Europe starts in a week. Some matchday 2 assignments are out, but will try to finish all the matchday 1 games in this post first. UEFA MATCHDAY 1 07.09.12 - Iceland : Norway - GAUTIER (FRA) 07.09.12 - Russia : Northern Ireland - MATEU LAHOZ (ESP) 07.09.12 - Wales : Belgium - JOHANNESSON (SWE) 07.09.12 - Malta : Armenia - EISNER (AUT) 07.09.12 - Croatia : FYR Macedonia - YEFET (ISR) 07.09.12 - Andorra : Hungary - ALECKOVIC (BIH) 07.09.12 - Netherlands : Turkey - VELASCO CARBALLO (ESP) 07.09.12 - Albania : Cyprus - KUCHIN (KAZ) 07.09.12 - Slovenia : Switzerland - TAGLIAVENTO (ITA) 07.09.12 - Germany : Faroe Islands - MADDEN (SCO) 07.09.12 - Luxembourg : Portugal - TOHVER (EST) 07.09.12 - Estonia : Romania - MAZIC (SRB) 07.09.12 - Azerbaijan : Israel - JUG (SVN) 07.09.12 - Bulgaria : Italy - ATKINSON (ENG) 07.09.12 - Kazakhstan : Republic of Ireland - AVRAM (ROU) 07.09.12 - Liechtenstein : Bosnia-Herzegovina - BORG (MLT) 07.09.12 - Montenegro : Poland - JAKOBSSON (ISL) 07.09.12 - Georgia : Belarus - TODOROV (BUL) 07.09.12 - Lithuania : Slovakia - CLOS GOMEZ (ESP) 07.09.12 - Latvia : Greece - BEBEK (CRO) 07.09.12 - Finland : France - THOMSON (SCO) 07.09.12 - Moldova : England - VAN BOEKEL (NED) 08.09.12 - Scotland : Serbia - ERIKSSON (SWE) 08.09.12 - Denmark : Czech Republic - STARK (GER)
UEFA matchday one completed above. Final round of OFC also starts this week. OFC FINAL ROUND 07.09.12 - Solomon Islands : Tahiti - CROSS (NZL) 07.09.12 - New Caledonia : New Zealand - HAUATA (TAH)
UEFA MATCHDAY 2 11.09.12 - Northern Ireland : Luxembourg - GLODJOVIC (SRB) 11.09.12 - Scotland : FYR Macedonia - KARASEV (RUS) 11.09.12 - Cyprus : Iceland - DELFERIERE (BEL) 11.09.12 - Norway : Slovenia - AYDINUS (TUR) 11.09.12 - Israel : Russia - CLATTENBURG (ENG) 11.09.12 - Bosnia-Herzegovina : Latvia - AYTEKIN (GER) 11.09.12 - England : Ukraine - CAKIR (TUR) 11.09.12 - Portugal : Azerbaijan - MARCINIAK (POL) 11.09.12 - Slovakia : Liechtenstein - EVANS (WAL) 11.09.12 - Serbia : Wales - GOMES (POR) 11.09.12 - Sweden : Kazakhstan - BOYKO (UKR) 11.09.12 - Hungary : Netherlands - PROENCA (POR) 11.09.12 - Romania : Andorra - RADOVANOVIC (MNE) 11.09.12 - Switzerland : Albania - HATEGAN (ROU) 11.09.12 - San Marino : Montenegro - DOYLE (IRL) 11.09.12 - Austria : Germany - KUIPERS (NED) 11.09.12 - Belgium : Croatia - UNDIANO MALLENCO (ESP) 11.09.12 - Italy : Malta - MUNUKKA (FIN) 11.09.12 - Poland : Moldova - SPATHAS (GRE) 11.09.12 - Bulgaria : Armenia - STUDER (SUI) 11.09.12 - Turkey : Estonia - BORSKI (POL) 11.09.12 - France : Belarus - GOCEK (TUR) 11.09.12 - Georgia : Spain - MOEN (NOR) 11.09.12 - Greece : Lithuania - COURTNEY (NIR)
UEFA first two matchdays are completed above. Apparently I missed matchday 3 in Asia, so it's pasted below with matchday 4: AFC ROUND 4, Matchdays 3 & 4 12.06.12 - Korea Republic : Lebanon - TOMA (JPN) 12.06.12 - Iran : Qatar - GREEN (AUS) 12.06.12 - Iraq : Oman - ABDOU (QAT) 12.06.12 - Australia : Japan - AL GHAMDI (KSA) 11.09.12 - Lebanon : Iran - TAN (CHN) 11.09.12 - Uzbekistan : Korea Republic - WILLIAMS (AUS) 11.09.12 - Jordan : Australia - BALIDEH (QAT) 11.09.12 - Japan : Iraq - BASHIR (SIN) Also, for CONCACAF, the final missing appointment is: 11.09.12 - USA : Jamaica - PINEDA (HON)
In the Canada-Panama match on Friday, the referee called a foul (good call and a deserved booking) on Simeon Jackson. He then stood by the spot of the foul for 15 or so seconds, and then booked Julian De Guzman for the foul committed by Jackson. Not only did he get the player wrong, but his mechanics for the call were attrocious (most FIFA referees would have had the yellow out for Jackson in under 2 seconds). Over the weekend, CONCACAF assigned the yellow back to Jackson from De Guzman, which I am almost surprised they were able to do (even though it is just)....
UEFA MATCHDAY 3 12.10.12 - FYR Macedonia : Croatia - RASMUSSEN (DEN) 12.10.12 - Serbia : Belgium - KRALOVEC (CZE) 12.10.12 - Wales : Scotland - MEYER (GER) 12.10.12 - Armenia : Italy - STRAHONJA (CRO) 12.10.12 - Bulgaria : Denmark - CHAPRON (FRA) 12.10.12 - Czech Republic : Malta - SALMANOV (AZE) 12.10.12 - Faroe Islands : Sweden - SIDIROPOULOS (GRE) 12.10.12 - Kazakhstan : Austria - BOGNAR (HUN) 12.10.12 - Republic of Ireland : Germany - RIZZOLI (ITA) 12.10.12 - Estonia : Hungary - LIANY (ISR) 12.10.12 - Netherlands : Andorra - KULBAKOV (BLR) 12.10.12 - Turkey : Romania - WEBB (ENG) 12.10.12 - Albania : Iceland - ASUMAA (FIN) 12.10.12 - Slovenia : Cyprus - KRUZLIAK (SVK) 12.10.12 - Switzerland : Norway - FERNANDEZ BORBALAN (ESP) 12.10.12 - Luxembourg : Israel - TRATTOU (CYP) 12.10.12 - Russia : Portugal - KASSAI (HUN) 12.10.12 - Greece : Bosnia-Herzegovina - DAMATO (ITA) 12.10.12 - Liechtenstein : Lithuania - VINCIC (SVN) 12.10.12 - England : San Marino - MAZEIKA (LTU) 12.10.12 - Slovaka : Latvia - MAKKELIE (NED) 12.10.12 - Moldova : Ukraine - TURPIN (FRA) 12.10.12 - Belarus : Spain - GUMIENNY (BEL) 12.10.12 - Finland : Georgia - ARANOVSKIY (UKR)
UEFA MATCHDAY 4 16.10.12 - Belgium : Scotland - HAGEN (NOR) 16.10.12 - Croatia : Wales - TUDOR (ROU) 16.10.12 - FYR Macedonia : Serbia - NIJHUIS (NED) 16.10.12 - Czech Republic : Bulgaria - BEZBORODOV (RUS) 16.10.12 - Italy : Denmark - SKOMINA (SVN) 16.10.12 - Austria : Kazakhstan - KEHLET (DEN) 16.10.12 - Faroe Islands : Republic of Ireland - JEMINI (ALB) 16.10.12 - Germany : Sweden - PROENCA (POR) 16.10.12 - Andorra : Estonia - MECKAROVSKI (MKD) 16.10.12 - Hungary : Turkey - ORSATO (ITA) 16.10.12 - Romania : Netherlands - THOMSON (SCO) 16.10.12 - Albania : Slovenia - STALHAMMAR (SWE) 16.10.12 - Cyprus : Norway - GIL (POL) 16.10.12 - Iceland : Switzerland - KELLY (IRL) 16.10.12 - Israel : Luxembourg - LECHNER (AUT) 16.10.12 - Portugal : Northern Ireland - KINHOFER (GER) 16.10.12 - Russia : Azerbaijan - STAVREV (MKD) 16.10.12 - Bosnia-Herzegovina : Lithuania - ZELINKA (CZE) 16.10.12 - Latvia : Liechtenstein - KOVACS (ROU) 16.10.12 - Slovakia : Greece - COLLUM (SCO) 16.10.12 - Poland : England - ROCCHI (ITA) 16.10.12 - San Marino : Moldova - PANAYI (CYP) 16.10.12 - Ukraine : Montenegro - KOUKOULAKIS (GRE) 16.10.12 - Belarus : Georgia - SCHORGENHOFER (AUT) 16.10.12 - Spain : France - BRYCH (GER)
This is sort of not on topic but kind of is... If some guy named Slim Jedidi (TUN) gets to officiate a 2014 World Cup match, the betting action on that game will be insane... http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tou..._prospective_referees__assistants_2014fwc.pdf
CONMEBOL MATCHDAY 9 12.10.12 - Colombia : Paraguay - PEZZOTTA (ARG) 12.10.12 - Argentina : Uruguay - VUADEN (BRA) 12.10.12 - Ecuador : Chile - LOPES (BRA) 12.10.12 - Bolivia : Peru - VERA (ECU) CONMEBOL MATCHDAY 10 16.10.12 - Venezuela : Ecuador - ROLDAN (COL) 16.10.12 - Bolivia : Uruguay - RIVERA (PER) 16.10.12 - Paraguay : Peru - LUNATI (ARG) 16.10.12 - Chile : Argentina - ARIAS (PAR) Vuaden is one of Brazil's newer international guys. And he gets a big match. Probably a name to watch for the future. Roldan gets a very important game and, after a positive performance at the Olympics, I'm starting to think he's a lock for 2014. Vera, on the other hand, might be facing the opposite fate.
CONCACAF MATCHDAY 5 12.10.12 - Antigua & Barbuda : USA - BRIZAN (TRI) 12.10.12 - El Salvador : Costa Rica - GEIGER (USA) 12.10.12 - Canada : Cuba - SANTOS (PUR) 12.10.12 - Guatemala : Jamaica - GARCIA (MEX) 12.10.12 - Guyana : Mexico - LOPEZ (GUA) 12.10.12 - Panama : Honduras - AGUILAR (SLV) Geiger gets the massive one (that he was eligible for). He has Hurd and Morgante, with Toledo as the 4th. Don't understand why Fletcher can't be rotated in for qualifiers, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards right now. Also, this would seem to confirm Morgante is still a FIFA AR, despite the badge anomaly a few weeks ago. Garcia and Aguilar with big matches, as well. CONCACAF MATCHDAY 6 16.10.12 - Honduras : Canada - MORALES (MEX) 16.10.12 - Cuba : Panama - LANCASTER (GUY) 16.10.12 - USA : Guatemala - MORENO (PAN) 16.10.12 - Jamaica : Antigua & Barbuda - QUESEDA (CRC) 16.10.12 - Costa Rica : Guyana - RODRIGUEZ (HON) 16.10.12 - Mexico : El Salvador - PEREA (PAN) USMNT fans should be, I think, happy. Don't see a better possible alternative than Moreno for the final match (I like Lopez more, but he's now busy on MD5). Interesting that Morales--Mexico's third guy--gets what could be a huge game on the final matchday. I would expect to see Marrufo and his team slotted in on one of the Matchday 6 games... obviously not in Jamaica, and back-to-back Americans for Costa Rica might be weird. So perhaps a trip to Havana? And then maybe a Canadian crew in Kingston? Assignments are obviously made, so if anyone knows, feel free to add them. These are just the only ones I've seen announced.
I saw CJ after the match he did in Dallas a few weeks ago and asked him about it. He said he just left the badge at home. Combination of laundry and college kit mix up.
Brizan's first match in this round and it's on the USMNT game. Also, Santos goes to Canada. Matchday 5 updated above... still working on getting the final Matchday 6 assignments.
OFC FINAL ROUND 12.10.12 - Solomon Islands : New Caledonia - O'LEARY (NZL) 12.10.12 - Tahiti : New Zealand - GEORGE (VAN) 16.10.12 - New Caledonia : Solomon Islands - ZITOUNI (TAH) 16.10.12 - New Zealand : Tahiti - OIAKA (SOL)
AFC ROUND 4, Matchday 5 16.10.12 - Qatar : Uzbekistan - TAN (CHN) 16.10.12 - Oman : Jordan - SHUKRALLA (BHR) 16.10.12 - Iraq : Australia - LEE, M. (KOR) 16.10.12 - Iran : Korea Republic - BASHIR (SIN) Asia really spreads their appointments around, though I suppose it's a lot like CONCACAF where a lot of the same teams play each other and the top elite referees can only be used so much. Nonetheless, that Iraq game (played in Doha) is huge and Iran is also in a position where they could very much use three points. When these games are completed, this round will be halfway finished.
CONCACAF assignments for Matchday 6 filled out above. Got to say, they are a little surprising. Some absolutely critical matches that are all being handled (aside from the US game) by officials that would fall squarely in what I would consider the region's second-tier (or perhaps third, in the case of Lancaster). EDIT: Marrufo and Rodriguez of Mexico finished this round with only one match each. The region's other 5 WC candidates had multiple matches, as did several other referees. Given that both those referees are well-known and their assignment possibilities are somewhat limited, I'm not sure that says anything, but it is something that caught my eye.
Bahraini Crew for Nov. 10 AFC Champions League Final: Center: Nawaf Shukralla ARs: Mohammed Jaffer and Sayed Jalal Mahfood 4th: Ali Al Samahiji Source: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=339482
Oman-Jordan is also huge, and if Shukralla is well-thought-of (is he?), there's something to be said for having a good CR on that match. I'm not quite sure how I'm defining "huge", though, since the AFC fourth-round qualifying structure makes almost every match important. Powerhouse v. minnow or minnow v. minnow would be the only exceptions, and I'm not sure who the minnows are right now, if there even are any minnows.
Well he's a World Cup candidate, the AFC Champions League Final referee this year and probably the second-ranked Arab referee, slotted into an all-Arab game. So even if he's not at the absolute pinnacle of Asian refereeing, he's certainly an expected choice. Agreed and I was having the same thoughts. If Iran gets 3 points next week, Group A is sort of running the way most would expect with no real surprises, but those 3 points are key. Group B, on the other hand, is incredibly confusing after Japan, who looks safe. Australia is already in a hole and dropping points to Iraq could put them in danger of not qualifying. Then again, with so many draws already, an away win could re-install them as favorites to progress. The next two matchdays will probably give us better definition in how this group will look, but there's a chance that every single match for the duration will be, to some extent, "huge."
Not to hijack this thread or anything, and the point is moot for these assignments, but this presents an interesting question. How does CONCACAF handle the issues with assigning an American referee or crew to work a match in Cuba when I believe it's illegal for an American to travel to Cuba?
Don't think it's a hijack at all. One of the reasons I put the question mark there. I know Brea has been to the US to ref, but can't recall a specific American going to Cuba. I think Americans have officiated Cuban away matches, but I guess it's possible they haven't gone to Cuba during the embargo. So perhaps my suggestion was a nonstarter to begin with.
If FIFA was doing the assigning, they'd assign Americans anyway and tell the federations to stop politicians from interfering under threat of suspension...
AFC ROUND 4, Matchday 6 14.11.12 - Oman : Japan - BALIDEAH (QAT) 14.11.12 - Iraq : Jordan - TAN (CHN) 14.11.12 - Qatar : Lebanon - AL GHAMDI (KSA) 14.11.12 - Iran : Uzbekistan - ALBADWAWI (UAE) Also, it turns out this announcement was wrong: Ben Williams of Australia has the Final tomorrow. Unclear if that's a change or just an incorrect initial report.
two stray European matches next week... UEFA Matchday 5 14.11.12 - Montenegro : San Marino - SZABO (HUN) 14.11.12 - Northern Ireland : Azerbaijan - SHVETSOV (UKR)
I don't believe it is illegal. The department of State has this on its website, which I believe would include officials.