Uefa has updated its referee categories for the spring of 2012. The spring update includes all the new Fifa referees as well as the usual shifts between categories.
Elite category
Martin Atkinson, England
Mark Clattenburg, England, Promoted from ED
Howard Webb, England
Alberto Undiano Mallenco, Spain
Carlos Velasco Carballo, Spain
Stéphane Lannoy, France
Felix Brych, Germany
Florian Meyer, Germany
Wolfgang Stark, Germany
Viktor Kassai, Hungary
Nicola Rizzoli, Italy
Gianluca Rocchi, Italy
Paolo Tagliavento, Italy, Promoted from ED
Kevin Blom, Netherlands
Bjorn Kuipers, Netherlands
Svein Oddvar Moen, Norway
Olegario Benquerenca, Portugal
Pedro Proenca, Portugal
Craig Thomson, Scotland
Damir Skomina, Slovenia
Jonas Eriksson, Sweden
Cüneyt Cakir, TurkeyElite development
Robert Schörgenhofer, Austria
Marijo Strahonja, Croatia, Promoted from First
Pavel Kralovec, Czech Republic
Peter Rasmussen, Denmark, Promoted from First
David Fernandez Borbalan, Spain, Promoted from First
Tony Chapron, France
Manuel Gräfe, Germany
Alan Kelly, Ireland
Daniele Orsato, Italy, Promoted from First
Aleksandar Stavrev, Macedonia, Promoted from First
Bas Nijhuis, Netherlands, Promoted from First
Tom Harald Hagen, Norway, Promoted from First
Marcin Borski, Poland, Promoted from First
William Collum, Scotland
Milorad Mažić, Serbia, Promoted from First
Markus Strömbergsson, Sweden, Promoted from First
Firat Aydinus, Turkey, Promoted from First
The full list can be downloaded here. Women’s list here.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Somebody knows why Alexei Nikolaev has been demoted? Duhamel’s demotion was no surprise, as well as the promotion of Clattenburg and Tagliavento. A feel a little bit sad for Serge Gumienny. He was in the “Development Group” for years, an now he’s back in first category. I think I should only take about 2 years to asess if a referee is ready for ELITE group. UEFA has stuck too long some referees in the development group. Perhaps UEFA thinks a referee can mature like a good wine, but I think it’s the opposite: If a referee doesn’t show his potential in his first seasons on the FIFA list, then he never will. But as we all know, it’s not only about performance, it’s also about politics (eg. Victor Shvetsov as 4th official at EURO 2012).
Hm, Nikolaev was simply too weak. The demotion is to my mind just the logical consequence, his first and last CL K.O. match (Valencia-Schalke) was bad in all circumstances (wrong cards, missed cards, the assistant ref had to tell him that a player was already booked before, wrong throw-ins etc etc), but then I do not understand why Blom stays in Elite. I often heard that Blom is good in NED, but please, there is no reason for Elite anymore.
@ Martin: It is not Tom Harald Nijhuis ;)
The uefa is just incompetent.
The demotion of gumienny has nothing to do with decisions, but with a style of refereeing. Severe referees don’t get a chance (gumienny, Dan tudor, undiano mallenco, …). Uefa always looks for referees who have a good relationship with players, coaches, fans. But is that the task of a referee, to sell your decisions that they will be accepted
If you see the elite list. It’s all big countries: italy, england, germany,…
@Niclas: Thanks, I’ve just seen on a FB video that Nikolaev made a this big mistake you mentioned in the valencia-schalke game.
Perhaps Kevin Blom will be demoted next year, i don’t think he has great future on elite category. Bas Nijhuis und even Danny Makkelie seem to be the future elite refs from the Netherlands.
strange promotions by uefa ref.committee as firat aydinüz from turkey, who is this man,which games he has confirmated his success, which criteria to be selected as an elite development for this kind ref
I just can’t understand how UEFA can keep referees like Blom and Lannoy in the Elite Categorie. The excuse that Blom is very good at home is ridiculous. The second thing is about Vad. Again in First Categorie. For how long. He is much better than some Elite referees.
I think they can thank Marc Batta and Jaap Uilenberg for that. It helps having a fellow countryman on the UEFA referees committee.
You’r 100% right Martin, it’s all politics
Of course it helps. But the system sucks. Promotions and Demotions should be the result of performances and only.
The same with Cakir.
Uilenberg – is a consultant for Turkish football federation, as Collina is for Ukraine. I had seen Cakir performance a few years ago in Lithuania-Scotland national. To say it was nighmare – like to say nothing :)