Search results

That’s a ludicrous decision. And further backs up my view that FIFA should not be able to make law changes mid-tournament. They overreact to incidents on a ridiculous level, this will have come from a combination of Infantino, Wenger and Collina. If it was Messi, Ronaldo, Kane, Vini Jr, etc...

So were most of the England players.

Not suggesting it should prevent the law change, rather it might result in some clubs moving away supporters. Currently teams have a 50/50 chance of the kicks being taken in front of their own supporters, with the new law they will potentially have to give up the undoubted benefit of taking the...

I know there are rules in the Premier League about where away fans have to be placed. They definitely need to be pitchside, but even that has exemptions as neither Sunderland or Newcastle have away fans anywhere even vaguely close to the pitch. Pretty sure both have argued that relocating them...

It’s a perceived win as one team usually benefits from the first coin toss. Less so at the World Cup though as there are so many neutral supporters. The cynic in me thinks if this becomes part of law clubs will relocate the away fans so they aren’t behind a goal, that way the penalties will...

Maybe, but they shouldn’t be trying to shoehorn it in whilst the tournament is ongoing.

We often criticise law changes, but the keeper 8 second and the new changes this season seem to be really enhancing the game as a spectacle. Restarts are now so much faster, the change it has made to the amount of time the ball in play is going to be interesting to see. I would guess it will be...

I always say that I will explain any decision but I’m not having a discussion over it. We might have to agree to disagree but I’ll give them the courtesy of explaining my rationale as long as they are courteous and respectful towards me. I’m not going over to the benches to have those...

I agree with that in principle, but the law would need to be changed to support it as there is absolutely zero doubt he endangered the opponent’s safety. The law says that endangering an opponent’s safety is a red card, I don’t see how anyone could argue that a player being carted off to...

Because the wording of the law says that endangering the safety of an opponent is a red card it effectively gives referees the ability to go on the extent of the injury. It was a foul, it clearly broke his leg, very difficult for anyone to argue that his safety wasn't endangered.

Doesn't really stop us discussing it, as with everything on social media a perfectly innocent thing gets turned into something it really wasn't. I officiated Emma a lot, both when she was assistant at Arsenal and then manager at Chelsea, plus she lived very close to me so I've bumped into her a...

Unless I'm thinking of a different situation it was surely turned into a goal kick because they had made a mistake in awarding the corner? An understandable mistake, but VAR corrected it very quickly.

Even them reaching the semi-final might be problematic for him. And Letexier was good in his game too, French refereeing seems to be in a good place at the moment.

The relevant statistics can be produced instantly at the very top levels if the game, but not when the Dog & Duck are playing the Horse & Groom on a Sunday morning at Hackney Marshes. I might be falling into the obvious trap of remembering the past as being better, but I can't remember there...

I would say that is probably as good a referee performance as you are likely to see. Love the way he is so unflappable and takes it all in his stride, the younger Clement Turpin wasn't like that at all and he has really progressed to be one of the best there is, in my opinion the best in the world.

The hydration breaks don't add to sub windows, you still only get 3 plus half time.

You would get a situation when the ball is out wide that attackers will practice trying to kick the ball at defenders hands. Not for me.

Hardly any force at all used and clumsy more than anything else

That's never going to get given, especially as the defender's foot was off the floor. I can't remember a tournament with so few cautions and sendings off (opening game obviously an outlier), feels to me that FIFA have told the officials to use discretion and common sense.

There's a guy (or girl) on the sideline at every single televised game no matter where in the world who tells the referee, often via the 4th official, when they can restart. They are the broadcast company's floor manager, that is part of their job, i.e. to make sure that the game isn't...