Soccer

Who is Danny Makkelie, the referee for Villarreal - Liverpool?

Makkelie’s last Champions League match was the second leg of the last-16 tie between Real Madrid and PSG at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Kieran Quaile
KARIM JAAFARAFP

Danny Makkelie will referee Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg between Villarreal and Liverpool at La Cerámica.

Makkelie is a police officer from Willemstad in the Netherlands and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2011.

On Tuesday, the 39-year-old will be assisted on the sidelines by his compatriots Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries. The fourth official will be Serdar Gozubuyuk and Pol van Boekel and Dennis Higler will officiate in the VAR room.

Champions League official

Makkelie’s last Champions League match was the second leg of the last-16 tie between Real Madrid and PSG at the Santiago Bernabéu, in which the Spanish side won 3-1.

Earlier this season, he refereed Liverpool’s group stage 2-1 win over AC Milan on 19 December.

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Villarreal vs Liverpool

Liverpool lead 2-0 from the first leg at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side head to Spain looking to progress to another Champions League final.

Villarreal, who lost to Alavés on Saturday, struggled against the English side in the first leg last week but will be confident their strong home form can work to their advantage.

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