So since Lopez didn't get USA-Panama, my best guess is now: Mexico-Costa Rica - PITTI Canada - Haiti - MARRUFO United States - Curucao - GUERRERO Jamaica - Panama - LOPEZ That allows Barton on one semifinal (Mexico-Canada?) and Bejarano on the other (USA-Jamaica?). Then one of the QF refs does the final, based on both performance and which teams make it.
By the way, since it became the "Gold Cup," the only time a Mexican or American referee did the Final was the first edition--1991--when Brizio Carter had it. Yes, Mexico or the US have always been in the Final other than 2000, but it's only actually been a US-Mexico match 5 out of 14 times, so there have been plenty of opportunities for a Mexican or American referee. In 2000, neither team made the semis. And Mexico didn't make the semis in 2002 or 2005, so those were clear opportunities even if a "semi" rule exists. Makes you wonder if there's an unwritten rule that the Final must go to a lesser country.
Apparently it’s Frank Anderson and Parker with Marrufo. Odd. But the assigning of ARs at Gold Cup has always been odd.
I was so close. All four nationalities and two referees on the right matches. I guess Escobedo was better than Guerrero and López is being saved. The only surprise for me is Escobar is rated highly—I didn’t realize that.
So I have a question. How is it that a US referee cannot work a Mexico match but a Mexican referee can do a US match? I genuinely am curious how CONCACAF politics work regarding assigning.
Marrufo’s dad was a Mexican FIFA referee. The restriction is only on him. Geiger, Vaughn, Stott and Hall have all done México in competitive matches. So will Elfath.
Marrufo definitely doesn’t believe in the concept of a reckless UB card on a penalty. He’s philosophically opposed. That said, he and his team seem to be doing well.
He's just philosophical opposes to yellow cards in general. But who am I to judge. His style works and will get him to two World Cups and another MLS Cup.
Players are practically begging for cards at this 29’ stoppage. When will referees start realizing that giving them will help their case?
I'm really wondering when this shift of, seemingly across the board at all levels, of doing everything in your power to not give cards started to occur? Watching the Copa America, the World Cup, and this and seeing obvious and easy yellow cards ignored or managed just doesn't make for entertaining soccer. It kills the flow of the game and then add on the delay for VAR reviews for disallowed goals just kills the rhythm of soccer and what makes the sport so great.
VAR would really help there, regardless how is there no yellow for DOGSO if penalty? We've gone from an era of seemingly referees giving yellows for any foul in the box to an era of not giving yellow at all?
That’s DOGSO. It’s also outside the penalty area. Interesting. Gutsy call. Mostly correct. But the most important component is wrong.