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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

UEFA Champions League Semifinals Leg 2 Reports: Clattenburg and Eriksson referee crucial matches

Bayern Munich 3-2 FC Barcelona (3-5 aggregate)               Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)
No specific plays to go in depth on from this match.
Overview: Clattenburg quite surprisingly didn't have much to deal with in a high profile match. In fact, I only have two real criticisms from this match: 1) When Clattenburg issued Rafinha and Jordi Alba warnings, Alba appeared to touch Clattenburg's face. I know it might have been meant in jest, but Clattenburg can't tolerate that. A yellow would have been appropriate.  2) Jérôme Boateng should have seen yellow early in the 2nd half for a rough challenge. Despite these two issues, I think a good performance in this match under the eye of UEFA Referees Chief Pierluigi Collina, coupled with Milorad Mazic's EL Semi appointment really boost Clattenburg's chances of refereeing the EL Final. Regardless of the future, good refereeing from Clattenburg.

Juventus 1-1 Real Madrid (3-2 aggregate)                            Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Eriksson had a much harder match than Clattenburg, but I think his success was about equal.
22nd Minute: James Rodriguez is clipped in the calf by Giorgio Chiellini. Eriksson calls a penalty, which many criticized as soft, but I disagree with them. There was clear contact on the Rodriguez's calf by Chiellini. Very good call by Erikkson, since it easily could have looked like a dive from Rodriguez.
Overview: Good match by Eriksson overall. My main criticism would be that Rodriguez shouldn't have seen a yellow for diving in the 44th minute. It looks to me that the play was caught in between a penalty and a dive, and therefore play on would have been the right call. I also think that Eriksson might have missed two pushes on Paul Pogba. Tough to tell the amount of contact, but I think they could have been penalties very easily. Looking forward for Eriksson, I have a feeling we see him again this season. My best guess is he could be either the EL Final referee or the CL Final 4th Official this year, as this match did nothing to not justify an appointment in either match.



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