Damir Skomina to referee Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool
Skomina awarded Manchester United a 94th-minute penalty, with the help of VAR, against PSG at the Champions League last-16 stage.
Tuesday 14 May 2019 17:59, UK
Slovenia’s Damir Skomina, who refereed Manchester United's comeback over PSG, will take charge of the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool.
It will be the 42-year-old's first Champions League final but he does have experience officiating in European football's showpiece events.
He refereed the Europa League final between Ajax and Manchester United in 2017, as well as the Super Cup encounter between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in 2012.
He was also the referee to give United a stoppage-time penalty which sent them through their last-16 match with PSG, using video technology to come to the decision.
Skomina officiated England's game against Iceland when they were knocked out of Euro 2016.
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Skomina has taken charge of four Champions League matches this season, including Liverpool's 1-0 win at home to Napoli in December, although the Reds have lost the four other games of theirs he has officiated in.
Neymar: Skomina 'knows nothing about football'
Neymar was banned for three European matches after making his feelings felt towards Skomina and the three-match officials involved in PSG's defeat to United on social media.
Neymar said on Instagram in March: "This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR.
"There is no penalty. How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go **** yourselves!"
He has history with Spurs too
Spurs fans have bad memories of Skomina after he denied the north London club what they felt was a clear penalty in their Champions League last-16 game away to Benfica in 2014, when Harry Kane seemed to be fouled by Guilherme Siqueira, moments before awarding Benfica a spot-kick.
The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Tottenham losing 5-3 on aggregate.
Who are the other officials?
At the Wanda Metropolitano, 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.
