Refereeing at the World Cup

[BarryP]

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.

You obviously aren't applying the mistaken identity rule that was announced before the World Cup.

As said above "Mistaken identity" is when officials assign a yellow or red card to the wrong player in a match. The official can then go to VAR for a video review to determine if they made the correct call. If it is determined that the foul was given to the wrong player, then it is called "mistaken identity."

You don't have to like the change but it was a correctly applied in this situation.

For the record I'm not rooting for Argentina but I am glad a diving cheat got the yellow card he deserved.

[SerbianLad]

You obviously aren't applying the mistaken identity rule that was announced before the World Cup.

As said above "Mistaken identity" is when officials assign a yellow or red card to the wrong player in a match. The official can then go to VAR for a video review to determine if they made the correct call. If it is determined that the foul was given to the wrong player, then it is called "mistaken identity."

You don't have to like the change but it was a correctly applied in this situation.

For the record I'm not rooting for Argentina but I am glad a diving cheat got the yellow card he deserved.

3 things:

1) that change is moronic. The mistaken identity is, as the name itself says, when you kistake an identity of a player, i.e. you book a player wearing e.g. number 3 instead of a player wearing e.g. number 8. Something similar happened in PL with I think Arsenal and Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain before VAR. It's to prevent those kind of mistakes.

2) I've found numerous sources quoting that rule now and not a single one mentions giving a booking to the opposing player.

3) that rule hasn't been consistently applied at this world cup. I'm relatively busy right now, so can't do it now, but in a few weeks I could watch previous games and give you exact examples where similar happened and there was no VAR.

[BarryP]

3 things:

1) that change is moronic. The mistaken identity is, as the name itself says, when you kistake an identity of a player, i.e. you book a player wearing e.g. number 3 instead of a player wearing e.g. number 8. Something similar happened in PL with I think Arsenal and Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain before VAR. It's to prevent those kind of mistakes.

2) I've found numerous sources quoting that rule now and not a single one mentions giving a booking to the opposing player.

3) that rule hasn't been consistently applied at this world cup. I'm relatively busy right now, so can't do it now, but in a few weeks I could watch previous games and give you exact examples where similar happened and there was no VAR.

1. As I said you don't have to like the rule but I do for specifically regarding simulation.

2. https://www.theifab.com/law-changes/latest/

VAR may review:
a player wrongly being shown a red or yellow card when the offence was committed by another player of either team.

This certainly implies if not directly states the card can be moved from one player to another. The offence that caused a foul to be called was simulation. If no yellow card was issued then no review but it is past time divers stop benefiting from breaking the rules.

3. I saw two instances where a defending player was given a yellow card when the opposing player was clearly diving in an attempt to draw a foul and both instances were handled identically.

If this exact scenario happened in other instances I did not see it or hear it reported.

[v]

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.

You obviously aren't applying the mistaken identity rule that was announced before the World Cup.

As said above "Mistaken identity" is when officials assign a yellow or red card to the wrong player in a match. The official can then go to VAR for a video review to determine if they made the correct call. If it is determined that the foul was given to the wrong player, then it is called "mistaken identity."

You don't have to like the change but it was a correctly applied in this situation.

For the record I'm not rooting for Argentina but I am glad a diving cheat got the yellow card he deserved.

Exactly my thoughts.

As was mentioned on another thread, the mistaken ID rule was applied already once in this World Cup, when Paraguay's Almiron dived and got Tim Ream booked for the US.

VAR intervened and the ref overturned Ream's yellow and cautioned Almiron instead (rightly to my mind) for simulation.

Besides I think deliberately trying to get a fellow professional booked is unsportsmanlike.

Obviously Embolo wasn't up-to-date with the new ruling, or thought VAR might overlook his dive. Either way he was guilty of naivety and got his just desserts.

But the thing I'm most interested in is whether this new rule will be carried over into the PL and CL after this tournament is over.

I hope so, because it might just cut out some of the playacting which has blighted football recently.

[Arthur]

1. As I said you don't have to like the rule but I do for specifically regarding simulation.
2. https://www.theifab.com/law-changes/latest/
VAR may review:
a player wrongly being shown a red or yellow card when the offence was committed by another player of either team.
This certainly implies if not directly states the card can be moved from one player to another. The offence that caused a foul to be called was simulation. If no yellow card was issued then no review but it is past time divers stop benefiting from breaking the rules.
3. I saw two instances where a defending player was given a yellow card when the opposing player was clearly diving in an attempt to draw a foul and both instances were handled identically.
If this exact scenario happened in other instances I did not see it or hear it reported.

I agree.

If, in the case of this rule change, the actual offending player has committed a cautionable action - and simulation (in the case of Embolo) is a yellow card offence - why wouldn't the referee caution that player as a result of being sent to the monitor? A referee can do so in other situations in which VAR intervenes.

I shall be interested to see how many 'exact examples... and there was no VAR' Serbian Lad finds. There have been dives that have gone unpunished and free-kicks given to a team when the award should have been to the opposition, but I'm not aware any of these led to a player being cautioned mistakenly - other than Tim Ream for whom VAR intervened.

[Arthur]

But the thing I'm most interested in is whether this new rule will be carried over into the PL and CL after this tournament is over.

It is one of IFAB's changes to the Laws of the Game for next season.

https://www.theifab.com/law-changes/latest/

[SerbianLad]

I agree.

If, in the case of this rule change, the actual offending player has committed a cautionable action - and simulation (in the case of Embolo) is a yellow card offence - why wouldn't the referee caution that player as a result of being sent to the monitor? A referee can do so in other situations in which VAR intervenes.

I shall be interested to see how many 'exact examples... and there was no VAR' Serbian Lad finds. There have been dives that have gone unpunished and free-kicks given to a team when the award should have been to the opposition, but I'm not aware any of these led to a player being cautioned mistakenly - other than Tim Ream for whom VAR intervened.

I'll try to find it then in about 2 weeks time. I remember that there were almost exact same situations, I just can't remember in which matches.

Also, isn't it kind of stupid that you can get a yellow for diving via VAR if your opponent gets booked, but you don't get a yellow for diving via VAR if you dive but the opponent doesn't get booked but it's still given as a foul? It seems stupid to me.

As for what @v and @BarryP said, yes Almiron did get booked in a similar situation. But that proves my point that certain teams get protection from the refs. USA alongside Argentina was the team that got most help from FIFA. They had a red carded player play in their next match because his suspension was suspended for crying out loud. The ref clearly helped them vs Australia too, for example. I'm not surprised at all that the only 2 teams that benefited from this rule change are USA and Argentina.

[SerbianLad]

Btw, I hate diving, and I'm all for trying out things that will help eliminate that. That being said, I think that this particular rule has its faults.

[Arthur]

As for what @v and @BarryP said, yes Almiron did get booked in a similar situation. But that proves my point that certain teams get protection from the refs.

You have a muddled idea as to what constitutes 'proof'. At this point in time, there are the only two instances of which we know in which a player had a caution rescinded because it was clear a player on the opposing team had dived. Unless other such instances come to light, the incidents involving Ream and Paredes simply tell us the rule has been applied as and when it was meant to be.

[SerbianLad]

As for what @v and @BarryP said, yes Almiron did get booked in a similar situation. But that proves my point that certain teams get protection from the refs.

You have a muddled idea as to what constitutes 'proof'. At this point in time, there are the only two instances of which we know in which a player had a caution rescinded because it was clear a player on the opposing team had dived. Unless other such instances come to light, the incidents involving Ream and Paredes simply tell us the rule has been applied as and when it was meant to be.

If you want other examples, I'll have to do it later, as I said, I dont have the time right now

[Plodder]

One of the faults with the new law is that "mistaken identity" is a misnomer.  That phrase implies to me that the referee has inadvertently confused one player with another from the same team, which has happened occasionally in the past, in which case there would reasonable grounds for VAR to intervene to inform the referee.  In this case, the referee intended to book Paredes, he didn't do it because he was confusing him with another player.

They might as well change the law to allow VAR review of any and all yellow cards. The application of the law as exemplified in the Paredes and Embolo case is inconsistent with situations where a yellow card is wrongly given, but can not be reviewed.

[john dempsey]

One of the faults with the new law is that "mistaken identity" is a misnomer.  That phrase implies to me that the referee has inadvertently confused one player with another from the same team, which has happened occasionally in the past, in which case there would reasonable grounds for VAR to intervene to inform the referee.  In this case, the referee intended to book Paredes, he didn't do it because he was confusing him with another player.

They might as well change the law to allow VAR review of any and all yellow cards. The application of the law as exemplified in the Paredes and Embolo case is inconsistent with situations where a yellow card is wrongly given, but can not be reviewed.

Here's an idea why not put Big numbers
on the back of players shirts, this could
enable the REF. or linesman/woman .to
identify the culprit.

[Andrew]

I like the 'mistaken identity' rule. I think the object is to get the correct result.

BUT what I want to know is why is the 10 yard rule being ignored?
AND
why are players not booked when clearly delaying a quick re-start for a free kick of any type?

Encroachment of the 10 yard rule seems to be endless.

and whilst I am on the subject I hate the massed ranks of substitutes on the sideline generally and also find it wrong they are allowed to run on the pitch and celebrate a goal.

[alfie]

I like the 'mistaken identity' rule. I think the object is to get the correct result.

BUT what I want to know is why is the 10 yard rule being ignored?
AND
why are players not booked when clearly delaying a quick re-start for a free kick of any type?

Encroachment of the 10 yard rule seems to be endless.

and whilst I am on the subject I hate the massed ranks of substitutes on the sideline generally and also find it wrong they are allowed to run on the pitch and celebrate a goal.

I'm sure during the last World Cup they stopped the subs charging onto the pitch, and then they stand in a circle having a meeting, why can't they stop this, it's lIke they are frightened to upset the teams. Another thing that really annoys me, in a game last week there was a free kick, the ball was placed but the ref ran half way across the pitch and made them move the ball back about 6 inches, yet 5 mins later there was a throw in, the throw was taken a good 10 yards from where the ball went out, even though the refs attention was drawn to it, he just waved play on

[WindyCity]

I thought the refereeing was quite good at the WC beginnings, but has grown progressively dodgy as the tournament has played out......

[Jim©]

I thought the refereeing was quite good at the WC beginnings, but has grown progressively dodgy as the tournament has played out......

Definitely agree with that. I liked it at the start- a laissez faire attitude, hence the post. But now, bloody hell it's gone full circle.

[Ludlow Richard]

Might be my imagination (and I haven't watched every game - has anyone?) but we seem to be getting much less wrestling/grappling at corners. But dissent, visible and obvious dissent with referees and linesmen, seems to be going relatively unpunished. Happy to be proved wrong on either.......

[BarryP]

One of the faults with the new law is that "mistaken identity" is a misnomer.  That phrase implies to me that the referee has inadvertently confused one player with another from the same team, which has happened occasionally in the past, in which case there would reasonable grounds for VAR to intervene to inform the referee.  In this case, the referee intended to book Paredes, he didn't do it because he was confusing him with another player.

They might as well change the law to allow VAR review of any and all yellow cards. The application of the law as exemplified in the Paredes and Embolo case is inconsistent with situations where a yellow card is wrongly given, but can not be reviewed.

I agree with most of what you said, specifically about the name of the rule being a misnomer.

I do believe this rule was specifically worded to limit the number of situations in which it could be used to prevent overly re-refereeing matches. It limits players unfairly receiving a yellow card due to another player's actions and that is all it does.

[MisfitKid]

This is a dead-horse that I have beat for a while...  As a former Ref I think that Football has turned into "Clutch and Grab". And the WC has more than proven this.  Nothing but holding, pulling a shirt and interfering with a player, it is non-stop.  And the Ref's seem to let it all go.  If I wanted to see that I would watch a UFC fight (which a don't like).

As a fan of Ice Hockey, that game was that way a few years back.  They realized all that did was reduce scoring (surprise).  The NHL decided to make a change and "made" the ref's call all the holding and grabbing, it is now like night and day.  And guess what, there is more scoring and the players figured it out too.   

[Steeeeeeeeeed]

I haven't seen this anywhere else...

Pickford could /  should have got a Red Card Vs Norway under the new rule of covering his mouth when taking to an opponent...

https://youtube.com/shorts/e6_f0A0QfKs?is=5LA9dOmU99Uada4P

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