Europa League - Round of 16 - Referee Appointments (II)

UEFA has appointed the following referee teams to take charge of Thursday's return legs of Europa League Round of 16. Greek Tasos Sidiropoulos will control Valencia CF - Ludogorets observed by UEFA Referee Committee member Vlado Šajn - no surprise given the circumstance that he caught our and probably also UEFA's attention by a very good development in his past matches. Same counts for Polish Szymon Marciniak. The Sevilla derby will be handled by Portuguese Pedro Proença, the Italian duel by Howard Webb. And, last but not least, the next mixed team has unfolded: Damir Skomina will be assisted by Italian Gianluca Cariolato.

20 March 2014, 18:00 CET
Saturn, Ramenskoye, Russia
Anji - AZ Alkmaar
Referee: Craig Thomson (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Alan Mulvanny (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Damien Macgraith (IRL)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Steven McLean (SCO)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Kevin Clancy (SCO)
Fourth Official: David McGeachie (SCO)
UEFA Referee Observer: Siegfried Kirschen (GER)
UEFA Delegate: Andreas Akkelides (CYP)
Blog Referee Observer: Stjepan Novosel (CRO)

20 March 2014, 19:00 CET
Estadi de Mestalla, Valencia, Spain
Valencia CF - Ludogorets
Referee: Tasos Sidiropoulos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Christos Akrivos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Damianos Efthimiadis (GRE)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Ilias Spathas (GRE)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Stavros Tritsonis (GRE)
Fourth Official: Dimitrios Gagas (GRE)
UEFA Referee Observer: Vlado Šajn (SVN)
UEFA Delegate: Jevgenijs Milevskis (LVA)
Blog Referee Observer: Niclas (GER)

20 March 2014, 19:00 CET
Štruncovy Sady Stadión, Plzen, Czech Rep.
Viktoria Plzen - Olympique Lyon
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Paweł Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Raczkowski (POL)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Musiał (POL)
Fourth Official: Radosław Siejka (POL)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jozef Marko (SVK)
UEFA Delegate: Oleg Harlamov (EST)
Blog Referee Observer: Edward (GRE)

20 March 2014, 19:00 CET
Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
SL Benfica - Tottenham
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN)
Assistant Referee 1: Bojan Ul (SVN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Slavko Vinčić (SVN)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Ponis (SVN)
Fourth Official: Jure Praprotnik (SVN)
UEFA Referee Observer: Juan Fernández Marín (ESP)
UEFA Delegate: Dumitru Mihalache (ROU)
Blog Referee Observer: Niclas (GER)

20 March 2014, 19:00 CET
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy
ACF Fiorentina - Juventus Turin
Referee: Howard Webb (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Mullarkey (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Darren Cann (ENG)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Andre Marriner (ENG)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Lee Mason (ENG)
Fourth Official: Jake Collin (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Oguz Sarvan (TUR)
UEFA Delegate: Steen Dahrup (DEN)
Blog Referee Observer: Glitzo (AUT)

20 March 2014, 21:05 CET
Benito Villamarín, Sevilla, Spain
Real Betis - Sevilla CF
Referee: Pedro Proença (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bertino Miranda (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tiago Trigo (POR)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Duarte Gomes (POR)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: João Capela (POR)
Fourth Official: Paulo Alexandre Santos (POR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Nikolay Levnikov (RUS)
UEFA Delegate: Zoran Cvrk (CRO)
Blog Referee Observer: Chefren (ITA)

20 March 2014, 21:05 CET
Stadion Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
RB Salzburg - FC Basel
Referee: Manuel Gräfe (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Pickel (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Guido Kleve (GER)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Marco Fritz (GER)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Robert Hartmann (GER)
Fourth Official: Marco Achmüller (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: David Roger Griffiths (WAL)
Blog Referee Observer: Marcel (NED)

20 March 2014, 21:05 CET
Stadio San Paolo, Napoli, Italy
SSC Napoli - FC Porto
Referee: Martin Atkinson (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Child (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Darren England (ENG)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Craig Pawson (ENG)
Fourth Official: Stuart Burt (ENG)
UEFA Referee Observer: Jean Lemmer (LUX)
UEFA Delegate: Markus Stenger (GER)
Blog Referee Observer: Emil Archambault (CAN)

10 Funny Yearbook Quotes

Get ready to laugh hard. These are some of the funniest senior yearbook quotes that you have read in a long time. They are written by graduating seniors as they pass their final year in school.

 10 Funny Yearbook Quotes

Next Page: Funny good morning quotes

Champions League - Round of 16 - Referee Appointments (VIII)

UEFA has appointed Björn Kuipers and Alberto Undiano to take charge of the enclosing two return legs of this season's Champions League Round of 16. The Dutchman, who was recently elected as The Third Team's Referee of the Year 2013, will take charge of the important duel at Old Trafford where Manchester United will have to catch up a 2:0-defeat conceded in the first leg, while Alberto Undiano will control the probably decided encounter between last season's finalists Borussia Dortmund and Zenit St. Petersburg, before handling El Clásico in La Liga next weekend.

19 March 2014, 20:45 CET
Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Manchester United - Olympiakos [0:2]
Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Angelo Boonman (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin E.J. Zeinstra (NED)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Richard Liesveld (NED)
Fourth Official: Charles Schaap (NED)
UEFA Referee Observer: Francesco Bianchi (SUI)
UEFA Delegate: Michael Kirchner (GER)
Blog Referee Observer: Niclas (GER)

19 March 2014, 20:45 CET
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany
Borussia Dortmund - Zenit St. Petersburg [4:2]
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Raúl Cabañero Martínez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Díaz Pérez Del Palomar (ESP)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Clos Gómez (ESP)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes (ESP)
Fourth Official: Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (ESP)
UEFA Referee Observer: Stephen Graham Bennett (ENG)
UEFA Delegate: Christian Kofoed (DEN)
Blog Referee Observer: Nur H. (ENG)

Champions League - Round of 16 - Referee Appointments (VII)

Interesting appointments for Russian Sergei Karasev and German Felix Brych: They have been assigned for respectively very important matches in UEFA Champions League: While for the Russian the decided duel between Real Madrid and Schalke 04 means another step towards a promotion to the Elite Group, Brych has got the chance to convince the committee and Roberto Rosetti at Stamford Bridge that he is a candidate for one of this season's finals besides Jonas Eriksson and Björn Kuipers.

18 March 2014, 20:45 CET
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid (ESP)
Real Madrid - Schalke 04 [6:1]
Referee: Sergei Karasev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Nikolay Golubev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Anton Averianov (RUS)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Maksim Layushkin (RUS)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Vitaly Meshkov (RUS)
Fourth Official: Dmitry Mosyakin (RUS)
UEFA Referee Observer: Vítor Melo Pereira (POR)
UEFA Delegate: Dennis Cruise (IRL)
Blog Referee Observer: Edward (GRE)

18 March 2014, 20:45 CET
Stamford Bridge, London (ENG)
Chelsea FC - Galatasaray Istanbul [1:1]
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Tobias Welz (GER)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Bastian Dankert (GER)
Fourth Official: Christoph Bornhorst (GER)
UEFA Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Michele Uva (ITA)
Blog Referee Observer: Thomas H. (NED)

Europa League - Round of 16 - Referee Appointments (I)

Dutch Elite referee Björn Kuipers from the Netherlands has been appointed by UEFA to handle the full Italian clash between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina, to be played in Turin. 

Björn Kuipers, in charge of  the Italian derby Juventus-Fiorentina

19:00 CET, Natsionalen Stadion Vasil Levski, Sofia (BUL)
Ludogorets - Valencia CF
Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Tony Chapron (FRA)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Nicolas Rainville (FRA)
Fourth Official: Cyril Saint-Cricq Lompre (FRA)
Referee Observer: Hans Reijgwart (NED)
UEFA Delegate: Velid Imamović (BIH)
Blog Referee Observer: Edward (GRE)

19:00 CET, Estádio do Dragão, Porto (POR)
FC Porto - SSC Napoli
Referee: Pavel Královec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Roman Slyško (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Wilczek (CZE)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Radek Příhoda (CZE)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Michal Paták (CZE)
Fourth Official: Antonin Kordula (CZE)
Referee Observer: Zoran Petrović (SRB)
UEFA Delegate: Eduard Dervishaj (ESP)
Blog Referee Observer: Glitzo (AUT)

19:00 CET, St. Jakob-Park, Basel (SUI)
FC Basel - FC Salzburg
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Octavian Sovre (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Eugen Gheorghe (ROU)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Alexandru Tudor (ROU)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Coltescu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Referee Observer: Bertrand Layec (FRA)
UEFA Delegate: Rainer Koch (GER)
Blog Referee Observer: Thomas H. (NED)

21:05 CET, Juventus Stadium, Turin (ITA)
Juventus Turin - ACF Fiorentina
Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Angelo Boonman (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin E.J. Zeinstra (NED)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Pol van Boekel (NED)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Richard Liesveld (NED)
Fourth Official: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)
UEFA Delegate: Adrian Ixari (MDA)
Blog Referee Observer: Chefren (ITA) 

21:05 CET, AZ Stadion, Alkmaar (NED)
AZ Alkmaar - Anji
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Renato Faverani (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Stefani (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Paolo Mazzoleni (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Antonio Damato (ITA)
Fourth Official: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
Referee Observer: Charles Agius (MLT)
UEFA Delegate: Mehmet Süheyl Onen (TUR)
Blog Referee Observer: João M.M.S. (POR)

21:05 CET, Stade de Gerland, Lyon (FRA)
Olympique Lyon - Viktoria Plzen
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrian Devis (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Javier Rodriguez (ESP)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Clos Gómez (ESP)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Alejandro Hernández Hernández (ESP)
Fourth Official: Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar (ESP)
Referee Observer: Jørn West Larsen (DEN)
UEFA Delegate: Benny Jacobsen (DEN)
Blog Referee Observer: Marcel (NED)

21:05 CET, Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla (ESP)
Sevilla CF - Real Betis
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin Duran (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Barış Şimşek (TUR)
Fourth Official: Orkun Aktaş (TUR)
Referee Observer: Sándor Piller (HUN)
UEFA Delegate: Jacob Erel (ISR)
Blog Referee Observer: Philipp S. (GER)

21:05 CET, White Hart Lane, London (ENG)
Tottenham - SL Benfica
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Klasenius (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Wärnmark (SWE)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Johannesson (SWE)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Markus Strömbergsson (SWE)
Fourth Official: Magnus Sjöblom (SWE)
Referee Observer: Pierluigi Collina (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Sándor Berzi (HUN)
Blog Referee Observer: Niclas (GER) 

Graduation quotes - Inspirational Funny

Here are some of the best graduation quotes that you will read. We have:
1. Inspirational quotes & 2. Funny quotes.

I have worked hard for this day and finally it has arrived. Today I am closer to my success than I have ever been. I am sure that I will succeed.

Graduation quotes

Every single project that I have completed and every exam that I wrote has made me a smarter person. Finally it is time to celebrate the results of all that hard work.
~ Ashley Kilt

A lot of students are looking at the
graduation day as the end of everything good. But I am determined to see this as  a new beginning to a new life of freedom and happiness.
~ Ferrari Mace

Graduation Quotes

You could look at this day as a way to get a new job or you could think big and create your own world and employ others for jobs.
~ Jefferey Wild

The first thing you need to do after graduation is make a list of the things that you really want as your career or in your business. Then check the things that you need to make it happen.
~ Anton Pfizer

Don't ever get discouraged and keep being your best in every thing that you do. As you plant your seeds of efforts you will find that all good things happen steadily.
~ Michael Pond

Do all things with excellence and enthusiasm. It is not just a one deal in life... not even something that happens once in a blue moon. Excellence is a habit which can make you very successful.
~ Tommy Bryce

Keep living the dream that you always dreamed but don't make the mistake of avoiding the little pleasures that come your way.
~ Monk Lloyd

Funny graduation quotes
Your family and close people are very happy and satisfied with you. This is the best time for you to go to them and ask for money ; )
~ Tony None

Always remember that you are in a world full of aggression and passion. If you are not fired up with passion you will be FIRED with passion.
~ Grace Wright

If life ever gets boring remember that nothing is worse than a lecture. It usually has a professor who talks non stop in someone else's sleep.
~ Melanie Voice

You will usually hear people using the word "Godspeed" during your convocation or graduation ceremony. What they are really trying to say is that you should get lost and will not be allowed at the current prices since fees have increased.
~ Althea Troy

Wonder where I would be without these 3 keys to graduate. We all ought to thank Google, Wikipedia and red bull for helping us reach this day.
~ Veronica Gates

More quotes
I will be missing all you friends and teachers. The next few days are not going to be the same and I will still be thinking about all the fun we had in school.
~ Melinda Dwight

Your may have graduated now but remember that education is a life long process and there is never enough known. That is because the world is still evolving.
~ Patrick Roads

Next Page: Top 10 hilarious school quotes

Together Everybody Achieves More

There has been a change of this blog's header somewhen in 2012 or 2013, when the quite exaggerated title "World of Football Refereeing" became "The Third Team". It should demonstrate that we are considering referees, (additional) assistant referees and the fourth official as the third team on the field of play besides both football teams. While outstanding players such as Zlatan Ibrahimović or Cristiano Ronaldo have often enough proven that they alone can make all the difference, refereeing is no ring for lone fighters and no stage for soloists. 
A perfect example of that happened in the German Bundesliga match between Frankfurt and Stuttgart, two clubs threatened with relegation, last week.

As you can see in the video, there was a duel in the white team's penalty area - both players involved fell to the ground. Referee Deniz Aytekin showed a small moment of hesitation but then pointed to the spot to award a penalty kick in favour of the red-dressed team. The replays are clearly showing that this had been an error of perception - it was the attacker who caused the contact and who thus fouled his opponent and not vice versa. For the referee, this situation was difficult to judge as he did not have the optimum viewing angle and insight into the contact. But obviously, the first assistant referee, 1989 born Benjamin Brand, had a good look at it and saw who was the real offender. Laudably this young assistant referee, who had already been in focus once in this blog, showed immense courage to take quite an unpopular - given the late stage of the match and importance of its outcome - and also an extremely brave decision: With some quick communication, he overruled Aytekin by advising him to award a direct free-kick in favour of the defensive team instead of a penalty kick. The assistant referee's courage is one positive facet of this match situation. But what you should take along, having watched this incident, is something else:

1. Work as a team.

2. Trust each other. Encourage your assistants to assume responsibility if they are sure. However, be careful: avoid the diffusion of responsibility à la "Now we see more"...

3. Develop a flat hierarchy in your team - the ease old times when "linesmen" had nothing to say are over! In a functioning team, even a 24 year-old assistant referee can correct a UEFA Elite referee-to-be.

4. Have the guts to overrule your teammate if you are sure, the match benefits from it! Be brave!

5. Have the guts to respect and trust your teammate, who has just told you that you had made a mistake or even overruled you visible for all players and fans! 

6. Have the guts to correct your decision!

7. Sell it in a natural and sincere way. Only if this is done, players and fans will accept you are a human who has just made a mistake. Honesty wins and makes you stronger in the end.

Or, in a nutshell:  

Together  
Everybody  
Achieves  
More