Overview
- The Dutch official will take charge of the World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal at New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Thursday.
- His crew includes assistants Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, fourth official Jesús Gil Manzano, and VARs Pol van Boekel and Jeroen Manschot.
- The lineup mixes Dutch officials with a Spanish fourth official in a setup that breaks from UEFA’s standard practice of single-nation teams.
- Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill prepared a 36-page brief on Makkelie’s tendencies to guide players on fouls, protests, and card risks.
- Makkelie brings a strict card record and headline calls, including three Álvaro Morata offside goals annulled in 2020 and the unawarded Ronaldo goal in 2021.