Why were the ref's so bad at the world cup?

[Microwave]

the 3 yellows, the high number of sketchy penalties called, the amount of questionable cards......the ref's were pretty awful in 2006.

Why? Did they bring the wrong ref's to the World Cup?

[Excape Goat]

Pressure!!!!!
Poll was considered the best in the game after Collinas retired. Instead, he was in disgrace. Merk was also considered the best althrough I thought he was overrated. He also had some problems in this tournament.

[guyarthur]

I thought they were a lot better than 2002. I also noticed that from the quarters on they more or less let them play and didn't give out too many cards. I thinks the refs got a talking to after the Portugal- Netherlands game.

[ForeverRed]

Individually, they were better than many in 2002, just overall it looks jaded.

Must mean one thing and one thing alone, it was FIXED for Germany to win the WC, since they are host nations. DUH!

But they couldn't even get that right and Germany went out in the semis. :D

[Rob_420]

The reffing was better than it was in 2002. Unfortunatly it was FIFA that instructed the referees to crack down and issue more cards, and that's exactly what the refs did. 2002 was just full of blown calls and non calls.

[garzasoccer]

The refs were bad because there is still a major difference between how club matches are referreed and how WC matches are referreed. After the knockout round the refereeing changed to much more like club level games. I think this is wrong. We need to clean up the club games (call more fouls, issue more yellows) and then referee ALL games like they are WC games.

A few examples:
1. Picking up the ball after a foul - auto yellow (yes Deco, for you too) (This works brilliantly in the U-21 and under international matches and produces a much more flowing game with fewer stops of play).
2. Shirt tug - auto yellow
3. Professional foul - auto yellow, possibly red
4. Diving - auto yellow (referees can no longer "wave the players to get up", they must issue a yellow (For all the diving at this WC, was there even a single yellow issued for diving?)
5. Standing in front of ball (within 10 yards) on dead ball foul - auto yellow.
6. The wall "cheats in" as a kick is taken - yellow card ON THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM!
7. Any insults - auto red

And if this happens, the football will be ugly for a while - just like the knockout rounds were ugly. But if it works, it would eventually lead to a cleaner game.

Anyway, that's why the refereeing was so bad - in my opinion

[SoccerFanatic416]

The refs were bad because there is still a major difference between how club matches are referreed and how WC matches are referreed. After the knockout round the refereeing changed to much more like club level games. I think this is wrong. We need to clean up the club games (call more fouls, issue more yellows) and then referee ALL games like they are WC games.

A few examples:
1. Picking up the ball after a foul - auto yellow (yes Deco, for you too) (This works brilliantly in the U-21 and under international matches and produces a much more flowing game with fewer stops of play).
2. Shirt tug - auto yellow
3. Professional foul - auto yellow, possibly red
4. Diving - auto yellow (referees can no longer "wave the players to get up", they must issue a yellow (For all the diving at this WC, was there even a single yellow issued for diving?)
5. Standing in front of ball (within 10 yards) on dead ball foul - auto yellow.
6. The wall "cheats in" as a kick is taken - yellow card ON THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM!
7. Any insults - auto red

Yeah. There were some yellow cards issued out for diving. Not as much, but imho, diving is really subjective more or less. We have the benefit of instant replay. Real-time it looks like a player definetely got fouled.

And the insults, that'd be really over the top. Zinedine Zidane might've started a total revolution or something. There's nothing wrong with healthy smack talk (stuff like, oh, my team > your team, your team stinks, etc..), as that stuff just happens and I don't even take it that seriously. (Not that I condone racial smacktalk, but in this day an age *even in youth sports* it's done. Not that it's right, not that it should be accepted, but it's just one of those things.)

Overall, the refs have a lot of pressure. Bad job? Yes. But, put yourself in their shoes. You can't see everything and call everything. You can only do your best. And please, the Portugal - Holland game was crazy. The ref couldn't establish control, but both teams were playing dirty, and most players deserved to be carded.

[garzasoccer]

Yeah. There were some yellow cards issued out for diving. Not as much, but imho, diving is really subjective more or less. We have the benefit of instant replay. Real-time it looks like a player definetely got fouled.

And the insults, that'd be really over the top. Zinedine Zidane might've started a total revolution or something. There's nothing wrong with healthy smack talk (stuff like, oh, my team > your team, your team stinks, etc..), as that stuff just happens and I don't even take it that seriously. (Not that I condone racial smacktalk, but in this day an age *even in youth sports* it's done. Not that it's right, not that it should be accepted, but it's just one of those things.)

Overall, the refs have a lot of pressure. Bad job? Yes. But, put yourself in their shoes. You can't see everything and call everything. You can only do your best. And please, the Portugal - Holland game was crazy. The ref couldn't establish control, but both teams were playing dirty, and most players deserved to be carded.

All very good points, but at least something might be done about bringing the defensive fouls down a bit. Referees familiar with the teams don't fall for a lot of the diving - but instead of issuing a yellow they just wave the play on. That hurts the game, and does not help the overall level of play.

Someone in another forum also suggested that every game be reviewed by videotape with the authority to issue cards and fines. I know this happens where major incidents occur, but if it was affordable, it would be very beneficial for the ref crew to sit in on this. I did a lot of youth soccer refereeing (my top level was American college soccer) and game reviews were educational and helpful. Even at the pro/WC level I would think it would be helpful.

[celito]

If you live in the US or Canada, yesterday on FSW Report they had a Canadian ref that worked on the World Cup including Brazil's opener, Italy x Czech, and Italy x Germany. He didn't say that FIFA instructed them to call the game tighter, eventhough we all know they did. But he said FIFA told the refs to pay special attention to 2 plays:

- Shirt tugging inside the box during free kicks and corners.
- Playing throwing elbows. Including leading with the elbow when jumping. That's why I think we saw more yellow cards in this situation this time around.

Overall I don't think this WC was any worse than others. If you think about it, it's very hard to get all calls right with the synical play used by players today. A ref. has to be very well positioned to make the right call on fouls. And even when he is close to the play, sometimes the angle doesn't help determining if it was a foul or a dive. It's really not an easy job.

[Fair Play]

Poll, regardless, is why I genuinely admire his man management - comic relief and nonverbal communication: two valuable components in any referee's toolbox.

[AlbertCamus]

I thought the Refs were OK. Two reasons why the games are harder than ever to officiate.

The players are superb athletes so the games is quicker and faster than ever, making it hard for the refs to keep up.

The players are cheating bastards, more so than ever; thus there is so much bad behavior to track.

[GrandeCannavaro]

I think the refs were as bad as they usually are. Everyone always talks about it like it was never bad before There's always phantom penalties, missed penalties, hand balls, diving, missed offsides, wrong offsides.

The difference is we are now more able to discuss it with these internet forums, so it seems like it's worse because of the amount of discussion. Do you think the Hand of God goal was any better than some of the bad calls from this year? That was probably the worst non call ever as far importance of match, impact it had on the game, etc.

[patati]

Why were the ref's so bad at the world cup?
They were better than in 1998 and 2002.
However, the WC traditional outdated refeering methods has its limits: referees are human beings, not able to see everything in real time, especially the diving details and off-sides.

As it has been said already, video for divings, fools, goals, ... becomes mandatory.
Regarding off-sides, there are now technical ways to determine the exact position of the ball and the players any millisecond.

Blatter said : "no video as it would eliminate impassioned debates"...

[Pike]

Speaking as a Referee,...

My only problem with the officiating at this World Cup was the lack of consistency by the referees;

This includes a given referee on a match and,
Referees from match to match.


I had trouble finding the delineation from a foul being just a foul, cautionable foul, and a serious foul (red card). It was difficult from a foul to a foul that was a caution. For non- referees, it isn't always the severely of the foul, sometimes it for tactical advantage you give a caution. Also, certain foul is mandated by FIFA that a caution is shown.

In any even, the referee who did the latter stages (quarterfinals and up) did a much better job in controlling the matches. The did a much better job in spotting dives and they use better card judgement.

In 2006, overall I thought they did as poor as the ARs did in 2002, however, the ARs did a much better this time around.

Pike

[Tottinho]

Why were the ref's so bad at the world cup?


bad??

Did you see the 2002 worldcup?

[Milliano]

Individually, they were better than many in 2002, just overall it looks jaded.

Must mean one thing and one thing alone, it was FIXED for Germany to win the WC, since they are host nations. DUH!

But they couldn't even get that right and Germany went out in the semis. :D

I was honestly suprised that they didn't get more 'luck' in regards to officiating in this tournament.

[benztown]

They were better than in 1998 and 2002.
However, the WC traditional outdated refeering methods has its limits: referees are human beings, not able to see everything in real time, especially the diving details and off-sides.

As it has been said already, video for divings, fools, goals, ... becomes mandatory.
Regarding off-sides, there are now technical ways to determine the exact position of the ball and the players any millisecond.

Blatter said : "no video as it would eliminate impassioned debates"...

The difference is, that nowadays we have like a thousand cameras in the stadium that can produce instant replays from all angles, slow motions and so on. So every mistake made is made instantly visible for the whole world.

I think there can't be done much about it though. And at least this time there weren't any bad calls that clearly decided games as in 2002.

What could be done concerning dives however is that the FIFA reviews games and if there is a dive that can be seen on tape, the player comitting it will get suspended for one game.

[Tottinho]

The refs were bad because there is still a major difference between how club matches are referreed and how WC matches are referreed. After the knockout round the refereeing changed to much more like club level games. I think this is wrong. We need to clean up the club games (call more fouls, issue more yellows) and then referee ALL games like they are WC games.

A few examples:
1. Picking up the ball after a foul - auto yellow (yes Deco, for you too) (This works brilliantly in the U-21 and under international matches and produces a much more flowing game with fewer stops of play).
2. Shirt tug - auto yellow
3. Professional foul - auto yellow, possibly red
4. Diving - auto yellow (referees can no longer "wave the players to get up", they must issue a yellow (For all the diving at this WC, was there even a single yellow issued for diving?)
5. Standing in front of ball (within 10 yards) on dead ball foul - auto yellow.
6. The wall "cheats in" as a kick is taken - yellow card ON THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM!
7. Any insults - auto red

And if this happens, the football will be ugly for a while - just like the knockout rounds were ugly. But if it works, it would eventually lead to a cleaner game.

Anyway, that's why the refereeing was so bad - in my opinion
your insane!

insults should be no problem, that shows how strong you are mentaly.
in the NBA the players trash talk all the time to eachother...

it should be the same in football.

[patati]

insults should be no problem, that shows how strong you are mentaly.
For you an Italian, it is "no problem", but don't cross the cultural boundary too fast... the impact is not the same. In Italy, from childhood, you're always ready with an insult. For some people (incl. ZZ) some insults can be stronger than a physical contact (he said he would have preferred to be slapped in the face than hearing the repetitive offenses from M).

[celito]

your insane!

insults should be no problem, that shows how strong you are mentaly.
in the NBA the players trash talk all the time to eachother...

it should be the same in football.

I am sure the trash talk in the NBA doesn't include family members. Those guys just wouldn't take that.