WC2006 vs. SuperBowl (Referees)

Burninator · 06-26-2006, 02:27 PM

Italy vs. Australia
Portugal vs. Netherlands
Argentina vs. Mexico
Ghana vs. USA
Ukraine vs. Tunisia

...

Pittsburgh Ste(a)lers vs. Seattle Seahawks

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5 badly officiated games vs. 1 badly officiated game...

Any Seattle Seahawks fans in here? Can the refereeing be this bad in the world's most popular sport? I'm having flashbacks to the Superbowl, y'all. My dad, a newish soccer fan, is ready to swear off pro soccer altogether, as am I. This is the first World Cup that I have really followed and it is a joke. Is this a problem that gets worse every year, or is it just a normal part of pro soccer's highest echelons?

How long before we get a 5th official in the TV booth, reviewing every call? How long until we get balls that tell a computer when they have completely crossed the touch or endlines? I can understand a bad call here and there in MLS because compared to UEFA and CONMEBOL, we are nothing. What I have seen in some of these WC2006 games is nothing short of criminal.

I love soccer. I can't play it enough, and I really like to go to RSL games and enjoy a Boca-River superclasico every chance I can get. I'm getting seriously burnt out on the refs, though.

I_Believe_In_Kreis · 06-26-2006, 03:00 PM

Is it really a joke? There have been 5 "bad" games (according to your list) out of 50 played so far. That's 10%. But every Sunday in the NFL there are at least a couple games where questionable officiating decides an outcome. That's around 10% of the games as well. The NBA is no different. But I don't hear anyone giving up basketball or football because of it.

I think everyone needs to back off the WC officials a bit. If you've never reffed before it's hard to understand where I'm coming from, but you've got to remember that soccer is a lot more physical than it used to be, the players are bigger, stronger, faster, and smarter. What's a foul vs. what's not a foul is becoming harder and harder. TV can spend several minutes breaking down a play frame by frame, but a ref has a fraction of a second to decide (and don't even suggest instant replay - it would ruin soccer......there are no natural stoppages where you could squeeze in a review, unlike football where there's 100 seconds of nothing for every 4 seconds of play).

I agree the WC officials haven't been perfect, there have been too many cards, etc. but for god's sake give them a break. They have the world's worst job. I will never ref again simply because even if you call a perfect game, at least half the players/fans hate you. And finally, if there are no refs there is no soccer (or football, or basketball, or baseball, etc.) period.

Burninator · 06-27-2006, 10:00 AM

I guess I just needed to vent. I do think we need a 5th official watching offside and penalty replays however. The players could play through until the 5th official makes his decision (hopefully within 15 seconds or so). We also need the endline/touchline technology that knows when the ball goes out of bounds. 2 referees on the field will help, as well (they are currently playing with this). I guess it's just a matter of time...and therefore, patience. Man, I need some patience. Like, NOW.

Dadof3 · 06-27-2006, 11:27 AM

I would have to argue that the Portugal/Holland game was not badly officiated, it was badly played.

The players should know by now what will and will not be a yellow...holding on the the ball to dalay a restart = yellow...a cynical foul stopping an offensive opportunity = yellow...a dangerous foul = yellow.

I have reviewed all the cards given n that game and found that I only disagree with 1...on Figo weak dive for being unintentionally backhanded.

I applaud what FIFA is trying to do...create the beautiful game...it's too bad so many of the players have been playing negatively for so long that they have forgotten how to play clean.

Burninator · 06-27-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dadof3

I would have to argue that the Portugal/Holland game was not badly officiated, it was badly played.

The players should know by now what will and will not be a yellow...holding on the the ball to dalay a restart = yellow...a cynical foul stopping an offensive opportunity = yellow...a dangerous foul = yellow.

I have reviewed all the cards given n that game and found that I only disagree with 1...on Figo weak dive for being unintentionally backhanded.

I applaud what FIFA is trying to do...create the beautiful game...it's too bad so many of the players have been playing negatively for so long that they have forgotten how to play clean.

What about the foul on Ronaldo? I heard that was pretty heinous (I didn't see it)...I would say the game was badly played first, and not so greatly officiated second. It really was pretty ugly 🙂