 Makkelie in 2021 | |||
| Full name | Danny Desmond Makkelie | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1983-01-28)28 January 1983 (age 42) Willemstad,Curaçao | ||
| Other occupation | Police officer | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2009–present | Eredivisie | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2011–present | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Danny Desmond Makkelie (born 28 January 1983) is a Dutch professionalfootball referee. Besides refereeing he works as a police inspector inRotterdam and as a referee coach for theRoyal Dutch Football Association.[1] He has been aFIFA listed referee since 2011.
He took charge of the final of the2012 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship as aUEFA Elite referee.[2] On 18 August 2020, UEFA named 37-years old Makkelie as the referee for the2020 UEFA Europa League Final betweenSevilla andInter Milan.[3] Previously, he was an additional assistant referee in the2018 UEFA Europa League Final. He also refereed the semifinal between Brazil'sPalmeiras and Mexico'sUANL in the2020 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar.[4] Makkelie was selected as a referee for theUEFA Euro 2020, where he was in charge of two group stage matches, the R16 clash betweenEngland andGermany and theWembley semi-final betweenEngland andDenmark. Makkelie was also present as a referee during the2022 FIFA World Cup in which he was the referee for two group stage matches.
In April 2024, Makkelie was selected to officiate atUEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.[5]
Makkelie was criticised for a decision in theEuro 2020 semi-final betweenEngland andDenmark.[6][7] He awarded England a penalty in extra time for a foul onRaheem Sterling. Makkelie's decision was backed byRoberto Rosetti, the chairman of theUEFA referees’ committee, who pointed out that the match VAR officials told Makkelie the penalty was "correct".[8]
He also pushed Italy to last 16 is 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 foul for Italy repodently committed by Budimir and gives Italy another attack which leads to goal for 1-1. After that, UEFA removes Makkelie from UEFA competitions.[9][10][11]
On November 2 2025, Makkelie become under fire inEredivisie match betweenSparta Rotterdam andAZ Alkmaar when he shoved AZ defenderWouter Goes during a heated argument. The incident occurred in second half when Goes was repeatedly pulling and pushing Sparta strikerTobias 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 behavior.
Makkelie was thevideo assistant referee in the2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final, video assistant referee in the2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final, video assistant referee in the2018 FIFA World Cup Final, and video assistant referee in the2019 UEFA Champions League Final. He was also video assistant referee during the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in which he applied the new law changes in order to let penalties retaken in theFrance–Nigeria andJamaica–Italy matches.[12][13]
| Sporting positions
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| Preceded by | UEFA Europa League Final Referee 2020 | Succeeded by |
