http://gfycat.com/SoupyCaringBobwhite http://gfycat.com/HeavenlyHorribleBetafish Seen it many times now and still does not seem a foul to me. Spahic is as much responsible for the tangle as Emenike. Gets into a odd position and then puts his arm across and even tried to put his left arm across later.
What's so weird about the offside call, as others have pointed out, is that the AR started running with Dzeko and doubted himself.
Good no call on the goal. That's not a foul although it looks like O'Leary was about to call a foul. The defender tripped himself.
I agree. Good point that O'Leary was about to call the foul and actually had his whistle up to his mouth. His body language was that of shock that his AR didn't flag it.
And the studio discussion here just went down the "diddy league referees can't cut it" route due to the blown OS call, well we made it this far at least.
Disagree with those who say it wasnt a foul. It is not the upper body contact, its the lower body contact. And the Bosnian player didnt go down easy, if you watch you can see his right foot kick back into the back of his left calf, and that is what takes him down. That is classic trip.
After watching the replay again, I've changed my mind and you're correct.....it WAS a foul. Originally, I saw the Bosnian defender initiate contact and just thought he got outmuscled past the ball by the stronger and faster Nigerian player. Bosnia's other defenders let up on the play expecting a whistle.
Not an easy call though, and while I think it wrong, its not the sticking point for me in this game... that offside call was a disastrous call.
With 20 mins to go (and bed looming), I think O'Leary has been excellent. He's let the game flow and not been too officious. Good non-FK on the Nigerian goal. 6 of one to me. Sadly Mark Rule, his AR has badly let him down. I hope the next 20 mins go as well as the first 70 and that FIFA don't punish him for his AR's mistake as I'd like to see him again.
Couple bad tackles coming from the Bosnians now. First one should have been a yellow atleast. Good yellow for Mikel.
The officials in this game were poor. Inexcusable blown offsides call by the AR. Blown no-call on Nigeria's goal. 3 minutes of stoppage despite a bunch of time wasting and an injury in injury time.
Stoppage time has been inconsistent throughout the WC so far. Surely there ought to be atleast rough Fifa guidelines on this to the referees ?
Thanks for your service Mr. O'Leary. Please enjoy the remainder of the group stage as the fourth official.
In this case, it may really be accurate. If all he is reffing internationally is Oceania, New Zealand is by far the best team in the region, which he would not be able to ref. That leaves him with possibly A-League games and international tournaments as I dont see him doing Asian confederation games. Oceania was always a borderline confederation, now without Australia it is incredibly small time. There isnt a way for New Caledonia vs. Solomon Islands to prepare you for a WC game.
Except the blown Offside by the AR which was inexcusable and the weird Stoppage time duration bit at the end which is not only down to him(but atleast 30 to 40% so far), thought he did well. Agree with what @Englishref said earlier.