Crystal Palace's Conference League final referee draws criticism from Spanish football figures

Maurizio Mariani, the Italian referee appointed to oversee the UEFA Conference League final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on May 27, has attracted notable criticism from Spanish football figures ahead of the match.

Mariani, 44, from Rome, has never previously refereed either Crystal Palace or Rayo Vallecano. Both clubs are chasing their first-ever European trophy when they meet in Germany.

The criticism stems largely from Mariani’s involvement in Real Madrid’s Champions League matches this season. Former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde González raised concerns on Cadena SER before Mariani took charge of Madrid’s knockout tie against Manchester City.

“Italian referees aren’t having a good run right now,” Iturralde González said. “He doesn’t let the game flow, he prefers to steer it where he wants, and I don’t like that kind of refereeing.”

He elaborated further: “He might not see a foul depending on where it is, for example, on the edge of the penalty area. Instead of letting the game unfold, he takes the game where he wants, and that’s why I don’t like it.”

Mariani has now refereed Real Madrid on three occasions. He oversaw their win over RB Leipzig in 2022 and their loss to Lille in 2024, when Jonathan David scored the winner from the penalty spot. In the most recent City match, Mariani did award a penalty to Madrid, though Vinicius Junior failed to convert it. Across seven Champions League matches this season, that was the only spot-kick he awarded, and he issued just one red card in the competition — to Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz during a league-phase match against Paris Saint-Germain.

In the Conference League specifically, Mariani has taken charge of three matches, awarding one penalty — to Maccabi Tel-Aviv in a 6-1 defeat to Olympiacos in March 2024 — and distributing 11 yellow cards with no red cards shown.

Rayo Vallecano, managed by Álvaro Arbeloa, are the Spanish side in the final, though the criticism of Mariani has come primarily from those aligned with their Madrid neighbours rather than the club itself.