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Don’t think it’s C&O but can see an argument either way. Once you’ve given it, it surely has to be a red though?

I’ve had it a fair bit recently, often with the ‘it’s a cost of living crisis mate, you should be embarrassed putting them through’. Managers will always try anything to get their players off, just a quick ‘I’ve got no choice but to put them through’ and move on seems to do it

Nothing explicitly in law about this but I’d be tempted to caution for USB? Spirit of the game and all that…

I think it hits the advertising boards at the back because the net then bulges inwards as if the ball has come back in from there? God that’s so hard to call

I guess it’s a deterrent in the sense he’s suspended for the next game (I think!)

Anyone giving a penalty for that shirt pull? Think attacker goes down very easily but we saw a lot of those holding fouls given at the start of the group stages!

Yeah, so close. My gut said yellow when I saw it in real-time - think you could make a good argument either way! Good positioning has helped him sell that

About as straightforward a half for Oliver as you can expect and he looks assured as ever. Thought there was a good case for a YC for a Costa Rican player in the 37th minute though

Part of me thinks that’s a great no call for a penalty - Qatari player steps in front of the Senegalese and that initiates the contact. Other part of me thinks football clearly expects a penalty for that one and it’s hard for anyone other than the most experienced ref to even see it. Tricky one!

I’d be gutted if I missed that on a Sunday morning, let alone at the WC…

Football expects a red there surely? I can see an argument against DOGSO but surely an argument for excessive force? I can’t see how they’ve missed that

It’s one of those that is never given because the player has got his shot off. But let’s call it what it is: he got kicked in the head. A foul is a foul and I wish they were penalised

It just seems ridiculous - I have no problem adding on time for time lost for actual instances of time wasting - goal kicks, throw ins etc. Adding on all this time for natural stoppages in the game just feels overkill. Wouldn’t be surprised if this drive leads to some sort of experiment in the...

Right they’re just making up stoppages now. 5 minutes at the end of this half? It’s madness, the ball’s been in play practically the entire time

Can’t say I’ve heard of him before but I can see why he’d be a favourite! Looking forward to seeing more of him

I think there’s a decent argument for the first too (haven’t seen a replay though!). One thing I wish they’d clamp down on though is the obvious intent to pressure penalty takers from the defending team. That said, I love this ref’s style, comes across as very assured and controlled.

The semi-automated offsides seem to work quite quickly too. Good example of how you can combine excellent AR decision making with the technology to ensure you get the right decision all round.

Not sure I’m a massive fan of how the ref runs in at pace to the site of every free kick? It works well for him but hard to step it up for a tackle worthy of a caution / dismissal, feels like it loses its impact?

Clear penalty all day. How that’s not given is beyond me

One tip I’ve used is just checking with each manager ‘good to go in 15 minutes or so’? Forces them to have a quick look at their watch and stick to timings.