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The media will always take a narrative and run with it. Unfortunately, those who aren't able to really think critically about things will latch onto those types of things, and they take on a life of their own. Your example above absolutely can and should still happen. Like I said, there will be...

Another possible reason is that he's (I believe) as old or older than Oliver, Pawson, and Taylor and has been a FIFA for a shorter period of time. It's very likely he saw that he was not going to be one of the elite guys and would be doing bottom-rung international matches, and just decided "not...

Or just go “full American” and use “the D”. :confused: (Yes. I hate the “D” reference as well.)

I don’t think anyone is saying that someone who didn’t play the game at a high level can never become a good referee. But I do believe that, all else equal, a player has a better chance to become a good referee. If I had ever decided to become a higher level baseball umpire, my experience as a...

I’m 100% in agreement with @Big Cat here. Targeting those in the 16-23 age group who “fall short” is a great target audience. Combine that with a real effort to curb abuse (and I mean legit penalties for bad behavior), and I think this can work. As much as my own ego doesn’t want to admit it...

“We lost, ref sucked.” Film at 11.

Final's going to be Marciniak with Elfath as the 4th. As I mentioned before, Elfath would have been the center on the France-Morocco game instead of Ramos if he wasn't born in Morocco. This is his "consolation prize" for his team, who really have been excellent in the World Cup. I'm guessing...

No issues whatsoever issuing red cards at that age. Last year, I ended a U14 game 10 v 10. Double dissent yellow for one player (that ended up with an additional report for OFFINABUS after the 13 year old kid called me a "f***ing joke" following the 2CT) and a 2CT for USB that was a borderline...

The problem seems to be that "standard CONCACAF officiating" now appears to be the style FIFA prefers. Keep your cards in your pocket, run a lot, and hope a game that is one big foul/moment from turning into one big mass confrontation seems to be the way FIFA wants its matches managed (and I...

But politics often has a big role for these assignments. I just don’t think UEFA crews on both semis and the final would fly. In fact, I know it didn’t, because it didn’t happen. Then, we’ve seen Argentine referees work in the final twice before in the last 16 years. We also saw a Uruguayan...

In a more obvious issue of bad luck, had naturalized American citizen Ismail Elfath been born in his current hometown of Austin, Texas instead of Casablanca, Morocco, he would almost certainly have been the referee for France-Morocco instead of Cesar Ramos. Ramos should do every home Morocco...

I think this has a LOT more to do with the fact there is a very influential Brazilian in a high place on the FIFA referee committee. His influence has seemed to have an outsize influence on Sampaio's assignments this event than his actual ability. Refereeing assignments at this level can be a...

I honestly don't have any issue with chewing gum. I often do that during my games. Helps keep my mouth from going dry, which can happen when I'm running a lot.

It’s why I generally don’t post much on US game threads. For example, I thought Jesus Valenzuela was not good in the US-England game because he refereed it way too much like. CONCACAF match (in other words, “Cards? What cards??”, and that was every bit as much for the US as for England).

It’s really good you have an active professional referee as an analyst. I wish we had that in the US. One of our “analysts” is a “former FIFA match commissioner” and former indoor soccer referee who clearly isn’t up to speed on modern officiating. How is your colleague in terms of being fair and...

The thing about “being part of the spectacle” is absolutely true. From personal experience-I’m refereeing some semi pro indoor soccer this winter. Even at this low “professional” level, the assignor told us “this is entertainment” and to manage things to maximize entertainment value. We are also...

As I mentioned earlier, the media should be all over FIFA. What could Mateu do? If he has a directive to keep all 22 on the field, he is in the middle of an impossible situation. The blame for this goes to FIFA and FIFA alone. Pierluigi Collina has a lot to answer for right now, as he sets the...

If you ever had a question that FIFA wants 11 v 11 at all costs, this is it. Given Mateu is not afraid to show cards and send people off elsewhere, the only possible explanation is Collina and FIFA telling referees “unless they either use a weapon or tear a limb off, keep ‘em all in the game.”

In any case, Oliver showed major class in that game. He is just so in control of everything going around the game, including his own emotions. An excellent performance.

The only big issue with this for Taylor is that as long as Argentina keeps advancing, his only hope for a match would be a semifinal with France in it instead of England. I get it's a dumb reason because it was 40 years ago, but I don't think there's any way Argentina will accept an English crew...