Westin’ away again in Margheritaville: McKennie at Juventus

A shame that the referee ruined the game.

 

VAR doesn’t review second yellows anywhere in the world.

 

Yeah, I just heard this on Radio Sportiva from Italy but they also said that FIFA may start review second yellows when the World Cup tournament begins this summer.

 

They should and every review should have a time limit. If it takes more time than the limit go with ref's call on the field.

 

I know there is time constraints but there are also millions at stake between relegation and qualifying for the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues.

If one call goes bad and a team gets relegated or doesn't qualify for an UEFA competition, that club can end up devastated.

That was the main reasons the VAR weas invented.

 

Two assists in a 2-3 loss to the Champs away.... down a man on a bull**** call. Another great day at the office for the current best US player in the world.

 

2 assists? Damn. He's steadily having the best season of his career.

 

7/6 G/A in all comps right now. And that's after a slow start. If he keeps up his current form he will get to 10+/10+ G/A. And he is doing it against good competition. He has scored in 3 straight CL games. Most of the rest of our YA O prime players are in a rut... man o man do we need Wes to finish strong and bring that form to the WC.

 

I hate to be that guy, but if USMNT history is anything to go by, and after a run like this, he's gonna get injured just before the World Cup.

 

I sure hope your reverse jinx works so that we don't all have to dox you.

 

No kidding. Yikes. <knock-on-wood>

 

In a contract year! Wes always showing up when it matters

 

And if history is anything to go by he'll be fine the next game day.

 

You must be a blast at parties.

 

Watch (): McKennie’s two assists (Inter vs. Juve, game highlights)

 

ESPN article about the game, diving deeply into that horrific referring decision. Some were doubting in the PBP how bad the call was, but it was so bad it will likely lead to a rule change:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...lish-fa-cup-real-madrid-analysis-gab-marcotti

Some quotes (bold is mine):

Instead, we have to talk about one of the worst refereeing decisions in recent memory and how the system ensured there was no corrective. We have to talk about how several actors in this drama we call Serie A made exceptionally bad decisions, covering themselves in shame. And yes, let's recognize that having done it, they can either make it worse in the next 48 hours or find a way to begin crawling out of the hole they dug themselves.

With 42 minutes gone, Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni intercepted a pass and powered forward. As he passed Pierre Kalulu, the Juve right back extended his arm and brushed against him. It wasn't a tug or a shove -- it was the slightest of contact. Bastoni collapsed to the ground and referee Federico La Penna immediately showed Kalulu -- who had been booked 10 minutes earlier -- a second yellow card, sending him off. Bastoni cheered as if he had scored the winner in a Champions League final.

It was a wretched call, made worse by the fact that La Penna didn't hesitate at all, which means neither of his assistants or the fourth official -- who may have had a better view -- could weigh in. (The VAR, of course, couldn't get involved because it was a second bookable offense: That is likely to change after next month's IFAB meeting, when the laws of the game will be adjusted.)

Juventus ware incensed, and Bastoni's celebration rubbed salt into the wound. Moments later, at halftime, Juventus officials Giorgio Chiellini and Damien Comolli made their way down to the tunnel. They insulted and berated La Penna as he walked off the pitch; Comolli appeared as if he needed to be physically restrained. Juventus then boycotted the postgame news conference and instead sent the two of them to address the media. Chiellini said, "this isn't football." Comolli added: "It's an embarrassment, we lost three points, Italian football lost much more than that."

Postmatch, Inter coach Cristian Chivu commented on the incident, saying: "It's a light touch, but it's a touch ... [Kalulu] is an experienced player, he's already been booked. Don't touch him; don't give the referee the basis to make a decision."

The following day, Gianluca Rocchi, head of the Italian referees, said it was a "terrible mistake," that La Penna was "mortified" and that he will sit out for around a month. But he added: "He's not the only one who did wrong. This was a clear case of simulation. All season long, players have been trying to con referees, and their coaches aren't helping. It's a shame because we're the only ones accountable."

 

It's annoying that it takes an incident to review what has obviously been a shortcoming of the VAR rules. If a red card is reviewable, it doesn't make any sense that a second yellow card leading to a red card isn't reviewable.

 

I don't know what else is reviewable, but Bastoni should serve a multi-match ban for simulation as well.

 

I believe he was already on a yellow too. Imagine the man advantage shifting from Inter to Juve

 

Yes, the ref WAS terrible. See the quote: The following day, Gianluca Rocchi, head of the Italian referees, said it was a "terrible mistake," that La Penna was "mortified" and that he will sit out for around a month.

The ref (La Penna) is embarrassed that he made such a horrible call, and he will not be refereeing for a month. As for Kalulu, no I do not put any blame on him. Brush an opponent with your arm is in no way "enabling" a dive. If that were the case, practically any body movement by a defender could enable a dive. Seems like victim blaming to me. Sorry, but I disagree with you 100% here -- the fault fully likes first with Bastoni for cheating and second with the ref for not doing his job.

 

...in that case, the second yellow should be rescinded against Kalulu, and charged against Bastoni, for simulation. It won't overturn the final score, but it could help in a small way to right a wrong.

 

Also to add to this... immediately after the dive Inter, specifically Bastoni, was arguing for a yellow card to be shown. He made hand gestures and was certainly screaming towards the ref that a card should be given to Kalulu. That in itself is a yellow card offense. Bastoni avoided two yellow cards (diving and urging the ref to give Kalulu a second yellow) and should be disciplined by the league. The ref should also be blamed for not giving anyone arguing for the card a yellow. It's such a disgrace to the game. Not sure why this wasn't also brought up on the article.

The first yellow on Kalulu was also a bad call. It should have been called simply as a foul. It wasn't a yellow.

 

Some players are very good at jobbing the ref, like some people are very good at upselling roofing tiles. It's just one of those things. But there should be some mechanism outside of destroying the flow of the game where players who engage in repeated simulation, etc. get dinged too. With all the camera angles and mics it's reasonable to do.