Szymon Marciniak, the referee designated by UEFA for Real Madrid-Bayern, the return match of the Champions League semi-finals, is a name well known to the Italian public. The Pole, who also refereed the semi-final and final of the previous edition of the Champions League and also the final of the World Cup in Qatar (when he was criticized by the cockerels), was fiercely contested by Napoli last season, when he didn’t see a clear penalty for a foul by Leao on Lozano and Milan himself didn’t like it in his last European outing, for the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals with Roma but how did he fare last night at the Bernabeu?
Marciniak’s history with Real and Bayern
There were seven precedents for the Polish whistleblower with the Blancos a record of two wins, two draws and three defeatsonly three with the Bavarians who with him had won two and lost one.
The referee only booked Camavinga
Assisted by assistants Listkiewicz and Kupsik with the Slovakian Kružliak IV man, Kwiatkowski at Var and Frankowski at Avarthe referee booked only one player (Camavinga of Real Madrid) and Bayern coach Tuchel
Real-Bayern, the slow-motion cases
These are the doubtful episodes of Real-Bayern. In the 7th minute Bellingham falls in the area after contact with Kimmich and the crowd demands a penalty, Marciniak doesn’t concede and VAR doesn’t intervene. Correct decision. In the 53rd minute the same scene: Kane falls in the area after contact with Mendy and asks for a penalty, as on the Bellingham occasion Marciniak lets it play. In the 73rd minute Real scored: the ball entered the net after a deflection by a Bayern defender, but VAR called Marciniak to the on field review for a push from Nacho to Kimmich, who fell to the ground at the moment of the goal. The referee cancels the goal, fierce protests from the Blancos and the Santiago Bernabeu but the push is clear.
In the 91st minute another Real goal with Joselu and this time the opposite happens: Marciniak cancels for offside, but VAR changes the decision correctly. Incandescent final with Bayern protests. De Ligt scores from a short clearance but the linesman – making a mistake, in these cases as per protocol one waits for the conclusion of the dangerous action – raises the flag and the referee stops the game before hitting the net. Pictures they leave the doubt about offsidethe Bavarians invoke VAR which, however, cannot intervene in the specific case.
Serious mistake at the end for Calvarese
Calvarese is the one who clarified the goal canceled against the Germans. Prime’s moviolista says: “On the throw there are two Bayern players, who seem to be in an irregular position – says the former referee – the ball is taken by Real Madrid’s 23, De Ligt goes towards the center and does not impact: l ‘other things seem to have an impact but in my opinion we need to evaluate. Certainly what is wrong is the procedure: we had to wait, and then have VAR intervene. By blowing the whistle early, technology is effectively put offside.
I don’t think it’s a matter of pressure. Indeed, given that ten minutes or more of injury time had already passed, and Marciniak seemed in control, perhaps his head was already in the locker room. The first mistake is made by the assistant, who instead of waiting raises. Marciniak could also have waited, but instead he blew the whistle, perhaps due to a lack of concentration in the final minutes. If it had been legal, but I’m only saying this as an inference, they would have shown it to avoid controversy at Real-Bayern.”
