Netherlands vs Russia Quarterfinal- Euro, 2008 [R]

[DaveyGorgeous]

From what German TV said, the linesman called the ball out before the play finished. There was definitely a foul.

The replay I saw on ESPN showed no contact. No foul IMO.

[footyfan1]

Sigh, the card was withdrawn because the linesman said the ball had been out of play, which the replay showed it was not. The Russian did not deserve the yellow card but he would have gotten it if the linesman had not made the incorrect call.

And still you guys support the referee while he almost screwed up again and withdrew the card for the incorrect reason.

He listened to his linesman. You bitch and moan, but you couldn't have seen it without the replay. The referee doesn't get those.

How about you "man up", quit moaning, bitching and complaining and support your great freakin' team??

[glennaldo_sf]

Russia have played well so far but they have only themselves to blame for not killing this game off earlier.

[footyfan1]

The replay I saw on ESPN showed no contact. No foul IMO.

No contact initially, but rolling into him and bringing him down when he still has a chance to play the ball is obstruction.

[maslow]

Good to see the ref consult the linseman to make the right call. Would of been horrible to see Russia play a man down. That is a good ref.

Lets see a good 30 minutes. Anyone thinks this goes to penalites???

Dutch have never win in penaltis.
Dutch seems better now.

[JediMindTricks]

Russia have played well so far but they have only themselves to blame for not killing this game off earlier.

agreed. and it wasn't the first time they botched their set piece assignments.

[1shot1kill]

I def think he's doing a great job. Whether he first incorrectly called is irrelevant. It's his end call that mattered. He consulted his linesman and made the right decision. What else do you want?

And no offense, but why are you so hung up on the damn ref? He's been fine, let's talk about the match, not the damn ref all day long.

2 times wrong does not make it right. He incorrectly calls the card for a foul that is not committed and then withdraws it for another incorrect call.

I am hung up on the ref because he keeps making bad calls, for both teams, heck I already started typing that he did before Russia scored and as a result of that I get a whole bunch of you accusing me of blaming him for Holland being behind while I never said or implied that. If I had wanted to do that I would have written that the referee is making us lose.

[Hungry Dave]

No contact initially, but rolling into him and bringing him down when he still has a chance to play the ball is obstruction.
And honestly, the replay was shown in slow motion and from a great angle that the ref didn't have. Seeing that play in real time, I thought he made the proper call until I saw the replay.

[DaveyGorgeous]

No contact initially, but rolling into him and bringing him down when he still has a chance to play the ball is obstruction.

No contact... after it seemed incidental contact if any.

Can anyone provide a replay similiar to the one on ESPN? I originally thought it was a foul but after I saw that then I was decided it was not.

[MassachusettsRef]

I must state first that I think Michel is the best in the world and I do not think he's been biased, but...

I think the Dutch have a decent complaint here. First, the call is reversed because the AR said the ball went out first, which replays seem to indicate it didn't. Second, technically speaking, the ball being out of play shouldn't negate a card if it's for the reckless nature of the foul (in other words, yes, you'd "reverse" a yellow card for a tactical foul since you can't have a tactical foul if the ball was out of play--but you wouldn't, for example, reverse a red card if an elbow had been given).

In the end, "justice" was probably served and neutrals are definitely happy. I don't think people will have many complaints. Many, in fact, will laud Michel for using his AR and showing common sense. But, technically speaking, you can make a strong argument that Michel got it wrong here.

[President Ike]

Up until Ruud's goal I was thinking that the Netherlands might have been facing some challenges in overcoming the mental effects of having one of your teammates lose their child just before a huge match.

Maybe some think this won't matter, but I think it certainly could affect a team's mood, in terms of excitement, etc..

[1shot1kill]

Dutch have never win in penaltis.
Dutch seems better now.

We won penalties the last time we had to do penalties 4 years ago against Sweden.

However that is still only once out of 4 or 5 times in the past decade and a half or so.

[JogaUsa]

As usual, the teams look content for penalties, at least the Russinas. It's all good though, im ready for some big time drama.

[President Ike]

van Persie really hasn't shown us his good stuff today. What kind of finish was that?

Russia has really blown opportunities...

and another one there...

[JediMindTricks]

off the bar...

[glennaldo_sf]

As usual, the teams look content for penalties, at least the Russinas. It's all good though, im ready for some big time drama.

I don't think the Russians will want penalties ... Van Der Sar is a giant and this time, I think the Dutch have the players to convert.

[1shot1kill]

Van Persie has not been great all tournament, just twice at the right moment.

[JeremyEritrea]

Sigh, the card was withdrawn because the linesman said the ball had been out of play, which the replay showed it was not. The Russian did not deserve the yellow card but he would have gotten it if the linesman had not made the incorrect call.

And still you guys support the referee while he almost screwed up again and withdrew the card for the incorrect reason.

The key word here being "almost."

He reversed his decision once he realized he was wrong. That, to me, is an indication of a good referee.

[JogaUsa]

Never mind, after the first minute of knocking it around, the Russians have some flair. What a shot, only to be denied by the crossbar.

[benztown]

I don't think the Russians will want penalties ... Van Der Sar is a giant and this time, I think the Dutch have the players to convert.

exactly