Damir Skomina to referee 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League final

Damir Skomina to referee 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League final. That is what Uefa has announced.

5 tips by Damir Skomina

1. Prepare as you’d normally do. “We’ll have some music playing in the background in the dressing-room, and we’ll all go through our normal preparations.” Dutch FIFA referee Dennis Higler also says something similar. Check all his tips.
2. Get support from home. The Uefa article says that Skomina’s “two sons of 13 and ten will be attentive spectators at the final”. Refereeing is a great hobby, similar for me blogging about it, but you can do it better when you get support from your family.
3. Focus on your next game and don’t think to far ahead. “The next game is this final on 1 June – and then comes an assignment in the European Qualifiers soon afterwards – and that match will then become my next ‘final’.
4. Keep setting goals for yourself. “I still have a few years in front of me as a referee – there are still targets and hard work ahead. There’s no way that after the match in Madrid, I could ever think to myself: ‘I’ve done it all now’.” That’s also how Martin Atkinson looks at it. He always tries to get the best games possible and work hard for that. See the interview met Martin Atkinson.
5. Focus – don’t let something distract you. “By the time we line up with the teams, I’ll be totally concentrated on the game,” he says to Uefa. “In fact, it won’t be until I look at the match the next day that I’ll finally fully notice all of the pre-match activities.” Tips to stay focused for 90 minutes that you can apply yourself.

Announcement by Uefa

The UEFA Referees Committee has announced that Damir Skomina will referee the 2019 UEFA Champions League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. The match will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday 1 June at 21:00CET.

The 42-year-old Slovenian, an international referee since 2002, will have the opportunity to complete a prestigious European club competition “treble”, as he has already officiated at the UEFA Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United in 2017, as well as the UEFA Super Cup between Chelsea and Atlético in 2012. He also acted as fourth official at the 2013 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern München.

Skomina has taken charge of four UEFA Champions League matches this season, as well as two UEFA Europa League games.

At the final in Madrid, Skomina will be assisted by his countrymen Jure Praprotnik and Robert Vukan. The fourth official will be Antonio Mateu Lahoz from Spain. The video assistant referee role has been assigned to Danny Makkelie from the Netherlands, who will be supported by Pol van Boekel, Felix Zwayer, and Mark Borsch.

2019 UEFA Champions League final refereeing team

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
Assistant Referees: Jure Praprotnik, Robert Vukan (both from Slovenia)
Fourth official: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
Video Assistant Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
VAR Assistants: Pol van Boekel (Netherlands), Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Offside VAR: Mark Borsch (Germany)