Refereeing at the World Cup

[Jim©]

I've watched enough games in the WC to now know that the standard of refereeing is way better than anything we're used to.
The biggest grumble we have as fans is the complete lack of consistency that we see in England. Not at the world cup it seems, they've all been primed by Pierluigi Collina, possibly one of the best international refs I remember.

The game is flowing way more, quite often with refs refusing to blow for the slightest contact. The knock-on effect is that play-acting is fast disappearing; players go down, the ref gives nothing so they get up and do a pretend hobble for 5 yards then carry on as normal.

VAR too seems a bit of a step ahead of what we're used to; quick, decisive and consistent.

Is it too much to hope that it carries over to the Premier League?

[alfie]

I've watched enough games in the WC to now know that the standard of refereeing is way better than anything we're used to.
The biggest grumble we have as fans is the complete lack of consistency that we see in England. Not at the world cup it seems, they've all been primed by Pierluigi Collina, possibly one of the best international refs I remember.

The game is flowing way more, quite often with refs refusing to blow for the slightest contact. The knock-on effect is that play-acting is fast disappearing; players go down, the ref gives nothing so they get up and do a pretend hobble for 5 years then carry on as normal.

VAR too seems a bit of a step ahead of what we're used to; quick, decisive and consistent.

Is it too much to hope that it carries over to the Premier League?

Blimey Jim that's a long old game if they carry that hobble for  5 years 🤣

[Jim©]

I've watched enough games in the WC to now know that the standard of refereeing is way better than anything we're used to.
The biggest grumble we have as fans is the complete lack of consistency that we see in England. Not at the world cup it seems, they've all been primed by Pierluigi Collina, possibly one of the best international refs I remember.

The game is flowing way more, quite often with refs refusing to blow for the slightest contact. The knock-on effect is that play-acting is fast disappearing; players go down, the ref gives nothing so they get up and do a pretend hobble for 5 years then carry on as normal.

VAR too seems a bit of a step ahead of what we're used to; quick, decisive and consistent.

Is it too much to hope that it carries over to the Premier League?

Blimey Jim that's a long old game if they carry that hobble for  5 years 🤣

Ha ha, very true- I'll amend!

[Nick Bateman]

FIFA did this 4 years ago in Qatar which was the best refereed tournament I've witnessed. That is the exact opposite to the English Premier League which rewards diving, fouling the goalkeeper at corners, ridiculous time-wasting and blatant favouring teams they decide are "bigger". You would never have a Cape Verde if the PGMOL presided the World Cup.

Sorry for the negativity, but I can enjoy teams like France again when they are winning matches fairly as in this World Cup.

[MisfitKid]

FIFA did this 4 years ago in Qatar which was the best refereed tournament I've witnessed. That is the exact opposite to the English Premier League which rewards diving, fouling the goalkeeper at corners, ridiculous time-wasting and blatant favouring teams they decide are "bigger". You would never have a Cape Verde if the PGMOL presided the World Cup.

Sorry for the negativity, but I can enjoy teams like France again when they are winning matches fairly as in this World Cup.

Nick- You forgot in the PL, being jumped by 6-8 players to whine over a call.  Most of the WC refs are not standing for it.  Most...

[v]

In the USA opening game v Paraguay, Almorin dived and hoodwinked the ref into booking Ream... Except that VAR asked the ref to have a second look, he reversed his decision and booked Almorin instead.

Has that ever happened before?
Anyway, PGMOL take note.

[Ludlow Richard]

There is hardly any wrestling at corners, nor does there seem to be much arguing with the referee. I haven't seen all games (far from it) but the pundits are able to talk about football and not the referee or VAR which is totally refreshing compared to what we see in the PL week in week out. The obvious explanation of why the refereeing is better at the World Cup than in the PL is that the World Cup referees are overseen by Collina and the PL referees are overseen by Howard Webb.

 

[WindyCity]

Glad someone started this thread/topic.  Have watched handful of games, very noticeable.  Refs are not calling every bump, bruise, and coming together of players.  Fewer stoppages of play when someone gets bumped.  Very enjoyable to see more continuous play.  And when a player actually goes down, they are letting play continue, with the player eventually picking himself up and joining play in short order, not really requiring assistance from physios or anyone else.  Wish Prem would/could adapt to such a refereeing philosophy.

[Jim©]

Glad someone started this thread/topic.

I did it straight off the back of watching (for the first time ever) the World Cup final in 1966, in colour.
I was blown away by the flow of the game. Not interrupted by feigning injury or slight touch fouls.
Now this tournament seems to be following in the same way, even Michael Oliver, the only english ref there was trying to do the same.
As above, it's the consistency we're all crying out for and the refs in the WC seem to be entirely consistent. It's brilliant.

 

[HobGoblin]

Refs have been very good, the new rules are good ones and i love the red card for face covering when obviously saying something nasty. Hope this is a new standard that is rolled out to all leagues and cups.

[cmg]

I did it straight off the back of watching (for the first time ever) the World Cup final in 1966, in colour...

That little red-haired bloke still running his socks off?

[Jim©]

I did it straight off the back of watching (for the first time ever) the World Cup final in 1966, in colour...

That little red-haired bloke still running his socks off?

Alan Ball? He was class, looked perhaps the only one to match the athletes of today.

[cmg]

I did it straight off the back of watching (for the first time ever) the World Cup final in 1966, in colour...

That little red-haired bloke still running his socks off?

Alan Ball? He was class, looked perhaps the only one to match the athletes of today.

MoM - although that hadn't been invented yet.

Moore was close. Has anyone ever played Wembley as if he owned the joint more consistently than Bobby Moore? Maybe JNH.

[Jim©]

I went and jinxed it. Worst refereeing performance of the wc so far!

[SuperFreeman]

I've watched enough games in the WC to now know that the standard of refereeing is way better than anything we're used to.
The biggest grumble we have as fans is the complete lack of consistency that we see in England. Not at the world cup it seems, they've all been primed by Pierluigi Collina, possibly one of the best international refs I remember.

The game is flowing way more, quite often with refs refusing to blow for the slightest contact. The knock-on effect is that play-acting is fast disappearing; players go down, the ref gives nothing so they get up and do a pretend hobble for 5 years then carry on as normal.

VAR too seems a bit of a step ahead of what we're used to; quick, decisive and consistent.

Is it too much to hope that it carries over to the Premier League?

Blimey Jim that's a long old game if they carry that hobble for  5 years 🤣

Ha ha, very true- I'll amend!

I agree with much of what you say but what happened last night?? Clearly the VAR's had popped out for a smoke when Konsa flattened a Ghana player in the box. It was a clear pen all day long and England got away with it.

[Logicalman]

FIFA did this 4 years ago in Qatar which was the best refereed tournament I've witnessed. That is the exact opposite to the English Premier League which rewards diving, fouling the goalkeeper at corners, ridiculous time-wasting and blatant favouring teams they decide are "bigger". You would never have a Cape Verde if the PGMOL presided the World Cup.

Sorry for the negativity, but I can enjoy teams like France again when they are winning matches fairly as in this World Cup.

Nick- You forgot in the PL, being jumped by 6-8 players to whine over a call.  Most of the WC refs are not standing for it.  Most...

Though that is the refs fault, as the 'Only the Captain' rule in the FA rules of the game specifically deals with this, though Refs routinely ignore enforcing this and other rules as provided, as does the FA which are expected to review such conduct, but so very rarely do.

[Logicalman]

In the USA opening game v Paraguay, Almorin dived and hoodwinked the ref into booking Ream... Except that VAR asked the ref to have a second look, he reversed his decision and booked Almorin instead.

Has that ever happened before?
Anyway, PGMOL take note.

The unfortunate reality is, they won't.

One of the reasons the WCF refereeing / VAR have been successful is that not only one Ref org is in charge of any one game, and FIFA have applied strict rules, something the English FA are soulfully unable to do and something the PGMOL Refs refuse to do (given they are so inconsistent in their rulings, even to the point of the same ref in different matches for the exact same offence).

The ONLY way this will be resolved is to, yet again, bring the PGMOL under the direct control of the FA (as in disband the PGMOL as a separate organization and make the refs direct employees), use the available technology correctly (even if that means fitting additional hardware at stadiums to be able to cover most angles of view), together with a discipline code that is enforced for refs that use their 'judgement' to decide on whether to apply the given rules or not.

[Nick Bateman]

The official for the England-Ghana debacle was the worst referee in the tournament. Blowing up for minor contact, allowing too much time for anything to be taken, poor judgement. I hope that was his last match and is sent home ASAP.

[DadCreature]

The official for the England-Ghana debacle was the worst referee in the tournament. Blowing up for minor contact, allowing too much time for anything to be taken, poor judgement. I hope that was his last match and is sent home ASAP.

Yeah, a CONCACAF referee not from USA or Mexico.  Sorry.  We get that most every time we play in our confederation.  It's terrible.  We've had two EUFA refs so far and it's been very nice.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Glad someone started this thread/topic.

I did it straight off the back of watching (for the first time ever) the World Cup final in 1966, in colour.
I was blown away by the flow of the game. Not interrupted by feigning injury or slight touch fouls.
Now this tournament seems to be following in the same way, even Michael Oliver, the only english ref there was trying to do the same.
As above, it's the consistency we're all crying out for and the refs in the WC seem to be entirely consistent. It's brilliant.

 

No walking football in those days, all end to end, unlike the nonsense we have to put up with these days.