FIFA has announced the referee who will officiate the Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain semi-final match in the 2025 Club World Cup.
The renowned Polish referee, Szymon Marciniak, will officiate the highly anticipated encounter, scheduled for Wednesday at MetLife Stadium.
This will be Marciniak’s second match in the Club World Cup, having overseen the Merengue’s 1-0 win over Juventus in the Round of 16.
This is Marciniak’s third match in the World Cup, having previously refereed one group match between Inter Miami and Palmeiras.
Marciniak’s appointment for the Real Madrid vs. PSG match is somewhat unusual, given his history with the club, which has generated considerable controversy.
The most recent dramatic incident in Marciniak’s relationship with Real Madrid was Julian Alvarez’s penalty kick against Atlético Madrid, when he ruled the ball had touched his foot twice and disallowed the kick. This later contributed to Real Madrid’s victory and their progress to the Champions League quarter-finals.
The year before last, Marciniak controversially awarded a penalty kick to Bayern Munich, which resulted in a goal in the second leg of the semi-final at the Santiago Bernabéu, potentially preventing Carlo Ancelotti’s side from reaching the final.
In total, Marciniak has previously refereed 11 matches for Real Madrid, with six wins, two draws, and three defeats.
The Polish referee’s record with Paris Saint-Germain is slightly lower, having officiated seven previous matches, with four wins, one draw, and two losses. The most recent was the emphatic 4-2 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League group stage last season.
