Match 1: MEX : RSA - SAMPAIO (BRA)

kinda surprised he's back. Has he improved at all since last time?

 

I maybe a bit bitter, but I thought he was terrible in the QF 4 years ago.

 

Oh god, are these the new FIFA ref uniforms? I haven't been watching in a while. These are uggggly.

 

Early I. We see the 5 second count on a Mexico FT

 

First YC in the books. 17th minute.

 

Very weak yellow against Mexico

 

And....the first in-game ads in FIFA history. Ugh.

 

Sadly, I'm not surprised. I was watching USL League One (3rd division) on ESPN the other day and DURING LIVE PLAY in the middle of field, there was a full-screen ad. I wish I was kidding.

 

Surprised he used that so early in the game when tied 0-0. No one asking for a delay call then. Even just now late in the first half up 1-0. No one’s asking for it. Save it for when losing team is asking for it. That would mostly be my plan when utilizing it

 

The norm in the old NASL (on the rare televised games) was to just cut away from the game for commercials. “And while we were away . . . “

I thought Fox had originally said they wouldn’t run commercials during the hydration breaks. Is that my imagination?

 

Was it ABC that used to overlay one-color graphics on the bottom of the screen during play? Talking many years ago.

 

Yeah this'll be the first time these laws are enforced right? So finding some opportunities early and often to get it in front of all the teams (and fans) is probably the way they want to go

 

My big concern with the corner kick thing is that the whole "the VAR can intervene if he can do so immediately without interrupting play" idea will gradually expand to longer and longer delays every time until its essentially a regular "delay" from the VAR.

 

I would guess that is exactly what FIFA wants—faster restarts throughout the game to keep the ball in play. I don’t think it is just about unsporting delays.

 

like they just stopped showing the game and showed an ad instead???

Because "showing ads during the game by making the match slightly smaller and playing ads on the left and bottom borders" has been common in lower and poorer leagues around the globe for awhile now. So if it's just that, "meh", but if they're actually cutting away from action to show a full screen ad, that's horrible.

Of course, both are unacceptable for a World Cup match.

And all this said, I saw reports on bsky that Fox was the only NA broadcaster to cut to ads, Telemundo and TSN supposedly showed replays and did commentary.

 

as much as I’m happy to bash VAR, I don’t think this is a real concern. Who was it off decisions that aren’t quick to see on replay are pretty rare.