UEFA Women’s Champions League – Semi-finals (Second Leg)

1-2 May 2016

Frankfurt – Wolfsburg
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (UKR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Natalia Rachynska (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Maryna Striletska (UKR)
Fourth Official: Liudmyla Telbukh (UKR)
Referee Observer: Ingrid Jonsson (SWE)

Paris St. Germain – Olympique Lyon
Referee: Esther Staubli (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Belinda Brem (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Susann Küng (SUI)
Fourth Official: Désirée Grundbacher (SUI)
Referee Observer: Katarzyna Wierzbowska (POL)

Change in the Russian refereeing team for Euro 2016

All referees, assistant referees and additional assistant referees selected by UEFA for Euro 2016 attended last week in France a seminar that included classroom sessions, on-field training, fitness and medical tests. Russian assistant referee Anton Averianov (photo) failed the fitness test and UEFA replaced him with the standby AR Nikolai Golubev. "The decision was made that the Russian team for Euro 2016 will be Sergei Karasev - Tikhon Kalugin, Nikolai Golubev - Sergei Lapochkin, Sergei Ivanov. UEFA has a rule that all Euro referees must pass all physical tests. Averianov failed one of them - he ran out of time a bit on the short distance; thus, he will miss the Euro tournament", said Nikolai Levnikov, chairman of the Russian Referees Committee and member in the UEFA Referees Committee.

Referee: Sergei Karasev (RUS, 1979)
Assistant Referee 1: Tikhon Kalugin (RUS, 1974)
Assistant Referee 2: Nikolai Golubev (RUS, 1970)
Additional AR 1: Sergei Lapochkin (RUS, 1981)
Additional AR 2: Sergei Ivanov (RUS, 1984)


Source: Sports.ru

Palotai: from Olympic Gold winner to Champions Cup Final

We all remember the final of the 1976 European Champions Cup in Glasgow, at least from the mouth of the players and coaches of the time. But a leading part in this legendary evening never gave his version. The Hungarian Károly Palotai, now 80 years old, refereed the party, although, as a player, he never reached this level of competition with his club Gyor, in western Hungary. Not far from the railway station where France Bleu met him, he kept all his memories in notebooks. Five pages are devoted to the 1976 final.
- When did you know that you can referee that final of the European Champions Cup? What was your first reaction on hearing the news?
- Inevitably, before a match of this kind, we need time for preparation, but I was, at the same time, very excited. I had already been refereeing a few international games in 1976, but for a final it was necessary to prepare even further. It was in Glasgow. A final of the European Champions Cup, this is a mission that we gladly accepted and respected. Both teams played good football. I knew better Bayern because I had led a match of the FR Germany. This is where I met Beckenbauer, who had a big personality. He tried two-three tricks during the match and I calmed him down thanks to my knowledge of German that I developed when I went there two years between 1956 and 1958. I walked into his direction and I told him he should improve his behavior. I saw how he reacted and it worked right away. I received the news about two to three weeks before the big day, when UEFA has sent a letter to the Hungarian Football Federation in Budapest. A sports journalist named István Somos gave me the info and told me that I would be the referee. I was delighted to be named, of course, especially since I had a Scotland-England to ensure in stride. I refereed many important games and, thanks to God, everything went well in that one and the other also. That is why I kept everything in writing, process, organization. I was happy that everything is in order because it does not always happen like that. It takes a bit of luck in football and refereeing.
- Thirty thousand fans Greens were in Glasgow. What did you think of this strong mobilization?
- First, I will tell you a story that happened off the field. Ten minutes before the kick-off, I walked into the locker room to check the studs of the players. Beckenbauer was very friendly and recognized me. There were no problems or hooligans, everyone encouraged responsibly their team. Fans shouting and singing merrily on either side do not bother me. Sure, but the main for me as a referee, it was mostly that players respect the rules and my decisions during this match. They accepted my judgments and my experience helped me to manage this game as it should. I did not want to discuss anything with them and distract me, especially in a game with so much at stake.
- During the exchange of pennants, you were between Larqué and Beckenbauer and probably you remembered that you were in the same position in the semi-final of the 1965 European Champions Cup with your club in Győr against Benfica of Eusebio. It was certainly a special moment for you...
- I was the captain of Győr when faced Eusebio and his incredible team. It was truly an amazing group who deserved his reputation. So yes, I obviously remember these exchanges of pennants, as a captain of my team or as a referee in international matches. For me, it was very powerful.
- Bathenay and Santini have stumbled upon the famous "square posts". Were they approved according to the regulations?
- I controlled the goals as I did before any game. It was verified as normal to see if everything was ok so that can start the game. We wrote what we saw. The choice of jerseys also posed questions, which often happens. We followed the procedure. It was absolutely natural, normal. There were things to see, like ironing a white chalk layer to a ground location, for example, but the posts were approved. Worries were really rare.
- So really no concern should be reported?
- The ground was well prepared as for any great international match. The organizers have worked well. From my perspective, there were absolutely no problems. Really none.
- The field Hampden Park was poor, the grass was a little dry?
- Yes, well, it's a bit exaggerated. It had rained, certainly, but not a flood that could lead to the cancellation of the game or hinder players; nothing extraordinary. It just needed a little more careful attention. Inevitably, it bothered the players and what was even more annoying for them is that they did not know how to react to that.
- Playing conditions seemed acceptable to you?
- The conditions were acceptable for a game of this level. I have never cared or asked any questions about the quality of the lawn. It has been maintained as it was. Everything was well planned and organized so that the match is taking place under the best auspices.
- As a player, you beat Yugoslavia of Ćurković and won Olympic gold in 1964 in Tokyo with Hungary. After Glasgow, "Curko" reproached you have opened the shooting angle for Roth and making play before the wall of St. Etienne will be grouped. Was his criticism fair?
- Interesting, especially! (Laughs) I knew anyway that he would be there since I found his name on the score sheet. Of course, the referee did not know the players he would have under his responsibility until he gets that famous paper.
- But then, what happened with this wall?
- Well, that kind of such a little confusing situation is sometimes part of the game. Maybe Ćurković is right, but perhaps also he needed to take my whistle seriously.
- So players have not been sufficiently attentive?
- No. 
- So that's why they have conceded this goal? 
- Exact. It's still annoying that players now challenge it. 
- They have not done it afterwards? 
- No, they did not. 
- So Ćurković was frustrated and that's why he spoke that way in your opinion? 
- Well, yes, I think so. 
- Your ruling was just... 
- Yes, I did not make any error. 
- Roth had waited for the whistle to shoot and the goal was valid? 
- That's it. Honestly, that time has not remained as a negative memory to me. 
- Lopez and Bathenay were at Parc des Princes on 1 September 1978 at a France-Sweden qualifier for Euro 1980 in Italy that you refereed. Tell us about it. 
- A pleasant match by the two teams that have also had bad luck because they have cashed their respective second goals in the last minutes of the game, which ended 2-2. João Havelange, then FIFA president, came to visit us before the game. Sepp Blatter was also there and I was very satisfied with the game. I spent three wonderful days in Paris. Everything was done to make us feel better there. No yellow card was given during the game, which is rare enough to be stressed. 
- Neither Lopez nor Bathenay have reminded you about the "square posts"? 
- Surprisingly, no. I immediately thought of the next match that I had to referee in Austria and then in Eindhoven - Glasgow Rangers, where the Scots won 3-2. A superb clash. (Source: France Bleu)

                                                   Karoly Palotai

Player

- Bekescsaba (1953-1955)
- ETO Gyor (1955-1956, 1959-1967)
- Freiburg (1956-1958)
- Hungary (Olympic Games 1964)
Referee
- FIFA World Cup 1974, 1978, 1982
- UEFA Euro 1980
- Olympic Games 1972, 1976
- Champions Cup final 1976, 1981
- Cup Winners' Cup final 1979
- UEFA Cup final 1975

UEFA U-17 Euro 2016

Azerbaijan, 5-21 May 2016

Referees
1. Fran Jović (CRO, 1984)
2. Petr Ardeleanu (CZE, 1980, photo)
3. Ville Nevalainen (FIN, 1984)
4. Gunnar Jónsson (ISL, 1983)
5. Svein Erik Edvartsen (NOR, 1979)
6. Bartosz Frankowski (POL, 1986)
7. Peter Královič (SVK, 1983)
8. Mitja Žganec (SLO, 1983)

Assistant Referees
1. Georgi Todorov (BUL, 1980)
2. Marios Dimitriadis (CYP, 1983)
3. Neeme Neemlaid (EST, 1985)
4. Andrew Christiansen (FRO, 1978)
5. Levan Varamishvili (GEO, 1985)
6. Lazaros Dimitriadis (GRE, 1982)
7. Balázs Buzás (HUN, 1986)
8. Emmett Dynan (IRL, 1984)
9. Vasili Ermischin (MDA, 1980)
10. Edward Spiteri (MLT, 1977)
11. Alain Heiniger (SUI, 1986)
12. Ceyhun Sesigüzel (TUR, 1982)

Fourth Officials
1. Aliyar Aghayev (AZE, 1987)
2. Orkhan Mammadov (AZE, 1985)
3. Sergejus Slyva (LTU, 1980)
4. Alain Durieux (LUX, 1985)


Referee Observers
1. Marc Batta (FRA)
2. Nikolai Levnikov (RUS)
3. Vladimir Antonov (MDA)
4. Azim Khudiyev (AZE)

First IFAB workshop on video replay

The IFAB is inviting leagues and associations interested in running experiments with video assistant referees (VARs) to a first workshop in Amsterdam next month, hosted by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) who will help demonstrate how the experiments and related technology will work. Over the course of the workshop from 18 to 20 May 2016, competition organisers will have the opportunity to learn more about the experiments including observing 'offline' experiments in action in a play-off match (at a venue to be confirmed) as well as receiving a presentation on available technological solutions by different technology providers. An offline experiment represents a dry run whereby a VAR can get familiarised with the set-up, assess video replays and practice making calls on match-changing incidents, but without communicating with the referee. This means there will be no impact on the game, unlike during a 'live' experiment when the match officials do communicate with each other and the referee can take decisions based on information provided by the VAR.
The KNVB conducted offline experiments since 2013 and their findings helped The IFAB’s Technical Sub-Committee together with FIFA’s Football Technology Innovation Department draw up a detailed implementation protocol that competition organisers taking part in The IFAB-sanctioned experiments will be required to follow. After next month’s workshop, the interested leagues and associations will have time to consider the information before finally deciding whether they would like to take part in the upcoming two-year experiments. The IFAB will not select competition organisers; instead, those that wish to conduct experiments will be allowed to do so, subject to the organiser’s willingness and capability to run the experiments in line with the approved protocol as well as project management factors such as the implied costs, available human resources, required technological infrastructure, risk assessment for the competition and time schedules for implementation, which are still to be finalised. An announcement is set to be made by The IFAB later in May to confirm which competitions will take part in the experiments. Those competition organisers will then be invited to a second workshop to receive additional information and to see demonstrations of 'live' experiments. Further details on where and when this second workshop will take place will follow in due course. 

Source: FIFA/IFAB

UEFA Europa League – Semi-finals (First Leg)

28 April 2016

Shakhtar Donetsk – Sevilla FC
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Additional AR 1: Paweł Raczkowski (POL)
Additional AR 2: Tomasz Musiał (POL)
Fourth Official: Radoslaw Siejka (POL)
Referee Observer: Stefan Ormandjiev (BUL)

Villarreal – Liverpool
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Vukan (SVN)
Additional AR 1: Matej Jug (SVN)
Additional AR 2: Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Fourth Official: Bojan Ul (SVN)
Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz (TUR)

CONCACAF Champions League Final 2016 (Second Leg)

27 April 2016

Club America – Tigres
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Rangel (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Andres Hernandez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Luis Santander (MEX)

Copa Libertadores – Round of 16 (First Leg)

26 April 2016
Huracán – Atlético Nacional
Referee: Patricio Polic (CHI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Fourth Official: Claudio Puga (CHI)
Referee Observer: Miguel Scime (ARG)

Deportivo Táchira – Pumas Unam
Referee: Óscar Maldonado (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wilson Arellano (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: José Antelo (BOL)
Fourth Official: José Jordan (BOL)
Referee Observer: Adrián Gómez (VEN)

27 April 2016
Racing – Atlético Mineiro
Referee: Julio Quintana (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Cañete (PAR)
Fourth Official: Mario Diaz de Vivar (PAR)
Referee Observer: Carlos Coradina (ARG)

Gremio – Rosario Central
Referee: Víctor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jonny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Braulio Cornejo (PER)
Fourth Official: Miguel Santivañez (PER)
Referee Observer: José Mocellin (BRA)

Nacional – Corinthians
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ariel Scime (ARG)
Fourth Official: Silvio Trucco (ARG)
Referee Observer: Martín Vázquez (URU)

28 April 2016
Independiente del Valle – River Plate
Referee: Heber Lopes (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guillerme Dias (BRA)
Fourth Official: Raphael Claus (BRA)
Referee Observer: Bomer Fierro (ECU)

Sao Paulo – Toluca
Referee: Jonathan Fuentes (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Nievas (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Richard Trinidad (URU)
Fourth Official: Esteban Ostojich (URU)
Referee Observer: Roberto Perassi (BRA)

Cerro Porteño – Boca Juniors
Referee: Francisco Chacon (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: José Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Salvador Rodriguez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Paul Delgadillo (MEX)
Referee Observer: Ubaldo Aquino (PAR)

Referee joint-seminar for 2018 and 2019 World Cups (CONCACAF, CONMEBOL)

As preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2018 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 continue, top referees from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL - candidates to officiate at these competitions - will gather in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, USA, to participate in an elite seminar presented by FIFA. From 25 to 29 April 2016, more than 30 male and female referees will be exposed to special theoretical and practical training. Classroom sessions will include reading the game and positioning, video analysis, as well as tackling and penalty area incidents. On the field, participants will be put through the paces of game simulation, obtaining immediate feedback on their performances. The seminar will also consist of presentations by Massimo Busacca (photo), FIFA’s Head of Refereeing. Some of the referees in attendance will be considered for assignments at the Copa America Centenario 2016, which is scheduled to be held from June 3-26, 2016. FIFA recently hosted an Elite AFC, CAF and OFC Referees Seminar in Doha, Qatar.


CONCACAF

Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Joel Aguilar (SLV, 1975)
2. Roberto Garcia (MEX, 1974)
3. Mark Geiger (USA, 1974)
4. Walter Lopez (GUA, 1980)
5. Ricardo Montero (CRC, 1986)
6. John Pitti (PAN, 1978)
7. Cesar Ramos (MEX, 1983)

Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Armando Castro (HON, 1983)
2. Valdin Legister (JAM, 1979)
3. Yadel Martinez (CUB, 1985)

Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Quetzalli Alvarado (MEX, 1975)
2. Marianela Araya (CRC, 1988)
3. Melissa Borjas (HON, 1986)
4. Carol Anne Chenard (CAN, 1977)
5. Margaret Domka (USA, 1979)
6. Mirian Leon (SLV, 1986)
7. Michelle Pye (CAN, 1978)
8. Cardella Samuels (JAM, 1983)
9. Lucila Venegas (MEX, 1981)


CONMEBOL

 Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Jose Argote (VEN, 1980)
2. Enrique Caceres (PAR, 1974)
3. Andres Cunha (URU, 1976)
4. Diego Haro (PER, 1982)
5. Enrique Osses (CHI, 1974)
6. Nestor Pitana (ARG, 1975)
7. Sandro Ricci (BRA, 1974)
8. Wilmar Roldan (COL, 1980)
9. Gery Vargas (BOL, 1981)
10. Roddy Zambrano (ECU, 1978)

Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Julio Bascunan (CHI, 1978)
2. Daniel Fedorczuk (URU, 1976)
3. Wilson Lamouroux (COL, 1979)
4. Wilton Sampaio (BRA, 1981)
5. Mauro Vigliano (ARG, 1975)

Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Maria Carvajal (CHI, 1983)
2. Yercinia Correa (VEN, 1979)
3. Maria Fortunato (ARG, 1985)
4. Regildenia Moura (BRA, 1974)
5. Olga Miranda (PAR, 1982)
6. Viviana Munoz (COL, 1985)
7. Silvia Reyes (PER, 1981)
8. Claudia Umpierrez (URU, 1983)

UEFA Champions League – Semi-finals (First Leg)

26 April 2016
Manchester City – Real Madrid
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Cem Satman (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Additional AR 1: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)
Additional AR 2: Barış Şimşek (TUR)
Fourth Official: Serkan Ok (TUR)

Referee Observer: William Young (SCO)

27 April 2016
Atletico Madrid – Bayern München
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Beck (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Jake Collin (ENG)
Additional AR 1: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Additional AR 2: Andre Marriner (ENG)
Fourth Official: Gary Beswick (ENG)
Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange (ITA)

UEFA Women's Champions League – Semi-finals (First Leg)

24 April 2016

Olympique Lyon – Paris St. Germain
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Katrin Rafalski (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Karoline Wacker (GER)
Fourth Official: Riem Hussein (GER)
Referee Observer: Natalia Advonchenko (RUS)

Wolfsburg – Frankfurt
Referee: Teodora Albon (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Petruta Iugulescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mihaela Gomoescu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Cristina Dorcioman (ROU)
Referee Observer: Miroslava Migalova (SVK)

Match analysts to assist Euro referees

For the first time, UEFA is to deploy match analysts to provide the referee teams at UEFA Euro 2016 with information on the 24 teams and their players ahead of assignments at the final tournament in France. The analysts' team, comprising four coaches with UEFA A licences, is already hard at work gathering information from the participating teams' friendly matches. Two of the coaches will be on site during the tournament at the Euro referee teams' headquarters in Enghien-les-Bains, north of Paris. A total of 18 referee teams have been selected to take charge of the 51 matches at the eagerly-anticipated Euro tournament between 10 June and 10 July, and they have been in Enghien-les-Bains this week, together with the UEFA Referees Committee, for a Euro referees' preparatory workshop.
"The referees will receive information from the analysts, so that they know how a team plays, the tactics they use, and what their players do on the field," said UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina. "The objective is for the match officials to be one step ahead, and to know as much as possible before their match." UEFA constantly encourages referees to study teams' tactics to help them prepare thoroughly for their match duties, as well as to be aware of changing situations in matches, such as tactical switches or substitutions which may be of crucial importance. "Every time that a referee receives an appointment [at Euro]," Collina added, "he and his team will meet the match analysts. The referee, assistant referees and additional assistant referees will be given a comprehensive briefing on the two teams and players in that specific match." As part of the preparation process, UEFA referee teams are also being given access to a web data platform where they can find out information themselves and, for example, create their own collection of clips, about the teams who they will be officiating.
Correct interpretation of the offside rule has also been a key topic at the Euro workshop, and the assistant referees selected for the tournament have been given access to specially-created web offside exercises that they can practice at home. "We have implemented a system with a platform for our assistant referees," Collina explained, "where they can view offside situations in HD. They have to decide if there is offside, and select which is the correct frame from among five different frames. They then receive feedback on their exercise decisions. Every seven to ten days, they receive a set of new offside situations. We think that this will be an important tool for their preparations".
Today's top match officials are athletes in their own right, and fitness tests have been on the workshop agenda this week, with the Euro referees, assistants and additional assistants being put through their paces by UEFA's referee fitness team. "The tests went very positively, which is not a surprise to us," Collina reflected. "We know that [the referees] are very fit." The referees underwent weighing controls and body fat measurements. "It is unbelievable that people who are no longer so young have worked so hard to improve their physical shape over recent years," said Collina. "We are happy and proud that our top referees are so committed to keeping fit." The officials are all receiving specific tailored programmes to follow in the six weeks between now and the Euro kick-off.
The chairman of the UEFA Referees Committee and UEFA first vice-president, Ángel Villar Llona, underlined that the success of UEFA Euro 2016 depended not only on the players and coaches, but also on the referees. "Do the best that you can to be up to the standards expected of you," he told the officials. "Elite athletes have to work hard, nothing is given to them – and you have invested effort and made sacrifices to be chosen for this great event. You deserve it because of your commitment."

Source: UEFA

UEFA referee briefings for Euro teams

UEFA is determined that referees, players and coaches will be on the same page at UEFA Euro 2016, and will visit the 24 team camps ahead of the tournament to explain how the Laws of the Game will be interpreted.
UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina said at a briefing in Enghien-les-Bains, near Paris, on Wednesday that it was essential for everyone to "speak the same language" at the final round in France as far as refereeing decisions and actions are concerned. "We will visit the 24 teams before the EURO kicks off, in the last days of May and at the start of June," said Collina. "We have prepared a collection of clips which will be shown to players and coaches, with the aim being that they and the referees all know the same instructions as to what will be done on the field of play with respect to the laws. This is very important this year, because the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has decided on changes to the Laws of the Game which will be implemented at Euro 2016," he added. One amendment concerns the so-called 'triple punishment' rule, which previously involved dismissal, a penalty and a suspension for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity within the penalty area. Under the revision, referees will give a yellow card, and not a red card, if a goalkeeper or defender in the penalty area genuinely and honestly tries to challenge for the ball and commits a foul. Red cards and penalties will still be given, for instance, for violent play, or pulling or pushing involving no intention to play the ball. "This change is something that the players and coaches [at Euro] must know properly," said Collina, who also emphasised that the aim of the meetings with the teams would not be to give warnings to individual players. Of course, if we think, for example, that 'mobbing' (players putting pressure on the referee by surrounding him) could be an issue, then we will emphasise that we do not accept this," he stressed. Collina addressed the question of holding and pulling in the penalty area by expressing the view that such incidents had been on the decrease at UEFA matches, thanks in no small part to the introduction of additional assistant referees (AARs) to monitor events in the penalty box, in particular at set-piece situations such as free-kicks and corners. "The players know that they are being controlled," he reflected. "This certainly could not be considered as an issue."
Collina also explained the reasons for the introduction of goal-line technology at UEFA Euro 2016. The system will work alongside additional assistant referees while they control the penalty area. "Goal-line technology will be used to focus on the goal-line, freeing the additional assistants to focus on the rest of the penalty area, and be ready to take a decision and support the referee," he said. "We are convinced that the two systems will work together very well." Among the instructions that referees are receiving for UEFA Euro 2016 is the brief to protect players on the field. "One of the main goals of UEFA is to protect the safety of the players," said Collina. "For some years, UEFA has been quite strict in punishing those fouls that endanger players' safety, and we will continue to do so".

Source: UEFA

Prospective World Cup referees joint-preparation

Follow an elite preparation seminar closely enough for a few days, and watching a referee in action on the pitch will never quite be the same again. Football refereeing is imperfect by its essential nature: in fractions of a second, one must make decisions where right or wrong are often separated by a few centimetres, in actions performed by some of the fittest, fastest athletes on the planet. It is an open invitation to committing mistakes. Players know it, referees know it, top refereeing instructors know it too well.
“Myself, I always enjoyed this pressure of knowing that the mistake is always there, behind the door, waiting for you,” says FIFA Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca, who officiated in two editions of the FIFA World Cup. “Referees need the pressure. It’s what makes us improve. However, you must prepare yourself as much as you can. Control everything there is to be controlled. Not to avoid the pressure, but to not be afraid of it, so that when you’re on the pitch it feels like you’re underwater for 90 minutes: all you see and hear is your concentration to make the appropriate decision.” When Busacca talks about preparation, he means an exhaustive repetition of concepts and actions, until they are ingrained in the instant of decision-making. The room for instinct or impression should be cut down to a minimum. For every decision made by a top referee – be it right or wrong; from calling a penalty to where to be positioned on the pitch – there should be an objective reason behind it. A reason that was discussed a million times. Was it a promising goal-scoring opportunity? Is one team’s attacking line pressing the other’s defence? Where was the exact point of contact when the player committed the foul? When the foul was committed, did the action configure a clear situation of the ball going from player A to player B? A decision by a trained elite referee should be this, a logical and yet instantaneous solution to an equation involving numerous factors. You don’t reach that without training.
Unsurprisingly, each of these questions is just as valid for men’s football as for the women’s game. It made no sense, then, to keep the training of elite referees split apart by gender - and that was the reasoning behind FIFA’s historic decision of combining in one the preparation of prospective referees for the next cycle of World Cups: the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019. Doha, in Qatar, last week hosted the first seminar for prospective referees on the road to Russia and France. Forty-eight selected FIFA referees from AFC, CAF and OFC spent five days watching and analysing controversial plays, taking physical tests, simulating match situations on the pitch and reviewing them on videotape. Incessantly. Men and women together. Prospective World Cup referees from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL will go through the same drill between 25 and 29 April in Miami, and the UEFA ones, in September. “It’s a really strong message and an excellent initiative,” says Tatjana Haenni, FIFA Head of Women’s Football. “The FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada has shown how much women’s football has developed and how speed has become an important part of the game. So, obviously the referees have to follow. Men’s refereeing is so much more advanced and in such a high level, professionally speaking – also because of the history, naturally - that female officials and referees can only benefit from such a project.”
Different genders, same criteria
As it turned out in Doha, the benefits of joining forces seemed to be mutual when men and women teamed up to hone their interpretation, positioning and decision-making abilities. “I’m very happy to be doing this, because maybe the women referees have something that we, the men, don’t have. It’s a great idea to exchange experiences with them,” says Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim. For Massimo Busacca, the initiative is also another step towards something that’s been his flagship objective since taking the helm of FIFA’s refereeing department in 2011: uniformity. “If we train, watch situations and analyse them together, men and women, we’ll give the same answers to each problem and reach the uniformity and consistency that we need in both competitions. This is very important: we don’t want to see one philosophy on the men’s side and a different one on the women’s.” As much of a landmark as the new joint approach is, though, it has to be seen not as an end in itself, but rather as part of a step on the long road to further develop women’s football. “It’s the right path forward, but it’s not enough. Women referees need more experience. Some of them have only a handful of high-level competition matches during the year in their regions, and then suddenly they come to referee a FIFA Women’s World Cup in front of 50,000 people. They need high-level competitions; they need to be able to officiate in the highest men’s leagues in their countries,” explains Haenni. “This is just a step – a very large step, I should say – in a very long process,” said Australian referee Kate Jacewicz following a thorough video-analysis session in which her group was led by one of FIFA’s female referee instructors. “But the most important thing is that the step has been taken. The door has been opened to allow men and women the opportunity to go wherever they want to go”. Starting, of course, with Russia and France.

Source: FIFA

Collina urges '25th team' to shine at Euro 2016

The 18 referee teams at UEFA Euro 2016 have been encouraged to make their qualities count at the tournament, and to meet a series of challenges to achieve success. Europe's leading referees, assistant referees and additional assistant referees are counting down the days until their assignments at UEFA Euro 2016 in France, and have been urged to perform to the very best of their ability to leave a positive mark on the tournament.
"Good performances are the primary route to success," UEFA chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina told the 18 referee teams as they gathered at Enghien-Les-Bains near Paris for the Euro referees' preparation workshop, which involves crucial fine-tuning ahead of the big kick-off on 10 June. "You have already achieved success because you are here," Collina said. "Now is the time to be successful as the 25th team at Euro… UEFA's team…our team." Collina asked the referees to show consistency in performance and decision-making during the tournament. "We don't need top performances delivered by just a few of you in some matches. We want to see top performances by all of you in every match." The match officials were reminded of several important factors at UEFA Euro 2016, including the increase in the number of participating teams from 16 to 24. "This will have a big impact on the competition, which will be very balanced because many teams will have a chance of qualifying for the round of 16," Collina reflected. "The four best third-placed teams in the group stage will also go through – this means that, most probably, all of the group phase matches will be meaningful. Each match could be decisive, and this presents a major challenge not only for the teams, but also for the referees. "The Referees Committee will do everything possible to help and support you to do your best," Collina added, "and never try to stop improving. The day that you stop improving is the day that you start losing..." The match officials were told that one of the major challenges facing them would be in applying the revamped Laws of the Game, which have undergone a major overhaul recently to address anomalies and inconsistencies, and which will be in force at UEFA Euro 2016. They were also briefed about the introduction of goal-line technology at the final tournament in France. The system will work alongside additional assistant referees who will continue to monitor all activity in and around the penalty area. At the workshop, the match officials will examine several topics, including handball, offside and teamwork, and will also undergo fitness testing under the supervision of UEFA's referee training expert Werner Helsen and his team.
In another presentation, the referees were addressed by UEFA intelligence officer Graham Peaker, who told them that match-fixing is a criminal offence in France, and that French law would apply for Euro 2016 matches. "Anyone found to be involved in fixing matches will be dealt with by UEFA, the French police and prosecutors," he said. "Match-fixing is a real danger to our game, your game, the fans' game,” Peaker explained. "UEFA has a zero-tolerance policy, and those found guilty could face life bans. We cannot be too careful." A new mobile app means that UEFA has simplified the process for reporting any approaches, and the referees were asked to apply the 'three Rs' principle if they were approached to manipulate a match: "Recognise what is happening – Reject the approach – Report the approach to someone".

Source: UEFA

CONCACAF Champions League Final 2016 (First Leg)

20 April 2016

Tigres – Club America
Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Fourth Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX)

Copa Libertadores – Group Stage (Matchday 8)

19 April 2016
Atlético Nacional – Huracán
Referee: Enrique Osses (CHI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: José Retamal (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Claudio Rios (CHI)
Fourth Official: Eduardo Gamboa (CHI)
Referee Observer: Otálvaro Polanco (COL)

Peñarol – Sporting Cristal
Referee: Luiz De Oliveira (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Rocha (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Fabricio Vilarinho (BRA)
Fourth Official: Leandro Vuaden (BRA)
Referee Observer: Juan Cardellino (URU)

San Lorenzo – Liga de Quito
Referee: Ulises Mereles (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Darío Gaona (PAR)
Fourth Official: José Méndez (PAR)
Referee Observer: Carlos Coradina (ARG)

Gremio – Toluca

Referee: Gustavo Murillo (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wilmar Navarro (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Alexander León (COL)
Fourth Official: Luis Sánchez (COL)
Referee Observer: José Mocellin (BRA)

20 April 2016
Boca Juniors – Deportivo Cali
Referee: Christian Ferreyra (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Gabriel Popovits (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Horacio Ferreiro (URU)
Fourth Official: Leondan Gonzalez (URU)
Referee Observer: Miguel Scime (ARG)

Bolívar – Racing
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Rangel (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Hernández (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jorge Rojas (MEX)
Referee Observer: Pedro Saucedo (BOL)

Corinthians – Cobresal
Referee: Carlos Orbe (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Flavio Nall (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Edwin Bravo (ECU)
Fourth Official: Juan Albarracin (ECU)
Referee Observer: Nilson Moncao (BRA)

Cerro Porteño – Santa Fe
Referee: Heber Lopes (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Kleber Gil (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Boschilia (BRA)
Fourth Official: Anderson Daronco (BRA)
Referee Observer: Carlos Alarcon (PAR)

21 April 2016
River Plate – Trujillanos
Referee: Víctor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Yupanqui (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Víctor Raez (PER)
Fourth Official: Luis Garay (PER)
Referee Observer: Miguel Scime (ARG)

The Strongest – Sao Paulo
Referee: Roberto Tobar (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Mondria (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Raúl Orellana (CHI)
Fourth Official: Jorge Osorio (CHI)
Referee Observer: Iván Gamboa (BOL)

FIFA AR drowned in the pool

Katherine Jimenez, 26, FIFA assistant referee from Costa Rica, drowned in the morning of Monday, 18 April 2016, in the pool of a hotel located on the Tambor beach, in Cobano, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. According to media reports, the judicial investigation indicated that the fact occurred at about 9:00, when Jimenez entered the pool after breakfast. Apparently, she suffered indigestion; however, the autopsy will determine the exact cause.
The UNCAF Executive Committee and the Referees Committee deeply regret the death of the FIFA assistant referee Katherine Daniela Jimenez from Costa Rica. She participated in the UNCAF project for women referee development and became an international assistant referee in 2014. Jimenez was appointed by FIFA and CONCACAF to several international tournaments, including the Algarve Cup 2016, Pan American Games 2015 and CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship 2015.

Source: Diez

UEFA referees savouring Youth League action

While players taking part in the UEFA Youth League finals in Nyon are relishing the chance to show their paces on a major stage, the refereeing teams are also gleaning invaluable experience that will stand them in good stead for the future.
Friday's first semi-final between Chelsea and Anderlecht at Colovray Sports Centre was officiated by a Swedish quartet – referee Andreas Ekberg and assistants Fredrik Nilsson and Stefan Hallberg, with Bojan Pandžić acting as fourth official. The second semi-final bringing together Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain was handled by four officials from Italy: referee Davide Massa, assistants Fabiano Preti and Alberto Tegoni, and fourth official Marco Guida. The German referee team selected for Monday's eagerly awaited final between Paris and Chelsea comprises referee Daniel Siebert, assistants Rafael Foltyn and Jan Seidel, and fourth official Christian Dingert.
All of the referee teams have shown potential which has earned them their assignments in Nyon. They already have match experience in other European competitions and take charge of games at domestic level, so the UEFA Youth League appointments represent another crucial step on their career pathways. Experienced former match officials are observing them at the UEFA Youth League matches and discuss the referees' performances with the officials after the match. The vast majority of this year's UEFA Youth League officials have also gathered crucial experience and learned comprehensively about what is expected of them at the higher levels by attending courses at UEFA's impressive Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE), which plays a vital role in preparing referees for their duties. The CORE presence in Nyon on Friday and Monday is a tribute to the outstanding work being done to groom young referees. While on a learning curve themselves, the referees are also being asked to take on the role of educators with the talented players they are overseeing on the field. The players in the UEFA Youth League are young footballers, so the referees must manage them and help prepare them for the future in learning UEFA's values such as respect for the referee and opponents. Debriefing sessions are taking place with the referees, in which they look back over their seasons and identify areas where they can get better. Honesty and transparency are key to these discussions, as these are factors which will help the match officials move onwards and upwards. The UEFA Youth League is the latest step in what the referee teams hope will be fulfilling and successful careers. UEFA is making sure that they are in the best possible hands by guiding them along the way as they strive to make their mark as men in the middle.

Source: UEFA

UEFA Futsal Cup Finals 2016

Guadalajara, 22-24 April 2016

Referees
1. Pascal Lemal (BEL, 1972)
2. Cedric Pelissier (FRA, 1976)
3. Bogdan Sorescu (ROU, 1974, photo)
4. Saša Tomić (CRO, 1975)

Semi-finals
Ugra 
 Benfica
Referee 1: Pascal Lemal (BEL)
Referee 2: Cedric Pelissier (FRA)

Pescara 
 Inter
Referee 1: Saša Tomić (CRO)
Referee 2: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)

Match for Third Place
Benfica 
 Pescara
Referee 1: Cedric Pelissier (FRA)
Referee 2: Pascal Lemal (BEL)

Final

Ugra 
 Inter
Referee 1: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU)
Referee 2: Saša Tomić (CRO)

Referee joint-preparation for 2018 and 2019 World Cups (AFC, CAF, OFC)

With the countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 well under way, FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca has opened the first joint-preparation Elite AFC, CAF and OFC Referees Seminar in Doha, Qatar. The seminar brings together prospective referees from three FIFA Confederations. It is a historical one: for the first time in FIFA’s history, female and male referees are going through a host of activities together, including theoretical sessions in the classroom and practical sessions on the field of play. Theoretical sessions are focused on specific topics – from reading the game and positioning to tackles and penalty area incidents. The match officials will discuss videos of different game situations to achieve consistency and uniformity. Practical sessions on the field of play bring players and referees together to simulate what happens in a game and immediate feedback will be given to referees regarding their reading of the play, leading to their movement, position, angle of view and decisions. The instructors will also provide immediate feedback to improve performances. FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca is looking ahead with a lot of enthusiasm to the cycle leading up to the Russia 2018 and the France 2019, with a unified, joint effort for men’s and women’s football. In his opening speech in Doha, Busacca said: “Men and women have to work together, because we are convinced that this should be our philosophy. The game is the same, the decisions they take are the same, and thus the preparation for the referees and assistant referees should be, too”. (Source: FIFA)


AFC

Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Abdulrahman Al Jassim (QAT, 1987)
2. Fahad Al Mirdasi (KSA, 1985)
3. Alireza Faghani (IRN, 1978)
4. Ravshan Irmatov (UZB, 1977)
5. Abdulla Mohamed (EAU, 1978)
6. Ryuji Sato (JPN, 1977)
7. Nawaf Shukralla (BHR, 1976)

Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN, 1986)
2. Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS, 1986)
3. Jong Hyeok Kim (KOR, 1983)

Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Rita Gani (MAS, 1977)
2. Kate Jacewicz (AUS, 1985)
3. Abirami Naidu (SIN, 1983)
4. Hyeon-Jeong Ok (KOR, 1988)
5. Ji-Yeong Park (KOR, 1981)
6. Liang Qin (CHN, 1979)
7. Casey Reibelt (AUS, 1988)
8. Hyang Ok Ri (PRK, 1977)
9. Aye Thein (MYA, 1982)
10. Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN, 1986)

CAF 

Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG, 1980)
2. Alioum Alioum (CMR, 1982)
3. Bernard Camille (SEY, 1975)
4. Malang Diedhiou (SEN, 1973)
5. Bakary Gassama (GAM, 1979)
6. Ghead Grisha (EGY, 1976)
7. Janny Sikazwe (ZAM, 1979)

Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Joseph Lamptey (GHA, 1974)
2. Eric Otogo Castane (GAB, 1976)
3. Bamlak Tessema (ETH, 1980)

Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Lilia Abdeljaoued (TUN, 1979)
2. Aya Ahoua (CIV, 1974)
3. Aissata Amegee (TGO, 1975)
4. Marximina Bernardo (ANG, 1979)
5. Incaf El Harkaoui (MAR, 1978)
6. Gladys Lengwe (ZAM, 1978)
7. Neama Mohamed (EGY, 1977)
8. Therese Neguel (CMR,1981)
9. Ledya Tafesse (ETH, 1980)
10. Fatou Thioune (SEN, 1985)

OFC 

Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Matthew Conger (NZL, 1978)
2. Norbert Hauata (TAH, 1979)

Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Ravitesh Behari (FIJ, 1981)
2. Nicholas Waldron (NZL, 1982)
3. Abdelkader Zitouni (TAH, 1981)

Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL, 1982)
2. Tupou Patia (COK, 1984)
3. Finau Vulivuli (FIJ, 1982)

UEFA Europa League – Quarter-finals (Second Leg)

14 April 2016

Sevilla – Athletic
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Robert Vukan (SVN)
Additional AR 1: Matej Jug (SVN)
Additional AR 2: Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Fourth Official: Bojan Ul (SVN)
Referee Observer: Alain Hamer (LUX)

Shakhtar Donetsk – Braga
Referee: Pavel Královec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Roman Slyško (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Wilczek (CZE)
Additional AR 1: Petr Ardeleanu (CZE)
Additional AR 2: Michal Patak (CZE)
Fourth Official: Tomas Mokrusch (CZE)
Referee Observer: Levan Paniashvili (GEO)

Sparta Praha – Villarreal
Referee: Martin Atkinson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Mullarkey (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Child (ENG)
Additional AR 1: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Additional AR 2: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Fourth Official: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Referee Observer: Eugen Strigel (GER)

Liverpool – Borussia Dortmund
Referee: Cüneyt Çakir (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin Duran (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik Ongun (ENG)
Additional AR 1: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)
Additional AR 2: Barış Şimşek (TUR)
Fourth Official: Serkan Ok (TUR)
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Copa Libertadores – Group Stage (Matchday 7)

12 April 2016
Toluca – San Lorenzo
Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian De La Cruz (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dionisio Ruiz (COL)
Fourth Official: Gustavo Murillo (COL)
Referee Observer: Gilberto Alcala (MEX)

Huracán – Peñarol
Referee: Omar Ponce (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Vera (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Ricardo Baren (ECU)
Fourth Official: Vinicio Espinel (ECU)
Referee Observer: Miguel Scime (ARG)

Sporting Cristal – Atlético Nacional
Referee: Juan Soto (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Murillo (VEN)
Fourth Official: Adrian Cabello (VEN)
Referee Observer: Antonio Arnao (PER)

Trujillanos – The Strongest
Referee: Patricio Polic (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Retamal (CHI)
Fourth Official: Eduardo Gamboa (CHI)
Referee Observer: Candelario Andarcia (VEN)

13 April 2016
Cobresal – Cerro Porteño
Referee: Raúl Orosco (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Montaño (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Javier Bustillos (BOL)
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mancilla (BOL)
Referee Observer: Patricio Basualto (CHI)

Olimpia – Deportivo Tachira
Referee: Leandro Vuaden (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Cruz (BRA)
Fourth Official: Pericles Cortez (BRA)
Referee Observer: Joel Ruiz (PAR)

Emelec – Pumas Unam
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Bonfa (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ariel Scime (ARG)
Fourth Official: German Delfino (ARG)
Referee Observer: Patricio Carpio (ECU)

Racing Club – Boca Juniors
Referee: Carlos Vera (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Byron Romero (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Macias (ECU)
Fourth Official: Diego Lara (ECU)
Referee Observer: Luis Pasturenzi (ARG)

São Paulo – River Plate
Referee: Andres Cunha (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Pastorino (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Taran (URU)
Fourth Official: Oscar Rojas (URU)
Referee Observer: Manoel Serapião (BRA)

LDU Quito – Gremio
Referee: Roberto Tobar (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Schiemann (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Raul Orellana (CHI)
Fourth Official: Jorge Osorio (CHI)
Referee Observer: Bomer Fierro (ECU)

14 April 2016
Atlético Mineiro – Melgar
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Lopez (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Sanchez (VEN)
Fourth Official: Jose Hoyo (VEN)
Referee Observer: Alicio Pena (BRA)

Colo Colo – Independiente Del Valle
Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Navarro (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Fourth Official: Jorge Baliño (ARG)
Referee Observer: Pablo Pozo (CHI)

Deportivo Cali – Bolívar
Referee: Julio Quintana (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Caceres (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Cañete (PAR)
Fourth Official: Eber Aquino (PAR)
Referee Observer: Ramon Giron (COL)

Nacional – Rosario Central
Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Fourth Official: Alfredo Peñaloza (MEX)
Referee Observer: Martin Vazquez (URU)

Palmeiras – River Plate
Referee: Oscar Maldonado (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Wilson Arellano (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Antelo (BOL)
Fourth Official: Luis Yrusta (BOL)
Referee Observer: Ednilson Corona (BRA)

UEFA Champions League – Quarter-finals (Second Leg)

12 April 2016
Real Madrid – VfL Wolfsburg
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: György Ring (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Vencel Tóth (HUN)
Additional AR 1: Tamás Bognar (HUN)
Additional AR 2: Adam Farkas (HUN)
Fourth Official: István Albert (HUN)
Referee Observer: Terje Hauge (NOR)

Manchester City – Paris St. Germain

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Alonso Fernández (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Yuste Jiménez (ESP)
Additional AR 1: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Additional AR 2: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP)

Fourth Official: Raúl Cabañero Martínez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Francesco Bianchi (SUI)

13 April 2016
Atletico Madrid – FC Barcelona
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Elenito Di Liberatore (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
Additional AR 1: Luca Banti (ITA)
Additional AR 2: Antonio Damato (ITA)
Fourth Official: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Referee Observer: Michael Riley (ENG)

SL Benfica – Bayern München
Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Sander van Roekel (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Additional AR 1: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Additional AR 2: Richard Liesveld (NED)
Fourth Official: Mario Diks (NED)
Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)

FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016 Qualifiers – UEFA (Play-off, Second Leg)

12-13 April 2016

Kazakhstan – Poland
Referee 1: Bogdan Sorescu (ROU, photo)
Referee 2: Gabriel Gherman (ROU)

Russia – Belarus
Referee 1: Eduardo Fernandes (POR)
Referee 2: Nuno Bogalho (POR)

Azerbaijan – Netherlands
Referee 1: Gerald Bauernfeind (AUT)
Referee 2: Oleg Ivanov (UKR)

Ukraine – Slovakia
Referee 1: Fernando Gutierrez (ESP)
Referee 2: Juan Gallardo (ESP)

Spain – Slovenia
Referee 1: Pascal Lemal (BEL)
Referee 2: Gerd Bylois (BEL)

Portugal – Serbia
Referee 1: Gabor Kovacs (HUN)
Referee 2: Balazs Farkas (HUN)

Italy – Hungary
Referee 1: Marc Birkett (ENG)
Referee 2: Ivan Shabanov (RUS)

UEFA Euro 2016 preparatory workshop for referees

The UEFA Euro 2016 Referee Preparatory Workshop will take place in Enghien-Les-Bains, near Paris, from 18 to 21 April 2016. The workshop will involve 112 match officials in total. The referee teams will train together, undertake fitness tests and review the application of technical instructions for the final tournament, which takes place in France from 10 June to 10 July. Subsequently, 94 match officials will return to France on 6 June for the tournament itself. Each referee team comprises six match officials: one main referee, two additional assistant referees, and two assistant referees. A third assistant referee has also been named as a reserve for each team, and will remain on standby until the start of the tournament to take the place of a colleague if necessary. The majority of assistants and additional assistants come from the same country as the referee.
The workshop will be held at the Hôtel du Lac, 89 rue du Général de Gaulle, 95880 Enghien-les-Bains, which will serve as the base for the referees’ teams during UEFA Euro 2016. A training session will be open to the media for 15 minutes on the morning of Wednesday 20 April, and takes place at the Centre Départemental de Formation et d’Animation Sportives (CDFAS), 64 rue des Bouquinvilles, 95600 Eaubonne. A press conference will then be held after the open training session, at 11.30CET at the Hôtel du Lac, in the presence of some of the referees and members of the UEFA Referees Committee, including UEFA's Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina. After the press conference, media representatives will have the possibility for one-to-one interviews with the referees.

Source: UEFA

UEFA Europa League – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

7 April 2016

Braga – Shakhtar Donetsk
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Klasenius (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Wärnmark (SWE)
Additional AR 1: Stefan Johannesson (SWE)
Additional AR 2: Markus Strömbergsson (SWE)
Fourth Official: Mehmet Culum (SWE)
Referee Observer: Christos Skapoullis (CYP)

Villarreal – Sparta Praha
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Octavian Şovre (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Gheorghe (ROU)
Additional AR 1: Alexandru Tudor (ROU)
Additional AR 2: Sebastian Colţescu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Referee Observer: Haim Jakov (ISR)

Athletic – Sevilla
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Beck (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Jake Collin (ENG)
Additional AR 1: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Additional AR 2: Andre Marriner (ENG)
Fourth Official: Gary Beswick (ENG)
Referee Observer: Fritz Stuchlik (AUT)

Borussia Dortmund – Liverpool
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Alonso Fernández (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Yuste Jiménez (ESP)
Additional AR 1: Jesús Gil Manzano (ESP)
Additional AR 2: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Fourth Official: Raúl Cabañero Martínez (ESP)
Referee Observer: Peter Fröjdfeldt (SWE)

CONCACAF Champions League – Semi-finals (Second Leg)

5 April 2016

Club America – Santos Laguna
Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX, photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Juan Rangel (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Andres Hernandez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Erick Miranda (MEX)

Tigres – Queretaro
Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jorge Rojas (MEX)

Copa Libertadores – Group Stage (Matchday 6)

5 April 2016
Toluca – Liga de Quito
Referee: Jose Argote (VEN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Murillo (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno (VEN)
Fourth Official: Marlon Escalante (VEN)
Referee Observer: Jorge Gasso (MEX)

Deportivo Táchira – Emelec
Referee: Christian Ferreyra (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mauricio Espinosa (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Nievas (URU)
Fourth Official: Esteban Ostojich (URU)
Referee Observer: Bernardo Corujo (VEN)

Huracán – Sporting Cristal
Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Emerson Carvalho (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guillerme Dias (BRA)
Fourth Official: Luiz De Oliveira (BRA)
Referee Observer: Carlos Coradina (ARG)

Sao Paulo – Trujillanos
Referee: Ulises Mereles (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Milciades Saldivar (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Darío Gaona (PAR)
Fourth Official: José Mendez (PAR)
Referee Observer: Roberto Perassi (BRA)

6 April 2016
River Plate – The Strongest
Referee: Wilson Lamouroux (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Alexander Guzmán (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Wilmar Navarro (COL)
Fourth Official: Juan Pontón (COL)
Referee Observer: Luis Bongianino (ARG)

Rosario Central – Palmeiras
Referee: Roddy Zambrano (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Byron Romero (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Lescano (ECU)
Fourth Official: Carlos Orbe (ECU)
Referee Observer: Luis Pasturenzi (ARG)

Independiente del Valle – Atlético Mineiro
Referee: Dario Herrera (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Hernán Maidana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Belatti (ARG)
Fourth Official: Germán Delfino (ARG)
Referee Observer: Bommer Fierro (ECU)

Santa Fe – Corinthians
Referee: Néstor Pitana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian Navarro (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade (ARG)
Fourth Official: Diego Abal (ARG)
Referee Observer: Dember Perdomo (COL)

Pumas Unam – Olimpia
Referee: Julio Bascuñán (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Mondria (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcelo Barraza (CHI)
Fourth Official: Jorge Osorio (CHI)
Referee Observer: Gilberto Alcalá (MEX)

7 April 2016
River Plate – Nacional
Referee: Enrique Cáceres (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Zorrilla (PAR)
Fourth Official: Mario Diaz De Vivar (PAR)
Referee Observer: Juan Cardellino (URU)

Boca Juniors – Bolivar
Referee: Víctor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jonny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Coty Carrera (PER)
Fourth Official: Henry Gambetta (PER)
Referee Observer: Luis Bongianino (ARG)

Racing – Deportivo Cali
Referee: Heber Lopes (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcelo Van Gasse (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kleber Gil (BRA)
Fourth Official: Dewson Frietas (BRA)
Referee Observer: Luis Pasturenzi (ARG)

Melgar – Colo Colo
Referee: Luis Sánchez (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Eduardo Díaz (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dionisio Ruiz (COL)
Fourth Official: Gustavo Murillo (COL)
Referee Observer: César Mongrut (PER)

UEFA Champions League – Quarter-finals (First Leg)

5 April 2016
FC Barcelona – Atletico Madrid
Referee: Felix Brych (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Additional AR 1: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Additional AR 2: Marco Fritz (GER)
Fourth Official: Marco Achmüller (GER)
Referee Observer: Pierluigi Collina (ITA)

Bayern München – SL Benfica
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Additional AR 1: Pawel Raczkowski (POL)
Additional AR 2: Tomasz Musial (POL)
Fourth Official: Radoslaw Siejka (POL)
Referee Observer: Jaap Uilenberg (NED)

6 April 2016
Paris St. Germain – Manchester City
Referee: Milorad Mažić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Milovan Ristić (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Dalibor Djurdjević (SRB)
Additional AR 1: Danilo Grujić (SRB)
Additional AR 2: Nenad Djokić (SRB)
Fourth Official: Nemanja Petrović (SRB)
Referee Observer: Paul Allaerts (BEL)

Wolfsburg – Real Madrid
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Elenito Di Liberatore (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Additional AR 1: Antonio Damato (ITA)
Additional AR 2: Carmine Russo (ITA)
Fourth Official: Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
Referee Observer: László Vagner (HUN)

UEFA Youth League Final 2016: Siebert (GER)

Semi-finals (15 April 2016)

Chelsea – Anderlecht
Referee: Andreas Ekberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Fredrik Nilsson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Hallberg (SWE)
Fourth Official: Bojan Pandžić (SWE)
Referee Observer: Pierluigi Collina (ITA)

Real Madrid – Paris St. Germain

Referee: Davide Massa (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Fabiano Preti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Tegoni (ITA)
Fourth Official: Marco Guida (ITA)
Referee Observer: Marc Batta (FRA)



Final (18 April 2016)

Chelsea/Anderlecht – Real Madrid/Paris SG
Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Foltyn (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan Seidel (GER)
Fourth Official: Christian Dingert (GER)
Referee Observer: Cyril Zimmermann (SUI)

AFC suspends match officials for alleged match-fixing

The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Disciplinary Committee has provisionally suspended Thai referees Thanom Borikut and Chaiya Mahapab for 60 days for alleged actions related to match-fixing. Mahapab was a FIFA referee from 2007 to 2014, while Borikut (photo) participated, as assistant referee, at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007.
The investigation is ongoing and the AFC may extend the ban for further 30 days. The AFC has also written to FIFA to ask for the suspension to be extended worldwide. The Football Association of Thailand has been notified of the decisions today. The AFC has a zero tolerance towards match manipulation. The AFC works to combat match-fixing on the continent through its three-point strategy of prevention, detection and response.

Source: AFC