REFEREE Szymon Marciniak will officiate at this year's Euro 2024.
The Pole is one of the most experienced referees in world football and took charge of the biggest match of them all - the World Cup final between Argentina and France back in December 2022.
Who is Szymon Marciniak?
Szymon Marciniak is a Polish football referee.
He was born on January 7, 1981 in Plock, Poland.
Marciniak had an odd path into refereeing.
Are there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas
The first sport he tried as a child was cycling.
At the age of 15 he changed to become a footballer.
He played in the junior squad of Wisla Plock and he was briefly part of the German club VfB annaberg-Buchholz.
Starting out as a player, he was so incensed at being sent off in one match that he told the referee in a foul-mouthed tirade that he was the worst he'd ever seen.
And the official replied: "If you think you can do better - you try it!"
So he did and became a referee at the age of 21.
Marciniak rose through the amateur ranks to make his Ekstraklasa debut in 2009.
He become a Fifa-listed referee in 2011, which made him eligible for selection at Europa League, Champions League and internationals.
After taking charge of the Under-21 Euro 2015 final, he made his major championship bow the following summer in France.
There Marciniak reffed Spain vs Czech Republic, Iceland vs Austria in the group stage, as well as Germany vs Slovakia in the knockout phase.
All about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex Hanscombe
Has Szymon Marciniak officiated at major tournaments before?
Szymon Marciniak has officiated at major tournaments before.
He has refereed at following tournaments:
- Champions League
- Europa League
- 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers
- UEFA Euro 2016
- UEFA Super Club in 2018
- 2018 Fifa World Cup
- 2021 Fifa Arab Cup
- 2022 Fifa World Cup
At the World Cup 2018 in Russia he reffed Argentina vs Iceland and Germany vs Sweden.
He also took charge of the Uefa Super Cup match between Real and Atletico Madrid in 2018.
Marciniak officiated Manchester City's Champions League semi-final mauling of Real Madrid in May 2023.
And in May 2024 he reffed at the Champions League semi-final between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
After his controversial officiating during the game he was axed from refereeing Germany's first match of the Euro 2024 against Scotland on Friday June 14,2024.
What else has Szymon Marciniak done before?
Before becoming a referee Szymon Marciniak he played as an amateur footballer.
He switched to refereeing professionally in 2006.
Marciniak is married to his wife Magdalena and the couple has two children together - son Bartosz, born in 2003, and daughter Natalia, born in 2012.
After recovering from COVID-19, he was diagnosed with with tachycardia, which is a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting rate.
The diagnosis prevented him from officiating matches at the UEFA Euro 2020.
Has Szymon Marciniak used VAR before?
Yes, Szymon Marciniak has used VAR before.
Marciniak and his team faced VAR at the 2022 World Cup final when they needed to make the decision to penalize Marcus Thuram for a dive, which on first viewing appeared to be a stonewall penalty.
VAR assistant Tomasz Kwiatkowski told TVP Sport:"VAR referees often rely on the first feeling.
"In this situation, it was either a penalty or a dive.
"As soon as Szymon decided to the dive, I said he had to stop the game and we had to check everything first.
"Fortunately, I could see from the first check that he was be right.
"The second only confirmed it for me. Well, that means that the decision on the pitch was correct.
"We analysed everything quite quickly. It was not an easy situation from a VAR point of view.
“There were six goals where there were several tight situations in the crucial attack phase.
"I had three penalties which were very well dictated by Szymon.
"I had two situations with a potential red card and a super-difficult alleged dive from Thuram, and underlined the fact that sometimes a dive is close in the balance with a penalty.
“Szymon and the players on the pitch deserve the biggest applause.
"I stepped back and was able to help the referees who were there on the pitch.
"It was a difficult and demanding match. For me too, in terms of emotions, the number of incidents and the responsibility involved.
"I had an easier life, thanks to the fact that Szymon was brilliant.”
