Danny Makkelie: Difference between revisions

Dutch football referee (born 1983)

Danny Desmond Makkelie (born 28 January 1983) is a Dutch professional football referee. Besides refereeing he works as a police inspector in Rotterdam and as a referee coach for the Royal Dutch Football Association.^[1] He has been a FIFA listed referee since 2011.

He took charge of the final of the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship as a UEFA Elite referee.^[2] On 18 August 2020, UEFA named 37-years old Makkelie as the referee for the 2020 UEFA Europa League Final between Sevilla and Inter Milan.^[3] Previously, he was an additional assistant referee in the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final. He also refereed the semifinal between Brazil’s Palmeiras and Mexico’s UANL in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.^[4] Makkelie was selected as a referee for the UEFA Euro 2020, where he was in charge of two group stage matches, the R16 clash between England and Germany and the Wembley semi-final between England and Denmark. Makkelie was also present as a referee during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in which he was the referee for two group stage matches.

In April 2024, Makkelie was selected to officiate at UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.^[5]

Makkelie was criticised for a decision in the Euro 2020 semi-final between England and Denmark.^[6][7] He awarded England a penalty in extra time for a foul on Raheem Sterling. Makkelie’s decision was backed by Roberto Rosetti, the chairman of the UEFA referees’ committee, who pointed out that the match VAR officials told Makkelie the penalty was “correct”.^[8]

He also pushed Italy to last 16 in EURO 2024 vs. Croatia match when given non-existing 8 additional minutes at the end of the match. Seconds before Italy goal, Makkelie also whistles non-existing faul for Italy repodently commited by Budimir and gives Italy another attack which leads to goal for 1-1 in 98th minute. This went directly against UEFA’s Roberto Rosetti, who is the chairman of UEFA referees, mandate before EURO 2024 “We have asked the referees to speed up the game.” ^[9] There were no major delays that would justify 8 minutes: No injuries, no fake cramps, no slow walking during substitutions, no slow goal kicks.
After that, UEFA removes Makkelie from UEFA competitions.^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

On November 2 2025, Makkelie become under fire in Eredivisie match between Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar when he shoved AZ defender Wouter Goes during a heated argument. The incident occurred in second half when Goes was repeatedly pulling and pushing Sparta striker Tobias Lauritsen while awaiting a corner kick. Makkelie awarded Goes a yellow card but later become visibly frustrated and then angrily approached Goes. The incident sparked significant discussion with some experts understanding Makkelie’s frustration given Goes’s provocative behaviour ^{[citation needed]}.

Makkelie was the video assistant referee in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final, video assistant referee in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final, video assistant referee in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, and video assistant referee in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final. He was also video assistant referee during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in which he applied the new law changes in order to let penalties retaken in the France–Nigeria and Jamaica–Italy matches.^[14][15]