Match 63: BEL : ENG - FAGHANI (IRN)

I guess with Faghani the CR and Geiger the VAR assistant referee, FIFA is trying to do its part to keep more diplomatic communications between Iran and the US open

 

Marrufo was Faghani’s fourth official on Serbia-Brazil.

 

6 different nations on the ref team.

Nice to see Mark there.

 

Ref! You can't blow time on a corner kick!

 

Blowing for half time before the corner kick. Very interesting. Now I can point to that when I do it.

 

Belgium took that better than any time I’ve done that. And we have strict clock time games.

 

Faghani explaining to Kompany that 1) it's a 3/4 game and 2) he's not getting paid by the minute.

 

It says a lot about the game when the first post is about the half time whistle.

 

Socks!

 

Wait what was that sock thing, I heard the s-word but was not looking

 

One of the England players is wearing socks that, though the base color is the same, has a design not like his teammates.

 

Ok thanks saw those at start of 2H

 

Is it just me or (so far) has this been one of the easiest games of the Cup to referee?

 

Because, you know, it's a friendly.

 

Yes—though I don’t t
Know that friendlies are always friendly or easy. Seems 3/4 games can take a variety of different paths. This one has taken the “just play” path.

 

I hate how Trippier is being pronounced

 

Belgium apparently doesn’t think so. That was a great save.

 

Which time? I've heard it about 5 different ways from the same announcer LOL.

 

Good point. It's like an American copy of an English vocalization of a French pronunciation that the player might not even use. I thought he pronounced the R. But what do I know...

 

Not a good miss there by Faghani on Loftus-Cheek being fouled

 

Huh ... was that the first DRS caution in this WC?

 

And nary a peep from the rules expert. That is a won for all.