Marciniak Adds Another High-Stakes Match to His Résumé

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has been appointed to officiate the Club World Cup semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, set for this Wednesday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. At 44 years old and with an extensive track record, Marciniak once again takes center stage after several controversial decisions in recent high-profile matches.

Marciniak has already overseen Real Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Juventus in the Round of 16 of the same tournament, as well as the thrilling 2-2 draw between Inter Miami and Palmeiras. This will be his third match at this year’s Club World Cup, further confirming his status as one of FIFA’s most trusted referees.

A History of Controversial Calls

Marciniak has officiated on the biggest stages in world football: the 2022 World Cup Final between Argentina and France in Qatar, the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Inter Milan, and the 2023 Club World Cup Final where Manchester City defeated Fluminense.

However, his decisions have not been without criticism this season. In particular, he made headlines for overturning a penalty kick by Julián Álvarez due to a “double touch” in the Champions League Round of 16 clash between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. His officiating in the semifinal between Inter and Barcelona, which ended with the Italian club reaching the final, also sparked debate.

Semifinal Schedule Set at MetLife

The tournament’s semifinal stage begins Tuesday at the same venue with Chelsea facing Fluminense, refereed by Frenchman François Letexier. Both semifinals are scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time (12:00 p.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. MT / 2:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 p.m. ET) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.