Refereeing at the World Cup

[SerbianLad]

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

Still, that's a poor call to make. Maybe his positioning was poor or something.

On a more positive note, at least he didn't look at it for hours like most referees do. He took one look and realised he made a mistake and corrected it.

[Deeping_white]

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

Still, that's a poor call to make. Maybe his positioning was poor or something.

On a more positive note, at least he didn't look at it for hours like most referees do. He took one look and realised he made a mistake and corrected it.

I was shocked about the second Brazil penalty though. Norway defender only has eyes for the ball and genuinely can't have his arm anywhere else but the ref seems to think he can jump with his arms by his side??

[SerbianLad]

I was shocked about the second Brazil penalty though. Norway defender only has eyes for the ball and genuinely can't have his arm anywhere else but the ref seems to think he can jump with his arms by his side??

Which also points to him being a poor ref. Once given, I understand why VAR didn't intervene though. As it isn't a clear an obvious error, because he did elbow him in the face. I too wouldn't have given it though.

[Deeping_white]

I was shocked about the second Brazil penalty though. Norway defender only has eyes for the ball and genuinely can't have his arm anywhere else but the ref seems to think he can jump with his arms by his side??

Which also points to him being a poor ref. Once given, I understand why VAR didn't intervene though. As it isn't a clear an obvious error, because he did elbow him in the face. I too wouldn't have given it though.

Yeah no VAR check for it was mental. I know his arm made contact with the Brazil players face, but it was entirely accidental and he actually won the header so can't see how he's adjudged to have fouled the Brazil player

[Jim©]

An incredible admission by Trump, saying that he did indeed get Infantino to reverse the Balogun red card.

https://news.sky.com/video/share-13561026

FIFA have to sort this out or the game's in serious danger. If of course he's telling the truth...

[ArcticOctopus]

An incredible admission by Trump, saying that he did indeed get Infantino to reverse the Balogun red card.

https://news.sky.com/video/share-13561026

FIFA have to sort this out or the game's in serious danger. If of course he's telling the truth...

Trump will say anything that gets him press, good or bad. I could see it going either way.

[Buffalo76]

An incredible admission by Trump, saying that he did indeed get Infantino to reverse the Balogun red card.

https://news.sky.com/video/share-13561026

FIFA have to sort this out or the game's in serious danger. If of course he's telling the truth...

Trump will say anything that gets him press, good or bad. I could see it going either way.

If USA lose to Belgium in the early hours of tomorrow our time then Trump being Trump I wouldn't be surprised if he persuades FIFA 2 replay the game as often as needed until USA win and then do the same in the rest of their games until they win the WC itself!!!!

[love4ffc]

Community note: The MOD team knows it is difficult not to turn this subject into a political discussion, but please try to avoid any politics.

 
As an American, I have said my peace in the "Love Jedi and Tim Ream" Thread. 

[Deeping_white]

I believe that in FIFA's own rulebook, it states that if there is political interference towards FIFA or a given countries FA by the same countries government then that countries national team is to be suspended until said political interference is ended. Of course in this situation it won't happen because Infantino is a crook who has cosied up to Trump, but by the strict definition of the rules the USMT should be out of the world cup

[v]

The last quarter final and Switzerland is well on top after levelling v Argentina when Swiss player Embolo decides to take a dive and get Paredes booked...

Except that, as we've seen from the Almiron incident in the USA - Paraguay game, VAR gets involved if it detects clear simulation.

The upshot being the ref rescinds the Paredes booking and rightly books Embolo instead.

Embolo had already been booked so is sent off (leaving his team a man short and letting Argentina off the hook as they were seriously out of sorts at that point !)

I can't remember a more idiotic decision by a player in a World Cup but if it ends up costing Switzerland, it just might make footballers think twice in future about hoodwinking the ref.

[SerbianLad]

The last quarter final and Switzerland is well on top after levelling v Argentina when Swiss player Embolo decides to take a dive and get Paredes booked...

Except that, as we've seen from the Almiron incident in the USA - Paraguay game, VAR gets involved if it detects clear simulation.

The upshot being the ref rescinds the Paredes booking and rightly books Embolo instead.

Embolo had already been booked so is sent off (leaving his team a man short and letting Argentina off the hook as they were seriously out of sorts at that point !)

I can't remember a more idiotic decision by a player in a World Cup but if it ends up costing Switzerland, it just might make footballers think twice in future about hoodwinking the ref.

It's a wrong decision that is against the rules. VAR can't interfere for yellow cards, even if it's potentially a second yellow. Players dive all the time, if VAR intervened every time, there'd be a lot of yellows. Another clear example of referees favouring Argentina. It's absolutely disgusting. It's never been so clear.

[Woolly Mammoth]

I believe that in FIFA's own rulebook, it states that if there is political interference towards FIFA or a given countries FA by the same countries government then that countries national team is to be suspended until said political interference is ended. Of course in this situation it won't happen because Infantino is a crook who has cosied up to Trump, but by the strict definition of the rules the USMT should be out of the world cup

The incorrigible individual Infantino showed another example of his conflict of interest habit by smugly sitting next to the King of Norway during last nights match.

[Arthur]

The incorrigible individual Infantino showed another example of his conflict of interest habit by smugly sitting next to the King of Norway during last nights match.

When the King of Norway declares his wish to attend an event, he is expecting to be looked after by the head of that organisation. For the KIng to be chaperoned by a lesser dignitary would be an insult. In this instance, the organisation was FIFA and it's figurehead (like it or not) is Infantino. It's not a case of a conflict of interest; it's a matter of etiquette. It's not Infantino's doing that King Charles wasn't there. Had he wished to be, Infantino would have been obliged to sit between the two Kings.

One conspiracy theory too far.

[Nick Bateman]

The refereeing has gotten worse as the tournament progressed. The Germany disallowed goal for a slight contact on the 'keeper, Egypt's wonder-goal chalked off for a tiny step on an Argie's toe, to yesterday's sending off for simulation (had ref done his job properly he would have not awarded a foul to the diver and not issued a yellow card). We've seen Michael Oliver give a ridiculous dive by Jeremy Doku, yet Harry Kane not given one which led to Norway's goal - the inconsistency is confusing.

VAR is getting involved in re-refereeing; I thought Haaland's "push" to deny a Norwegian goal was obvious but Anderson also played for the foul and feigned weakness. One only hopes VAR does not feature in the remaining games in the World Cup or it will leave a bitter taste.

[alfie]

The refereeing has gotten worse as the tournament progressed. The Germany disallowed goal for a slight contact on the 'keeper, Egypt's wonder-goal chalked off for a tiny step on an Argie's toe, to yesterday's sending off for simulation (had ref done his job properly he would have not awarded a foul to the diver and not issued a yellow card). We've seen Michael Oliver give a ridiculous dive by Jeremy Doku, yet Harry Kane not given one which led to Norway's goal - the inconsistency is confusing.

VAR is getting involved in re-refereeing; I thought Haaland's "push" to deny a Norwegian goal was obvious but Anderson also played for the foul and feigned weakness. One only hopes VAR does not feature in the remaining games in the World Cup or it will leave a bitter taste.

I disagree, that was a bit of a shove, and really it doesn't matter how hard, it was still a two handed shove.

[LittleErn]

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.

I have a theory that the above approach is designed to "sell" the game to Americans, who are unlikely to fall in love with the stop/start football that we often suffer in the UK. I suspect that referees have been briefed accordingly. Of course, because of the desire to have officials from all the nations involved, there will be some who are inexperienced at refereeing top-class players or with the pace of the game at top levels. There will also be some who are so steeped in the standards of their own leagues that they find it difficult to let things go (or vice-versa). Then again, no-one really knows what inducements might or might not be offered to individual referees.

[BarryP]

The last quarter final and Switzerland is well on top after levelling v Argentina when Swiss player Embolo decides to take a dive and get Paredes booked...

Except that, as we've seen from the Almiron incident in the USA - Paraguay game, VAR gets involved if it detects clear simulation.

The upshot being the ref rescinds the Paredes booking and rightly books Embolo instead.

Embolo had already been booked so is sent off (leaving his team a man short and letting Argentina off the hook as they were seriously out of sorts at that point !)

I can't remember a more idiotic decision by a player in a World Cup but if it ends up costing Switzerland, it just might make footballers think twice in future about hoodwinking the ref.

It's a wrong decision that is against the rules. VAR can't interfere for yellow cards, even if it's potentially a second yellow. Players dive all the time, if VAR intervened every time, there'd be a lot of yellows. Another clear example of referees favouring Argentina. It's absolutely disgusting. It's never been so clear.

Second time it's happened in this tournament and long may it continue until diving is driven out of football altogether.

[Jim©]

I have a theory that the above approach is designed to "sell" the game to Americans, who are unlikely to fall in love with the stop/start football that we often suffer in the UK.

Not sure I agree, Americans watch NFL which is possibly the most stop start game you'll ever see. Apart from baseball.

[SerbianLad]

Second time it's happened in this tournament and long may it continue until diving is driven out of football altogether.

Then they went against the rules 2 times at this tournament. And why didn't it happen during Argentina-Cabo Verde game then? Or is it another rule, like the foul in the build-up to the goal, applied only when it suits the team FIFA wants to win.

Anyone who is defending this decision needs to take their Messi goggles off. The tournament is rigged for Argentina to go as far as possible, probably for commercial reasons. Switzerland might be my least favourite NT in the world, yet I still believe they were robbed. Rules explicitly state that VAR can't be used for yellow card offences. Ridiculous decision. If ref gave it without VAR, no one could argue it was the wrong decision, even if you said it was harsh or whatever. Since he didn't, this is just wrong and against the rules.

[Arthur]

Rules explicitly state that VAR can't be used for yellow card offences. Ridiculous decision. If ref gave it without VAR, no one could argue it was the wrong decision, even if you said it was harsh or whatever. Since he didn't, this is just wrong and against the rules.

From the BBC Sport website, the day before the World Cup began:

Mistaken identity: This is an incredibly niche addition which Collina requested. If a player is booked or sent off but the foul was actually committed by the opposition team, the decision can be changed.

If the BBC has got its facts right, VAR was able to intervene because the referee booked Paredes when the offence was committed by Embolo. The grey area (if there is one) is whether the rule amendment was intended to allow the referee to book the offender on the opposing team alongside the reversal of the incorrectly awarded yellow card.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8jv326d7vo