Marciniak and cautions: the stats to study ahead of the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan
The World’s top referee for the most anticipated match of the year. Marciniak will referee tonight’s Champions League final match between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Turkey. The match that everyone dreams of playing, the match that all referees dream of directing.
And the task will fall to the Pole – also at the centre of market negotiations, unbelievable, since he has been put in the crosshairs by Saudi Arabia to go and referee next year – who is someone who likes dialogue, but up to a certain point. Because then he always manages to get the card. So let us look at his statistics, those of that season, which will also end for him tonight at the Ataturk in Istanbul. In that year, Marciniak, collected 38 appearances, between the various championships – he even blew the whistle in Arabia once – and matches in Europe. And he has waved the yellow card 172 times. Almost no expulsions, as he has taken this action only three times this season, while in total he has also whistled 12 penalties. That’s one every three games or so. In short, words yes, but then it comes down to deeds.
Marciniak, here are your stats
His last direct match in Europe this year was the Champions League semi-final, the return leg, between City and Real Madrid: despite the 4-0 final in favour of Guardiola’s team, there were 5 yellow cards during the match. He doesn’t look anyone in the face.
Marciniak as he cautions Giroud (Lapresse)
In Italy, however, his last appearance was at the Maradona in Napoli, when he directed the quarter-final match between Spalletti’s and Pioli’s teams. One to one in the final, with two penalties awarded and some controversy at the end from Spalletti. There are no reports of glaring errors, otherwise he would not be here right now, but we feel we can say that he is someone who likes to handle things using disciplinary measures. Measures especially with the yellow card also because, seeing then his size, it is not easy for players to go and protest. Yes, he is a big man, awe-inspiring. Better to stay away in general.
Marciniak also directed the World Cup final, the one between Argentina and France that ended on penalties. And even in this case he confirmed the easy yellow as Fernandez, Rabiot, Thuram, Giroud (not from the field), Acuna and Paredes were eventually cautioned.
