World Cup Refereeing

[Banana]

I reckon it's been the best World Cup for referees ever.

Ok there have been one or two errors, but overall the standard of refereeing has been the best I have seen at a tournament.

Reckon our man will get a semi-final.

 

[Mr Tree]

it is a hard game to officiate, with all the cheating that the players engage in.

i still think they make a lot of "silly" errors. only giving free-kicks when people fall over (encouraging the cheating), etc. but that's probably the fault of someone higher up, rather than the refs themselves.

 

[opinions5u]

Overall I've been impressed.

They are much softer with over the top challenges than our refs though.

 

[sonofabee]

By and large, excluding games involving Brazil
refereeing has been pretty good.

 

[whyteleafebee76]

I think, certainly in the earlier games, that the refs were letting a lot of challenges go and not falling for the soft fouls that normally get given in international football this led to the free flowing games. There's been a couple of the recent games where the refs have been giving the softer challenges but overall though the standard has been very good and the refs haven't been dishing out cards all over the place.

 

[super J]

The worst refereeing performances have come in the Brazil games. Largely due to the style Brazil have adopted and the pressure exerted on the refs by the home crowd. 10 fouls have been commited by Fernandinho in the last two matches without a booking. Only the home nation would get away with that.

 

[Wilmslow Bee]

I've had the feeling they have been directed to avoid getting too many cards out, so as to avoid "spoiling" the game with an early red.

Lots of challenges that warranted bookings have got away without, Brazil games and Godin for Uruguay being obvious ones.

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

I've had the feeling they have been directed to avoid getting too many cards out, so as to avoid "spoiling" the game with an early red.

Lots of challenges that warranted bookings have got away without, Brazil games and Godin for Uruguay being obvious ones.

Another one last night when a booked CR defender took Robben out a yard outside the box. But on the wholeI'd rather that than dozens of red cards

 

[hanworthbee]

I think it's been terrible, for the sake of keeping 11 men on the field the refs seem to have torn up the rulebook

 

[opinions5u]

I think it's been terrible, for the sake of keeping 11 men on the field the refs seem to have torn up the rulebook

Or are our refs over-zealous?

 

[BFC1997]

Or are our refs over-zealous?

Yeah they probably are and you want the games to flow but there has to be a line where you say okay, the leniency is affecting the game negatively now

 

[ladbroke]

Or are our refs over-zealous?

Don't think ours are over zealous and I agree with bfc1997...

The law book has been torn up. England may have beaten Uruguay if Godin was sent off. I mean, they'd have to have changed tactics, maybe taken a forward off for a defender to replace Godin.
Several challenges I've seen in some of the matches I've actually had the chance of watching should have easily have been a yellow but for whatever reason nothing. Rodriguez got booked the other night after one or two fouls and even then a word might have been best for that challenge whereas in same match fernandinho got nothing.

And penalties too... Most not even close. Yet some that weren't given should have been... And if not then why not a caution for simulation??

 

[NigeriaRay]

Don't think ours are over zealous and I agree with bfc1997...

The law book has been torn up. England may have beaten Uruguay if Godin was sent off. I mean, they'd have to have changed tactics, maybe taken a forward off for a defender to replace Godin.
Several challenges I've seen in some of the matches I've actually had the chance of watching should have easily have been a yellow but for whatever reason nothing. Rodriguez got booked the other night after one or two fouls and even then a word might have been best for that challenge whereas in same match fernandinho got nothing.

And penalties too... Most not even close. Yet some that weren't given should have been... And if not then why not a caution for simulation??

I would agree with this but but there is so much cheating going on, is it any wonder the refs may get it wrong on occasions. I think, by and large, they have done well and so have the linesmen, who haven't got many offside calls wrong.

 

[Boscombe Bee]

Reckon our man will get a semi-final.

Not sure about that. Our group of 3 officials reffed Brazil already and lino didnt give Brazil a perfectly good goal and the Dutch wont take too kindly to them as they reffed the 2010 final. The Uzbek referee seems to be FIFA's favourite ref. Wouldnt be surprised if he got the final.

 

[TW1Bee]

I've had the feeling they have been directed to avoid getting too many cards out, so as to avoid "spoiling" the game with an early red.

Lots of challenges that warranted bookings have got away without, Brazil games and Godin for Uruguay being obvious ones.

I also feel that because of this the players have been able to respond in a positive fashion by getting on with the game, hence the attacking football we've seen.

 

[Banana]

Not sure about that. Our group of 3 officials reffed Brazil already and lino didnt give Brazil a perfectly good goal and the Dutch wont take too kindly to them as they reffed the 2010 final. The Uzbek referee seems to be FIFA's favourite ref. Wouldnt be surprised if he got the final.

Good analysis here: http://footballrefereeing.blogspot....s-about-referees-for-last-4.html#.U7mHh0BZg8I

Which infers the Turkish and Gambian guys will get 2 out of the 4 and that individual FAs will object to Webb

 

[mhead bee]

I reckon it's been the best World Cup for referees ever.

Ok there have been one or two errors, but overall the standard of refereeing has been the best I have seen at a tournament.

Reckon our man will get a semi-final.

I am assuming this is a bit of an Adrian Durham comment to stir up debate?

The refereeing has been as about as bad as anything I can remember. The following are no longer bookable offenses- Diving/|Imaginary card waving/two footed challenges/shirt pulling/time wasting/elbowing/studs to shin/stamping/body checking/niggly fouls/deliberately tripping opponents in your own half when they are starting a counter attack.

If you want to know what does constitute a yellow card you take any of the above offenses, shuffle them like a pack of cards and then throw them in the air. When they land randomly pick up about 10% of them and you can issue a yellow for those. A player is totally exempt from the above booking policy if the have either A) Already been issued with a prior yellow card, or B) play in Yellow shirts with blue shorts and sing during the adverts on ITV like a homosexual.

Ok, on a serious note it is obvious that the policy has been driven by FIFA and they need to take full responsibility for the injury to Neymar and then sit down the rest of the Brasilian team during their daily prayer time and thank God there have not been far more injuries of a similar nature.

 

[Banana]

oh dear. It's late isn't it.

 

[sonofabee]

I am assuming this is a bit of an Adrian Durham comment to stir up debate?

The refereeing has been as about as bad as anything I can remember. The following are no longer bookable offenses- Diving/|Imaginary card waving/two footed challenges/shirt pulling/time wasting/elbowing/studs to shin/stamping/body checking/niggly fouls/deliberately tripping opponents in your own half when they are starting a counter attack.

If you want to know what does constitute a yellow card you take any of the above offenses, shuffle them like a pack of cards and then throw them in the air. When they land randomly pick up about 10% of them and you can issue a yellow for those. A player is totally exempt from the above booking policy if the have either A) Already been issued with a prior yellow card, or B) play in Yellow shirts with blue shorts and sing during the adverts on ITV like a homosexual.

Ok, on a serious not it is obvious that the policy has been driven by FIFA and they need to take full responsibility for the injury to Neymar and then sit down the rest of the Brasilian team during their daily prayer time and thank God there have not been far more injuries ofa similar nature.

You're as OTT as ever but great entertainment!

I agree that the refs have been lenient but I haven't seen too many shocking, two footed, high challenges that are the only ones I get upset at anyway.
I think that fairly sensible reffing and allowing the games to flow rather than persistent stop start from whistling for every time contact is made resulted in excellent, exciting group stage matches.
With the exception of games involving Brazil I think that refs haven't been conned into giving too many wrong free kicks or pens?

 

[Wilmslow Bee]

I also feel that because of this the players have been able to respond in a positive fashion by getting on with the game, hence the attacking football we've seen.

... or by kicking lumps out of each other....

 

[sonofabee]

... or by kicking lumps out of each other....

Compared to previous World cups I think it's been mild, remember 86 when Cameroon set the tone beating up Argentina who then did exactly the same to everyone they met in 1990. The 1990 cup final was a disgrace with no football played and some cynical, cowardly challenges and off the ball incidents.

 

[wanderer paul]

Good analysis here: http://footballrefereeing.blogspot....s-about-referees-for-last-4.html#.U7mHh0BZg8I

Which infers the Turkish and Gambian guys will get 2 out of the 4 and that individual FAs will object to Webb

I see that the Mexican ref, Rodriguez, gets the semi final between Brazil and Germany.

From the blog linked above.....

Marco Rodríguez: You actually cannot appoint the Mexican trio again after what happened in Uruguay-Italy. Busacca certainly must avoid headlines like "Referee who allowed Suarez' biting will take charge of Brazil's semifinal!".

Also....
http://www.theguardian.com/football...e-charge-brazil-germany-semi-final?CMP=twt_gu

 

[Banana]

I see that the Mexican ref, Rodriguez, gets the semi final between Brazil and Germany.

From the blog linked above.....


Also....
http://www.theguardian.com/football...e-charge-brazil-germany-semi-final?CMP=twt_gu

Referee: Marco RODRÍGUEZ (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Marvin TORRENTERA (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcos QUINTERO (MEX)
Fourth Official: Mark GEIGER (USA)
Standby Assistant Referee: Mark Sean HURD (USA)

 

[mhead bee]

remember 86 when Cameroon set the tone beating up Argentina .

but it was completely deserved and littered with comedy.

 

[hanworthbee]

More terrible refereeing last night, clear red cards for aguero , mascharano and howedes and a bizarre foul against higuain when he was schumackered by neuer.....

 

[mhead bee]

Compared to previous World cups I think it's been mild, remember 86 when Cameroon set the tone beating up Argentina who then did exactly the same to everyone they met in 1990. .

That was nearly 30 years ago, I really thought we had moved on from then. The last WC was also a thug fest and Webb refereed it like this world cup, keeping 11 v 11 no matter how bad it gets.

I thought we were stamping out tactical fouling, dangerous studs up fouling, time wasting and diving. I don't want to see it turn into a complete girls game but we have gone back 30 years in this tournament and one of the best players there nearly gets crippled because of it.

 

[mhead bee]

That was nearly 30 years ago, I thought we had moved on from then. The last WC was also a thug fest and Webb refereed it like this world cup, keeping 11 v 11 no matter how bad it gets.

I thought we were stamping out tactical fouling, dangerous studs up fouling, time wasting and diving. I don't want to see it turn into a complete girls game but we have gone back 30 years in this tournament and one of the best players there nearly gets crippled because of it.

 

[Balders Bee]

More terrible refereeing last night, clear red cards for aguero , mascharano and howedes and a bizarre foul against higuain when he was schumackered by neuer.....

Agree with your first three points but to compare Nueur cleanly winning the ball and then his momentum taking him into Higuin and the assualt by Schumacher on Battiston is just nonsense.

 

[wibs]

but it was completely deserved and littered with comedy.

it was 1990

 

[nocoat]

i always watch this when i am feeling down! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRlJJbtdHc

 

[opinions5u]

The Neuer knee in the head was a red card challenge. Far more dangerous than a studs over the top of the ball challenge.

 

[sonofabee]

That was nearly 30 years ago, I really thought we had moved on from then. The last WC was also a thug fest and Webb refereed it like this world cup, keeping 11 v 11 no matter how bad it gets.

I thought we were stamping out tactical fouling, dangerous studs up fouling, time wasting and diving. I don't want to see it turn into a complete girls game but we have gone back 30 years in this tournament and one of the best players there nearly gets crippled because of it.

I don't agree, concede the final last time out Holland were cynical and just kicked lumps out of a vastly superior Spain and Webb bottled it.
This tournament in the main if you exclude Cameroon and Ecuador was played in pretty good spirits. I think the refs encouraged the game to flow and allowed players to put in proper tackles without fear of cards for little or no contact.

I thought Aguero was very lucky to stay on but the ref used common sense on others as tired legs and committed players in a showpiece final who may have fouled but looked like they were trying to win the ball?
Didn't think Neuer fouled anyone but ref deffo got it wrong awarding a foul against Higuain.

I think Brazil were pampered in group games, that aside the odd blooper but considering the number of games and different nationalities of refs I think the standard of football and refereeing was very good.

 

[Salford Bee]

Agree with your first three points but to compare Nueur cleanly winning the ball and then his momentum taking him into Higuin and the assualt by Schumacher on Battiston is just nonsense.

The most ridiculous thing was Neuer won the free kick from that.

 

[Salford Bee]

I don't agree, concede the final last time out Holland were cynical and just kicked lumps out of a vastly superior Spain and Webb bottled it.
This tournament in the main if you exclude Cameroon and Ecuador was played in pretty good spirits. I think the refs encouraged the game to flow and allowed players to put in proper tackles without fear of cards for little or no contact.

I thought Aguero was very lucky to stay on but the ref used common sense on others as tired legs and committed players in a showpiece final who may have fouled but looked like they were trying to win the ball?
Didn't think Neuer fouled anyone but ref deffo got it wrong awarding a foul against Higuain.

I think Brazil were pampered in group games, that aside the odd blooper but considering the number of games and different nationalities of refs I think the standard of football and refereeing was very good.

Webb was placed in a horrible position by the Dutch. Had he started brandishing more red cards he'd have been accused of ruining the final. The Dutch accused him of being over the top which was ridiculous.

I've been pleased with the refereeing this tournament. Personally, I want to see a good, competitive game of football when England aren't playing (Brazil-Germany isn't one of my favourites). Germany v Algeria was very good. Can't remember who refereed that - the sign of a good referee.

 

[sonofabee]

Webb was placed in a horrible position by the Dutch. Had he started brandishing more red cards he'd have been accused of ruining the final. The Dutch accused him of being over the top which was ridiculous.

I've been pleased with the refereeing this tournament. Personally, I want to see a good, competitive game of football when England aren't playing (Brazil-Germany isn't one of my favourites). Germany v Algeria was very good. Can't remember who refereed that - the sign of a good referee.

Think Webb should have been brave and shown a red once it started getting as ridiculous as it did. Holland would them have had to decide whether to stick or twist but they were given license to kill the game as a spectacle.
Agree, Germany vs Algeria had everything and goalmouth thrills and spills and last minute tackles where players weren't scared to go for the ball.

 

[Aberdeen flyer]

Webb was placed in a horrible position by the Dutch. Had he started brandishing more red cards he'd have been accused of ruining the final. The Dutch accused him of being over the top which was ridiculous.

I've been pleased with the refereeing this tournament. Personally, I want to see a good, competitive game of football when England aren't playing (Brazil-Germany isn't one of my favourites). Germany v Algeria was very good. Can't remember who refereed that - the sign of a good referee.

Sandro Ricci was ref - from Brazil

 

[Salford Bee]

Think Webb should have been brave and shown a red once it started getting as ridiculous as it did. Holland would them have had to decide whether to stick or twist but they were given license to kill the game as a spectacle.
Agree, Germany vs Algeria had everything and goalmouth thrills and spills and last minute tackles where players weren't scared to go for the ball.

I think he admitted he'd have sent De Jong off if he'd seen the kung fu kick again. I remember Holland v Portugal in 2006 which descended into farce due to the cards being banded about.

 

[TW3Bee]

i always watch this when i am feeling down! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRlJJbtdHc

Great team effort

 

[mhead bee]

it was 1990

It certainly was because we knocked Cameroon out.

 

[mhead bee]

I don't agree, concede the final last time out Holland were cynical and just kicked lumps out of a vastly superior Spain and Webb bottled it.
This tournament in the main if you exclude Cameroon and Ecuador was played in pretty good spirits. I think the refs encouraged the game to flow and allowed players to put in proper tackles without fear of cards for little or no contact.

I thought Aguero was very lucky to stay on but the ref used common sense on others as tired legs and committed players in a showpiece final who may have fouled but looked like they were trying to win the ball?
Didn't think Neuer fouled anyone but ref deffo got it wrong awarding a foul against Higuain.

I think Brazil were pampered in group games, that aside the odd blooper but considering the number of games and different nationalities of refs I think the standard of football and refereeing was very good.

Aguerro should have gone, Neymar should have gone in the first game, Uruguay captain should have gone versus us, Luiz should have gone about 13 times especially versus colombia, the whole Honduras team should have gone, mascherano should have gone. In fact I could probably find 5-6 challenges per day that would be a straight red card in England, Spain and Italy no question. There was a shocking knee high studs up challenge from one of the germans last night and it has been every game.

I think you are wrong on this by a long long way. I am amazed we haven't seen a string of players with broke legs or ankles.

 

[mhead bee]

I think he admitted he'd have sent De Jong off if he'd seen the kung fu kick again. I remember Holland v Portugal in 2006 which descended into farce due to the cards being banded about.

Yes, and it is 100% the players responsibility not the ref, if they break the rules they need to pay the price, it is not the refs fault people are cheating. Graham Poll made a good point today, he said the refs were called into a room and told not to play to the rules to leave players on. He went on to say it is not right asking refs not to play the rules just for one tournament and Fifa has no right to do this.... for once I totally agree with him.

 

[TOMOGP]

Personally I think the linesmen had been told just do offsides and throw ins and nothing else, the 3rd place match the Dutch given a penalty clearly on replays was a yard & half/2 yards outside the box -why wasn't the lines man on that side and up with play saying to the ref no outside the box and there was many occasions a foul right in front of the linesman and no flag.

And yes assistant refs not linesmen which makes it worse

 

[TW3Bee]

The referees had obviously been instructed to let the games flow and issue as few cards as possible, probably as a consequence of Webb's handling of the 2010 final, which to be fair to him Holland left him little choice.

 

[TW1Bee]

i always watch this when i am feeling down! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeRlJJbtdHc

I don't think the ref could believe what he saw either, got totally confused and showed him a red card followed by a yellow!! So funny!

 

[Brain-dead Bee]

The most ridiculous thing was Neuer won the free kick from that.

The free kick against Argentina was a joke, but I don't think it was a foul by Neuer either: he went for the ball, got it and his momentum took him through. I noticed in the first half that the Argentina keeper came out to catch the ball with his foot, studs first, at around neck height, but Klose wisely held back from a challenge; going back many years, I seem to remember Ray Clemence doing that pretty often. Keepers do get away with a lot, but I thought Neuer's challenge was OK (though I wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end)

 

[Balders Bee]

Aguerro should have gone, Neymar should have gone in the first game, Uruguay captain should have gone versus us, Luiz should have gone about 13 times especially versus colombia, the whole Honduras team should have gone, mascherano should have gone. In fact I could probably find 5-6 challenges per day that would be a straight red card in England, Spain and Italy no question. There was a shocking knee high studs up challenge from one of the germans last night and it has been every game.

I think you are wrong on this by a long long way. I am amazed we haven't seen a string of players with broke legs or ankles.

Not really sure what tournament you've been watching to be honest. My abiding memories of this tournament are not cynical career threatening fouls and incompetent refereeing. The final was robust and well contested, yes you could have made arguments for Aguero and Masch to be shown red cards for second bookable offences in the second period of extra time- I don't recall the knee high studs up challenge from a German player. Football is a contact sport and perhaps we have gone too far the other way. No one wants to see career ending tackles or cynical gamesmanship go unpunished but equally no one wants to watch a game where you cannot tackle or challenge in a robust manner without sending off's which in turn ruin the spectacle of the game.

 

[mhead bee]

Not really sure what tournament you've been watching to be honest. My abiding memories of this tournament are not cynical career threatening fouls and incompetent refereeing. .

Neither are mine, but this is the WC referee thread isn't it, is it me or you that took the wrong turn to end up here?

Go to the WC thread I started to discuss all the wonderful things that happened.

 

[Balders Bee]

Neither are mine, but this is the WC referee thread isn't it, is it me or you that took the wrong turn to end up here?

Go to the WC thread I started to discuss all the wonderful things that happened.

I think we are both on the correct thread I just did not see the level of skullduggary and poor officiating that you did at this tournament and therefore don't share your viewpoint. Referees made mistakes as they always do but I think overall -with obvious exceptions e.g. Neymar- a balance was struck. Flair players were allowed to play without being kicked to death and defenders were allowed to defend without being penalised for so much as breathing down a forwards neck.

 

[Mr Tree]

sorry Balders, you've obviously been anesthetised. really wish the football authorities would realise how much all the cheating turns off casuals - but I suppose they reason that they get enough people watching, so it can't be that wrong

"Flair players were allowed to play without being kicked to death" - that's not how i remember Brazil vs Columbia

 

[mhead bee]

sorry Balders, you've obviously been anesthetised. really wish the football authorities would realise how much all the cheating turns off casuals - but I suppose they reason that they get enough people watching, so it can't be that wrong

"Flair players were allowed to play without being kicked to death" - that's not how i remember Brazil vs Columbia

I dont remember any of the flare players having a good game. Ronaldo, Messi, Rederiguez to name the three highest profile ones.