Refereeing at the World Cup

[SerbianLad]

Oliver, who I usually think is one of the better English referees was atrocious. He allowed Canadians to beat up Moroccans and that completely ruined the match. Even bigger problem was that he didn't allow Moroccans to do the same. E.g.there was a stomp by a Canadian player that wasn't deemed to be worthy of a yellow card and after that, two Moroccans got yellows for stomping on Canadian players feet, even though they were much less dangerous than the foul Canadians made.

[Twig]

From the little I've seen it's been shocking. Those three women last night - what was that about?

Sorry, polite question - why shocking?

[WindyCity]

I still think the refereeing in the WC has been pretty good and not calling every bump and coming together of players or guys laying on the floor in apparent anguish.  Sure, a few missteps, which is to be expected.  And I will say Oliver, who I think is one of the best, had a difficult Morocco Canada game.  Probably way too many fouls called and too many yellows shown.  But on balance I've enjoyed the WC refs and handling of most of the games.

[The Cravenette]

The referee in the Paraguay v France game is an absolute joke. He has allowed so many terrible fouls and not booked any Paraguay players at all. He is beyond atrocious.

[LittleErn]

The referee in the Paraguay v France game is an absolute joke. He has allowed so many terrible fouls and not booked any Paraguay players at all. He is beyond atrocious.

Absolutely criminal.

[Arthur]

And I will say Oliver, who I think is one of the best, had a difficult Morocco Canada game.  Probably way too many fouls called and too many yellows shown.

The referee in the Paraguay v France game is an absolute joke. He has allowed so many terrible fouls and not booked any Paraguay players at all. He is beyond atrocious.

Who'd be a referee, eh?

[FFC007]

There was talk in his last match of match fixing and rigging. I wouldn't be surprised that something has happened here.

Tantashev was beyond disgusting.

[SerbianLad]

There was talk in his last match of match fixing and rigging. I wouldn't be surprised that something has happened here.

Tantashev was beyond disgusting.

I think that the France-Paraguay referee is just a terrible referee. He made some mistakes, granted nowhere near as many, that went against Paraguay. He also almost completely lost the control of the game. I don't believe it has anything to do with corruption. He's just clueless.

[NogoodBoyo]

Tantashev.  I have never seen such atrocious refereeing from the Azerbaijani on the French v Paraguay game on July 4.
 Not corruption, just pure incompetence.  France tried to play football. Paraguay came with little more than a cross between martial arts, rugby league and a completely hostile attitude to the French, the referee and the game of football.
Meanwhile, Tantashev booked three French players, no Paraguayans and ignored a stonewall penalty that even blind Freddy could see until VAR intervened.
Watching this cheating and thuggery was a painful task.
Nogood "FIFA needs to sharpen its management tools, isit" Boyo

[v]

Yeah Tantashev substandard and not up to the task.

Missed a lot of fouls and bookings and at the end lost control of the game with the players coming together in a melee and almost coming to blows. The linesman was forced to come help him.

With the penalty (which he initially missed) one of the Paraguay players scuffed the penalty spot behind the ref's back. I'd like to see the linesman or fourth official get involved at that point and flag that to the ref (of course the officials might've had their hands full trading words with the Paraguay bench or keeping them off the pitch !)

[Woolly Mammoth]

Historically many South American teams are known for their hostility Internationally and in a club level towards European teams, so no surprises there.
Nevertheless the referee who is supposed to be part of cream of the highest level of referees should have prepared himself for a game that could turn out like this.
We already know that FIFA are a Den of iniquity when push comes to shove, so no surprises there then either.

[john dempsey]

And I will say Oliver, who I think is one of the best, had a difficult Morocco Canada game.  Probably way too many fouls called and too many yellows shown.

The referee in the Paraguay v France game is an absolute joke. He has allowed so many terrible fouls and not booked any Paraguay players at all. He is beyond atrocious.

Who'd be a referee, eh?

Well the guy in the middle last night,
certainly wasn't a referee.
Dodgy as hell or high on some
South American substance.

[The Cravenette]

Completely agree with all of this. Apart from I believe he is from Uzbekistan.

[Andrew]

I remember Milan v Leeds
The old agdage if it looks like an elephant...... Is usually correct
When I said in the Milan Leeds game the ref had been got at I was told I was a fantasist and stuff like that.
Some time later he was done for taking back handers.

It's not possible that the ref and var officials failed to spot any wrong doings by one team but did for the other...especially odd was barcola being booked for no contact with an opponent.

I can't say we saw corruption, but I  can think it because incompetence cuts both ways.

[Woolly Mammoth]

There are more brown envelopes floating around the bowels of the FIFA establishment than there is at WH Smith & Son, and the The General Post Office.
It would not surprise me if FIFA have already tied the Colour of the Ribbons and Engraved the name of the Country they intend to win The World Cup..... just saying.

[keithh]

Have I missed something? I thought France had won the 2026 World cup.

[Fulham Tup North]

Yeah Tantashev substandard and not up to the task.

Missed a lot of fouls and bookings and at the end lost control of the game with the players coming together in a melee and almost coming to blows. The linesman was forced to come help him.

With the penalty (which he initially missed) one of the Paraguay players scuffed the penalty spot behind the ref's back. I'd like to see the linesman or fourth official get involved at that point and flag that to the ref (of course the officials might've had their hands full trading words with the Paraguay bench or keeping them off the pitch !)

fortunately the right team progressed... France kept their cool... and M'bappe was very calm...
Agree with how poor the ref was..

[jarv]

I thought it might be just me but thankfully, the real knowledgable football people are on this site. The ref was awful and should not get another game. Anywhere, even on the park down the road.

[SerbianLad]

Another blind ref in the Brazil Norway match. He missed a clear penalty for Brazil before VAR intervened.

[FulhamKC]

Another blind ref in the Brazil Norway match. He missed a clear penalty for Brazil before VAR intervened.

I think his angle of view made it look like the defender got the ball first