So what can we do to avoid these ugly matches in the future? First of all, apparently neither team was confident that their soccer skills would bring them victory, hence they resorted to violence. I think the ref should have had a word with v. Bommel before showing him a card. But players and coaches are not stupid: they know the rules and when they choose to ignore them after already receiving 14 cards, it serves them right to receive yet another one. Perhaps coaches or famous players can insist more on fair play?

John Harkes here in the US pointed out whether or not Ivanov was fluent enough to communicate with the Dutch and Portuguese players. That’s a good point. The refs were all supposed to know English, but that didn’t necessarily make him comfortable communicating with people in Dutch and Portuguese. I agree he shuld have done a better job communicating with the players using methods other than flashing cards. But he may not have felt comfortable using verbal communication with teams from countries that have very challenging languages to learn…

I’m a huge POR fan, was also a dutch football “friend”, as I live in HOL, have dutch friends and both teams play quite good and attractive football.

This was nasty and it disgusted me how it all went, mostly from the dutch and dutch TV and etc, to build up a wrong image of my country, that’ll of course be used by all enemies – Parreira, BRA’s coach, is already commenting/thriving on it.

But I think you hit the nail, virtually in all the situations the “game” presented, as I remember them, Aaron.

For the sake of honesty, I thank you.

I wish Colina, Anders Frisk, Sandor Pull (remember him?) and other friends would be there… I really do. Those guys didn’t need earphones to see what was going on, nor to show cards to get a grip on things.

Ivanov could have been much harsher. Cocu should have been thrown out with Deco, but somehow throwing a guy down isn’t punishable? Blame the players 1st, managers 2nd, Ref 3rd.

Are you crazy ? At this level the play is far two quick, holding, grabbing too sly for the referee to do three things:

Watch the ball, look for fouls

Watch the offside play develop
at ther same time

Run like hell to the goal line to chase down the play to see if the ball has left the field of play.

You need to understand just how fast this game is at this level!

The dual referee system may work in youth setting but it will never work in professional
games.

MAybe FIFA need to see if they should review the game and sanction players for their actions during a game where unusually unacceptable behavior is exhibited.

As for the notion that this is a terrible way to showcase the sport to youth, the reality is that this is one step short of war. The gravitiy of loss by a ntional team has far reaching consequences to the players and their national pride and internal organization.

The fairytale part of soccer should be left on the U-14 soccer field.

Just look at USA pro sports and the behavior exhibited on TV. It is shameful but it sells, and who is complaining ? The media loves it, thrives on it
and if they could would find a way to provoke it.Players are fined a small fee and it continues.

The sport has to police itself.
It starts with co-operation of the players not the enforcement
by the referees.Poor attitudes
usually result in poor games for
the spectators.

AE

I think it’s pretty clear that it was the Dutch who overwhelmed the system.

When players aren’t even loosely interested in fair play what is ref to do? Cancel the game?