Referee by vocation (he started at the age of 16, making his professional debut in 2005 at the age of 22), Danny Makkelie – UEFA’s choice for Germany-Hungary – was born on 28 January 1983 in Willemstad, the capital of the Caribbean island of Curacao, constituent nation of the Netherlands. He is a policeman by profession and severity is one of his trademarks: he does not tolerate overly heated protests and is very generous with cards: in 2014 he handed out 13 cards in Ado Den Haag-Feyenoord, still an absolute record for ‘Dutch Eredivisie. In the Champions League he made his debut on 21 October 2014 (in Chelsea-Maribor). He has directed the 2020 Europa League final between Sevilla and Inter (3-2 for the Andalusians) and boasts several controversial precedents with Italian clubs but how did the Dutch whistle fare last night?
Makkelie’s history with Germany and Hungary
Three precedents with the Magyars (one victory and two defeats the balance), none with the German national team.
The referee cautioned four players
Assisted by assistants Steegstra and de Vries with Gozubuyuk IV man and Dieperink at Var, the referee booked 4 players: Varga, Rudiger, Mittelstadt and Szoboszlai. Yellow also for the Hungarian coach Rossi.
Germany-Hungary, the slow-motion cases
These are the dubious episodes. In the 22nd minute Musiala comes on for Gundogan, Orban falls asleep and stops, Gundogan recovers and serves Musiala, who shoots into the net under the crossbar. Hungary complains, the VAR does not intervene. First yellow in the 23rd minute, Varga’s turn for protests after Musiala’s goal. In the 27th minute Rudiger was booked and returned to the pitch without authorisation. In injury time in the first half, Szoboszlai’s poisonous free kick from the left midfield, Varga’s header blocked by Neuer, Sallai finds the ball and smashes it into the goal but the referee cancels it due to Varga’s initial offside. VAR confirms the referee’s decision.
In the 89th minute, a yellow card for Maximilian Mittelstadt, clearly late on Csoboth. In the 91st minute, Hungary claimed a penalty for a touch by Emre Can with his arm, but after a silent check the game could continue. Finally, the referee was very appalling for the warning for Szoboszlai after the time had practically expired. who throws the ball away. Coach Rossi also protests and gets a yellow card too. Germany-Hungary thus ends 2-0.
The first German goal was irregular for Bergonzi
Mauro Bergonzi clarifies the situation. Speaking to Rai2, the former referee shows the most important cases in slow motion and underlines how the Hungarian protests about the German goal were right: “You see that Gundogan first pushes and then hits the Hungarian player with his knee, making him lose his balance. The referee could have called a foul, the VAR, however, could not intervene because it is not a clear and obvious mistake. On the penalty requested by Hungary, however, for a doubtful hands in the area, I say that it is never a penalty, the right arm is attached to the body, the referee’s decision is correct”.
