For the duration of the World Cup Finals, my blog will consist largely of short observations on the officiating in the sixty-odd matches we will see. Not assessments of whole matches, you understand, but a selection of incidents that might serve some educational purpose. I will post the occasional video clip gleaned from YouTube and from other sources, but I don't have the equipment to make a clip of all the incidents I have noted. So if you want to participate fully, and if you have the necessary equipment, extract clips yourself from your own video, using the approximate times I give you in my comments.
It took about 17 or 18 minutes for the first card to come out, and I confess I turned away at that instant. It may have been for the foul, but I suspect (based on commentator Martin Tyler's remarks) that it was for delay of the free kick (failure to retire the required distance): "..which they are not entitled to do." I include that comment because many referees do not understand the importance of preventing delay, and yet an experienced TV commentator does. Contrast that with a caution at 27 minutes, where everything is delayed as a natural course of events at the disciplinary action. The free kick automatically becomes a ceremony.
Two offside situations: one at 36 minutes, the other at 37. The first was when a ball from South Africa was played through the defence, the flag came up, but the ball was clearly through to the goalkeeper. No whistle was necessary, a simple wave-down from the referee would have sufficed, and (to use the recent lingo), flow of the game would have been preserved. And BTW, that technique can be used in any game you do.
FRANCE v. URUGUAY Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
I picked out only one incident of note: the first red card of the tournament. In the 81st minute, Lodeiro (#14) of Uruguay went studs first into the leg of an opponent. The referee pulled a yellow card, wrote on it, then went to his little folder and checked it, then pulled a red card from it and sent off Lodeiro for misconduct after a caution. In my opinion, the foul was bad enough to be called serious foul play, yet it was only after checking that he sent the player off. He had no choice, because in his book he learned that he had cautioned him only sixteen minutes before. Out came the red.
Since he had cautioned only one other Uruguayan player (#6 Victorino, in the 65th minute), surely he should have known that Lodeiro was on his second. But what is more important is the nature of his decision: Direct Expulsion or Expulsion due to Second Caution (as FIFA puts them). The suspension is different: longer for direct expulsion. Evidently, he decided on a caution, and only after a second thought (an "Oops!" moment), did he sent the Uruguayan off. It was not very good technique, and it has changed the effect on Uruguay and on their opponents. And perhaps Nishimura doesn't see fouls like that very often in the leagues he referees in (IME, Japan is so wonderfully polite), so was reluctant to issue a "straight red".
SOUTH KOREA v. GREECE Referee: Michael Hester (New Zealand)
There were no problems in this game, only one caution and hardly any incidents of note. But the beautifully manicured pitch and the hoardings around the entire playing-surface allowed me to measure how many yards were being stolen at throws-in. In the 74th minute one player set the standard for others to beat in the tournament, by larcenously advancing step-by-step, hesitation-by-hesitation, faking to throw here and there, until (no doubt overcome by embarrassment at how easy he accomplished his thievery) he threw the Jabulani sphere into the field 13 yards from where it had left the pitch. "Jabulani" means "celebration", which is what he can enjoy if his felonious act turns out to be the greatest of World Cup 2010.
ARGENTINA v. NIGERIA Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
Ed and I will post on this match in our next dispatch, because he is travelling and won't be at home until tomorrow (Monday)
ENGLAND v. UNITED STATES Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil)
When cautioning Milner of England in the 26th minute for persistent infringement, Simon used the now-classic "counting" gesture as he spoke to the player, indicating here and there, etc. Five minutes later, Milner was substituted, undoubtedly because his manager guessed that he wasn't feeling fully recovered from the sickness that has bothered him the previous two days, and was compensating for it by fouling or perhaps still suffering so that his timing was off.
In the 29th minute the U.S. goalkeeper Howard, was injured in a collision with Heskey, who came sliding in. Heskey's foot caught Howard in the chest and will be evaluated in the next day or two. Fortunately for the U.S., good goalkeepers are in plentiful supply.
When Simon cautioned Cherundolo in the 38th minute, I noticed that he made no notation, merely holding the card aloft. I have long believed that that was not good technique, simply because it can lead to mistakes, like that of Poll in the last World Cup and many referees before him (including some of our own). What does it cost you in time to write down two numbers (time & player)? How much embarrassment can you handle if you give two yellows to one player, and then deny it ever happened, as was the case with one of our illustrious, up-and-coming referees in MLS a few years ago, even after his colleagues in the match told him immediately? I haven't seen him referee for a while, but I bet he still doesn't record details of misconduct. Some referees are unteachable...
Dr. Evans,
I would be interested in your feelings on what seems to be a tournament-wide under punishment of tackles. The number of red card challenges that are only receiving cautions is astounding (I have watched a majority of the matches and there have been at least 10 that I have seen). How can THESE referees at THIS competition get this wrong so consistently?
Posted by: B.D. | June 14, 2010 at 06:02 AM
When I saw the foul by Lodiero of Uruguay, I immediately said "red card." I was surprised when I saw a yellow come out first. One should not be polite when legs can be broken.
Posted by: Jeffrey Kovac | June 14, 2010 at 07:35 AM
England v USA, re: collision by Heskey into Howard. Do you not think that was a foul? The GK is perilously vulnerable to injury moving in opposite directions and Heskey is woefully LATE(the ball was GONE). If Heskey did not know exactly what he was doing, he is just learning. In my opinion, it was at least a foul, but likely a caution as well.
Posted by: Theodore Bennett | June 14, 2010 at 01:39 PM
At the games I referee, (most assuredly not world cup level) if somebody went wailing into the keeper like Heskey did, and I DIDN'T card him for it,the players would have my head on a pole as a warning to others regarding protecting their keeper.
Posted by: Richard Marnhout | June 16, 2010 at 05:03 PM
There goes Brazil too; what was it now, the blue shirts, like Italy, France and Argentina tomorrow? Is blue Bad Luck in Soccer? ...whatever it was I'm glad Brazil lost because they had nothing, and yes they needed Ronaldhino, Kickerinho, Foulibho, Cryinho, Pipi, Popo and Pupu to win....at all times. Are they going to suicide as they said they'd do?
GC
Posted by: Gus Castaneda | July 02, 2010 at 01:41 PM
"Spain – and South Africa – are champions at the 2010 World Cup: The 2010 Football World Cup hosted by South Africa... http://bit.ly/9P4BoZ"
Posted by: News | July 12, 2010 at 11:59 AM