The Ref Stop

Prospects for the last 8 (OT fan stuff)

GraemeS said:
I understand what you're saying, but is he actually top-tier? Genuine question as I don't know him that well compared to most of the other names being discussed, but it seems like some weird factors are being considered when it should really be down to assigning the best that you plausibly can.

MO having clearly the best match of the 4 QF refs and then getting sent home because AT needs to get his go is a great example of FIFA painting themselves into corners with referee appointments. I imagine they were hoping Lahoz would nail his QF and book the final as a result, but even those claiming FIFA conspiracies to keep every match 11 v 11 can't imagine that his performance went down well.
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If you get the QF I think you expect to be going home. At least, you can be reasonably certain you're not the final referee.
Think it's fairly rare to get more than 1 knockout match. And more than a couple of group games.

Its not about Taylor getting his go, I truly believe that Taylor is ranked higher in FIFA and EUFA than Oliver. Taylor might not get another game... We have history with every side left bar Morocco.
 
The Ref Stop
Turpin obviously loses out because France are now the clear favourites to win the whole thing - I think he's excellent, but don't see how there can be space for him now. I don't agree with the reasons against MO, but I think they will probably add up to rule him out. Orsato is getting the first SF, so won't get the final.

So yeah, I suppose Makkelie is the only one that I would have considered as a reasonable alternative choice - he's a name I know and I've been generally impressed every time I remember seeing him. If you'd asked me to pick a final ref, he'd have been the choice.

JamesL said:
If you get the QF I think you expect to be going home. At least, you can be reasonably certain you're not the final referee.
Think it's fairly rare to get more than 1 knockout match. And more than a couple of group games.

Its not about Taylor getting his go, I truly believe that Taylor is ranked higher in FIFA and EUFA than Oliver. Taylor might not get another game... We have history with every side left bar Morocco.
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RustyRef said:
For the past two tournaments it has been given to one of the quarter final referees, if they stick with that approach it can only be Oliver or Tello.
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I was going by this - QF as an audition for the final both makes a lot of sense and also according to Rusty, is a common process. Will admit I didn't fact check!
 
GraemeS said:
Turpin obviously loses out because France are now the clear favourites to win the whole thing - I think he's excellent, but don't see how there can be space for him now. I don't agree with the reasons against MO, but I think they will probably add up to rule him out. Orsato is getting the first SF, so won't get the final.

So yeah, I suppose Makkelie is the only one that I would have considered as a reasonable alternative choice - he's a name I know and I've been generally impressed every time I remember seeing him. If you'd asked me to pick a final ref, he'd have been the choice.



I was going by this - QF as an audition for the final both makes a lot of sense and also according to Rusty, is a common process. Will admit I didn't fact check!
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Well there you go then ... Pays to read all the comments.. ☺️
Must be Sampaio's then 😏
 
JamesL said:
If you get the QF I think you expect to be going home. At least, you can be reasonably certain you're not the final referee.
Think it's fairly rare to get more than 1 knockout match. And more than a couple of group games.
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One of the quarter-final referees has gone on to referee the Final in five of the last eight WCs. Only exceptions have been 2010 and 2002, where the Final referee previously had a Round of 16 match, and 1998, where he did two group stage matches then no knockout games.
 
Yeah, I think Ramos is a good guess for SF2. And I remain convinced that Al-Jassim has been lined up for the 3rd place play off before the tournament started.

I'd love to know if they actually would rule out a ref based on "they knocked my team out" or "the winner of this game might play my team" - in which case, could have saved some money and sent AT and Elfath home, as there are very few configurations that leave them "available" to do another match. If we take those as true and your England/Argentina theory as correct, AT could do a Morocco/Croatia final, but is otherwise not getting near the pitch.

If the QFs were an audition for Sampaio, I don't think he would have passed - suspect he's still around as they don't want to endorse the English media stance by dismissing him. And would also think giving the final to Ghorbal, Mohamed or Valenzuela would be a bit of a shock so again, not sure why they've been asked to hang around - VAR duties?

So yeah, with all that, final looks to be a toss up between Makkelie and Marciniak. The only other option is Claus, who I don't know much about, but if Croatia get past Argentina, then one of the finalists is the team that knocked out Brazil which could rule him out.
 
GraemeS said:
If the QFs were an audition for Sampaio, I don't think he would have passed - suspect he's still around as they don't want to endorse the English media stance by dismissing him.
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If that were the case, surely they wouldn't have sent Lahoz home after the media outcry after his QF? 😂

GraemeS said:
And would also think giving the final to Ghorbal, Mohamed or Valenzuela would be a bit of a shock so again, not sure why they've been asked to hang around - VAR duties?
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Pretty sure the VAR appointments will only be done from the 'specialist' VAR list.
 
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Mohamed has already been appointed as 4O for SF1, so that's probably him done.

Ghorbal and Claus have only been used as 4Os in the knockout stages, so I'd be surprised if either get another middle.

Al-Jassim only refereed one group stage match and was 4O for another, so I'd also be surprised if he's given another middle.

It would be unusual for a referee to get the Final after not doing a previous knockout match, so let's rule out Makkelie and Taylor for the Final.

Let's also rule Orsato out of getting another appointment as he's in the middle for SF1.

As Elfath was born in Morocco, I can't see him getting SF2, or the Final if Morocco go through.

Sampaio did France in the QF, so don't see him getting SF2.

So based on all that... Middle for SF2 would be from Makkelie, Taylor, Ramos, Valenzuela and Marciniak. 4O probably either Ghorbal, Claus or Al-Jassim.

Middle for 3rd playoff from Makkelie, Taylor, Ramos, Valenzuela, Sampaio, Marciniak and maybe Elfath. 4O again probably either Ghorbal, Claus or Al-Jassim.

Leaving Ramos, Valenzuela, Sampaio, Marciniak and maybe Elfath in the middle for the Final (one of them probably 4O too).
 
Fair point, I forgot about 4O duties. Still think Al-Jassim could do the 3rd place match though, given a) he's been perfectly fine so far, b) it would be nice to give to the home ref and c) it's the 3rd place playoff match, no one cares.
 
Ramos has supposedly been appointed in the middle for SF2, with Valenzuela as 4O. Not seen official confirmation yet though.
 
It really is baffling how Sampaio has been retained and Oliver sent home. He got a penalty wrong, and unless FIFA have changed things the fact VAR bailed him out doesn't save him from a 7.9. Oliver didn't have any incorrect KMDs so would have been 8.3 / 8.4.

Hard to look beyond politics playing a big part here. And if that plays out to the end I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Al-Jassim given the 3rd / 4th place game or even the final.
 
RustyRef said:
It really is baffling how Sampaio has been retained and Oliver sent home. He got a penalty wrong, and unless FIFA have changed things the fact VAR bailed him out doesn't save him from a 7.9. Oliver didn't have any incorrect KMDs so would have been 8.3 / 8.4.

Hard to look beyond politics playing a big part here. And if that plays out to the end I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Al-Jassim given the 3rd / 4th place game or even the final.
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He's Brazilian. That's why he's there.
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
You're going to love the 2026 World Cup then - 48 teams, playing in 3 countries, each of which has different visa requirements, some different time zones - luckily FIFA have found some experts on here to sort out the appointments of the officials, including some Level 6 and Level 7's for the first time. 🙄😕
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Update: FIFA considering 32 countries split into groups of 4. Interesting idea. 😕😁
 
FIFA really should learn from the past and stop trying to fix what isn't broke! The current format works well, it's simple and effective, unlike the convuluted formats of the past with 1st & 2nd round group games or some 3rd placed teams going through based on a formula that would give NASA a headache! Don't even get me started on the dog's dinner that is about to be unleashed in the Champions League! :mad:
 
A lot of teams are going to look back on this tournament and see a missed opportunity.

No team has been ruthless or free flowing for more than a few mins. Just as Brazil, Ned, Port, Eng, Fra looked menacing they turned it around and looked flawed. The performances by Bra, Spa, Port, Arg, Eng, Fra in the last 8 and semis have not convinced.

And so, oh dear, for England to go out on a penalty miss in a stodgy match, evenly matched, with one of the six sides that could win it!

On one hand, “lesser” sides with more technical ability than ever, less dramatic sweeps (no red cards!), some upsets thanks to Morocco (and crazy team selections)…

Richarlison’s early goal looked like it would herald a glorious footballing spectacle…
 
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