Danny Makkelie: 5 things to know about the referee for Espérance vs Flamengo!

Africa 15 June 2025 at 10:32

Mohamed Rek

News Editor

The refereeing committee for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has appointed the officiating team for the match between Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Brazilian side Flamengo, a Group D fixture in this new format of the competition.

The match will be overseen by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, who will be supported by an experienced crew.

The first assistant will be Hessel Steegstra, also from the Netherlands, while the second assistant is Jan de Vries, likewise Dutch. The role of fourth official goes to Ma Ning from China.

5 key facts to know about Danny Makkelie, referee for Espérance vs Flamengo

• Born on January 28, 1983 in the Netherlands, Danny Makkelie is also a police officer in Rotterdam.
  
• He began refereeing in the Eredivisie in 2009 and obtained his FIFA international badge in 2011.
  
• He has officiated major matches such as the 2020 Europa League final, games at the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.
  
• During the 2024/2025 season, he refereed 44 matches according to Transfermarkt, including 5 in the Champions League and 27 in the Eredivisie.
  
• He is involved in training young referees in the Netherlands and is known for the accuracy of his decisions and his composure when dealing with players.

It’s worth noting that the Espérance vs Flamengo clash will take place overnight from Monday to Tuesday, at 1:00 AM (GMT).

Read also: Club World Cup 2025: 4 things to know about Espérance coach Maher Kanzari