Make-Up Calls [R]

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

I know "make-up calls" are in the rulebook right next to Code Reds, but I have to ask anyway -- what on Earth might the ref have thought he was making up for? That red on Italy wasn't caused by frustration, it was thuggery.

[Casper]

Totally agree. Make-up calls are absolutely the worst. I've never seen two guys from one team get thrown out within three minutes without one of them being a thug play. But McBride was barely back on the field when Mastroeni made his stupid tackle. I mostly call it a stupid tackle because even if executed cleanly, it would have done us no good.

[capitalist]

when Mastroeni made his stupid tackle. I mostly call it a stupid tackle because even if executed cleanly, it would have done us no good.

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8057/usa32bf.jpg

[TxFan]

Pablo just mistimed it. And frankly, the tackle just LOOKS dangerous...

I still think Kasey Keller's post game comments were right: no way that's a yellow with any other ref.

[Deuteriumoxide]

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8057/usa32bf.jpg

He got the ball first in HD.

[Captain10]

It looks worse with that angle ... which was the referee's view. However, I don't understand why he was making that kind of tackle in that area of the field. Best case, it goes out of bounds ... what was he thinking? :confused:

[AcrossThePond]

Normally the Italians kick everyone off the field and get away with it. I think the US tried to be a bit more physical and it backfired very badly. I think the cards were harsh but only relative to what the referees have normally been dishing out in the past few decades.

The US are good enough to beat Italy on their own merits. Leave all the fouling up to the other guys. Perhaps for once, at least in this game, it might have paid off to have done it that way. Normally it doesn't though, and it's astonishing that the US, one of the most fair play teams over the past two decades, should be the first to be made an example of. Oh well, c'est la vie!

[lethargytartare]

He got the ball first in HD.

and his studs high on the ankle, right in front of the ref.

it doesn't matter if he got the ball a full second before that shot - it's still a red.

[McGinty]

When a red card is issued, it is like opening Pandora's Box. When referees show one, they are more likely to show more so I wouldn't call it a "make-up call." It was more of a sign of a referee becoming too comfortable more red cards after he has already given one.

The worst part about that today was that the first red card was not the result of tackles like Mastroeni's where a referee is trying to regain control of a match when tackles have become too aggressive - IT WAS A FRIGGIN' CHEAPSHOT THAT DESERVES A LENGTHY SUSPENSION.

[beergod]

I thought it looked like an awful challenge, I can understand the referee's reason ing on that tackle. However, his second yellow on Pope was a bullshit call.

[Ikari]

He got the ball first in HD.
Han shot first! I...I mean Pablo got to the ball, a bit...a lil bit. Either way it's still bad timing, nothing we can do but move on.

And, yeah like I said Han shot first. :D

[Dutch Treat]

I thought it looked like an awful challenge, I can understand the referee's reason ing on that tackle. However, his second yellow on Pope was a bullshit call.

The first two reds,fair.The second yellow on Pope,unbelievable.The ref should have had a good word with Pope and the two captains and should have let both teams know it should be over from that point on.I mean,the second half just started,and of course both teams came out poisoned,what was the ref thinkig?He was in no way capable of controlling the match and himself.

[VBSoccerFan]

He got the ball first in HD.

Don't even need HD. I saw it on the crappy TV I was watching.

[lethargytartare]

The first two reds,fair.The second yellow on Pope,unbelievable.The ref should have had a good word with Pope and the two captains and should have let both teams know it should be over from that point on.I mean,the second half just started,and of course both teams came out poisoned,what was the ref thinkig?He was in no way capable of controlling the match and himself.

I'd go one further - he should have made that clear at the half, even if he had to call in a translator.

It was reasonable, if stupid, for all the players from both sides to expect looser officiating in the second half. The ref should have made it clear to both sides before he let them start back up that he wasn't going to follow this traditional practice.

OTOH, FIFA releases it's "special officiating instructions" to all the teams before the WC, and I don't actually know that the ref *didn't* tell them he was gonna be hard ass in the second half, too.

whatever - all we need is a 7-0 win on thursday and it won't matter. Of course, we need to score 6 of those goals in injury time to make sure Italy and CR don't get word and play for a tie...

[Chip]

That referee was absolutely horrific. His decision to sculpt the outcome of the game was reprehensible. Rumor among the fans at an MLS game was that he had been suspended from the last World Cup for his poor game calling the World Cup before that. Shame on FIFA for letting him back.

Card happy fool.

[lotharis1]

these gifs have been posted elsewhere, and show proof...

first the blatant elbow...
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/470/usa38rd.gif
now he claims he did it by accident... and I am sure to some extent that is true... I mean I don't think he went up to bust open McBride's cheek bone... but you can clearly see he went up deliberately with one elbow, and not both... it appears to me he is just throwing the elbow in expecting it to hit McBride's chest to give him a knock, and possibly win the ball... but then as McBride's arm goes up it forces De Rossi's eblow higher... which is sort of what De Rossi gestured to the ref after it happened... but its exactly whaty a red card is designed for... malicious intent.. regardless of whether this hit in the chest or in the face it should've been a red... a clear and deliberate elbow...

then the Mastroeni tackle...
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/2928/usa66rp.gif
clear make-up call... as you can clearly see he got the ball... then Pirlo... who made an absolute meal of it... kicking both feet up 2 feet into the air as he flopped... this is not a red, as the tackle is clean, and not all that dangerous... the second leg never makes contact with Pirlo... its actually tucked under Mastroeni's other leg, until the end, when he tries to stand up... at worst, it might be given a yellow for being reckless and possibly dangerous... but thats a yellow at worst... should've been a no-call, trouble is here, the tackle was completely unnecessary... we are level with them... up a man... nearing half-time... this is a meaningless posession in their own half... knowing the situation... that the ref is likely going to try to even the teams up, and that its so close to half-time... he doesn't need to go in at all and chance it... but that doesn't excuse what the ref did... this is not a straight red card foul in any way...


then Pope's mysterious foul...
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/8499/usa57tq.gif
ok... i see all ball, very little if any player... and the start of a dive... wish there was more to this gif... to start... his first yellow was BS... from behind it looked as if pope was shoving Toni down to stop the counter attack... but the reverse angle showed the opposite... as it was Toni who had a fist full of Pope's jersey... and went down... pulling Pope down with him... and yet Pope gets a yellow... then right at the start of the second half... no need for warnings... it is that early in the half... the teams have already both had a man sent off... keep the cards in your pocket... Pope goes in... clearly from the picture he gets all ball and maybe a slight knick at the back of Toni's boot... but this was a clean challenge, and shouldve been a no-call... at the very worst a yellow... which should have been his first... but as it were it wouldve been his second... but the ref didnt show a second yellow... he showed a straight red... no way is this even remotely a red card challenge... THERE IS NO MALICIOUS INTENT OR RECKLESSNESS... its a perfectly timed challenge...

ref clearly didnt want cement shoes for having sent of an italian in a match where we embarrassed them... so he had to do something to fight for his life, clearly he cant have watched the highlights of the first half... and come right out to give Pope a straight rewd for that challenge....

it wasn't just the reds either... he was making bad calls all day... his linesmen were as well... then they put the whistle away at the end of the match... so offenses like this one, which clearly should've been reprimanded... were let go...
http://hosted.ap.org/photos/W/WCKAI33806172043-big.jpg
that right there was the worst call of the entire game... there was no bad angle on it... and it was the focus off the play... Reyna clearly wide open in space on a counter... had a man to lay the ball off to, that had space and time on the Italian defenders, as he made his way to the top of the box... if Pirlo doesn't hold back Reyna, he easily slots it off for a golden scoring chance... instead you could clearly see Reyna fighting to get free, and being restrained by Pirlo's grabbing... yet advantage was played... and by the time Reyna was able to get free... the player had already distinguished his run enough to draw the defense to him... and the Italians had enough time to get back in the play... this was the worst decision of the game by the ref... deliberate attempt to stop a clear scoring chance is a red card... although... to be fair to the ref... they said jersey pulling was an automatic yellow... the never said anything about leg grabbing....

[Soccernethost]

I think Pablo's fould COULD have been a yellow. But it also COULD have been a red and anyone that doesn't see his cleats come in hard on the Italian's ankle is a homer of the worst sort.

As mentioned several times, Pope's red card was a complete disgrace.

[Nutmeg]

I think Pablo's fould COULD have been a yellow. But it also COULD have been a red and anyone that doesn't see his cleats come in hard on the Italian's ankle is a homer of the worst sort.

Or just a person with good vision. Pictures of the tackle clearly show Pirlo's foot was hit about the same time as Mastroeni got the ball. But his ankle? No. Apparently you got caught up in the magic spray.

I agree it was a stupid challenge. I don't think it would have helped the US much had he cleanly taken the ball, although you can never be sure.

[zico82]

I think Pablo's fould COULD have been a yellow. But it also COULD have been a red and anyone that doesn't see his cleats come in hard on the Italian's ankle is a homer of the worst sort.



Yeah? So one foot popped up and caught the opponent's ankle AFTER hitting the ball and after hitting the opponent's boot. Pablo's foot was flush with the ground during the slide and up to the point he made contact with the boot. He didn't come in "high". He didn't come in with 2 "feet". He didn't come in "late". He made contact with the ball FIRST. It's clear he played the ball with a one footed tackle. He came in pretty fast though and DID inadvertently make contact so perhaps give him a yellow. A straight red? Absolutely laughable.

A clear make up call for an earlier straight red that WAS very deserved.

[uclacarlos]

I don't think Mastro's red was a make-up call. If it were, then he wouldn't have punished Pope. And if he thought that Pope's deserved a red but Mastro was debatable, he would've "made it up" in other ways.

There were, however, several "make-up calls" the last 10 minutes: fouls that were not called when they would've been had the US not been down to 9 men.

The ref simply felt that all 3 reds were warranted.