A&H

Tunisia vs Mali..

At risk of sounding absolutely awful, the levl of competence between FIFA-list officials from Spain, Italy Germany, the UK, are significantly higher than those operating at the tournament.
 
The Referee Store
RustyRef said:
I would hazard a guess that is wjy Tunisia refused to come out to play the final few minutes, they will be angling to try and get the whole game replayed.

What a mess. You couldn't really excuse a level 7 for dropping such a clanger, but for a set of FIFA officials it just beggars belief.
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I read elsewhere that they already had players in ice baths when invited back on the field.

The whole thing is stunning--this is a FIFA ref with a track history. And it sounds like a rec game with a brand new ref who is utterly confused. Dehydration problems?
 
There are some reports from the French press that he was taken to the hospital afterwards for treatment after suffering a heat stroke. This would make sense and match a lot of the body language we saw from him including confusion and daze.
 
Various pages now quoting Essam Abdel-Fatah, head of referees at AFCON, who confirmed to Egyptian media that Sikazwe had suffered from heatstroke and severe dehydration during the match and was subsequently taken to hospital in Limbe, Cameroon.
 
It really does explain a lot. I'd say he looks poorly from his facial expression as he blows that final whistle.
 
Mooseybaby said:
Various pages now quoting Essam Abdel-Fatah, head of referees at AFCON, who confirmed to Egyptian media that Sikazwe had suffered from heatstroke and severe dehydration during the match and was subsequently taken to hospital in Limbe, Cameroon.
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I'm not a medic and I'm not casting doubt on the reports, but wasn't this an African referee who has presumably spent most of his life and long officiating career refereeing in Africa?

WAS it particularly hot/humid at this game?
 
Cameroon has slightly higher temperatures than Zambia, but not a lot in it, and January is the coldest month of the year in Cameroon. I guess it must have been reasonably hot though as they had a cooling break. It does all sound a little bit desperate.
 
Have read elsewhere that there has also been a COVID issue among the referees, and most of the ref team was shuffled form original assignments. That could have some effect--and could have affected the ability/willingness of the rest of the ref team to address apparent issues with the R.
 
socal lurker said:
Have read elsewhere that there has also been a COVID issue among the referees, and most of the ref team was shuffled form original assignments. That could have some effect--and could have affected the ability/willingness of the rest of the ref team to address apparent issues with the R.
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That is certainly a more plausible explanation than heatstroke in my opinion. Poor performances by footballers have been attributed to not quite being fully over Covid, so the same reason could certainly affect referees.

I also know from personal experience that if you go into a game worrying about something, such as not quite being fully fit, personal issues, bad day at work, etc, performance can suffer and you can start doing silly things.
 
RustyRef said:
That is certainly a more plausible explanation than heatstroke in my opinion. Poor performances by footballers have been attributed to not quite being fully over Covid, so the same reason could certainly affect referees.

I also know from personal experience that if you go into a game worrying about something, such as not quite being fully fit, personal issues, bad day at work, etc, performance can suffer and you can start doing silly things.
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Having had covid I would imagine could also be a trigger for heat stroke if the lungs and bodily functions, ie carrying oxygen and fluids around the body, aren't working at their normal capacity.
No biologist or epidemiologist but seems logical to me that could be a contributing factor
 
RustyRef said:
That is certainly a more plausible explanation than heatstroke in my opinion. Poor performances by footballers have been attributed to not quite being fully over Covid, so the same reason could certainly affect referees.

I also know from personal experience that if you go into a game worrying about something, such as not quite being fully fit, personal issues, bad day at work, etc, performance can suffer and you can start doing silly things.
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Oh that's absolutely the case - sure we have all been there - but the timekeeping??!!, like you, I think we are inventing excuses out of kindness to 'one of our own' - horrible error - we have all made them I'm sure.
 
JamesL said:
Having had covid I would imagine could also be a trigger for heat stroke if the lungs and bodily functions, ie carrying oxygen and fluids around the body, aren't working at their normal capacity.
No biologist or epidemiologist but seems logical to me that could be a contributing factor
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Fair enough James, but as we have all said on here, its not a great idea to take any game if you know you're not 100%, to take a game of this magnitude if knowingly ill is at best 'inadvisable'.
 
PinnerPaul said:
Fair enough James, but as we have all said on here, its not a great idea to take any game if you know you're not 100%, to take a game of this magnitude if knowingly ill is at best 'inadvisable'.
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He might not have known. It could have been the lasting affects, no symptoms but body not totally up for it yet
 
You still have at least three others, AR/4th official not suffering any ill effects, why did they leave the pitch? Could they have not recognised an issue with their colleague? All mic’d up don’t they communicate added time for 4th official to show on a board? Did none of the officials alert the referee that x minutes or no added time was insufficient given drinks break, subs, injuries? I AR at step 5 & would be insisting rather than assisting that we play 90 minutes +. Their professional careers are now on the line.
 
DJIC said:
You still have at least three others, AR/4th official not suffering any ill effects, why did they leave the pitch? Could they have not recognised an issue with their colleague? All mic’d up don’t they communicate added time for 4th official to show on a board? Did none of the officials alert the referee that x minutes or no added time was insufficient given drinks break, subs, injuries? I AR at step 5 & would be insisting rather than assisting that we play 90 minutes +. Their professional careers are now on the line.
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100%

there prob reserve official in the stands too.

If, if, the ref was struck down ill, yes, we feel for him.

you still have a 4th tho who is able say this game aint done, you aint well enough to complete it, lets get you expert medical help, ( delay if needed), and, am now coming on

Thats the whole reason he is there!!
 
DJIC said:
You still have at least three others, AR/4th official not suffering any ill effects, why did they leave the pitch? Could they have not recognised an issue with their colleague? All mic’d up don’t they communicate added time for 4th official to show on a board? Did none of the officials alert the referee that x minutes or no added time was insufficient given drinks break, subs, injuries? I AR at step 5 & would be insisting rather than assisting that we play 90 minutes +. Their professional careers are now on the line.
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I'm not convinced by any of it. Probably a lot of truth in the heatstroke/dehydration thing. Not something that can be faked. They weren't all unwell however. We'll never know. Probably ought to be replayed regardless however... it ain't fair on the losing team. But the organisers would rather avoid going there
 
I would really need facts before passing judgement. We are all speculating based on what is reported in media and some educated guesses. We all know how media reports 'facts'. As it stands now not a lot of things make sense.

As far as knowing the facts, it would probably never happen as in true fashion of any top level football management thing are swept under the carpet or discussed behind closed doors.
 
PinnerPaul said:
I'm not a medic and I'm not casting doubt on the reports, but wasn't this an African referee who has presumably spent most of his life and long officiating career refereeing in Africa?

WAS it particularly hot/humid at this game?
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I've lived in England for all of my life and can still get heatstroke in England; I can also suffer from hypothermia. I don't think the referee's birthplace or residence has much to do with it.
 
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Mr Dean said:
I've lived in England for all of my life and can still get heatstroke in England; I can also suffer from hypothermia. I don't think the referee's birthplace or residence has much to do with it.
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but worthy of comment that he has lived and refereed in hotter temperatures for many years without incident?
 
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