Joao Pinto Suspension

[MassachusettsRef]

First, Pinto will not go unpaid by his club, as someone suggested. This suspension is from FIFA, not from the local national association. FIFA didn't say he was suspended "without pay", they only imposed a fine.

Secondly, he will only miss 4-5 club games, none of which will be truly that meaningful.

Finally, to respond to nas2nj, let me modify my remark. I should have said it was the worst "tackle" (not foul) I've ever seen. I stand by that statement and I don't know what you think that says about me as a referee. The Pinto tackle just had too many aspects to it. It was directly from behind, in the midfield, the opponent was going sideways (not towards goal), he basically jumped (rather than slid) to make the tackle, both feet had his studs exposed, he struck the opponent halfway up the leg with one foot and then scissored him with the other, and he got no ball whatsoever, nor was he even attempting to.

[nas2nj]

I agree it was a bad tackle and I don't know what he was thinking when he did it.

He let his emtions get the best of him.

Nothing that I would have expected from him.

[RushOnze]

Originally posted by Alberto


I think at the next world cup you will see less representation by third world confederations and more by UEFA (though they had their share of questionable calls too).



I doubt it. If you look at the mistakes each confederations had their share, UEFA included (Spain's ref yellow card disaster, Denmark's AR disallows 2 goals).
When politics get into the selection process again for 2006 there will be "equal' distribution again. Maybe CONCACAF will decide to send more than one from each country and Ocenia may have less representation, but rest assured that Trinidad & Tobago will still have someone there.

[Alberto]

Originally posted by RushOnze


I doubt it. If you look at the mistakes each confederations had their share, UEFA included (Spain's ref yellow card disaster, Denmark's AR disallows 2 goals).
When politics get into the selection process again for 2006 there will be "equal' distribution again. Maybe CONCACAF will decide to send more than one from each country and Ocenia may have less representation, but rest assured that Trinidad & Tobago will still have someone there.

I thank you and Robert Guillame evil twin thank you for not mentioning his name.

:D