Who is Danny Makkelie? Meet the Dutch referee officiating at Euro 2024
OFFICIAL Danny Makkelie is back on the world stage for Euro 2024 and is seen as one of the best referees around.
The Dutchman, 41, has huge experience in the middle - having first taking up the job in 2005 and being placed on the Elite list in 2014.
Who is Euro 2024 referee Danny Makkelie?
A former police inspector, Makkelie will accept no messing about in Germany.
He was first listed as a Fifa referee in 2011 and at 38 years old, still has plenty of mathches under his belt.
Having taken charge of 47 Champions League matches in his career - including Bayern's 1-0 win over Arsenal in the quarter-finals this year - he also has experience at two international tournaments.
Makkelie refereed games at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
England fans may remember a controversial penalty against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final that helped the Three Lions reach the final.
Makkelie made his Eredivise debut in 2009 and has gone on to make over 300 appearances since.
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Has he used VAR before?
The Dutchman has been involved in two major controversies with the VAR system.
Makkelie became the first referee to send-off a player using the technology after he changed his yellow-card decision to a sending off against Willem II's Anouar Kalu in a KNVB Cup game in 2016.
He was also involved in one of the most famous and controversial usages of VAR when he took charge of the Dutch Super Cup final between Feyenoord and Vitesse.
During that match, Feyenoord saw a goal disallowed and a penalty awarded to Vitesse instead after a VAR review showed Makkelie should have given the spot kick before the goal was scored.