The Ref Stop

Mex v Eng

The Ref Stop
So what guidance exists for these new high thresholds that are mentioned in the thread?
As has been said, the guidance for World Cup 2026 referees will have been kept within their circle and explained to them during their daily update sessions. Such guidance is specific to each competition, as we have seen with the varying approaches adopted even within UEFA.
 
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The thresholds or tolerance is not a measurable thing. They are descriptive like the definition of CRUEF. Whatever literal guidance would be open to interpretation and ineffective for the purpose. Moving them usually works with using examples, videos etc. in training sessions.

An example is a bump in the back of a player who is about to chest a ball from a long aerial pass. How much force in the bump makes it a foul? Or is it just about the force? Would it be about the outcome, what happens to the player or the ball? Or anything else? You really can't write literal guidance for this and even if you did it won't be anywhere as effective as training sessions.
 
Love seeing how Americans (on social media who are using American Football terms in their arguments) say that Quansah challenge was "sky high" and dangerous but Baloguns wasn't.

Now. I called red card on first replay. Even in group chats I said this is dangerous. It should go to VAR.
It did. It was given as red (rightfully).

However. The arguments are that Balogun was accidental, he didnt mean it blah blah blah. I'm guessing Quansah didnt either.

But this particular still of Baloguns challenge shows a near straight, outstretched, leg with studs into the Bosnian ankle/calf forcing ankle to bend, as the weight of Balogun continues to go down, and thankfully not snap.

View attachment 8778

How anyone can argue its not a red is beyond me. The law states about endangering the safety of an opponent. This does just that.
Now the Quansah challenge is similar in that his studs make flat contact with his opponent. Challenge was a bit fast too but so was the game.

If you look at the two challenges freeze frames...
Point of impact/contact is exactly same area.
Only difference was angle of impact.

View attachment 8779
The massive difference is the force that Quansah challenged with, the opponent’s leg was off the ground but had it been planted that could have been horrendous.

Way less force in the Balogan challenge. Both red cards but I’d say they are on a very different scale.
 
As has been said, the guidance for World Cup 2026 referees will have been kept within their circle and explained to them during their daily update sessions. Such guidance is specific to each competition, as we have seen with the varying approaches adopted even within UEFA.

Aha so the refs forum has posters who are privy to world cup 2026 referees circle ...
 
Aha so the refs forum has posters who are privy to world cup 2026 referees circle ...
I mean not to brag, but I do know a match official who is in that circle and is as open as he can be when answering questions. If there's something you want answering I'd happily ask them.
 
Aha so the refs forum has posters who are privy to world cup 2026 referees circle ...
Not privy to the details in each competition (e. g. World Cup 2026) but just pointing out that's how it works at the top level.
Briefings from Collina and his team will be designed to set out standards and officiating requirements, in the same way as officials on any major are instructed.
It's a "this competition only" briefing, with much of the approach not being replicated in other competitions in 2026/7.
 
I mean not to brag, but I do know a match official who is in that circle and is as open as he can be when answering questions. If there's something you want answering I'd happily ask them.
In June (?) Pierluigi Collina stated there would be a higher bar for VAR interventions, I was interested in how this has been defined.
 
If you wrote a story about corruption at a World Cup, you could very easily come to a similar storyline as the way this one has gone down in the eyes of a spectator
 
I am absolutely not saying there is anything untoward here but no one in any organisation is doing anything to stop the narratives being fed.
Thats been my argument all along elsewhere.
Its not that the red card was wrong... it wasn't. It was wrong to not spot real time but also difficult for him being god knows how many yards away.
Whats the issue is that there has been 13 (straight) red cards, of which only 1 has been suspended - just so happens to be one given to a Team USA player after what is suggested to.be massive interference from the (host) countries president and a very good friend (been highlighted by both numerous times of this fact).
No 2nd yellow cards been issued resulting in a red, which after 96 games so far is quite astonishing statistically.
I know games dont run statistically but across the top 10 leagues, there is a double yellow card on average 16.6 games. We've had 96 games so youd expect to have, on average, maybe have seen 5.8 doubles. Even 1 would not be unrealistic. As soon as players are carded its like they can do whatever they like.

Anyway... sorry for stats.
Just that we are seemingly seeing caution to getting anyone suspended. 8 of the 13 red cards having come via VAR intervention.
 
Thats been my argument all along elsewhere.
Its not that the red card was wrong... it wasn't. It was wrong to not spot real time but also difficult for him being god knows how many yards away.
Whats the issue is that there has been 13 (straight) red cards, of which only 1 has been suspended - just so happens to be one given to a Team USA player after what is suggested to.be massive interference from the (host) countries president and a very good friend (been highlighted by both numerous times of this fact).
No 2nd yellow cards been issued resulting in a red, which after 96 games so far is quite astonishing statistically.
I know games dont run statistically but across the top 10 leagues, there is a double yellow card on average 16.6 games. We've had 96 games so youd expect to have, on average, maybe have seen 5.8 doubles. Even 1 would not be unrealistic. As soon as players are carded its like they can do whatever they like.

Anyway... sorry for stats.
Just that we are seemingly seeing caution to getting anyone suspended. 8 of the 13 red cards having come via VAR intervention.
Nothing to apologise for with the stats. Interesting reading.
 
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