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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Marco Verratti's X-rated accusation as UEFA unveil referee for Euro 2020 final vs England

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti will not be pleased to learn the referee for the Euro 2020 final clash with England, as he has history with the UEFA-appointed official.

The governing body have announced Bjorn Kuipers will lead a Dutch, Spanish and German team of officials for the Wembley showdown this Sunday.

Kuipers has a sparkling CV having taken charge of the 2014 Champions League final and 2018 Europa League final, as well as featuring at two previous European Championships and World Cups.

But Paris Saint-Germain star Verratti railed against the Dutchman earlier this year as tempers flared during a Champions League fixture against Manchester City.

Verratti butted heads with Kuipers after PSG crashed out of the Champions League (REUTERS)

PSG were sent packing at the semi-final stage as City won 4-1 over two legs, with the French club seeing a man sent off in either match.

Angel Di Maria was the player given his marching orders in the second leg after a reckless challenge on Fernandinho, although the decision was met with huge protests from PSG players.

It was not the only incident which caused a flare-up during the match, but Verratti and Ander Herrera defended their team by claiming they were provoked by Kuipers.

"The referee tonight said f*** off to Leandro Paredes. If we say that we get a 3 or 4 match ban," said Herrera.

Verratti added: "The referee also told me ‘f*** you’ twice. For them it’s normal, if you say that it’s ten matches [ban]. I talk a lot to the referee but I don’t say that."

PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino suggested UEFA should investigate Kuipers in his own post-match interview.

"We need to believe what they are telling us but the most important thing is we are not in the final," said Pochettino.

Have you been impressed by the refereeing at Euro 2020? Comment below.

"I didn’t hear from the touchline but if something is there, maybe UEFA will investigate the situation. It is not an excuse to use and the most important thing is that we are not in the final."

Despite the accusations of PSG players and Pochettino's plea, no UEFA investigation materialised.

Kuipers remains a highly-regarded official and took charge of two Euro 2020 group-stage matches and the quarter-final between Czech Republic and Denmark.

He also served as the fourth official for England's opener against Croatia.

The refereeing at Euro 2020 has drawn praise as officials have made a noticeable effort to let games flow.

Roberto Rossetti, the head of the UEFA Referees Committee, said: "Our goal is to make the right decisions. We are happy to see fewer errors in this period.

"We have to find the right balance in terms of the VAR intervention, because our goal is to keep football as it is.

"The goal is to intervene in obvious situations and obvious errors – minimal intervention for maximum benefit."

Buy the Euro 2020 final match programme here.

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