Conference trucks::football;1

    Yeah, I was loathe to criticise the referees in the early stages of
    this World Cup because I think they have as much right as anyone to
    make mistakes. But it really is becoming a farce - the dismissals of
    Zola and the Bulgarian defender last night were just outrageous.
    
    People forget that the World Cup should feature the top referees in the
    world, as well as the top players. Then again, if I think back to the
    referee in this year's F.A. Cup Final...
    
    Dom
    
    P.S. Apologies to all Scottish and Irish noters for the totally
    unnecessary reference to English football in the last paragraph. It
    won't happen again.

    
    The swiss ref wassent home by FIFA last weekend (for missing the
    blantant penalty that Belgium should have had).  I have feeling he
    wasn't the first.
    
    Will there be enough referees left for the semi-finals ?
    
    
    N.

    Players can be subbed, why not referees!?

    
    Who's the ref for the final ????
    
    At this rate it could be Les Motram....

    I have to agree with .1. At the start I think the use of the yellow
    card/red card to stop tackles from behind, shirt pulling etc was
    helping the game and allowing skill to triumph. Admittedly some of the
    bookings were over the top but the general idea was OK and this was
    (and still is) the cleanest WC for decades. However last night the refs
    went TOO FAR and certainly destroyed the Mexico - Bulgaria game. You
    have to feel sympathy for the Bulgar right back - booked twice and sent
    of for the crime of being on the pitch (I didn't see much to warrant a
    foul let alone a booking) and also had a penalty awarded againt him for
    nothing. The Mexican sent of also did little to receive such
    punishment. The Italian despatched was also a victim of a non event and
    Nigerian acting. Watching the second half of the Mexico - Bulgaria
    match all I felt was depressed.
    
    Its also giving the players the opportunity to try and manipulate the
    ref to a greater extent by magnifying any physical contact and
    requesting bookings for the opposition - the booking of Bebeto for this
    was a forwrd step and should be repeated.
    
    I also have sympathy for the Swiss ref sent home. He had no chance of
    being close to the incident after a 40 yard through ball (He was level
    with the player who made the pass) and did not have a clear view. The
    lineman was probably more at fault for not flagging for the foul (this
    is probably against FIFA directives). His crime was probably admitting
    it should have been a penalty (I assume after seeing replays). It is
    interesting to note that the two refs sent home have been punished for
    decisions they did not give rather than any bad decisions made. FIFA
    beleive the ref is always right provide he applies FIFAs directives to
    the letter and FIFA don't make mistakes - I hope these sendings off are
    corrected on Video evidence but this would be an impossible loss of face
    for Blatter et al.
    
    Gareth
    
    P.S what odds a seven a side final or are squads to be increased to 40
    for the next WC. 

 ��   The swiss ref wassent home by FIFA last weekend (for missing the
 ��   penalty that Belgium should have had). 

This is Eric Cantona friend from the game in Turkey, so Eric was right all
along. :-)

�@

    
    Re.3
    
    Jim,
       subbing the refs is a bad idea.You just have to look at the bother
    Spurs got into for doing this.
    					;>)

    
    Well, my view is that referrees have to be consistent. You need to sort
    out early in the match what is going to go and what isn't, then adjust.
    
    There have been lots of flagrant fouls, like tackles from behind, with no 
    clear intent to get the ball, that have drawn cards, as they should have
    done. 
    
    I do agree that the Mexico-Bulgaria match was too tightly called, but
    overall, with a few very notable exceptions, the referring has not been
    that bad, especially considering the pressure they are under. The
    television replays have largely vindicated the referrees.
    
    Mike

    
    There have been a few replays that have shown referrees to be correct,
    but generally the referrees have been cr*p.
    
    Tackles with no malicious intent have been warranting bookings instead
    of a stiff telling off,or is the language barrier a problem?
    
    Let`s hope FIFA cancel the suspensions that would come with Zola and
    the Bulgarian full backs sendings off.I`m still trying to work out
    why the Bulgarian was sent off.
    
    Davie

    Davie,
    
    I caught part of a radio report this morning and the situation  
    as I understand it is Leonardo's got a 4 match ban and the Italian and
    the Bulgar got 2 match bans.  So FIFA decided they were all in the
    wrong.
    
    ... and the referees involved won't be taking any further part in the
    competition so FIFA decided they must have been wrong too !. 
    
    Its reassuring to know our game is managed by such quality people,
    we've all been saying for a long time that decisions must be
    consistant.
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

    Another thing that struck me about the referee of Italy-Nigeria, who
    many regard as being the worst in this World Cup:
    
    He refused two Italian penalty appeals in the second half, and indeed
    booked Signori for diving. However, He also responded to Dino Baggio's 
    penalty appeal by indicating that he thought it was a dive on Baggio's
    part (so did I, come to that!). But Baggio didn't get a booking.
    
    Does this suggest that the quality of the dive is used as the criterion
    for deciding whether a booking is due in these situations? ;-)
    
    Dom

  I was at the Italy-Nigeria game and witnesed Zola's "foul".  I also 
  recorded the game at home.

  I have viewed the play repeatedly and in slow motion.  Zola was running  
  along with the Nigerian who was dribbling; he jumped in front of the 
  player, landing both feet between the player and the ball he was dribbling.
  The Nigerian ran into Zola with his LEFT leg as Zola was coming down with 
  the ball at (in front of) his feet.  The Nigerian falls over on his back, 
  then grabs his RIGHT leg writhing in pain even as he is hitting the ground.
  THERE WAS NO CONTACT ANYWHERE NEAR THE NIGERIAN'S RIGHT LEG.

  Now, I can understand the referee thinking that there was more contact 
  than actually ocurred; it looks like that at full speed.  I can see his 
  misreading of that into a booking, even though it really wasn't deserved, 
  especially in light of the previous bumping of Zola and the (anticipated) 
  retaliation.  It should never have been a red, however.

  What I CAN'T understand is FIFA not righting this overzealous call by 
  at least admitting it was a questionable call and letting him play in the 
  next game, let alone banning him for two games?  Is this a case of "the ref 
  is ALWAYS right"?  If so, why, when replays are available?

  Clark

FIFA back referees to the hilt unless the referee in question admits that he was
wrong. Hence, as far as I'm aware there's been no action taken against that
champion spoonhead who refereed the Mexico Bulgaria game (and I use the term
refereed very loosely).

Mike

    Re .12
    
    I agree.
    
    Zola is quite innocent. For me, he is the most attractive
    player in this Italy team. Only few minutes...he had to left..