The Purple Devils will face Romania on Saturday for an important match on the European Championships in Germany. After the defeat in opposition to Slovakia, it’s best to win if Belgium needs to outlive the group stage. It is usually needed for Romania, which misplaced 3-0 to Ukraine. That necessary match is led by Szymon Marciniak, in line with many one of the best referee on this planet, though he has lately been discredited.
The European Championship began with a severe downer for the Purple Devils. Belgium misplaced 0-1 to Slovakia. After that match, there was not solely criticism of Belgium’s play and positioning, but additionally of some selections by referee Halil Umut Meler.
Blunder in Champions League
After the Purple Devils acquired one of many least skilled referees of their opening match, the match in opposition to Romania might be led by the oldest and most skilled referee on the European Championship. The 43-year-old Szymon Marciniak has refereed many necessary matches, however made a serious blunder this yr.
The incident occurred within the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. Actual Madrid had a 2-1 lead in opposition to Bayern Munich. In additional time, which lasted fifteen minutes, Matthijs de Ligt scored the 2-2, making Bayern seem like heading for additional time. Nonetheless, Marciniak had already blown the whistle for alleged offside by teammate Noussair Mazraoui. Because of this, the VAR couldn’t view the questionable offside part. Because the guideline is to all the time wait when unsure, Marciniak’s motion was placing.
Referee Szymon Marciniak between Matthijs de Ligt and Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich – Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Photographs
World Cup closing
In response to many specialists, that mistake price Szymon Marciniak the opening match at EURO 2024. Belgium’s match in opposition to Romania will due to this fact be his first match at this European Championship. It is going to have been since 2016 that the skilled Pole refereed a match at a European championship. He missed the European Championships in 2021 after affected by tachycardia – a too quick coronary heart rhythm – as a result of a corona an infection.
After that missed European Championship, some high years adopted for Marciniak. For instance, he was named ‘Finest Referee within the World’ by the Worldwide Federation of Soccer Historical past & Statistics (IFFHS) in each 2022 and 2023. On the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Pole refereed the ultimate between Argentina and France. He acquired many compliments afterwards for the way in which he managed this tough match. Marciniak gave three justified penalties in that match. One yr later, the Pole was allowed to referee the Champions League closing between Manchester Metropolis and Inter.
Numerous penalties, fewer playing cards
The skilled Pole has already taken cost of a Purple Devils match 4 occasions. Belgium solely received as soon as, though it was the newest and solely official match. In September 2017, the Purple Devils beat Greece 1-2 in a World Cup qualifier. Within the earlier years he refereed follow matches for Belgium in opposition to the Netherlands (1-1), Russia (3-3) and Italy (3-1 defeat).
Szymon Marciniak already whistled throughout his lengthy profession 626 video games. He offers a mean of about 4 yellow playing cards per match, which is lower than lots of his colleagues. His pink playing cards additionally typically stay in his pocket. Nonetheless, the Pole normally doesn’t hesitate too lengthy earlier than handing out a penalty. His comparatively excessive common is one penalty per 2.3 video games. Marciniak additionally gave a penalty in Belgium’s matches in opposition to the Netherlands and Russia, as soon as for the Purple Devils and as soon as in opposition to us.
Scandal in our personal nation
As top-of-the-line referees on this planet, Szymon Marciniak is an actual star in Poland. He’s an everyday visitor in actuality applications. He additionally performs the main position Judgesa documentary about Canal+ referees.
One yr in the past, Marciniak was closely discredited in his personal nation. He had then given a speech at an entrepreneurial convention. It later turned out that the occasion was co-organized by Sławomir Mentzen, a controversial right-wing politician in Poland who had already grow to be discredited with anti-Semitic and homophobic statements. Marciniak then distanced himself from Mentzen’s views in a press release.
