Born in 1986, Umut Meler, the referee chosen for England-Slovakia, had previously performed well in Belgium-Slovakia and Poland-Austriaalthough the help of the VAR was decisive. The Turkish referee began refereeing the Süper Lig, the top division in Turkey, in 2015 and joined the FIFA referees two years later, in 2017. Meler was also the referee of the match between Ankaragücü and Rizespor, where the equalising goal scored by the visitors at the last minute by Gaich created a scene of incredible violence where the referee himself paid the consequences, being violently hit in the face by the now ex-president of the home team. In the Champions League, the matches refereed by the Turkish referee are 3, including Lazio, in the match played at the Olympic Stadium against the Scottish team Celtic Glasgow, won 2-0 thanks to a brace scored in three minutes by Immobile. In the Europa League, the matches refereed by Umut Meler were also 3: He also directed Milan in their 4-2 victory over Slavia Prague and the first leg of the quarter-finals with the match won 3-0, at Anfield, by Atalanta against Klopp’s Liverpool. In the Conference he refereed the second leg of the Conference League semi-final against Club Brugge, a match which allowed the Viola to access the final of the competition, where they then lost to the Greeks Olympiacos but let’s see how he fared yesterday.
Meler’s history with England and Slovakia
With the English he had only one precedent at Under 17 levelwhile the only match he had refereed for Slovakia was the one against Belgium (which they won) at Euro2024.
The referee cautioned eight players
Assisted by assistants Eyisoy and Ersoy with the Slovenian Obrenovic IV man and the German Fritz al Varthe referee booked eight players: Guehi, Mainoo, Kucka, Bellingham, Skriniar, Pekarik, Vavro, Gyomber.
England-Slovakia, the slow-motion cases
These are the dubious episodes. Three minutes and the first yellow card is issued: it’s Guehi’s turn for a foul on David Strelec. The former Spezia striker throws himself into a back pass that is too short, the English defender is forced to intervene to avoid Slovakia’s restart in the open field. Mainoo was also booked in the 7th minute for a stomp on Duda in the opponent’s area. In the 13th minute Kucka was booked for a tactical foul on Trippier. In the 17th minute Haraslin starts in a quick serpentine from his half of the field and Bellingham knocks him down by sliding: another yellow card. Super-work for the referee who draws another yellow in the 46th minute for Skriniar, for a harsh intervention in midfield on Bellingham. In the 50th minute pocketed on the left for Trippier, who puts the ball in for Phil Foden who easily scores from the center of the penalty area but it lies behind everyone.
The assistant doesn’t notice and doesn’t raise his flag, the referee awards the goal but after a check he stops everything, it’s offside and the network is canceled. In the 59th minute, a dangerous tackle by Kucka on Mainoo right on the edge of his own area, the former Genoa player, who has already been cautioned, risks a lot. In the 77th minute, Pekarik is cautioned following a late tackle on Phil Foden. The game goes to overtime after Bellingham’s last-gasp goal. In the 108th minute, a body check by Denis Vavro on Eze is punished with a yellow card. In the 114th minute, Norbert Gyombér is also cautioned for a tackle on Toney and England-Slovakia ends 2-1 after extra time.
