RateTheRef

Whilst retirements/demotions have not been announced, surely you can’t add 7 referees to the list without some coming off???

The coming season is likely to be somewhat compacted, with the risk of disruption through resurgences of Covid and the possibility of officials having to isolate as a consequence of a positive test or contact tracing. Might this provide the justification for a small increase in the list at each level as a form of insurance?

Really pleased for Paul Howard - a referee I started with back in London and knew was destined for big things. Didn't stay long as 2A and I'm sure has the capability to go further.

Also really pleased for Mick Begley, a really great guy and very deserving of his promotion.

Shame Martyn will only be able to officiate every other Saturday!

You obviously know something we dont?

Quote from: Mackem ref on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:08

Congratulations to all officials promoted and good luck for the new season!


In a separate piece of promotion news, congratulations to Chris Kavanagh who has been promoted to UEFA category 1 for the first half of the 2020-21 season!

Yes, UEFA changes in full:

Demoted from First Category to Second Category: Gediminas Mažeika (LTU, 1978).

Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Lawrence Visser (BEL, 1989), Fran Jovic (CRO, 1984), Christopher Kavanagh (ENG, 1985), Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP, 1982), Jerôme Brisard (FRA, 1986), Roi Reinshreiber (ISR, 1980), Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982), Donatas Rumsas (LTU, 1988), Bartosz Frankowski (POL, 1986), Fabio Verissimo (POR, 1982), Glenn Nyberg (SWE, 1988), Halil Meler (TUR, 1986).

Demoted from Second Category to Third Category: Michael Tykgaard (DEN, 1977), Eitan Shmuelevitz (ISR, 1978), Tore Hansen (NOR, 1978).

Promoted from Third Category to Second Category: Julian Weinberger (AUT, 1985), Erik Lambrechts (BEL, 1984), Volen Chinkov (BUL, 1983), Timotheos Christofí (CYP, 1987), Peter Kjaersgaard (DEN, 1984), Petri Viljanen (FIN, 1987), Kari a Hřvdanum (FRO, 1990), Ioannis Papadopoulos (GRE, 1982), Yigal Frid (ISR, 1992), Aleksandrs Anufrijevs (LAT, 1984), Kai Erik Steen (NOR, 1985), Luis Godinho (POR, 1985), Nicholas Walsh (SCO, 1990), Lionel Tschudi (SUI, 1989), Rade Obrenović (SVN, 1990), Kristoffer Karlsson (SWE, 1984).

Of the Third Category referees I have seen over the last few seasons, the one who has created the strongest impression with me is Donatas Rumšas, so it is very pleasing to see him promoted to First Category.

Quote from: Mackem ref on Fri 14 Aug 2020 18:08

Congratulations to all officials promoted and good luck for the new season!


In a separate piece of promotion news, congratulations to Chris Kavanagh who has been promoted to UEFA category 1 for the first half of the 2020-21 season!

Yes, UEFA changes in full:

Demoted from First Category to Second Category: Gediminas Mažeika (LTU, 1978).

Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Lawrence Visser (BEL, 1989), Fran Jovic (CRO, 1984), Christopher Kavanagh (ENG, 1985), Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP, 1982), Jerôme Brisard (FRA, 1986), Roi Reinshreiber (ISR, 1980), Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982), Donatas Rumsas (LTU, 1988), Bartosz Frankowski (POL, 1986), Fabio Verissimo (POR, 1982), Glenn Nyberg (SWE, 1988), Halil Meler (TUR, 1986).

Demoted from Second Category to Third Category: Michael Tykgaard (DEN, 1977), Eitan Shmuelevitz (ISR, 1978), Tore Hansen (NOR, 1978).

Promoted from Third Category to Second Category: Julian Weinberger (AUT, 1985), Erik Lambrechts (BEL, 1984), Volen Chinkov (BUL, 1983), Timotheos Christofí (CYP, 1987), Peter Kjaersgaard (DEN, 1984), Petri Viljanen (FIN, 1987), Kari a Hřvdanum (FRO, 1990), Ioannis Papadopoulos (GRE, 1982), Yigal Frid (ISR, 1992), Aleksandrs Anufrijevs (LAT, 1984), Kai Erik Steen (NOR, 1985), Luis Godinho (POR, 1985), Nicholas Walsh (SCO, 1990), Lionel Tschudi (SUI, 1989), Rade Obrenović (SVN, 1990), Kristoffer Karlsson (SWE, 1984).

Some observations on the Category changes.

Poland has now 5 referees on the 2 top categories. Marciniak is on the Elite Group and Gil, Stefanski, Frankowski and Raczkowski on 1st Group. The question now is if all 4 are needed there or if they could swap Frankowski with Gil or Stefanski. Poland is said to have a powerful lobby inside UEFA (like Turkey who got a 3rd First Group referee) so I believe that this plays a big part.

Mazeika is demoted from 1st to 2nd Group. He participated at 2017 U21 Euro and had many appearances at EL GS. I don't believe that this demotion is a result of bad performances but probably due to the promotion of Rumsas (he is considered a talent). Here we have the opposite scenario from Poland. A small country like LTU cannot have 2 First Group referees.

The promotions from Spain (Hernandez Hernandez) and Italy (Mariani) are not logical. HZ-HZ had only 1 EL GS and Mariani had none. So UEFA seems to have taken into account their performances on their leagues and not on UEFA level. The Spanish case is particular since there is another referee at the same age (Martinez Munuera) who had more international experience (he even did the U19 Final) but wasn't promoted. I believe that the Spanish Head of Refereeing Velasco Carballo probably made the suggestion about HZ-HZ.

Another promotion which makes no sense is that of Anufrijevs (LVA). He is a FIFA ref since 2012 and born 1984 which makes him 36. I can't understand the point behind such a promotion.

Finally about my country Greece. We still suffer from Melo Pereira's presence. Papadopoulos was rightfully promoted but seeing Papapetrou still at 2nd group makes me sad. He is a ref who is frequently appointed by UEFA (he even got a UYL QF this year) but he is still at 2nd Group.

I assume that Kavanagh being promoted will mean we see more of Sian Massey-Ellis in UEFA games.

Finally about my country Greece. We still suffer from Melo Pereira's presence. Papadopoulos was rightfully promoted but seeing Papapetrou still at 2nd group makes me sad. He is a ref who is frequently appointed by UEFA (he even got a UYL QF this year) but he is still at 2nd Group.

I'm really disappointed Berke wasn't promoted to group 2, possibly too soon, he's not really had many appointments yet. 2 UCL qualifiers this month, I'm hoping he's being watched for possible promotion in Jan. Watching a domestic masterclass from him right now.