an Argentinian referee for the round of 16 of the Blues

UEFA has appointed Argentinian Fernando Andrés Rapallini to lead the round of 16 of Euro 2021 between the France team and Switzerland on Monday in Bucharest. The South American official is participating in the European competition as part of an exchange with CONMEBOL.

The news may surprise, as the arbitration of the Blues during the Euro aroused criticism in France. Not really helped by the arbitration decisions since the start of the competition, the proteges of Didier Deschamps will have to adapt this time to a South American referee. UEFA has appointed Argentinian Fernando Andrés Rapallini to lead the round of 16 of Euro 2021 between the France team and Switzerland on Monday in Bucharest.

The 43-year-old official is the tournament’s only non-European central referee and owes his presence to an exchange between UEFA and CONMEBOL. Spain’s Jesus Gil Manzano is currently in Brazil during the Copa America. Fernando Andrés Rapallini will be assisted by his compatriots Juan Pablo Belatti and Diego Yamil Bonfa while the Spaniard Juan Martinez Munuera will be in the VAR truck in Nyon.

A referee not really used to big meetings

Arbitrator in Argentina since 2011, Fernando Andrés Rapallini has been officiating at the international level since 2014. However, the man who builds swimming pools outside of football does not have a great deal of high level experience.

Despite 260 matches refereed, the South American has never had the honors of an officer during a World Cup. In the Copa Libertadores, he has refereed 23 games, but has never been beyond the quarter-finals, and has managed only one poster during the Copa America 2019, a card from Brazil against Peru (5 -0) during the hens.

During this Euro 2021, Fernando Andrés Rapallini has already been on the whistle during two matches of the group stage: for Ukraine-North Macedonia (2-1) and Croatia-Scotland (3-1). And he notably distinguished himself with a total of five warnings and two whistled penalties.

Services reflecting its record in South America. With no less than 1,328 yellow cards, 55 red cards and 54 penalties whistled in 260 games, Fernando Andrés Rapallini does not seem to give any gifts. The Blues are warned, we must not commit silly mistakes against the Nati.

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