News is reporting Marta is only out for one game. Is Olympics only suspending for one game for SFP, which I assume was the basis for the send off?
Well I would have never predicted either of those. I guess that means Abatti has a medal match—probably gold. I wonder if one of the European men now slot over to the women’s side. Of course, doing that without reciprocating wouldn’t look great. Penso on bronze men’s and Letexier on bronze women’s?
Post-match Globo reported that it's still unknown whether Marta will be suspended for one match or more. But I do see ESPN saying she will be back from suspension against Spain. I'd trust Globo over ESPN for now. EDIT: And now it looks like Brazilian outlets are reporting Marta will miss two matches and only be able to play in the medal match.
Paraguayan player who was sent off against Japan by Letexier for SFP (same offence as Marta) in the opening game was only eligible to return in the quarterfinal; ie. he was suspended for two matches.
The other issue, of course, is getting replays from the world feed. I would've liked a second look. I don't think Horan's first shot on goal should've counted, though that matters only for stat-keeping -- like when Kasey Keller wasn't credited with a brilliant save because the officials didn't see the ball hit his glove and awarded a goal kick. I'd think Mexico would've had more of a complaint than Keller did. If Horan's shot had gone in, I'm sure VAR would've taken a close look, of course.
Surely they'll give the French referee the women's gold medal match in France with no French teams remaining in the competition. Confederation neutrality be damned. Can there be a conflict if it's USA v. Spain? Doubtful since that's the 2 best teams remaining and he's the "best" referee remaining No problem if it's USA v Brazil. European ref works fine here. None if Germany and Spain play. No conflict right? Germany and Brazil? Maybe but that's a reach. @MassachusettsRef does Kharboubi slot in somewhere in the medal round? She seems like a good option to get a medal-round assignment to a CAF referee in a bronze medal match.
So lets take that to the first PK Morocco got. So you think Harriel should be thinking well crap I better not try and play the ball because a guy might come in from the side and get his leg over the top of mine and I might get called for a foul. So I'll just stand here and watch the ball. Gotcha.....LOL
Funny, I was laughing as I read your argument. Harriel should be thinking "if I'm going to take a full swing to clear the ball 40 yards downfield in my defensive penalty area, I better be damn sure no one puts themselves between me and the ball while I do so." He had other ways to attempt to play the ball there. The idea that he would just stand there and watch the ball is a red herring. He chose a certain route. And maybe it's a good route or the right route if he does it cleanly. But it's a foul if he doesn't. I don't understand the alternative argument. He has a right to do whatever he wants once he decides to do it and if things change or get in the way it's "too bad, no foul?"
Oh, wow, you got me! One case proves that a concept is wrong. Yes, the plural of anecdote is data! Silly me! Thank you Big Soccer for the ignore feature.
I don't think that's sure at all. To start, he doesn't necessarily need it after the summer he's had. And Eskas and Nyberg have both been good. So he's not the only option. Plus if you put a male on that match, how do you not reciprocate? And breaking confederational neutrality is still a thing here. My guess is that it's Welch or Oloffson if it's an all-UEFA or non-UEFA affair. If it's not... maybe Garcia? Maybe. I have no idea how FIFA is going to handle these semis, but I guess we'll find out soon. Yamashita seems a given on one, despite not deserving it. Garcia is possible on Brazil-Spain if she's not tapped for a medal match. I guess Karboubi is the alternative. But, again, that's only if neutrality isn't broken. One argument would be to put Penso and Alves on the semis and ignore the (typical) "if your team is in the semis, you don't ref" rule. I don't see it happening, but plenty of stuff has been happening recently that I haven't seen so it's worth considering.
Garcia just had the Spain - Colombia QF that even went to penalties. I doubt she'll be assigned to Spain again so soon.
Yes Letexier did have a big Euro but Marciniak had the World Cup Final and the Champions League Final within 6 months of each other. Letexier may not NEED it but I can't see him being done. Maybe he'll get the men's game that France doesn't make (Gold or Bronze). But if he gets a men's game, then that's one less opportunity for Penso to get a men's game also. I think I'll just be on board with assigning norms today aren't the norms as yesterday so playing the guessing game is more throwing darts these days.
Confederational neutrality has not been broken at the Olympics on the men's side in a KO match since before the tournament went to U23s in 1992 (I think the same applies for group stage, but haven't done the full research). It would seem Letexier is not working the men's side unless it's all-UEFA or all non-UEFA. And even then, it seems pretty obvious Abatti has the gold medal match at the moment. Also, FIFA doesn't care about what UEFA does. Marciniak got those two matches because he was lined up for the WC Final, crushed it, and was the obvious "next up" in Europe. None of that applies here. And Eskas and Nyberg have appeared to have very good tournaments, too. If the French team had fallen short, sure, Letexier would have been a good and obvious choice for the medal round. I think Abatti has a medal match--probably gold. I would bet Penso has the other match but maybe I've been too consumed with the idea she must work the men's side (though if she doesn't, it all looks a little weird given who did crossover). If it's not her... Fischer? Falcon? A UEFA referee if it's feasible on matchups? I would say Beida but that is now tough and not really necessary politically even if it becomes viable. I mean, the options are pretty limited with a strict adherence to confederational neutrality.
United States : Germany - KARBOUBI (MAR) Brazil : Spain - WELCH (ENG) So Karboubi confirmed. Welch breaks confederational neutrality (but it was already broken with Eskas on the women's side). Yamashita is 4th to Welch. If Yamashita does not get a medal match, I will be pleasantly surprised that the performance principle was upheld. Now, if she instead is being held for one of them... I will say this does now set up for a European male crossing over for a medal match if Penso crosses the other way.
We have a midgame (early-game, actually) change of referee in Morocco-Spain due to injury. A player tumbled into the center ref's legs, and he's clearly not moving well. He gingerly walks to the sideline and starts exchanging equipment with the 4O.
Rebecca Welch is the 4O now. I assume she was in the stadium watching since she has the women's game there tomorrow. Edit: MassRef beat me to it
Unfortunately I think it's because they wouldn't be supported by their bosses at the professional level if they refereed in that manner consistently.