Comments on: Amarilla Alright, Larrionda Better, Elizondo’s Assistant Correct, American Announcers Awful

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 04:21:30 +0000

Mick, first off, I think Carlos Amarilla is a “real” referee.

Second, the dual system has a major drawback. Regardless of how much coverage is increased by referees with whistles, the system breaks down if the referees fail to exhibit the same degree of discipline for the game. If one referee is calling things “tight” and the other is allowing a more physical style of play, invariably the players get very frustrated and turn on one or both officials.

Having officiated numerous matches using the dual system, I absolutely hate it. I’m always the disciplinarian, and the players always start screaming at me when my partner refuses to call things or punish misconduct appropriately. I can assure you such a system causes almost more trouble than the problems it supposedly solves.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 03:13:20 +0000

Whilst I have not played soccer at any notable level, I have had national experience (player) and league experience (umpire/referee)in field and indoor hockey where the dual system has been used for many years with great success – it might not totally cut out errors, but it sure minimises the chances of repeating the blunders we’ve seen in this World Cup.

By: Willard

Willard — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:31:52 +0000

Seamus: 12 years as an official plus a Division One college player.

The best evidence to support my contentions about the superiority of the Dual System is the Portugal-Netherlands game with 16 yellows. If ever there was a game where the Lone Ranger in the middle needed the support of a real referee as a colleague, that was the game. (See my comment after Aaron’s review).

In Ukraine-Tunisia, how can you argue that an additional referee, facing Shevchenko when he took his dive/stumble, would not have been better?

By: JoeBoo

JoeBoo — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 03:19:11 +0000

their (not there) ridiculousness

By: JoeBoo

JoeBoo — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 03:18:02 +0000

Aaron, most of your comments are spot-on. However, as Michael stated previously, Tommy Smyth did know the rule about the offsides in the Korea game. He specifically spoke about it while indicating that he believed the ball was merely deflected by the defender and not played back. The announcers for the U.S. telecasts are bad enough that there is certainly no need to embellish in order to point out there ridiculousness.

By: Seamus

Seamus — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:55:21 +0000

Nick M: My sincere apologies for earlier comments to you, which should have been directed to Mick.

Cheers!

By: Seamus

Seamus — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:51:34 +0000

Nick M: My sincere apologies for comments which should have been directed towards Mick.

Cheers!

By: Seamus

Seamus — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 02:47:46 +0000

Nick, M: Your comments regarding the dual system of control are laughable! You have obviously neither played not refereed in a substantial way. Thanks anyway for the comic relief

Aaron, thank you very much for an otherwise GREAT web site and for your well informed, interesting and insightful commentaries.

Cheers!

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:36:54 +0000

I’ve now heard Balboa protest that the ref ought to be “taking the guy aside and giving him a verbal warning” in at least three games, USA v Italy, France v Togo and Germany v Sweden.

In two of the casess, the player already had a yellow card, and Balboa makes this explicit: “the guy’s already got a yellow card. Take him aside and warn him that next time it’s going to be a red”.

That has to be a display of the worst understanding of the purpose of a yellow card by any comentator I’ve ever heard.

By: PureMuscle

PureMuscle — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:36:42 +0000

That was a great piece Aaron. Great call on that offside, he was not in an offside position when the ball was last touched by a MEMBER OF HIS OWN TEAM.

Sadly the Referee will most likley not be a candidate for the finals in Berlin. Each referee works in a team with two assistants for the entire world cup. The mistake of any member of the trio (ie. AR in this case) effects the entire teams chances of further advancement. This is why some ref’s and Ar’s were sent home when one member of the trio failed the fitness test.