It was the nightmare of Roma and Mourinho Anthony Taylor, designated for Holland-France. The English referee refereed the Europa League final that the Giallorossi lost two years ago and even subsequently received quite a bit of criticism at home and abroad. He himself explained how he became a referee several years ago in an interview on the UEFA website: “I always followed my hometown team, Altrincham, both at home and away. My mother was tired of hearing my constant criticism of the referees, so he suggested I keep quiet or try it myself. I followed his advice. I started from the local leagues in the Altrincham area and then moved on to the Cheshire League, the Northern Premier League, the Conference [quinta divisione inglese] and then to the Football League. I started in 1995. I stayed in the Football League for four years and in 2010 I took charge of my first match in the Premier League.” Let’s see how he fared yesterday in Leipzig.
Taylor’s history with Holland and France
Four precedents against the Netherlands (three wins and one defeat), five with the Galletti (3 victories and 2 knockouts)
The referee cautioned only one player
Assisted by assistants Beswick and Nunn with the Swede Nyberg IV man and Attwell at the Varthe referee only booked the Dutchman Schouten.
Holland-France, the slow-motion cases
These are the dubious episodes. The first and only yellow of the match in the 31st minute and it is for Schouten, punished after an irregular intervention on Griezmann. In the first 45 minutes the referee whistled 10 fouls for the Netherlands and only 3 for France but in too many situations, Taylor let it go: Adani was perplexed on live TV about very dubious contacts by De Vrij on Thuram, so much so that he let himself go with an explicit: “But how can you not call this foul here?”. There were only 7 fouls called in the second half, even if one was missing from Tchaoumeni, who came in hard on Simons, who was then penalized for holding the ball. The key episode in the 69th minute: Depay’s turn, Maignan clears with his foot, Simons repeats it into the net. Dumfries, however, is on the offside line and according to the assistant, who waves the flag, disturbs the Milan goalkeeper who demands his position. The referee cancels and the offside is confirmed by the check, which leaves some doubts because it lasts a long time before making the final decision. Holland-France ends 0-0.
For Bergonzi it was right to cancel the goal
To dispel the doubts about the canceled goal, Bergonzi shows the images in slow motion. The former referee highlights on Rai1: “You see that Dumfries is behind everyone and you have to ask yourself if his position disturbs the goalkeeper: the answer is yes, it is in front of Maignan and obstructs his viewjust the decision not to validate the network”.
Luca Marelli’s version
On Facebook, Luca Marelli’s analysis is the opposite and he publishes a video and says: “Why wasn’t there an On field review? To make you understand the reason that led VAR not to call the referee to the video, I invite you to see the many opposing comments online. It means that it is not a clear and obvious mistake but an episode that can only be judged by the referee, I have some doubts about the annulment of the goal. If the goal had been validated the VAR would not have intervened, it is an episode that leaves many doubts, it is no coincidence that the check – which is always there – took a long time. They probably wondered whether the Ofr was necessary or not and the assessment was to avoid it but I’m not convinced. Taylor had to be called back to the monitor.”
