Marciniak, From the Derby to Germany-Italy After Controversy
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, the protagonist of the controversial penalty annulment of Julián Álvarez in the Champions League derby against Real Madrid, has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the match between Germany and Italy in the Nations League.
This decision comes after Atlético de Madrid requested explanations from UEFA for the controversial action in the second leg, which ended with the elimination of the Rojiblancos in the penalty shootout.
Atlético considered that the annulment of the penalty, which would have meant 2-2 in the shootout, was incorrect. Álvarez slipped when taking the shot and, although he scored, the VAR intervened to annul the goal.
UEFA defended its decision based on IFAB rule 14.1, arguing that there was an unintentional double touch by the player. Despite the controversy generated by this event, Marciniak will continue his refereeing work.
In the Nations League match, he will be accompanied by his compatriot Pawel Pskit in the VAR and Tomasz Kwiatkowski as assistant, the same one who acted as VAR in the derby between Atlético and Real Madrid. Prior to this appointment, Marciniak had already officiated a Polish league match between Gornik Zabrze and Motor Lubin, where he also generated controversy by awarding a penalty to the away team which, after being saved by the goalkeeper, he ordered to be retaken after the VAR review for invasion of the area. In the replay, the goalkeeper saved the ball again.
