And the Referee for the Chelsea clash is...

[DeeGame]

Markus Merk.

Merk in middle for Bridge clash

Markus Merk will be the man in the middle at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in a repeat of the controversial last-four clash in 2005.

On that occasion, Luis Garcia scored a second-leg winner which referee Lubos Michel allowed to stand, although replays could not prove the ball went over the line before Chelsea cleared.

Merk, who is a dentist by trade, has established himself as one of the best referees in Europe and has featured in World Cups.

The German will be in the spotlight as Jose Mourinho has accused referees of favouring other clubs following a weekend where they were denied a penalty at Newcastle with the Chelsea boss claiming it was "forbidden" to award penalties against Manchester United.

Their fixtures with Liverpool - there have been 13 since Mourinho was appointed - have been eventful matches.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso had his foot broken in a tackle by Frank Lampard in 2005 while the Spain midfielder was suspended for the Champions League semi-final second leg later that season.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/sto...082326,00.html

[cobain]

Don't know what to expect really... Hope he will punish any sort of diving

[MindGuerrillas]

According to the BBC it's not Merk but a Russian ref, Nikolay Levnikov

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/6582695.stm

Surely this can't be right. Has anyone got an official answer from UEFA?

[desertscouser]

According to the BBC it's not Merk but a Russian ref, Nikolay Levnikov

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/6582695.stm

Surely this can't be right. Has anyone got an official answer from UEFA?

If it's a Russian ref then the idiots at UEFA should be shot. Are they f*cking thick or what? Without a shadow of a doubt, any Russian ref will favour Chelsea.

[tomasjj]

Semi-finals - 25 April 2007 20:45 (CET) - Stamford Bridge - London

Chelsea 20:45
Liverpool


Lineups not yet available
Referee
Markus Merk (GER)
Assistant referee
Jan-Hendrik Salver (GER) Carsten Kadach (GER)
Fourth official
Felix Brych (GER)
UEFA Referee observer
Nikolay Levnikov (RUS)

from uefa.com

So, in one word, chill....

[Mumsafan]

According to the BBC it's not Merk but a Russian ref, Nikolay Levnikov

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/6582695.stm

Surely this can't be right. Has anyone got an official answer from UEFA?

He's the Ref observer

[tsb]

According to the BBC it's not Merk but a Russian ref, Nikolay Levnikov

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...pe/6582695.stm

Surely this can't be right. Has anyone got an official answer from UEFA?

Has Merk been merked by Rio?

[dom9]

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso had his foot broken in a tackle by Frank Lampard in 2005 while the Spain midfielder was suspended for the Champions League semi-final second leg later that season.[/I]

I thought Gudjohnson broke Alonso's foot.

[Reece]

I thought Gudjohnson broke Alonso's foot.

It was definitely Fwank. Fat prick.

[dom9]

It was definitely Fwank. Fat prick.

I think it was Gudjonson that got him booked for the second leg.

[Reece]

I think it was Gudjonson that got him booked for the second leg.

Correctamundo.

[Rhys]

its defo merk

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N155696070423-1203.htm

[Outoftime]

Good reason not to play Harry then...

"Harry Kewell has been cleared to play in Australia's last Group F match against Croatia after escaping a ban for insulting referee Markus Merk.
The Liverpool winger was reported for swearing at the German official after the Socceroos' 2-0 defeat by Brazil."

[Craig_H]

Good reason not to play Harry then...

"Harry Kewell has been cleared to play in Australia's last Group F match against Croatia after escaping a ban for insulting referee Markus Merk.
The Liverpool winger was reported for swearing at the German official after the Socceroos' 2-0 defeat by Brazil."

I rate Merk, he's usually top notch.

Best situation with him was when he once booked Rio Ferdinand...

The german official was heard muttering "You've been Merked" as he walked from the scene

[rodo]

On that occasion, Luis Garcia scored a second-leg winner which referee Lubos Michel allowed to stand, although replays could not prove the ball went over the line before Chelsea cleared

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz did maureen write this article