BIH)
Assistant Referee 2: Davor Beljo (BIH)
Fourth Official: Luka Bilbija (BIH)
VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)
AVAR: Christopher Kavanagh (ENG)
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

Juventus – Benfica
Referee: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller (GER)
Fourth Official: Sven Jablonski (GER)
VAR: Bastian Dankert (GER)
AVAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Referee Observer: Stefan Messner (AUT)

Maccabi Haifa – Paris St. Germain 

Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Seidel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Rafael Foltyn (GER)
Fourth Official: Daniel Schlager (GER)
VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)
AVAR: Harm Osmers (GER)
Referee Observer: Vladimir Medved (SVK)