I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 867: Chapter 84: Asian Derby

For Real Madrid, the selection of the referee for the Champions League final is crucial, and this match’s referee selection is somewhat delicate for Real Madrid.

UEFA announced yesterday the referee selection for the Champions League final at Wembley, and Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai will officiate the Champions League final.

The entire officiating team is from Hungary, with Gabor Eros and György Ring serving as the first and second assistant referees (linesmen).

The 35-year-old Viktor Kassai has officiated 5 Champions League matches and 1 Europa League match this season.

Since becoming an international referee in 2003, Kassai officiated the men’s final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in which Messi’s Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 to win the championship.

During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Kassai officiated Brazil’s 2-1 win over North Korea, Mexico’s 0-1 loss to Uruguay in the group stage, the United States’ 1-2 loss to Ghana in the round of 16, and the semifinal where Spain defeated Germany 1-0, solidifying his reputation as Hungary’s top referee.

Previously, Kassai officiated three matches involving Manchester United, in which the Red Devils won all. These matches were this season’s Champions League group stage match, where Manchester United won 1-0 away at Valencia; last season’s Champions League group stage, where Manchester United won 2-1 at home against Wolfsburg; and the 07-08 Champions League group stage, where Manchester United won 4-2 away against Dynamo Kyiv.

In Kassai’s past officiating experiences, there were no major controversies. The only two instances were during the World Cup semifinal between Germany and Spain, when Sergio Ramos made a malicious foul on Ozil, and Kassai did not penalize him. According to the Guardian, a red card was warranted for that action.

In this season’s Champions League group stage, Arsenal lost 0-2 away to Braga. In the 76th minute, when both sides were level at 0-0, Vela was clearly pulled down by Rodriguez in the penalty area, but Kassai judged it as a dive and issued a yellow card to Vela. As a result, Arsenal conceded two goals late in the match and lost the top position in their group.

Kassai is fluent in Hungarian, English, and German but does not understand Spanish. Besides his profession in sales and officiating, Kassai’s biggest hobby is watching movies.

English renowned referee Poll said that Ferguson should be happy to see Kassai officiate.

World Cup final referee and England’s top referee, Weber, in an interview with the Guardian, expressed great appreciation for UEFA’s appointment of the young Kassai as the main referee for the Champions League final.

"I am thrilled for Kassai. He is a young referee but experienced. He had an outstanding World Cup, officiating the semifinals and proving himself as an excellent referee. His performance in this season’s Champions League has also been impressive. Therefore, appointing him for the Champions League final is undoubtedly a recognition of him. He is confident enough to officiate this final well. The only thing I can say is that, without a doubt, he will see this Champions League final officiating as one of the highlights of his career."

In 2011, Kassai officiated four Champions League matches, issuing 19 yellow cards, 0 red cards, and making 110 foul calls with no penalties awarded.

This selection has also sparked some controversy, with the biggest point being that Manchester United has never lost in any match officiated by him.

During this period, UEFA’s official website announced this season’s Champions League best team lineup. In this 11-player best lineup, Manchester United and Barcelona were the biggest winners with three players each.

Real Madrid only had two players included.

Bell, who emerged prominently on the Champions League and Premier League stages this season, also made the list, while up front, Schalke 04’s Raul partnered with Messi.

The detailed list of 11 players is as follows:

Goalkeeper: Van der Sar (Manchester United)

The experienced Netherlands Door God will retire after the Champions League final between Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Despite facing the daunting task of stopping Chen Zhong’s long shots and headers, it is undeniable that the 40-year-old is performing at a peak level.

Before this, Van der Sar defended Manchester United’s goal in the Champions League, keeping six clean sheets in nine matches.

Defender: Srna (Miner)

In the 9 matches he participated in, Srna contributed five assists, ranking second in this season’s Champions League, highlighting his crucial role in Miner Donetsk’s historic journey to the Champions League knockout stage.

Srna participated in nine of Miner’s ten matches, only missing the second leg of the quarterfinal against Barcelona due to injury.

Pique (Barcelona)

Pique is the most reliable player in Barcelona’s defense, bearing the responsibility alone during Puyol’s absence. When Busquets and Mascherano temporarily filled in at center-back, Pique’s experience proved essential, allowing Puyol to play confidently on the left against Miner and Real Madrid.

Vidic (Manchester United)

As the cornerstone of Manchester United’s defensive line, Vidic has become a model under Ferguson. He participated in eight Champions League matches this season, keeping a clean sheet in six. The away victory over Schalke further cemented the Red Devils’ early step into the final.

Marcelo (Real Madrid)

The offensively aggressive Brazilian defender spends perhaps more time in the opponent’s half. Marcelo participated in all of Real Madrid’s Champions League matches this season. With Mourinho’s lineup frequently comprising two defensive midfielders, Marcelo’s forward runs and assists are key to maintaining attacking strength, as exemplified by his goal against Lyon at home.

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