Referee Szymon Marciniak – at the centre of Bayern Munich’s controversial disallowed goal on Wednesday night – is set to be axed from the opening game of Euro 2024, involving Germany.
Thomas Tuchel’s Bundesliga giants thought they should have had a stoppage time equaliser from Matthijs de Ligt which would have taken them to extra-time against Real Madrid.
However, Polish referee Marciniak had already blown his whistle before the ball hit the net for an offside decision against Noussair Mazraoui – which may have been narrowly onside.
Poland’s sports daily newspaper Przeglad Sportowy reports that Marciniak was supposed to referee the opening match of the European Championships this summer between hosts Germany and Scotland on June 14 – in Munich!
UEFA are now reconsidering this appointment, with the probability of him taking charge ‘close to zero’ following Wednesday’s game in Madrid.
Referee Szymon Marciniak is set to be axed from the opening game of Euro 2024
The Pole was at the centre of Bayern Munich’s controversial disallowed goal on Wednesday
Bayern’s Matthijs de Ligt had a late equaliser away at Real Madrid chalked off for offside
The Pole refereed the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, as well as several games at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, so he would have been a logical choice for the prestigious opening game of this year’s tournament.
UEFA confirmed their list of officials for the tournament last month, confirming the names of 18 referees, their assistants, and the VARs.
English representatives including referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, and VAR assistants Stuart Attwell and David Coote.
Roberto Rosetti, UEFA managing director of refereeing, said: ‘All chosen referees have performed consistently to the highest standards in UEFA’s top competitions, and also in their domestic competitions.
‘They have prepared exceptionally well to be in this position and we have full confidence in them to show their quality at the final tournament.’
After Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second-leg, Tuchel said that the Polish referees, including assistant Tomasz Listkiewicz, who raised the flag, apologised to Bayern after the match.
De Ligt told beIN Sports: ‘The linesman told me: “sorry, I made a mistake”. It’s been a shame.’
Tuchel echoed his sentiments, saying: ‘It was a disaster. An absolute disaster and it’s clear violation of the rules.
An alternative angle showed Noussair Mazraoui was onside during controversial incident
Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel was left fuming at the decision, which he called ‘a disaster’
Marciniak previously refereed the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France
‘The clear rule is that the scene must continue. The first mistake was made by the linesman, the second by the referee’.
Marciniak returns to domestic refereeing duties on Sunday when he takes charge of Lech Poznan’s game against Legia Warsaw.
