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Brazilian Ref Solid Until Final Quarter-hour

June 12th, 2006 | By: Aaron | 9 Comments »

Everything seemed to be going smoothly for the most part in Italy’s 2 - nil victory over debutants Ghana, but then things got a little nasty towards the end. However, it was a fairly uneventful opening forty-five minutes for the referee as both teams seemed like they came to play.

The caution on DeRossi in the 10th minute for a late tackle on Essien and another for Muntari for ripping down Totti moments after Pirlo’s glorious 40th minute blast were the only notable fouls in a fairly clean opening period.

But things were decidedly different when a Ghanaian player came in late to open the second half and Simon didn’t produce a card. Maybe that was his moment of truth as he set the tone for the players to follow.

In the 59th the Brazilian ref was quick to restore order following a foul and produced his yellow card twice in the next six minutes - first to recently subbed-in Mauro Camoranesi for a stupid challenge from behind and then later to Asamoah Gyan for a late tackle of his own.

For a while he kept things pretty tight, but perhaps it was in the 72nd minute when he didn’t award Gyan a penalty when he embellished a challenge that lit a flame under the Ghanaians. I thought Simon got this one right, but the wheels sort of came off after that.

To me, the player who slid into Iaquinta from behind when he was on a breakaway in the 75th (that was called offside) should at the very least have been cautioned. I wouldn’t even have surprised to have seen the player sent off for something that stupid and dangerous. Even though the play might have been whistled dead, the defender still could have seen red for what he did.

Soon thereafter it was Gyan again appealing for a penalty, but that too would have been an injustice as he once again embellished things. Minutes later a defensive lapse by Sami Kuffour lead to Italy’s second as Iaquinta easily rounded the keeper to make it 2 - nil.

The final stretch was a bit ugly for Simon who could’ve produced a caution in the 86th for a rash challenge on Pirlo’s legs and even another a minute later to Essien for body-blocking a streaking Camoranesi. Shortly thereafter an agitated Iaquinta threw the ball away to earn a booking and then in stoppage time I thought Del Piero was on the wrong end of a couple of decisions as well, seemingly getting elbowed just before the final whistle.

If the Brazilian ref expects to be a part of the latter stages of the tournament he’s going to have to clamp down on reckless and dangerous play in his next outing. We’ll see if he’s up to the challenge…if he gets another chance.

Until tomorrow…

peace,
ac

Tags: Essien, Ghana, Italy, Referees, World Cup

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Comments

By Vittorio | June 12th, 2006 at 11:49 pm

Spot on.

Posted from United States

By owen | June 13th, 2006 at 1:10 am

not sure I agree with you about the PK - but yes about the rest - especially the breakaway - I was surprised there was no card for that. On the PK from behind (where the ref was) it looks like an olympic caliber dive. But from the front you can see the two sliding Italian feet taking the Ghanaian player out completely - certain PK. Give hime the benefit of the doubt because he was in the wrong place but it explains the Ghanaian increase in ferocity (no excuse for that - just understandable). Still thought he was noticably better than the Mexican ref in the England game.

Posted from United States

By June 12: The Daily World Cup Wrap - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | June 13th, 2006 at 1:27 am

[...] For an expert view on the penalty that never was, vist World Cup Blog’s resident referee. [...]

Posted from United States

By Brazilian | June 13th, 2006 at 2:28 am

Great referee the best refreeing so far. Like many, maybe he should have cautioned the player that tackled from behind after the offside call. Apart from that, I thought italy was as pysical as ghana and that’s football. As I suspected italy was constantly provking and the ghanians were nearly caught in it, but the referee wasn’t, he knew what was the game plan was good refreeing.

Posted from United States

By Vittorio | June 13th, 2006 at 4:06 am

I disagree Owen. Yes there were Italian foots in front of the Ghana players feet, but the problem is they didn’t touch! Rather the Ghana player just hopped over them and down, rather than keep running.

Italy was lucky that the Ghana player was just a few inches behind, because it very could have been a foul, but what actually occurred was not a foul.

Posted from United States

By daryl | June 13th, 2006 at 6:44 am

Ref,

Can you answer a question for me please?

Could the referee have sent off the Ghanaian defender (think it was Kuffour) when he tackled Iaquinta from behind in the 75th minute?

Off-side was called so play was stopped, but neither player realised. If it had been open play it looked a certain red (last man and directly from behind) but could the ref have even booked him?

Posted from United States

By Steve Scheibe | June 14th, 2006 at 6:25 am

Aaron,
Keep up the good work. I think most of your evaluations are right on. However, I thought Simon was kind of tentative from the start. The wheels started to go off with the dive and then that nasty tackle from behind after the offside call. It kind of makes me wonder how the communication system is actually working. Did it lead to less eye contact between Simon and Corona? And a slow whistle? Some kind of card should have been out there.

BTW, many in the Brazilian referee community question why Simon got the assignment in the first place given some questionalble games in Brazil and the fact that he definitely was not a star but got his cup in 2002.

Anyhow, keep at it. I am impressed by the good vibe and energy.

As you say, peace.

PS. I thought Archundia was great in Brazil’s game as he did not draw much attention to himself.

Posted from United States

By Josh | June 14th, 2006 at 6:20 pm

Since nobody has answered daryl’s question yet, I’ll take a shot:

Yes, the ref absolutely could have cautioned or sent off the defender (and probably should have). The ball doesn’t have to be in play for cardable offenses to occur. If the ref had shown a red card, the rationale would have been that the tackle was violent and from behind; since play had already stopped, the tackle didn’t deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Posted from United States

By Mike >> My bet on World Cup | July 1st, 2006 at 8:54 pm

My bet on World Cup

[...] Brazil will defeat Germany in the finals with a small 2:1. I said that a few days ago and I’m still pretty sure. … What do you think? [...]

Posted from United States

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