Skomina senses a big honour ahead Monte Carlo's final

Slovenian referee Damir Skomina continues to make excellent refereeing progress, with tonight's UEFA Super Cup contest between Chelsea FC and Club Atlético de Madrid at Monaco's Stade Louis II the latest addition to a top-notch career CV. Skomina, his assistants Primoz Arhar and Matej Žunič, fourth official Bojan Ul and additional assistant referees Matej Jug and Slavko Vincic, are looking forward to the showpiece occasion which heralds the start of the 2012/13 European club competition season.

The 36-year-old has been an international referee since 2003. He served as fourth official at two youth finals, beginning with the 2003 UEFA European Under-17 Championship showpiece between Portugal and Spain in Viseu and then exercising his duties at the U19 decider between England and France in Belfast in 2005.

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UEFA Champions League 2012/13 - Referee Appointments Play-Offs (2)

One of five appointed referees: Tom Harald Hagen (NOR)

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Clips & Tips: DOGSO outside the penalty area

The following video clip collection focuses on cases in the area of Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) outside the penalty area. Since the IFAB's revision of Law 12, the difference between DOGSO offences outside and inside the penalty area is crucial and can determine the disciplinary sanction.

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Damir Skomina gets UEFA Supercup call-up

Damir Skomina of Slovenia has been appointed to oversee next week's UEFA Supercup 2012 final between UEFA Champions League winners FC Chelsea London and UEFA Europa League winners Atlético Madrid. The match will be played at Stade Louis II, Monaco, at 20:45 CET.

For the tourism manager from Koper, it will be his second international final after 2007 UEFA U21 EURO final between the Netherlands and Serbia.
In 2011/12, he refereed both teams: After having whistled the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg between Chelsea and Benfica, he also handled the UEFA Europa League semifinal between Valencia and Atlético.

(ENG) Chelsea London			Atlético Madrid (ESP)
Friday, 31 August 2012, 20:45 CET, Stade Louis Monaco II (MON)
Referee: Damir Skomina (SVN) Assistant Referee 1: Primoz Arhar (SVN) Assistant Referee 2: Matej Zunic (SVN) Fourth Official: Bojan Ul (SVN) Additional Assistant Referee 1: Slavko Vincic (SVN) Additional Assistant Referee 2: Matej Jug (SVN) UEFA Delegate: Rudolf Repka (CZE) UEFA Referee Observer: Hugh Dallas (SCO) UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Jacques Thaon (FRA) MATCH PREVIEW MATCH REPORT

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How much do UEFA officials earn?

UEFA has informed their referees about significant changes to the salaries UEFA officials earn for all UEFA competition matches starting from 2012/13 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.

The new payment scheme comprises:

1. Daily allowances

2. Lump sum to cover domestic expenses

3. Single match salaries

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On the Champions League referee appointments (I)

After a definitely too long break following last season's club football comprising UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, the phenomenal European Championships at Poland/Ukraine, European's top competitions have already commenced their entire qualfying rounds and with the pending Play-Offs that will start today, a new season of sparkling football lies ahead. For UEFA's referees, this is another season where they can reach sensations, as Pedro Proença did last season, to generally show their skills and furthermore to take next steps within their development.

UEFA has again set new standards. Since Pierluigi Collina has headed the referee committee, there have been plenty of remarkable changes every now and then. Starting from officials getting the same team within the K.O. stage was a rarity once, examples like Carlos Velasco Carballo in 2010/11 and Felix Brych in 2011/12 clearly indicate that the slogan impossible is nothing also counts for their appointment strategy. In addition, the committee has extended the pool of referees who either are already joining the ELITE group or who are under obvious observation for that, being in Elite Development. 22 Elitereferees and 14 Elite development referees will have remarkable chances to get UEFA Champions League matches, in total 36 officials plus many potential talents from First Group who could get a match as well.

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The role of the UEFA Referee Liaison Officer

Ensuring great football nights under the stars of UEFA Champions League, respectively within UEFA Europa League and other UEFA organized competitions requires more than 90 minutes of play. One of the many aspects of match organization is fulfilled by the UEFA Referee Liaison Officer.

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UEFA Europa League 2012/13 - Referee Appointments Play-Offs (2)

Sergei Karasev (RUS) will oversee Hannover - Slask Wroclaw

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UEFA Europa League 2012/13 - Referee Appointments Play-Offs (1)

UEFA has already appointed full teams for next week's UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Legs. The full appointments for the Second Legs will follow in due course.

Appointed for Anzhi - Alkmaar: Michael Koukoulakis (GRE)

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Markus Strömbergsson has quit international officiating

Sweden's Markus Strömbergsson has stopped his career as international FIFA referee for personal reasons, since he found himself unable to combine international refereeing with his private life including both job and family. Therefore, he will solely handle domestic matches in future.

He was suddenly removed from FIFA's international officials' database and did not appear in the current UEFA Elite Development Group anymore either.

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Significant novelties in UEFA Champions League refereeing

On the basis of sources and the UEFA Champions League Play-Off referee appointments that have been made public today, two significant novelties can be outlined.

UEFA's referee committee has obviously decided to appoint FIFA assistant referees for the task of the fourth official in matches where additional assistant referees are deployed. In case of an injured referee, the higher classified additional assistant referee will replace him.

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UEFA Champions League 2012/13 - Referee Appointments Play-Offs (1)

(RUS) Spartak Moskva			Fenerbahce (TUR)
Tuesday, 21 August 2012, 18:00 CET, Luzhniki Stadion, Moscow (RUS) REPORT
Referee: Martin Atkinson (ENG) Assistant Referee 1: Peter Kirkup (ENG) Assistant Referee 2: Stuart Burt (ENG) Fourth Official: Stephen Child (ENG) Additional Assistant Referee 1: Michael Oliver (ENG) Additional Assistant Referee 2: Michael Jones (ENG) UEFA Delegate: Rudolf Zavrl (SVN) UEFA Referee Observer: Andreas Schluchter (SUI) UEFA Referee Liaison Officer: Viacheslav Kharlamov (RUS)

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Olympic findings

Retrospectively summarized, the recently expired XXX Olympic Games at London were a total success, for the athletes, the billions of fans watching them all over the world and naturally also the games' sponsors. It was furthermore quite refreshing that there are still global sport events that can be held in a politically uncritical state, which will probably stay a rarity with regard to FIFA and UEFA being exceptionally talented concerning allocating World Cups and European Championships. 

As expected, the Olympic football tournament was quite overshadowed by the huge amount of other events. The football played at these Games was overall not at the highest level, tactically considered, it was even quite weak so that open matches with many goals were made possible. Considering the Olympic football refereeing, there are also some aspects to highlight that might be summarized in brief.

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Christian Fischer violently attacked by Benfica's Luisao

A friendly match between Benfica and Fortuna Düsseldorf was abandoned in the 39th minute on Saturday when the referee was knocked to the ground shortly after sending off a player.

Television footage showed Benfica captain Luisao protesting referee Christian Fischer's decision to eject teammate Javi Garcia. Brazilian international Luisao then appeared to shove Fischer.

Luisao approached the referee in a menacing manner and sent him falling backwards, where he lay for several seconds apparently unconscious before coming back to his senses after players and linesmen called for a doctor.

Fischer got back to his feet and decided to abandon the game.

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Alea iacta est

FIFA has announced that English official Mark Clattenburg will take charge of Saturday's 2012 Olympic Games final between Mexico and Brazil at London's venerable Wembley Stadium.

He will head a team further consisting of his countrymen Stephen Child and Simon Beck, completed by Gambian official Bakary Papa Gassama as the fourth official and Eritrea's Angesom Ogbamariam as the reserve assistant referee.

Having joined 2011 FIFA U20 World Cup including a semifinal and his recent promotion to UEFA's Elite Group, he will reach the outgoing peak of his career by leading the final in his mother country.

11 August 2012, 16:00 CET
Wembley Stadium, London, Great Britain
Mexico - Brazil
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Child (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Beck (ENG)
Fourth Official: Bakary Papa Gassama (GAM)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Angesom Ogbamariam (ERI)


Only one day earlier, Ravshan Irmatov will oversee the all Asian match for the Bronze Medal between Japan and Korea Republic, accompanied by a team from Colombia.

10 August 2012, 20:45 CET
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Japan - Korea Rep.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Bakhadyr Kochkarov (KGZ)
Fourth Official: Wilmar Roldán (COL)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Humberto Clavijo (COL)

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Steinhaus with Gold Medal match

Germany's Bibiana Steinhaus has been appointed to oversee Thursday's Olympic Games dream final between Japan and USA. He already refereed this match at 2011 World Cup Germany, also in the final. Her only previous match was the Group A encounter between New Zealand and Brazil.

09 August 2012

M25, 3rd Place
14:00 CET, Coventry
France - Canada
Referee: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Anna Nystrom (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Helen Karo (SWE)
Fourth Official: Quetzalli Alvarado (MEX)
Reserve AR: Kim Kyoung Min (KOR)
 
M26, FINAL
20:45 CET, Wembley
Japan - USA
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Marina Wozniak (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Katrin Rafalski (GER)
Fourth Official: Jesica Di Iorio (ARG)
Reserve AR: Maria Rocco (ARG)

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Olympia 2012 Referee Appointments - Semifinals

07 August 2012

M29, SF1
18:00 CET, London (Wembley Stadium)
Mexico - Japan
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Elenito di Liberatore (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Fourth Official: Bakary Gassama (GAM)
Fifth Official: Jason Damoo (SEY)
 
M30, SF2
20:45 CET, Manchester (Old Trafford)
Korea Rep. - Brazil
Referee: Pavel Královec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Wilczek (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Antonin Kordula (CZE)
Fourth Official: Mark Geiger (USA)
Fifth Official: Mark Hurd (USA)

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Olympia 2012 Referee Appointments (W) - Semifinals

06 August 2012

M23, SF1
18:00 CET, London (Wembley Stadium)
France - Japan
Referee: Quetzalli Alvarado (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Mayte Chavez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Shirley Perello (HON)
Fourth Official: Jesica Di Iorio (ARG)
Reserve AR: Maria Rocco (ARG)
 
M24, SF2
20:45 CET, Manchester (Old Trafford)
Canada - USA
Referee: Christina Pedersen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Hege Steinlund (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Lada Rojc (CRO)
Fourth Official: Hong Eun Ah (KOR)
Reserve AR: Sarah Ho (AUS)

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Olympia 2012 Referee Appointments - Quarterfinals

04 August 2012

M25, QF1
13:00 CET, Manchester (Old Trafford)
Japan - Egypt
Referee: Mark Geiger (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Sean Mark Hurd (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Joe Fletcher (CAN)
Fourth Official: Peter O'Leary (NZL)
FIFA Referee Observer: -
 
M26, QF2
15:30 CET, London (Wembley Stadium)
Mexico - Senegal
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Stephen Child (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Beck (ENG)
Fourth Official: Benjamin Williams (AUS)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

M27, QF3
18:00 CET, Newcastle upon Tyne (Direct Sports Arena)
Brazil - Honduras
Referee: Felix Brych (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Borsch (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth Official: Slim Jedidi (TUN)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

M28, QF4
20:30 CET, Cardiff (Millennium Stadium)
Great Britain - Korea Rep.
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Humberto Clavijo (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Díaz (COL)
Fourth Official: Roberto García (MEX)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

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Olympia 2012 Referee Appointments (W) - Quarterfinals

03 August 2012

M19, QF1
13:00 CET, Glasgow (Hampden Park)
Sweden - France
Referee: Kari Seitz (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Marlene Duffy (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Veronica Perez (USA)
Fourth Official: Hong Eun Ah (KOR)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

M20, QF2
15:30 CET, Newcastle upon Tyne (Direct Sports Arena)
USA - New Zealand
Referee: Jesica di Iorio (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Mariana Corbo (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Maria Rocco (ARG)
Fourth Official: Thérèse Neguel (CMR)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

M21, QF3
18:00 CET, Cardiff (Millennium Stadium)
Brazil - Japan
Referee: Kirsi Heikkinen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Anu Jokela (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Tonja Paavola (FIN)
Fourth Official: Christina Pedersen (NOR)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

M22, QF4
20:30 CET, Coventry (City of Coventry Stadium)
Great Britain - Canada
Referee: Sachiko Yamagishi (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Saori Takahashi (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Widiya Shamsuri (MAS)
Fourth Official: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER)
FIFA Referee Observer: -

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