Since former super ref Massimo Busacca of Switzerland became head of everything referee-related at FIFA, there have been a lot of changes. The World Cup has been no exception. Some of these things (extra training and support, the requirement that referees be professional, etc.) have been super positive. He’s helped develop some fantastic referees. But some of the specific changes
Read more
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
Read more
By now, everyone’s heard FIFA’s pronouncement on Luis Suarez and his inability to control himself. FIFA said he violated “Article 48”, which I assume prohibits players from being giant dickheads. Nine matches (including the rest of the World Cup) Four months of no football activity whatsoever: No training or playing for club or country, no supporting from the stands, no
Read more
FIFA has a serious problem. There have been four goals wrongly disallowed for poor offside calls in the World Cup so far, and we’re not even out of the group stages. Four! They are: Two against Mexico (v. Cameroon) One against Switzerland (v. Ecuador) One against Bosnia and Herzegovina (v. Nigeria) The first three goal decisions did not change the
Read more
FIFA has put up short YouTube videos of each of the center referees who will participate in the World Cup in Brazil beginning this Thursday. They’re pretty fascinating and a great way to get to know these men who will have such an impact on the tournament. The referees themselves are pretty adorable. And because I know you’re dying to know,
Read more
Here’s a very interesting interview with the head of FIFA’s refereeing, former Swiss referee Massimo Busacca. It breaks down his thought process on not only how to prepare referees, but how he thinks of refereeing as a whole. Busacca was one of the great Swiss referees, and has made some pretty substantial changes at FIFA since he arrived. Among them are
Read more
There has recently been a spate of press coverage about match fixing, and the possibility that some of the matches in Brazil could be affected. (Please note the some and could.) I have actually struggled with whether or not to address this here on Play the Advantage. The truth is, despite some rather lurid headlines, there is absolutely no evidence that any referee
Read more
PLAY THE ADVANTAGE 