General Assignments Discussion

Discussion in 'World Cup 2026 - Refereeing' started by MassachusettsRef, Jun 8, 2026.

Page 35 of 46
  1. balu

    balu Member+

    Oct 18, 2013
    #851 balu, Jul 11, 2026
    I get your criticism for Daily Mirror and Clattenburg, but...

    Isn't this article correct though? I realize it's basic knowledge for many of us here, but surely a lot of people out there don't know it.

    Yes, but that was basically due to his own choice. I don't think we should use it to discredit him or pretend that he wasn't a top referee.
     
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  2. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #852 MassachusettsRef, Jul 11, 2026
    No, and I'm sorry I have to go line by line here, but, I'm quite surprised you're defending this.

    1) FIFA hasn't "banned" anyone. That's clickbait headline.
    2) FIFA hasn't "confirmed" this because no one at the Mirror is doing the journalism to ask the question and FIFA would not confirm this. You think someone with any knowledge at FIFA confirmed to the Mirror that Oliver won't ref the final due to the Falklands War? We're better than that.
    3) "Of course" the most significant factor is collective performance? Uh, maybe, but then there's Tantashev. And when/if we see Marciniak and Ramos, it will be reputation. Even this throwaway line is just made up.
    4) "Despite this, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the 1982 Falklands War is a factor when appointing a referee." Tying this to point #2... who? Who in FIFA said this? They don't even say "on background." They're just making this up. It seems a blatant lie. Particularly because...
    5) We know this is false: "As such, an English official would not be permitted to take charge of an Argentina game nor a game which has a direct next-game consequence for Argentina, and vice-versa." Elizondo already refereed England 20 years ago. And we're saying a 44 year old conflict leads to a rule today that was not enforced 20 years ago?

    This is clickbait through and through. Elements of it has truth and some of the conclusions that they draw are similar to ones we speculate about here. But it's masquerading as actual journalism and based on what appear to be some pretty obvious lies. It also omits at least one important fact that should be well-known for someone trying to cover this "story."

    Maybe. Have you ever seen this clip?

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3fOi5cj8ZS0

    I've come to the conclusion over the years that Clattenburg is a bit of a pompous idiot, at least off-the-field. There were always signs of this during his career, of course. And I've heard from people who attended FIFA events with him that he is not, let's say, the most collegial fellow. As a commentator, he might be our British Dr. Joe but with 30 years and more referee pedigree on his side. Regardless, the guy goes off about why he would never referee the WC Final without even speaking about the fact that he didn't even go to a World Cup. Maybe the longer clip ties it together and suggests he didn't go to a World Cup because he knew he couldn't get the final. But if that were actually true (and I don't think it is)... A) what a pompous jackass and B) he hung his ARs that cycle out to dry for his own ego.

    I thought Clattenburg was a very good referee and sometimes he has funny or useful insight. But the more I hear about him, the less I like. I'm using his lack of World Cup attendance to discredit any idea that he has truly useful insight into the process. He's suggesting Mariani, at least indirectly, for the final! He deserves to be mocked.
     
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  3. Mikael_Referee

    Mikael_Referee Member+

    Jun 16, 2019
    England
    #853 Mikael_Referee, Jul 11, 2026
    Screenshot 2026-07-11 at 16.14.19.jpg
    Screenshot 2026-07-11 at 16.15.20.jpg
     
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  4. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #854 MassachusettsRef, Jul 11, 2026
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2026
  5. balu

    balu Member+

    Oct 18, 2013
    #855 balu, Jul 11, 2026
    Agree about the (lack of) quality of journalism, but unfortunately it's not surprising these days, and certainly not limited to Daily Mirror. I still think it's interesting to point out this issue to the public.

    Sure, opinions about Clattenburg can (and certainly do!) vary. But given who he is, I think what he says isn't worth less than some rumors/predictions from some Arabic X account that you quoted.

     
  6. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #856 MassachusettsRef, Jul 11, 2026
    I put that guy adjacent to ArbitroInternacional territory. He seems plugged into AFC in a similar manner to the way AI is with CONMBEBOL. On assigning and the active FIFA machinations, I would put much more stock in what he says than Clattenburg.

    Actual officiating is obviously a different story.
     
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  7. Pierre Head

    Pierre Head Member+

    Dec 24, 2005
    #857 Pierre Head, Jul 11, 2026
    True but not as many Olympics or other top tournaments and games!.
    However all of it applies to Dr. Joe!

    PH
     
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  8. Twotone Jones

    Twotone Jones Member

    United States
    Apr 12, 2023
    #858 Twotone Jones, Jul 11, 2026
    You dug deep into the bag for this one. Respect!!!
    *where's the gif with the kid flippin his hat when you need it?
     
  9. code1390

    code1390 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 25, 2007
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #859 code1390, Jul 11, 2026
    Assuming Argentina wins, I'm wondering if there will be a total shock somewhere in the SF/F assignments. I suppose someone will be shocked. The Law 5 guys thought it was absurd when I suggested Ramos.
     
  10. code1390

    code1390 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 25, 2007
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #860 code1390, Jul 11, 2026
    Are we 100% sure to rule out the 2026 final? I'm joking of course.

    Or am I?
     
  11. Twotone Jones

    Twotone Jones Member

    United States
    Apr 12, 2023
    #861 Twotone Jones, Jul 11, 2026
  12. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #862 RefIADad, Jul 12, 2026
    Who I think will get the last three consequential matches:

    France-Spain: Sampaio
    England-Argentina: Marcinisk
    Final: Ramos

    Who I think SHOULD get the last three matches:

    France-Spain:Eskas
    England-Argentina:Marciniak
    Final: Barton

    I just don’t see any outcome where Ramos doesn’t get the whistle for the final.
     
  13. soccerref69420

    soccerref69420 Member+

    President of the Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz fan cub
    Mar 14, 2020
    Nat'l Team:
    Korea DPR
    #863 soccerref69420, Jul 12, 2026
    Oh Lord who art in Heaven, please put Marciniak on France-Spain and Ivan Barton on Argentina-England. Please GOD put Barton on Argentina-England.
     
  14. mathguy ref

    mathguy ref Member+

    Nov 15, 2016
    TX
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    #864 mathguy ref, Jul 12, 2026
    Whoever gets ENG-ARG needs to be the most experienced referee that can be put on a WC SF. That match needs someone who has seen it all and who the players respect.
     
  15. StarTime

    StarTime Member+

    United States
    Oct 18, 2020
    #865 StarTime, Jul 12, 2026
    I think the semifinal appointments almost write themselves:

    FRA-ESP: Marciniak
    ENG-ARG: Ramos (I wish Barton but we can’t always get what we want…)

    Then the final is probably Sampaio or Faghani. I want Faghani but I think it’ll be Sampaio.

    Maybe it’s Sampaio if England wins and Faghani if Argentina does? I hate to put that into writing because it doesn’t seem fair. The Final should go to the most deserving referee regardless of what the teams have to say about it. But I’ll lock that in as my prediction.
     
  16. mathguy ref

    mathguy ref Member+

    Nov 15, 2016
    TX
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    #866 mathguy ref, Jul 12, 2026
    If Argentina wins their SF there is no chance Sampaio gets the final.
     
  17. balu

    balu Member+

    Oct 18, 2013
    #867 balu, Jul 12, 2026
    I'm (almost) sure it can't and won't be Barton for Argentina - England. Even Ramos might not be a "big" enough name for that match-up. Hard to see it being anyone other than Marciniak. But stranger things have happened, I suppose...
     
  18. RedStar91

    RedStar91 Member+

    Sep 7, 2011
    Club:
    FK Crvena Zvezda Beograd
    #868 RedStar91, Jul 12, 2026
    Why was Elfath a plausible World Cup Final candidate in 2022 and now, seemingly, zero chance of getting it?

    It seems like no chance for him to get it.

    Anyone know why?
     
  19. frankieboylampard

    frankieboylampard Member+

    Mar 7, 2016
    USA
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    #869 frankieboylampard, Jul 12, 2026
    I mean, tbh, his movement has been great (imo). I wonder how much of the sum of his work plays. Lastly, I'll say there may be some optics of giving Final to a host nation, after the Balogun red card situation that, honestly, FIFA would try to avoid putting an American referee in that situation.

    But in the same light i can see FIFA doubling down. idk how protective they would be even with their own image after all the shenanigans.
     
  20. MassachusettsRef

    MassachusettsRef Moderator
    Staff Member

    Apr 30, 2001
    Washington, DC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #870 MassachusettsRef, Jul 12, 2026
    England-Argentina has to be Marciniak. I’ve said that for two rounds. You don’t give Ramos the harder game here. At least, you shouldn’t. It’s potentially a generational match. You give it to the former WC Final referee. Not the guy who couldn’t get positive reviews at the CWC last summer.
     
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  21. Advantage

    Advantage Member

    Apr 25, 2022
    #871 Advantage, Jul 12, 2026
    FIFA does not strike me as an organization that cares at all about their own image in this regard.

    The entire Balogun situation is just another in a long, long list of FIFA controversies. There are many who will remember it for a long time specifically because they already have a grudge against the US, but for FIFA it is really just business as usual. A lot of people have already moved on to complaining about Argentina.

    As for myself, today I feel Qatari
     
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  22. RefIADad

    RefIADad Member+

    United States
    Aug 18, 2017
    Des Moines, IA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #872 RefIADad, Jul 12, 2026
    Which is why he also shouldn’t even be considered for the Final, even though I think he’ll get it.

    Maybe this is the whole “Premier League fans don’t like Oliver” thing, but I simply do not think Ramos is a good official. I’ve never watched one of his games and walked away thinking, “Man, he really nailed that one.”
    He’s a slightly better Escobar, which isn’t exactly high praise in my book.
     
  23. balu

    balu Member+

    Oct 18, 2013
    #873 balu, Jul 12, 2026
    I asked this earlier but no one replied; since I'm still curious, I'll ask again. What, if anything, went wrong for Penso that she didn't end up getting a knockout match when it looked nailed-on?
     
  24. ColoradoRef

    ColoradoRef Member

    Jul 10, 2011
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #874 ColoradoRef, Jul 12, 2026
    Two VAR interventions in that match?
     
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  25. uuaww

    uuaww Member+

    Nov 21, 2007
    New Orleans, LA
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #875 uuaww, Jul 12, 2026
    But wouldn't you rather have Barton on it?
     
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