CAF African Nations Championship Final 2018: Gassama (GAM)

4 February 2018

Morocco – Nigeria
Referee: Bakary Gassama (GAM, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Marwa Range (KEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jerson Dos Santos (ANG)
Fourth Official: Bamlak Tessema (ETH)

FIFA World Cup 2018 Seminar for Referees and VARs

FIFA invited 48 match officials (35 referees and 13 video assistant referees) to attend a World Cup preparatory course in Qatar, from 5 to 9 February 2018. After this seminar, FIFA will announce the final list of match officials appointed to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Referees

AFC
1. Fahad Al Mirdasi (KSA, 1985, photo)
2. Alireza Faghani (IRN, 1978)
3. Ravshan Irmatov (UZB, 1977)
4. Abdulla Mohamed (EAU, 1978)
5. Ryuji Sato (JPN, 1977)
6. Nawaf Shukralla (BHR, 1976)

CAF
1. Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG, 1980)
2. Malang Diedhiou (SEN, 1973)
3. Bakary Gassama (GAM, 1979)
4. Ghead Grisha (EGY, 1976)
5. Janny Sikazwe (ZAM, 1979)
6. Bamlak Tessema (ETH, 1980)


CONCACAF
1. Joel Aguilar (SLV, 1975)
2. Mark Geiger (USA, 1974)
3. Ricardo Montero (CRC, 1986)
4. John Pitti (PAN, 1978)
5. Cesar Ramos (MEX, 1983)

CONMEBOL
1. Julio Bascunan (CHI, 1978)
2. Enrique Caceres (PAR, 1974)
3. Andres Cunha (URU, 1976)
4. Nestor Pitana (ARG, 1975)
5. Sandro Ricci (BRA, 1974)
6. Wilmar Roldan (COL, 1980)

OFC
1. Matthew Conger (NZL, 1978)
2. Norbert Hauata (TAH, 1979)

UEFA
1. Felix Brych (GER, 1975)
2. Cuneyt Cakir (TUR, 1976)
3. Sergei Karasev (RUS, 1979)
4. Bjorn Kuipers (NED, 1973)
5. Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP, 1977)
6. Szymon Marciniak (POL, 1981)
7. Milorad Mazic (SRB, 1973)
8. Gianluca Rocchi (ITA, 1973)
9. Damir Skomina (SVN, 1976)
10. Clement Turpin (FRA, 1982)

Video Assistant Referees (VARs)

1. Abdulrahman Al Jassim (QAT, 1987)
2. Bastian Dankert (GER, 1980)
3. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA, 1979)
4. Danny Makkelie (NED, 1983)
5. Jair Marrufo (USA, 1977)
6. Tiago Martins (POR, 1980)
7. Daniele Orsato (ITA, 1975)
8. Wilton Sampaio (BRA, 1981)
9. Artur Soares Dias (POR, 1979)
10. Paolo Valeri (ITA, 1978)
11. Gery Vargas (BOL, 1981)
12. Mauro Vigliano (ARG, 1975)
13. Felix Zwayer (GER, 1981)

Source: Qatar FA

UEFA Youth League – Play-offs

6-7 February 2018

Inter – Spartak Moskva
Referee: Nicolas Rainville (FRA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Benjamin Pages (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe Jeanne (FRA)
Fourth Official: Lorenzo Illuzzi (ITA)
Referee Observer: Stefano Podeschi (SMR)

Nitra – Feyenoord
Referee: Petr Ardeleánu (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Kamil Hájek (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Jiří Kříž (CZE)
Fourth Official: Boris Marhefka (SVK)
Referee Observer: Ladislav Gadosi (SVK)

Ajax FC – Paris St. Germain
Referee: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Constantine Hatzidakis (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Edward Smart (ENG)
Fourth Official: Kamphuis Jochem (NED)
Referee Observer: Johannes Reijgwart (NED)

Željezničar – Atlético Madrid
Referee: Mete Kalkavan (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ibrahim Uyarcan (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Abdullah Özkara (TUR)
Fourth Official: Haris Kaljanac (BIH)
Referee Observer: Elmir Pilav (BIH)

FC Krasnodar – Real Madrid
Referee: Thorvaldur Árnason (ISL)
Assistant Referee 1: Jóhann Gudmundsson (ISL)
Assistant Referee 2: Andri Vigfússon (ISL)
Fourth Official: Anastasia Pustovoitova (RUS)
Referee Observer: Sergey Zuev (RUS)

FC Salzburg – Sporting CP
Referee: Bojan Pandžić (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Hallberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Joakim Nilsson (SWE)
Fourth Official: Sebastian Gishamer (AUT)
Referee Observer: Thomas Einwaller (AUT)

Molde FK – AS Monaco
Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Silver Koiv (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Jaan Roos (EST)
Fourth Official: Mads Skarsem (NOR)
Referee Observer: Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

FK Brodarac – Manchester United
Referee: Alexander Harkam (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Andreas Staudinger (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Markus Gutschi (AUT)
Fourth Official: Andrija Stojanović (SRB)
Referee Observer: Milan Karadžić (SRB)

UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 – Quarter-finals

5 February 2018
Serbia – Kazakhstan
First Referee: Kamil Çetin (TUR, photo)
Second Referee: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Third Referee: Vladimir Kadykov (RUS)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Slovenia – Russia
First Referee: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)
Second Referee: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)
Third Referee: Juan Cordero Gallardo (ESP) 
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

6 February 2018
Portugal – Azerbaijan
First Referee: Ondřej Černý (CZE)
Second Referee: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Third Referee: Kamil Çetin (TUR)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Ukraine – Spain
First Referee: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Second Referee: Angelo Galante (ITA)
Third Referee: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

Copa Libertadores – Round 2 (Second Leg)

6-8 February 2018

Guaraní – Carabobo
Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Emerson De Carvalho (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcelo Van Gasse (BRA)
Fourth Official: Wagner Magalhaes (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Saúl Laverni (ARG)

Independiente del Valle – Banfield
Referee: Eber Aquino (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldívar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Cañete (PAR)
Fourth Official: Ulises Mereles (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Imer Machado (COL)

Melgar – Santiago Wanderers
Referee: Ricardo Marques (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Boschilia (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires (BRA)
Fourth Official: Dewson Freitas (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Ricardo Casas (ARG)

Nacional – Chapecoense
Referee: Mario Díaz de Vivar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Zorrilla (PAR)
Fourth Official: Arnaldo Samaniego (PAR)
Referee Assessor: Víctor Rivera (PER)

Vasco Da Gama – Universidad Concepción
Referee: José Argote (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos López (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Murillo (VEN)
Fourth Official: Juan Soto (VEN)
Referee Assessor: Ubaldo Aquino (PAR)

Independiente Santa Fe – Deportivo Táchira
Referee: Anderson Daronco (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kleber Lucio Gil (BRA)
Fourth Official: Wagner Reway (BRA)
Referee Assessor: Carlos Herrera (ECU)

Jorge Wilstermann – Oriente Petrolero
Referee: Germán Delfino (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Lucas Germanotta (ARG)
Fourth Official: Jorge Baliño (ARG)
Referee Assessor: José Buitrago (COL)

Junior – Olimpia
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Bonfa (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Fourth Official: Silvio Trucco (ARG)
Referee Assessor: Francisco Mondría (CHI)

UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 – Group Stage (Matches 7-12)

2 February 2018
France – Azerbaijan
First Referee: Angelo Galante (ITA, photo)
Second Referee: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Third Referee: Ondřej Černý (CZE)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

Romania – Ukraine
First Referee: Admir Zahovič (SVN)
Second Referee: Vladimir Kadykov (RUS)
Third Referee: Balázs Farkas (HUN)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

3 February 2018
Kazakhstan – Russia
First Referee: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Second Referee: Balázs Farkas (HUN)
Third Referee: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Italy – Slovenia
First Referee: Juan Cordero Gallardo (ESP)
Second Referee: Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP)
Third Referee: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

4 February 2018
Ukraine – Portugal
First Referee: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)
Second Referee: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Third Referee: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

Azerbaijan – Spain
First Referee: Vladimir Kadykov (RUS)
Second Referee: Admir Zahovič (SVN)
Third Referee: Alessandro Malfer (ITA)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Referee Chapron suspended 3 months after kicking out at player before sending him off

French referee Tony Chapron, who kicked out at a Nantes player and then sent him off, has been suspended for three months (plus three months of probation).

Chapron had been stood down from duty by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) following the incident in Paris St Germain's 1-0 win over Nantes on January 14. He had been knocked to the ground in an accidental collision with Diego Carlos before kicking out at the Nantes defender and showing him a second yellow card.

Chapron's punishment was decided by the LFP disciplinary committee at a hearing on Thursday night. 'After hearing Mr. Tony Chapron and reading the instructor's report, the commission decided to suspend him for six months, three of which were suspended,' a post read on lfp.fr. Chapron apologised the day after the incident and Carlos' second yellow card was rescinded.

On the night of the Ligue 1 fixture, Nantes president Waldemar Kita called for Chapron to be banned for six months. "I got 20 text messages from all over the world telling me the referee was a joke', Kita told L'Equipe. "What do you want me to say? If I talk too much I will be called before the disciplinary committee. We don't have the right to say anything. It's scandalous to see that. He gives a red card to a player who did nothing. He needs to go back to school. It's amateurish. I've never seen anything like it. He needs to be suspended for six months. If we did it, we would be banned for six months". The French newspaper on Thursday reported that the official had announced weeks before the incident that he would retire at the end of the season.

Source: Daily Mail

FIFA seminar for technical experts opens in Doha

The seminar of FIFA technical experts, which is hosted by Qatar Football Association (QFA) over four days at InterContinental Hotel, opened on Tuesday with the participation of 100 people from all over the world.

Next week will be busy with the launch of FIFA seminars and workshops for the match officials of World Cup Russia 2018 and Women's World Cup France 2019, as well as the course for referee instructors. The seminars and courses will be under the supervision of FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina and FIFA's head of refereeing Massimo Busacca. QFA referees committee chief and FIFA Referees Committee vice-chairman Hani Balan will also take part in the seminar along with Naji Juwaini, QFA executive director of the referees committee. The two are licensed FIFA instructors. The second seminar will be for referees and video assistant referees who will take charge of World Cup 2018 matches and will see the participation of 37 referees from Feb. 5 to Feb. 9. The third course will be for female referees who are nominated to officiate the Women's World Cup 2019. It will run from Feb. 12 to Feb. 16. The fourth course will be for referee instructors with the participation of 100 instructors from Feb. 19 to Feb. 23.

QFA Secretary General Mansour Al Ansari opened the first seminar by welcoming the participants. The first seminar launched by dividing the participants into three groups of experts, instructors and consultants. Each of the groups discusses its own subjects, in addition to FIFA's managerial structure and projects for football development. Al Ansari thanked FIFA and everyone who helped in the organization and planning for this event, noting that it will be of great value as it will feature exchange of ideas on development projects with the participation of more than 100 experts to discuss the new trends in the world of football. The QFA secretary general added that hosting the event reflects Qatar's commitment in the region and the world to positively contribute to the development of technical capacities, highlighting that Doha will also host workshops for the World Cup 2018 and the Women's World Cup 2019 in February. Al Ansari noted that Qatar has become a major sporting hub in football and has hosted many major events as the countdown for the World Cup 2022 continues. He expressed gratitude for FIFA's huge efforts to develop the game and unleash its potential.

Source: The Peninsula Qatar

New FIFA referees urged to aim high

Europe's new international referees have been encouraged by UEFA to reach for the top as they set out on their career pathway – with hard work, fitness and a professional attitude to preparation key to their success. You need talent to be a top referee – but you need to work hard to make it to the top. That is the message given by UEFA to the group of new international male and female referees currently taking their first steps on the European football stage.

Forty-eight match officials who have gained their international badge – 34 men and 14 women – have been in Malta for UEFA's winter introductory course to familiarise themselves with their duties as a European referee. They will leave the Mediterranean island with a full picture of what is expected of them as they embark on this important stage of their careers. "We are looking for excellence," they were told by UEFA's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina, himself a veteran of a host of high-profile matches in an outstanding refereeing career. "You're here in Malta because you have showed that you are talented. But you have to put the work in as well if you want to succeed." The quest for excellence for a top referee involves a variety of elements, starting with the fitness required to be able to cope with the demands of the modern high-level game. "Football nowadays is played with high speed and intensity, so the referee needs to be a top-fit athlete," Collina explained. "Referees might be called upon at the end of a match to take a decision which could affect the final result, so they have to remain lucid. Tiredness can't be an excuse for a wrong decision. Referees have to know their strengths and weaknesses in terms of their physical condition, and should be ready to work on those weaknesses," he added. "We need them to be fit and in good health, so preventing injuries is also very important. We want them on the pitch rathen than lying on a physiotherapist's couch." Collina emphasised how Europe's current-day elite referees were setting a splendid example by putting in the hard yards to increase their fitness levels and improve their body shape. "We are proud of them," he told the officials. "Because they present a good image alongside the players on the field. We ask you to show the same commitment." Allied to physical preparation is the increasingly crucial factor of tactical preparation for a match, to help referees take correct decisions in key situations.

Referees are encouraged by UEFA to study the teams and players who they will be managing on the field, and the European body is deploying match analysts – qualified and experienced coaches – to brief the referees in major men's and women's national team tournaments and club competitions. Anticipation is the byword. "In football today, referees need to know beforehand what is going to happen in matches – they must stay one step ahead," Collina said. "They can't justify a mistake by saying that they were surprised. So they need to gather information about team tactics and player characteristics. It's often the case that teams will use the same tactics in every match, especially at corners and free-kicks. Referees can find out quite easily now if teams use zonal or man-to-man marking, for instance. Which players do what … this preparation will definitely stand them in good stead." The referees were given vital advice about the mental strength they need to overcome a mistake. "Even the best referees can make errors – they are human, they are not perfect," Collina reflected. "But the target must be to minimise mistakes, in particular those which might affect the outcome of a match. Referees and their assistants must be able to put mistakes to the back of their mind, particularly in the early stages of a match. They have to be able to move on to the next decision in a match – and, of course, after the match they should learn from mistakes. If they understand the reason behind the mistake they become stronger people as a result." Collina insisted on the importance of teamwork between a referee and assistants. "Even the most talented referee needs to rely on his team-mates," he explained. "The final overall performance of the referees depends on the overall performance of each individual member of the team. So prepare for matches as a team, support, encourage and motivate each other in every situation." Collina closed by urging the new referees to be confident in their work. "Trust in yourselves," he said. "If you can say to yourself that you've worked hard, that you've prepared in every way, that you've done your absolute best, you're on the right path forward. And UEFA is here to help you succeed".

Source: UEFA

UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 – Group Stage (Matches 1-6)

30 January 2018
Slovenia – Serbia
First Referee: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU, photo)
Second Referee: Eduardo Fernandes Coelho (POR)
Third Referee: Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Russia – Poland
First Referee: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Second Referee: Cédric Pelissier (FRA)
Third Referee: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

31 January 2018
Portugal – Romania
First Referee: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Second Referee: Ondřej Černý (CZE)
Third Referee: Admir Zahovič (SVN)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)

Spain – France
First Referee: Balázs Farkas (HUN)
Second Referee: Gábor Kovács (HUN)
Third Referee: Angelo Galante (ITA)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

1 February 2018
Poland – Kazakhstan
First Referee: Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP)
Second Referee: Juan Cordero Gallardo (ESP)
Third Referee: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)
Timekeeper: Vasilios Christodoulis (GRE)

Serbia – Italy
First Referee: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Second Referee: Kamil Çetin (TUR)
Third Referee: Timo Onatsu (FIN)
Timekeeper: Josip Barton (MKD)