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UEFA Under-21 European Championship 2013 (ESP) Spain 3:0 Norway (NOR)

18 June 2013, 18:00 CET Netanya Municipal Stadium, Netanya (ISR)

Match Officials Referee Assistant Referee 1 Assistant Referee 2 Additional AR 1 Additional AR 2 Fourth Official UEFA Delegate UEFA Referee Observer Blog Referee Observer
1 2

Name Serhiy Boiko Ivo Kolev Alan Mulvanny Sbastien Delferiere Ilias Spathas Vencel Tth Petr Fousek Haim Jakov Niclas E.

Origin UKR BUL SCO BEL GRE HUN CZE ISR GER

Mark1 8.4 8.3 8.5 8.0 8.0 8.0

Mark2 -------------

Difficulty3 Normal Normal Challenging Normal Normal Normal

Final mark according to evaluation scale. Expected level for AARs and fourth official is 8.0, crucial mistake 7.7! Mark if the final mark had not been influenced by a crucial mistake (only in case of a crucial mistake, to be held empty if no crucial mistake occurred). 3 Difficulty has to be integrated into the final mark. Levels of difficulty are: normal, challenging and very challenging. 4 Blog-Referee Observer =Inofficial referee observer appointed by the blog administrator.

Evaluation scale 9.0 10.0 8.5 8.9 8.3 8.4 8.2 8.0 8.1 7.9 7.8 7.5 7.7 7.0 7.4 6.0 6.9

(for referee and assistant referees only)

Description of the Marks Excellent. Very good. Important decision(s) correctly taken. Good. Expected level. Satisfactory with small areas for improvement. Satisfactory with important areas for improvement. One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.3 or above. One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.0 8.2. Below expectation, poor control, significant point(s) for improvement. Disappointing. Below expectation with one and clear important mistake or a performance with two or more clear and important mistakes. Unacceptable.

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1) Description of the match: Semifinal match between holders Spain and Norway who managed to qualify for the knockout stage unbeaten in their respective groups. Good attacking skills shown by the Spanish side never created doubts about who would win this match. Norway never built on their performances in the group stage matches and in the end lost in a quite clear and deserved fashion. The surroundings and basic conditions were all right and contributed to a good game. The match was characterized by a high level of fairplay, so that the referee did not face that many conflicts or controversies within the 90 minutes. Therefore the match difficulty was, except some moments, still normal.

Referee
2) Knowledge, Application and Interpretation of the Laws of the Game, Disciplinary Control and Technical Management of the game with special reference to the situations and the minutes when they occurred. (Crucial decisions, if available, have to be explicitly mentioned in the grid and highlighted). Comments: The referee showed a good and, considering the requirements of the match, suitable application and interpretation of the Laws of the Game. He had a very good foul detection and maintained his criteria for what needs a whistle on a consistent level. A very complete referee concerning this aspect. As indicated in the description of the match, both teams really behaved in a sporting and fair manner: referee Boiko only whistled 19 fouls and that was fully ok. Technical Laws of the Game were executed appropiately, too, even though the match did not feature any interesting moments in terms of that. His card management was still good. The cards he issued were absolutely justified: correct YC to Spains Bartra for simulation (25). There was a contact, but the players way of falling, gesture and the fact that he just fell with a bit too much delay support the official s decision. That must be praised also due to the fact that the scene before and around this incident was quite frantic and confusing. Also correct to caution Norwegian Eikrem for a foul (49), same goes for Spains Illarramendi (83), who impeded a possible goal attempt by pulling and holding (tactical foul, unsporting behaviour). Despite the low number of infringements, he actually missed two mandatory yellow cards one against Norways Berge for a reckless challenge with studs-up (67) on Bartra and the other one against Norwegian forward Johansen for a mistimed sliding tackle with reckless impact on Iigo Martnez (73). Even if the referee had decided to not book them, what would have been acceptable due to his quite lenient line, he should have at least urged them in a verbal conversation. Minute 25 Description of the situation YC to Bartra for simulation in the penalty area. No classical dive where no contact exists, but at least a clear try to seek contact and waste a too easy penalty. Both arms were widely spread to show the referee that he had been allegedly fouled, the referee was all in all right to caution him for diving.

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67 73

Studs-up foul by Berge, dangerous / reckless play. Should have been a YC. Sliding tackle at the sideline close to AR1, in the end reckless. Also here a YC seemed to be needed.

3) Tactical approach and its Degree of Consistency, Personality, Match Control and Management of the Teams and Players with special reference to the situations and the minutes when they occurred. Comments: The referee had a lenient line and maintained that during the whole match. However this did not seem to have been a deliberately chosen or active style. The match was very fair, the referee obviously recognized this circumstance and contributed to a good match from his side. He had no reason to apply a stricter approach than he did. The players accepted his decisions and respected him as member of this match. There were some protests though which were immediately recognized by the referee and also stopped by warnings (such as in 73). A point to improve here is that he should not let the players walk too far away while he is still issuing a verbal warning. He should collect the player and have a silent but clear talk to him. In some tougher fouls which went unbooked, he should have approached the centre of attention to show presence and should have sometimes talked more to the players in form of warnings. The decision to caution Bartra for simulation was reinforced by clear and quick gestures to avoid irritation or upcoming protests. Norways Strandberg berated Bartra a bit after his dive, the referee immediately intervened and told him calm down in a determined manner. Summary of 2) and 3): Positive Points 1. 2. Clear and predictable line in terms of foul detection determined and self-confident decision-taking. Very well chosen tactical approach. He stayed passive but one had the impression that he would have been ready to become active if needed (in riots e.g.). Detection of simulation and identification of players who seeked too easy contacts and free-kicks. Good dealing with the situation directly after the decision to caution a player for diving. He should move to the centre of attention where a hard foul occurred to show presence and should not stay away 30 metres from the scene of event. More awareness for mandatory cautions in some moments. At least verbal warnings were obligatory. He should not let players walk away while he is still warning them or in the process of issuing a YC against them.

3.

Not meeting requirements, points that need improvement

1. 2. 3.

Minute

Description of the situation

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4) Physical Shape, Stamina, Positioning, Movement as well as Mental Awareness, if needed, with reference to the minutes when they occurred, always in case of a -. Physical Condition (very good, good, average, poor): Very Good Further Aspects: + Expected X X X Minute full time Always close to play, follows play at all times with a flexible diagonal system and impedes interference with play Efficient positioning (at set pieces e.g.) and movement to be ready to take a (crucial) decision (specially in the box; be able to enter the box in some cases when it is necessary) Shows awareness and is able to anticipate the action

Description of the situation No complaints here. The referee really had an excellent stamina and was always positioned accordingly to take an important decision. His good positioning during the simulation incident helped him to take the correct call.

5) Teamwork (co-operation with (A)ARs and fourth official with reference, if needed, to special situations and the minutes when they occurred) Comments: Good teamwork overall. Offsides were not only signalized in a reliable manner, but also followed by quick whistles. Obviously a good usage of the micro. AR1 could have advised him to book Johansen though, as it directly appeared in front of him.

6) If needed: General comments or advices for improvement; explanation of the chosen mark; further matters (can be let empty). Comments: A really good performance in an important match for the tournament and the referee s own career. He convinced in most of the areas and was sometimes even invisible. It is clear that he revealed a few minor weaknesses, but due to the high quality of his decisions in more important moments, such as the dive call, I decided to give 8.4 for this performance.

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Assistant Referee 1
7) Assistant Referee 1s performance (please mention some important decisions either by integrating them into a coherent comment or mentioning them in the grid below; mandatory if a - (negative point) is selected) Relevant Aspects: + X X X X X Expected Correct offside decisions by means of a good application of the wait and see-technique Good positioning and movement Mental alertness and reaction to incidents in his area of vicinity Reasonable degree of co-operation with referee (not flagging too much / too little; being able to support referee in crucial decisions) Efficient control at set pieces

Comments: The first assistant referee showed a very reliable and good performance in the match. All the offsides and onsides were correct (such as in 38 or 66). Specially preceding Spains first goal, one of these decisions became very important. He can improve assisting the referee and informing him about offenses which really need a caution though (73). 8.3. Minute 45+1 73 Description of the situation No offside preceding Spains goal, very well seen. Should have advised Boiko to issue a YC against Johansen (NOR) for a reckless challenge.

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Assistant Referee 2
8) Assistant Referee 2s performance (please mention some important decisions either by integrating them into a coherent comment or mentioning them in the grid below; mandatory if a - (negative point) is selected) Relevant Aspects: + X X X X X Expected Correct offside decisions by means of a good application of the wait and see-technique Good positioning and movement Mental alertness and reaction to incidents in his area of vicinity Reasonable degree of co-operation with referee (not flagging too much / too little; being able to support referee in crucial decisions) Efficient control at set pieces

Comments: Very good performance shown by AR2. He was always alert in terms of offsides and onsides and faced many challenging situations. Also a good wait-and-see-technique which helped him to identify more confusing offside scenarios. However, he did not face any important decision apart from that. 8.5. Minute Description of the situation Very good offside decisions. Specially the one in minute 20 was difficult to take, as many players were potentially offside or onside, so that he had to wait and 10, 20, 58, 90 see how the scene would develop. Also good dealing with contrary movements. Really convincing.

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Additional Assistant Referee 1

9) Additional Assistant Referee 1s performance (please mention some important decisions either by integrating them into a coherent comment or mentioning them in the grid below; mandatoryif a - (negative point) is selected) Relevant Aspects: + Expected X X X Good positioning and movement Mental alertness and reaction to incidents in his area of vicinity based on a reasonable degree of co-operation with referee Efficient control at set pieces

Comments: Adequate positioning and movement on the goalline. Mentally alert impression no situations to solve. Normal performance! Minute Description of the situation

Additional Assistant Referee 2

10) Additional Assistant Referees performance (please mention some important decisions either by integrating them into a coherent comment or mentioning them in the grid below; mandatoryif a - (negative point) is selected) Relevant Aspects: + Expected X X X Good positioning and movement Mental alertness and reaction to incidents in his area of vicinity based on a reasonable degree of co-operation with referee Efficient control at set pieces

Comments: Adequate positioning and movement on the goalline. Mentally alert impression no situations to solve. Normal performance! Minute Description of the situation

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Fourth Official
11) Fourth Officials performance (reference to technical management like substitutions or signalling of additional time, dealing with benches in case of conflicts) Comments: Everything as it should be. Reliable member of the officiating team!