I posted this on Facebook, but I felt it was important enough to share here. This is a piece by the excellent Third Team blog – a blog about the technical aspect of refereeing. In this post, they set out to prove that the high number of missed calls in this World Cup can be directly attributable to directives FIFA (and head
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It was a rough day for the American, but a typically smooth one by the Brazilian, Sandro Ricci (above). Mark Geiger, USA: France v. Nigeria Geiger is the first referee from the US to referee at this stage in the World Cup, which is really impressive. However, the American media’s breathless prognostications about how he’d be in the final were
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As you will read in my end of day report, I thought United States referee Mark Geiger was very, very inconsistent and poor in this match. But let’s focus on arguably the biggest talking point- whether or not France should have been reduced to ten men after this tackle by Blaise Matuidi: Before you vote, check out the three similar red cards
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I appreciate the fact that FIFA has seen fit to give Switzerland two of my favorite referees of late: Bjorn Kuipers and now Sweden’s Jonas Eriksson (above). Djamel Haimoudi gets the Belgium v USA game, which I find a little bit surprising. The quarterfinal appointments should be quite interesting… Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE) Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Klasenius (SWE) Assistant Referee 2: Daniel
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Pedro Proenca (Portugal), Netherlands v. Mexico As always when the Dutch play, this match threatened to descend into violence early. Proenca (above) is a good referee for that sort of thing. He doesn’t have the imposing visage of a Howard Webb or Bjorn Kuipers, nor does he have the temper of a Nicola Rizzoli. He’s just a very calm referee and
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I watch Arjen Robben play the way I watch Luis Suarez, always half-cringing. They’re both so difficult to watch the way they throw themselves about, straining to get a foul or a penalty instead of – you know – playing the game. They’re both much too talented to have to act that way. I know it’s their game and it
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Mark Geiger of USA (above) has had a really good tournament, and he’s been rewarded with a knockout stage game: France v. Nigeria. It’s nice to see. Sandro Ricci, whom I consider to be one of the top referees in this tournament, is in action as well, with Germany v. Algeria. Referee: Mark W Geiger (USA) Assistant Referee 1: Mark Sean Hurd
Read moreIt’s Sunday, so you know what that means: Ask Jenna time! This does seem to be the Howard Webb Edition for some reason… I decided to do this in audio so you could hear my coughy, post-flu voice. I knew you’d appreciate that. As always, these answers are my own and are meant to be fun.
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Two of Europe’s best – Howard Webb and Bjorn Kuipers – were out today, and both showed just why they’re one of the best. Howard Webb (England), Brazil v. Chile Big Howard had his game face on today, particularly after the ridiculous accusations of bias from Chilean players a day earlier. Early on, he made it clear that he was not
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One of the big talking points of Brazil’s penalty shootout win over Chile was whether it should have gone to penalties at all. At about 54 minutes, Hulk appeared to score a goal and Brazil celebrated wildly, only to have Howard Webb call it back for handball. Webb also produced a yellow card for deliberate handball. Hulk’s arm is up and it
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PLAY THE ADVANTAGE 