International assignments for Ascari and Podeschi

UEFA Delegate Cristiano Ascari and Referee Observer Stefano Podeschi have in recent days received appointments in the Nations League and the Under-19 European Championship. Ascari was in fact appointed to last Friday's match between Belarus and Slovakia; a fixture which – due to the effects of the war in Ukraine and subsequent organisational decisions taken within UEFA – was staged on neutral ground. To be precise, in Novi Sad, Serbia. It was the opening match for both sides in Group 3 of League C and ended in a 1-0 victory for Slovakia, thanks to a strike from Suslov on the hour mark. Meanwhile, the first of two almost back-to-back appointments for Stefano Podeschi is currently under way. The Referee Observer is in the Netherlands, closely following the progress of Group 6 in the Elite Round of qualifying for the Under-19 European Championship. In addition to the hosts, the Oranje, the group also features Norway, Serbia and Ukraine. The final matches are scheduled for Tuesday at 19:00, in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, after a very evenly balanced first two matchdays. During the week, the refereeing team paid a visit to the National Centre of the Dutch FA in Zeist. For Podeschi it was a step back in time, as it was at the KNVB headquarters that he attended his first international course organised by FIFA, back in 1995.

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