Match #53 - 30 June 2014 - 12:00 EDT - Brasilia Referee: Mark GEIGER (USA) Assistant Referee 1: Sean Mark HURD (USA) Assistant Referee 2: Joe FLETCHER (CAN) Fourth Official: Alireza FAGHANI (IRN) Standby Assistant Referee: Hassan KAMRANIFAR (IRN) This thread is for all pre-match, play-by-play and post-match discussion and analysis of the refereeing team. Per the forum guidelines (http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/welcome-forum-guidelines.2003380/), this thread will be heavily moderated. For more general or partisan discussions of the match, please go to the general Group thread or the individual team forums.
Things like this make me proud to be an American referee. Hats off to Mark and the guys and I hope that they have an error free match. (Or at least just a few tiny ones OUTSIDE of the penalty area).
I thought Geiger might let that contact go after a similar play on the other end. Shut up Efan, Geiger is a saint.
The motion he made perfectly explained why he called it. The French player swept at the Nigerian's legs. That's what made it different from what happened at the other end. Good calls and a good sell.
Watching in Spanish...can't understand the announcers. Thought the contact that caused the injury was more result of the French player slipping.
I wish referees were allowed to card small dissent if the foul was COMPLETELY OBVIOUS. Sometimes I can't believe a player would act surprised. This is not looking like an easy match for Mark.
Yeah on the replay Pogba slipped before contact. At the other the the Nigerian player slipped because of contact. Good call.
May have to start using the spray can to draw a full circle around the ball if they're going to encroach from the side....
His interaction with players is stellar. Doesn't come off like he thinks he has to pound his chest harder than the others, just gives them his view and doesn't engage in debate.
On Fletcher's offside call, think the attacker's right foot is the deciding factor. Replay really close.
The offside line we got on the BBC was not drawn correctly, but the call still looked correct. By a hair.
I assume we saw the same line on ESPN. The call was so close that I couldn't tell. I'm going to have to see the replay a few more times.
FIFA will soon mandate that every stadium have lasers to automatically mark the 10 yards circle (and draw the off-side line for the entire stadium).....