Szymon Marciniak's appointment for this high-stakes clash underscores his standing among Europe's elite referees, though his history with Inter Milan has been a mixed bag
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has been appointed by UEFA to officiate the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona at San Siro on Tuesday. The highly experienced 44-year-old will be under scrutiny as the tie hangs precariously in the balance following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg in Catalunya. (More Football News)
Marciniak is a familiar face in top-tier European football and was notably the man in the middle for the 2023 Champions League Final, a match Inter Milan unfortunately lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
His appointment for this high-stakes clash underscores his standing among Europe's elite referees, though his history with Inter Milan has been a mixed bag.
The Polish official will be assisted by his compatriots Tomasz Listkiewicz and Adam Kupsik, with Pawel Raczkowski serving as the fourth official. The VAR responsibilities will be handled by Dutch officials Dennis Higler and Pol van Boekel (Assistant Video Assistant Referee).
Inter Milan do not boast a particularly favourable record in matches officiated by Marciniak. In the nine encounters under his whistle, the Nerazzurri have managed just two victories, alongside three draws and four defeats.
Their most recent memory of Marciniak is a bitter one: he was the referee for their Champions League Round of 16 tie in 2024 against Atletico Madrid, where Inter were eliminated on penalties. This adds to the narrative of highs and lows for Inter when Marciniak is in charge.
Interestingly, Marciniak has previously officiated two matches between Inter and Barcelona, both in the Champions League group stages. Both encounters ended in draws: a 1-1 result at San Siro during the 2018-19 season, and the aforementioned 3-3 spectacle at Camp Nou in the 2022-23 season.
Clement Turpin officiated in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final match between Barcelona and Inter Milan.
While the match was intense, it wasn't overly controversial. Turpin did not award a penalty after a clash between Frenkie de Jong and Hakan Calhanoglu, viewing it as a fair challenge. He also declined to give a penalty for a tackle by Inter's Alessandro Bastoni on Barcelona's Lamine Yamal.
Additionally, Inter striker Marcus Thuram appealed for a yellow card for Dani Olmo after Olmo raked his ankle with his studs.