But, and it's a big but, he's a professional. And to miss as badly as he did (including the Messi dive) is unforgivable. Yes, they came out very full of themselves and a professional referee should have enough in his toolbox to calm the match Down. Lopes is in charge of producing an event. He can't even get his throw ins correct.
The commentators keep saying this extra sub during extra time thing was part of the update to the Laws, but it's just a special thing the Copa applied for isn't it? I don't remember reading that change, anyway.
I watched the events at real speed here: I would caution against jumping on the prevailing bandwagon. For what it's worth, the reaction by the players to the incident leading up to the second red card is immediate mass confrontation. It's clear that both teams thought "something" ssignificant occurred. Player reactions don't equal a red card, I'm just suggesting caution against a rush to judgement.
Wait you don't agree with the Messi dive card? I'm caught up now (2x fast forward is a wonderful thing). If indeed the straight red was for a kick out that we didn't see, I think his performance moves up a bit. Even the best professional referees can't calm two teams if they have no interest in being calmed. Honestly one could argue the 2nd half was pretty calm relatively speaking. Still a few minutes to go
The kick out was shown on Fox in a brief flash between the end of 2nd before the start of the OT. Nothing was mentioned by anyone. I watched it twice. Kind of hard to discern, but if there was a kick out, then that does change the second red to yes, but doesn't change my overall opinion.
My biggest issue (again what do I know) issue with him is that he seems to be really far away from the action and starts to depart flare up potential zones too quickly.
I think it was to appease Chile as much as punish Messi. I think he knows he was duped a bit on the second yellow and Chile was fed up with Messi a bit.
I would be fascinated to see how a top European ref would officiate a final between two South American teams. Especially one with this much nastiness.
Yeah, his foul calling procedure (at least for when he thinks a long ball is coming), is a blow of the whistle and a sprint upfield. No direction, no view of play, nothing.
Interesting to note, Lopes' last game without a card was April 27, 2015 http://us.soccerway.com/referees/heber-roberto-lopes/119712/ Aside from 2 games in that time, all have had more than 1 yellow as well
Good video material for mass confirmations. Referee moves from "trying to break it up" to a "triangle of control" position several times as things escalated. Conversely, with the second red card, he showed the red several times and emphatically removed the dismissed player. Of course, YMMV depending on the level you're officiating. This was a very difficult match.
I am glad this sorry excuse for a soccer tournament is over. Both the quality of overall play and the standard of refereeing was poor. Both sent terrible examples to young players and referees. The Gold Cup was pretty bad, but IMO this was much worse. As for the refereeing, did anyone have a really good match? Gieger was OK, but it was such a one-sided match it was difficult to judge. PH
I'm a little too old to remember my mass confirmation. This guy was absolutely comical in his approach to everything. I loved when he pulled aside the Chilean player on the mass confrontation in extra time and went way overboard with his "knock it off" motion with both arms wildly swinging. The players reaction was priceless as he thought he'd hit him in the face by accident. You throw in the way he runs, his mannerisms and getting bowled over and pushed twice by Argentina and he reminded me of the WWF days of George "The Animal" Steele.