Well I'm just engaging in speculation, as lemma points out, but no, it doesn't throw me off. I think Proenca is a candidate and will be stronger by the day, if the Portuguese press gets hold of the idea tomorrow. But I've said Eriksson/Cakir for the Final since the end of the first round, so I stick with Eriksson now. But Geiger seems to be in with a halfway decent shout; there's just no way of knowing if confederational neutrality matters. History says this is Geiger's game. But Busacca hasn't shown he cares about history and other indications say it is Eriksson's game. Proenca, to me, is the wildcard. Hard to say because FIFA data is sparse before 1994*. I'm actually not sure which tournament was the first where 4Os got introduced. Since 1994, the semifinal 4ths... 94: Lamolina (Final 4th); Don (nothing) 98: Al Zaid (Final 4th); Gonzalez (3/4 whistle) 02: Hall (nothing); Veissiere (nothing) 06: Kamikawa (3/4 whistle); Shield (nothing) 10: De Bleeckere (nothing); Nishimura (Final 4th) So, for the last 10 guys who were 4th on a WC semi, the most common appointment is nothing. The second most common appointment is 4O on the Final (even though RedStar said above no one has ever worked a semi and a final in any capacity). But a whistle on the Final has never happened--even though a whistle on 3/4 has. Another interesting statistic... since 1994, the final four CR/4O slots have broken down: 2010: UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF, CONCACAF 2006: CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, CAF 2002: UEFA, UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF 1998: CAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, UEFA 1994: UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, CAF In other words, these assignments get spread around. The only duplication has been on the 3/4 playoff, where Rodriguez supported Archundia in 2010 and on the 2002 Final, where a big huff had been made about using UEFA refs and Dallas was 4th to Collina. Otherwise, there is diversity. Given Rodriguez has already worked the 3/4 playoff, I think that bodes well for Geiger getting some appointment. I think he's 4th on the Final, honestly. Eriksson or Proenca with the whistle. Haimoudi/Irmatov on the 3/4 playoff in some combination. *I've heard someone claim Vinnie Mauro was 4th on a semi... anyone know if that is true? I know he was linesman on a R16 and QF--and the Opener.
My understanding is English IS the language of the tournament. All refs have to pass a fluency exam, written and verbal, instruction is in English as well. Any other language might be a debate point (Klinsman and his French language comment for example), but ALL refs speak English very well, supposedly.
Stat comparison for knockout stages through 14 games: 2010 Yellows: 49 Reds: 3 Penalties: 5 2014 Yellows: 50 Reds: 1 Penalties: 2 The statistics have come back to earth some, with there actually being more yellows in this tournament for knockout matches. That's interesting, because I remember 2010 as being a lot more physical. Of course, 2010 was helped out by a couple very low (and one no-) card games. And 2014 has two games (BRA/CHI and CRC/GRE) that had more cards than any knockout match in 2010--save the Final. And, yes, the final tally for 2010 ended up being 67 yellows and 4 reds. So 2014 has a lot of work to do to match the final numbers.
Last time they were announced on the Thursday, together. Seems like the 3/4 ref team would have to learn about their assignment last night, to adequately prepare and go through the right training. Final team would need to learn tonight at the latest. Wild speculation but I would think splitting the difference and telling everyone at some point today would be the sensible route. Just really a question of when the announcement is or when information starts to leak. But I'd guess we have a decent idea of who is doing what by late tonight, if not in a few hours.
Sam Borden @SamBorden 1h In case you're wondering, the referee for the World Cup final will be announced at 3 pm local time in Rio tomorrow.
Interesting, but I bet we learn before then. They absolutely have to give the referee crew for the 3/4 Final more than 24 hours to prepare.
Something I just noticed...why in the world would FIFA keep Carballo on the "short list" for the final (aka, the refs that have stayed past QFs)? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. What am I missing?
An attempt to make sure more media attention wasn't drawn to the Neymar injury? The stories were just subsiding when the list was announced--and the list was barely noticed in the media. But if the "Neymar ref" got "sent home," that's another 24-48 hours of stories. Political bone to Spain, as they used to run the Referees Committee? Some combination of the two?
You sure have the politics of this stuff figured out well. Maybe you should apply for a job with the FIFA's public relations department
Starting to see social media buzz that Eriksson has the Final. A esta hora, todo indica que el sueco Jonas Eriksson será el árbitro de la final #ARG vs #GER— Armando Castilla (@csarmando) July 10, 2014 Multimillonario sueco, Jonas Eriksson será el árbitro de la final Argentina vs Alemania.— Gean Carlos (@DikeyCarlos) July 10, 2014 Of course, no sourcing yet--but there really can't be until tomorrow at 3pm. So take this as you will.
Haimoudi for the 3/4 playoff whistle. And apparently Argentinian press is running with Eriksson as the whistle for the Final.
Haimoudi/Nishimura confirmed for 3/4 playoff. If the Eriksson rumor is true, I think that bodes well for Geiger having the 4th.
Twitter is in full-blown "it's Eriksson" mode. Of course, rumors fuel rumors. But there don't seem to be any competing rumors at this point. Earlier tweets about Irmatov having it all came from his area of the world. Rizzoli is the only other name I'm seeing out there, but it's much more speculative/conditional. All signs point to Eriksson.
...so what you're saying is each of us need to work to create a massive network of retweets to take over Twitter with the news that Geiger has the final?
Ha. Well it seems to be what the Uzbeks tried! Though "massive" is relative. The Eriksson "news" is coming from a lot of different quarters and is being pushed by people who have been right before. Plus some of the same people who pushed Eriksson were then able to confirm Haimoudi. But we have been surprised before...
I expect Ricci would a good candidate for the 4th. Got to give Brazil something, it's their party! PH
Major Swedish sports daily now running with the news that Eriksson has the Final, though it uses "several South American journalists" as its main source: http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotbollsvm/uppgift-eriksson-blir-domare-i-vm-finalen/
Bummer. I was really hoping for Geiger, like many of us. Maybe we will be surprised tomorrow, but it certainly doesn't look good. He was really close though. A great showing.
I think Argentina is 100% happy to have a high level UEFA ref that does CL matches. When you consider where Argentina players play, Erikkson will have practically the similar experience levels with both teams players. So is the nature of global football.