Hosts vs Pharaohs

[santa sangria]

Looks like both sets of defenders have carte blanche to hold two-armed at corners

 

[santa sangria]

Ref blocks shot!

 

[Big Cat]

Russians shoot down the ref...
Appalling positioning

 

[santa sangria]

The holding and shirt pulling at set pieces over the last few games is no out of control.
And the extra staged warnings from refs - without follow through - have made it worse IMHO

 

[Big Cat]

Yes, the ceremonial interference by referees at every set-piece looks unnatural and is having zero impact
Pathetic idea by FIFA

 

[santa sangria]

Catch it!

 

[santa sangria]

Irony... if he hadn't been so bust holding the attacker's shirt he might have cleared the ball!

 

[santa sangria]

I'll stick my neck out... Egypt need a goal or this group is done already.

 

[santa sangria]

57 did Trezeguet get a YC for attempting to kick out ?

 

[lincs22]

This one is done, Russia will be going though with 8 goals, since position is decided on goal difference.

Gives Salah time to sign for Real Madrid....

 

[santa sangria]

VAR puts it in the box for the pen but no YC for #22 for making the box sign???

 

[Big Cat]

Come September, I do hope the players before me aren't expecting the level of leniency shown in this tournament for dissent, protesting and delaying restart

 

[santa sangria]

Come September, I do hope the players before me aren't expecting the level of leniency shown in this tournament for dissent, protesting and delaying restart

And I'd convinced myself that was the whole underlying point of VAR!

Is it that there is a no yellow cards policy for some reason?

TBH though there still seems far less dissent/protests/delaying than in typical prem/ECL games... I think it was that the first few games of this tournament were extremely strict... didn't we have a similar thing in previous world cups at the start (I am thinking Zola off in 94)...?

 

[Ciley Myrus]

Far side AR had a honking last ten mins

 

[santa sangria]

93 no YC for kicking the ball away. Blatant.

 

[santa sangria]

Far side AR had a honking last ten mins

Looks so lethargic

 

[santa sangria]

Pharewell then desert Peles. Playing with Long John Silver up front for the last half hour didn't do you any favours.

 

[Ciley Myrus]

Looks so lethargic

I never saw start, guessing he was diff nationality to ref? Was very unsure and taking lead off refs in calls which should be his and it looked to me like he gestured play on for a two foot lunge in front of him which the ref correctly penalised

Ref seemed ok tho, good manner with players.

 

[Peter Grove]

VAR puts it in the box for the pen but no YC for #22 for making the box sign???

Not mandatory according to the Laws of the Game.

 

[Goldfish]

It is clear referees have been told to ease up on yellow cards. Busacca is not a fan of cards and it is clear that referees have been told to only card for foul challenges or instances where they have little choice. FIFA do not want suspensions in the knockout stage. So far there are 52 yellows.
If these games were refereed using PL or EUFA CL card standards there would be many teams without players for their third group game never mind the knockouts
I think the Gazza second yellow still lingers in FIFA.