Mind boggling decision

"Lyon may launch a protest to UEFA after Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was put in charge of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City.

The French club have to be crowned European champions to qualify for next season's tournament after finishing seventh in Ligue One when the covid-19 pandemic halted the campaign.

Lyon's elimination on Saturday night would see Ajax qualify automatically for the group stages of the Champions League – and that would be worth £100million to the Amsterdam club.

If the French club did prevail in Lisbon then Ajax would go into a play-off.

Questions are already being asked in both France and Holland about the wisdom of putting a Dutch referee in charge of a game that could have huge financial ramifications on a club from his own country.

Former top Dutch referee Dick Jol expects Lyon to complain about Makkelie's appointment.
Jol said: “UEFA should not have put Danny Makkelie in this position. Never!

“Can you imagine the French newspapers? They are going to be dishing it out about him taking charge of the game before a ball has been kicked.

“Financially – and in a sporting way – there is so much at stake in this game. Makkelie is not to blame. I don't doubt his integrity for one second.



In 1994, Dutch official John Blankenstein was replaced by Englishman Philip Don for the Champions League final between AC Milan and Barcelona.

No official reason was given for the switch, but it is believed that Milan were not happy about having a Dutchman in charge for a game that would see Johan Cruuff coaching a Barcelona team that included Ronald Koeman.


Jol, the 64-year-old cousin of former Tottenham boss Martin Jol, added: “Milan were very angry back in 1994 because of the presence of Cruyff and Koeman.

“I would think that there is now the same mood in Lyon.”

Decisions are made dependent on the size of the brown envelope.

The referee was changed for the Orient game on the Turf. Should have been Guy from Liverpool but at the time Tranmere were still involved. Lester Shapter should have done Lincoln's game at Swansea too but he was removed because he was from Torquay.

Referees are impartial, it really shouldn't matter where they are from.

Are refs appointed by EUFA or by a referees association?

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:15 pm

The referee was changed for the Orient game on the Turf. Should have been Guy from Liverpool but at the time Tranmere were still involved. Lester Shapter should have done Lincoln's game at Swansea too but he was removed because he was from Torquay.

Referees are impartial, it really shouldn't matter where they are from.

I didn't know that !

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:19 pm

I didn't know that !

I you look at the programme below it shows Guy but it was changed during the week to George Courtney.

huw.Y.WattfromWare wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:18 pm

Are refs appointed by EUFA or by a referees association?

It's PGMOL domestically but I don't know for UEFA competitions, I expect it will be UEFA.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:21 pm

I you look at the programme below it shows Guy but it was changed during the week to George Courtney.

I knew it was Courtney had no idea he was a fill in nor that the other games had changes too. I know refs are supposed to be impartial but the optics aren't great.

At a tangent perhaps but, looking at the Orient Programme reminds me that Orient's Alan Comfort became a Vicar and actually did the Christening for my mates first grandchild.

He has been involved in controversy regarding his views on same sex marriage

He is now incumbent Vicar at St John the Evangelist in Upper Holloway.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:15 pm

The referee was changed for the Orient game on the Turf. Should have been Guy from Liverpool but at the time Tranmere were still involved. Lester Shapter should have done Lincoln's game at Swansea too but he was removed because he was from Torquay.

Referees are impartial, it really shouldn't matter where they are from.

I wouldn't like a ref from Blackburn reffing our matches. Having said that it's probably happened before now.

I always presumed Courtney had been chosen for the Orient game because there was so much at stake and it was bound to be a high pressure game. Courtney was no stranger to big games.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:19 pm

I didn't know that !

Me neither. Interesting.

aclaretinstevenage wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:48 pm

At a tangent perhaps but, looking at the Orient Programme reminds me that Orient's Alan Comfort became a Vicar and actually did the Christening for my mates first grandchild.

He has been involved in controversy regarding his views on same sex marriage

He is now incumbent Vicar at St John the Evangelist in Upper Holloway.

didn't he score Orient's goal that day ?

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:53 pm

I wouldn't like a ref from Blackburn reffing our matches. Having said that it's probably happened before now.

Hasn’t it been on here before that Lee Mason lives in Darwen now? Or was it a wind up?

All I know is the person is nicknamed Tosser, as for what their sex or persuasion is I haven't a clue.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:53 pm

I wouldn't like a ref from Blackburn reffing our matches. Having said that it's probably happened before now.

Eddie Wolstenholme took charge of plenty of Burnley games but his recent history in association with us was almost a very tragic one.

Goody1975 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:36 pm

Eddie Wolstenholme took charge of plenty of Burnley games but his recent history in association with us was almost a very tragic one.

And before that David Richardson refereed us and he was from Great Harwood. Good ref and a really good bloke too.

I always presumed Courtney had been chosen for the Orient game because there was so much at stake and it was bound to be a high pressure game. Courtney was no stranger to big games.

In 1986, the year before the Orient game, I went to the 1st leg of the EUFA Cup Final in Madrid. The final was between Real Madrid and Cologne. Courtney was the referee and the Linesman were also English, Joe Worrell and John Keys. I was on the same flight back from Madrid to Manchester as those guys and had them sign my Match Programme. I asked Courtney what the game was like for handling from the Referee's viewpoint, he answered that 'it was a piece of ****'.

At the Orient game before kick off, I saw Courtney inside the Reception Area on Harry Potts Way looking out on the crowd. I nodded to him but he didn't respond likely not recognising or remembering me.

For the game in Madrid, Real won 5-1 and won the Final on a 5-3 aggregate.

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 5:19 pm

I didn't know that !

What, that referees are impartial? Neither did I

At least we have not got to this point in the UK ---yet!! There is actually quite a lot more to this other than what is reported here.

https://www.rt.com/sport/497586-spartak ... -detector/

Sir John UEFA

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:01 pm

didn't he score Orient's goal that day ?

Indeed he did, brought it back to 2-1 ensuring nails being bitten until the whistle blew.

aclaretinstevenage wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:48 pm

At a tangent perhaps but, looking at the Orient Programme reminds me that Orient's Alan Comfort became a Vicar and actually did the Christening for my mates first grandchild.

He has been involved in controversy regarding his views on same sex marriage

He is now incumbent Vicar at St John the Evangelist in Upper Holloway.

He’s also club chaplain at Leyton Orient too. I was told he wasn’t particularly pleasant with people who were organising an event for I think the 25th anniversary of the game.

He has fallen out with some due to conservative views on same sex marriages! He was very pleasant company at the Christening I went to.