German referee Daniel Siebert will officiate the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal. The 42-year-old is known for being 'closed to discussions' and was called 'disgusting' by a stadium announcer.
The referee for the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal on May 30 in Budapest has now been announced. It will be the German Daniel Siebert. The 42-year-old referee is not unanimous in his own country, and this choice by UEFA is surprising many.
Not selected for the World Cup this summer by FIFA, Siebert can console himself with the Champions League final, 11 years after his European debut.
UEFA has indeed formalized the appointment of this experienced referee for the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal.
Although the German has experience, he is also known for being completely closed to discussions on and off the field, as was observed during the Champions League semifinal return leg between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.
In other words, the players and staff of both clubs would do well to toe the line, and above all, they should avoid asking for explanations from a referee who achieved the feat of being blasted by the Cologne stadium announcer, who said over the stadium microphone that Siebert was a "disgusting" referee.
As L'Equipe recalls, Lothar Matthaus, a legend of German football, is not a big fan of the 42-year-old referee.
Matthaus said, "He does not always manage to be consistent in his decisions. Whether it's for fouls or offside, he doesn't always know whether to let the play continue or blow his whistle. In terms of his choices, he is too hesitant. He should be much more consistent. The only quality I know of him is that he generally admits his mistakes. He is rather honest."
Siebert clearly has the reputation of being a very rigid referee, as told by Ole Werner, Leipzig's coach, after his team's defeat against Bayern Munich: "I wanted to go up to him at the end of the match, but he completely ignored me when I tried to shake his hand. I don't know what I did to him. We made eye contact, but he preferred not to respond to me for some reason. I have a hard time understanding his attitude." Both clubs have been warned; you don't mess with the Berlin referee.
Let's hope for a match with no refereeing controversy, and everything decided on the pitch. Both Arsenal and PSG have what it takes to offer a spectacle without the spotlight falling on the referee, so we have to hope that is the case.
Let us know your prediction in the comments!
