Please find below the list of selected officials (including Video Assistant Referees) for 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, to be played in USA from 10 July to 1 August.
REFEREES
Drew FISCHER (CAN)
Juan Gabriel CALDERON (CRC)
Ricardo MONTERO (CRC)
Reon RADIX (GRN)
Bryan LOPEZ (GUA)
Mario ESCOBAR (GUA)
Said MARTINEZ (HON)
Selvin BROWN (HON)
Daneon PARCHMENT (JAM)
Oshane NATION (JAM)
Adonai ESCOBEDO (MEX)
Cesar RAMOS (MEX)
Fernando GUERRERO (MEX)
Fernando HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Ismael CORNEJO (SLV)
Ivan BARTON (SLV)
Armando VILLARREAL (USA)
Ismail ELFATH (USA)
Jair MARRUFO (USA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Iroots APPLETON (ATG)
Micheal BARWEGEN (CAN)
Juan Carlos MORA (CRC)
William ARRIETA (CRC)
Gerson LOPEZ (GUA)
Christian RAMIREZ (HON)
Roney SALINAS (HON)
Walter LOPEZ (HON)
Nicholas ANDERSON (JAM)
Ojay DUHANEY (JAM)
Jassett KERR (JAM)
Alberto MORIN (MEX)
Michel MORALES (MEX)
Miguel HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Henri PUPIRO (NCA)
David MORAN (SLV)
Geovany GARCIA (SLV)
Juan Francisco ZUMBA (SLV)
Zachari ZEEGELAAR (SUR)
Caleb WALES (TRI)
Corey PARKER (USA)
Frank ANDERSON (USA)
Kathryn NESBITT (USA)
Kyle ATKINS (USA)
Logan BROWN (USA)
VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREES
Dave GANTAR (CAN)
Angel MONROY (MEX)
Arturo CRUZ (MEX)
Carlos AYALA (MEX)
Erick MIRANDA (MEX)
Joel RANGEL (MEX)
Leon Vicente BARAJAS (MEX)
Tatiana GUZMAN (NCA)
Allen CHAPMAN (USA)
Chris PENSO (USA)
Edvin JURISEVIC (USA)
Tim FORD (USA)
A number of Referees will also be appointed as Video Assistant Referees.
The Concacaf Referee Committee also reviewed and approved the participation of referees from Concacaf’s Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP). TARP referees are part of the development strategy of the Confederation and will have the opportunity of training with elite officials in order to prepare for future competitions.
TARP REFEREES
Pierre-Luc LAUZIERE (CAN)
Benjamin PINEDA (CRC)
Keylor HERRERA (CRC)
Diego MONTAÑO (MEX)
Jose TORRES (PUR)
Tristley BASSUE (SKN)
Nima SAGHAFI (USA)
Rubiel VAZQUEZ (USA)
Miami, FL –The Concacaf Referee Committee has announced the match officials who will be in charge of the 2021 Gold Cup opening group stage match to be played on Saturday, July 10, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch:
Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago
Referee:
Ricardo MONTERO (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 1:
Juan Carlos MORA (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 2:
Roney SALINAS (Honduras)
Fourth Official:
Tristley BASSUE (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
VAR:
David GANTAR (Canada)
AVAR:
Daneon PARCHMENT (Jamaica)
Why so few assistant referees
ReplyDeleteI would say that's a pretty normal ref-AR ratio for any tournament with mixed teams, to be honest.
DeleteSurprising that the Olympic referees and VARs are included. One would have expected that they have to leave to Tokyo these days.
ReplyDeleteSo probably they get an early match and that's it.
But not really neccessary with more than enough referees nominated (19 referees for 24 GS matches is not an usual ratio in tournaments - I know CONCACAF did that before, but last time they had 16 referees for the same number of matches.)
As a follower of the blog from the USA, seldom see much about CONCACAF referees on here since this is mostly a FIFA tournament and UEFA blog. But wondering, for any regular commenters not from the US, what are your thoughts on our FIFA referees and the state of our soccer officiating?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, CONCACAF have a bunch of extremely fit referees who are really good in managing players, BUT(!!!) Brian Hall is so detached from reality that he thinks not issuing cards for the clearest cases of SFP or VC is not only acceptable but cool! You would offer the best refereeing skills from all the confederations but unfortunately such philosophy of Mr Hall destroys everything. I never saw such refereeing anywhere, it's WC2014 squared...
DeleteSome examples:
https://streamable.com/k36986
https://streamable.com/ivki0n
https://streamable.com/sw5qpt (VAR in use!)
https://streamable.com/orflkh (VAR in use!)
I've just watched Guadeloupe - Bahamas and VAR strikes again! According to Reon Radix (Ref) and Chris Penso (VAR) it's not a foul!
Deletehttps://streamable.com/x0zo5k
Well, I dare to ask if it's still refereeing...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSome of the posted clips are really without explanation, to be honest. Last one is the paramount example of a penalty for allowing VAR intevention, if not in this case, when?
DeleteThen, the fourth clip of previous list is indeed shocking: in this case big responsibilities for VAR. Unacceptable to miss the intervention for that clear RC. Regarding the previous three ones, well, one can still find some explanations, especially in games without VAR.
Fourth clip would have given the rare chance to do a double intervention for RC and penalty for two separate fouls...
DeleteDoes the referee has to do the VAR signal twice in that case? ;)
@Chefren Agreed, cannot understand how Video 4 is not a red card. Should be without question an OFR + send off. Somewhere in the last 5 years there has been a strong push, at least in the USA, for the avoidance of red cards at all cost. Similar to what was seen at EURO this year, even obvious red cards are sometimes asked to be “walked back” to yellow cards. Cannot understand this judgement, and if it is to be the case then might as well take the red card option out of the game completely! :)
DeleteI'd disagree that it's a USA thing to avoid red cards. All of these would be reds in MLS. Its a CONCACAF thing that just happens to be led by an American (Hall)
DeleteIn regards to the Guadeloupe vs Bahamas "possible" PK incident.
DeleteCaribbean Referee (Radix) + MLS VAR (Penso) = I'm not surprised.
3 out of 5 clips had MLS referee's (Villareal & Fischer). Coincidence? I think not.
DeleteAnd all five of the clips are concacaf referees in a concacaf event. I strongly believe all three of those clips would be handled differently by those same referees and MLS and that it's clearly instruction that's coming from the top of concacaf.
DeleteI disagree. And the only proof I need is to tune in to any MLS match. MLS is still a primitive league where the majority of the players still overly rely on physical force in place of their limited skills and technique. Thus the reason why the referee's allow an overly physical type of game.
DeleteMy point was more to say maybe USA is influenced by CONCACAF guidelines or the other way around. Certainly some of these may be reds in MLS, but the fact remains the state of high-level soccer officiating in the USA seems to be to not punish red cards, even to sometimes a questionable extent
DeleteIt's the reason MLS referee's adapt so easily to the "Brian Hall way". They're used to doing it that way every weekend in MLS.
DeleteI watch the Central American Leagues or Liga MX. And it's not done in the "Brian Hall way".
1st clip I think is an issue with perception rather than an issue in disciplinary choices... I don't think Villarreal quite saw the incident. Same thing with the second clip.
Delete3rd clip should be VC; the arm is used as a weapon. Maybe it wasn't severe enough to be a clear and obvious error, I think.
4th clip is pretty much the same challenge as the Ampadu red card that was given by Hategan that split opinions here. I think it's red but surely not a clear error there to show yellow.
5th clip I can't defend, this is a penalty at minimum (and I say also a YC).
Please excuse my language. And with all due respect to all. The officiating at this CONCACAF Gold Cup will once again be a "shit sandwich" that will be force fed down the throats of all the participating players.
ReplyDeleteAnd I disagree. MLS, by far, has the most lenient/permissive referee's of any of the top leagues in CONCACAF. To the point, that the most lenient/permissive are rewarded as opposed to the more stricter referee's. Of which there aren't many anyways.
Thanks Brian Hall! Keep up the "great" work!
Funny thing: you referee like that (Villarreal in Guatemala - Curacao WCQ or Fischer in Bermuda - Barbados GCPrelims) one match in UEFA and you are suspended for half a season and start the next half in a lower category. In CONCACAF you are praised for such performance! :)
DeleteThese referee's literally take the joy out of watching football. It no longer resembles the sport that it should be.
DeleteAs a referee it sickens me to see the way they disregard and trash The LoTG.
Nothing will change. The unacceptable performances that we've become used to from CONCACAF referee's in recent times will continue. The only difference being that now VAR failures will amplify wrongness of Mr. Hall's way.
ReplyDeleteIt only took 10 minutes for the "CONCACAF way" to rear its ugly head. First seriously/gravely injured player carted off the field. Referee says no PK and VAR not surprisingly blindly follows.
ReplyDeleteIf the "bar" was set high at the EURO's for VAR interventions. The bar is set on the moon in CONCACAF.
VAR = Dave Gantar = MLS Referee = Not Surprised at the Non Intervention
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C1l022H-1U
ReplyDeleteNot even game stopped after such collision, we all remember Taylor in DEN - FIN. Well, let's not take this as granted and let's congratulate again Taylor after having watched this video...
So PK or nah?
DeleteIMO The Mexican player is unfairly shoulder charged in the back by the T&T player while running at speed causing the attacking player to lose his balance and go down.
I really think that there should be taken some legal actions against such referees. And I actually think that Rosetti is leading European refereeing to this kind of officiating.
DeleteWhy post a clip and then not even discuss the actual football part of it?
DeleteYou just mention the humanity side of it just to name and highlight a UEFA referee that has absolutely nothing to with the clip you posted.
And yes, that's a PENALTY! It's a clear and obvious shoulder charge by the Trinidad player into the back of the Mexican player who has run past him at speed.
And even worse, the Referee had the nerve/gall to caution a Mexican player.
For me in this case whistling penalty or not is last thing to be concerned about. Safety comes first.
DeleteChefren,
DeleteFair enough, understandable. But I would appreciate your opinion in regards to the incident.
Thanks.
In Montero's defense, the ball goes away before it becomes clear that the player has suffered a serious injury rather than just having fallen over in a collision.
DeleteThat's not an excuse for a potentially life threatening situation. The AR/4th official should have alerted the referee.
DeletePerhaps they did, the ball was out of play 1-2 seconds later anyways, this communication isn't instantaneous.... sorry but we can't expect referees to know immediately how seriously a player is injured; obviously it's easy to tell in retrospect, but in live action all they see is a player down, like happens dozens of times in any game. How was Montero supposed to know it was a "potentially life threatening situation?" I don't think he could tell it was a head injury at all.
DeleteCriticism here isn't really warranted, I think. Montero's decision to allow play to continue (for just 2-3 seconds longer!) was exactly what any other referee would have done given the information that he had at the time. It's easy to say in retrospect that there was a head injury and he should stop play, but how is he realistically supposed to know that so quickly? As soon as it's possible for him to get a good look at the downed player, the ball is out of play anyways.
This should not be compared to the Eriksen incident at all, that play is so, so different. It was much easier to tell immediately that something was wrong: Eriksen collapsed like a sack of bricks, under no contact, while he had the ball in a very open spot on the field for the referee to see. Everyone was looking right at it, everyone saw what happened, and the players stopped playing too. Very easy to tell right away that he was in serious trouble. In this case, a ball gets played into the box, several players challenge for it, one ends up on the ground, and then play ends up behind Montero. By the time he needs to turn around, how is he supposed to know there is a serious injury?? Unless you expect a referee (or an AR who has to actively make an offside decision) to abandon their view of the play itself and run over and check on the player any time a player is on the ground....
Any more appointments for the matches today? Or where can the appointments be found?
ReplyDeleteMiami, FL – The Concacaf Referee Committee has announced the match officials who will be in charge of the 2021 Gold Cup matches to be played on Sunday, July 11, 2021.
DeleteMatch:
Canada vs Martinique
Referee:
Ivan BARTON (El Salvador)
Assistant Referee 1:
David MORAN (El Salvador)
Assistant Referee 2:
Zachari ZEEGELAAR (Suriname)
Fourth Official:
Oshane NATION (Jamaica)
VAR:
Edvin JURISEVIC (USA)
AVAR:
Juan Gabriel CALDERON (Costa Rica
Match:
USA vs Haiti
Referee:
Said MARTINEZ (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 1:
Walter LOPEZ (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 2:
Geovany GARCIA (El Salvador)
Fourth Official:
Diego MONTAÑO (Mexico)
VAR:
Erick MIRANDA (Mexico)
AVAR:
Leon BARAJAS (Mexico)
Match:
El Salvador vs Guatemala
Referee:
Jair MARRUFO (USA)
Assistant Referee 1:
Frank ANDERSON (USA)
Assistant Referee 2:
Kathryn NESBITT (USA)
Fourth Official:
Keylor HERRERA (Costa Rica)
VAR:
Tim FORD (USA)
AVAR:
Allen CHAPMAN (USA)
All of these CONCACAF matched should come with a viewer discretion warning for extremely poor and unacceptable officiating.
DeleteI think Marrufo and Elfath do a pretty good job. They have been around for a little longer and are able to keep a little bit of the regular style. New MLS referees are really the ones that are being subjected to these new guidelines, IMO
DeleteMarrufo and Elfath non lenient/permissive? Not based on what I see from them on a weekly basis. They're both typical MLS referees. To call them card shy is an understatement.
DeleteYeah, Marrufo is pretty much defined by his leniency. Nonetheless he is a very good referee; he can balance a game on a knife's edge without losing control; bonus points: it makes for very exciting games to watch as a spectator.
DeleteNo thanks. Not a fan of Lawless and Unpunished Chaos. The definition of MLS play.
DeleteBakary Papa Gassama (Gambia) is invited by CONCACAF to take part in Gold Cup as a referee and VAR official.
ReplyDeleteSource: Gambian Football Federation
As if things weren't bad enough already in CONCACAF refereeing. Add a CAF referee who is past his prime and whose best days are long gone. Of course, if this is actually true.
DeleteHe has been appointed as the referee of Jamaica-Suriname. This is a very strange appointment because he is on the Gold Cup roster as a VAR, not as a referee. Maguette N’Diaye (SEN) is the referee listed from CAF.
DeleteMinute 65 Canada vs Martinique just gave us yet another glaring example of CONCACAF failure. Referee said no PK and unsurprisingly VAR yet again failed to intervene.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, for all the talk of card shy CONCACAF referees, Ivan Barton (ELS) showed 9 yellow cards in Canada-Martinique this evening
ReplyDeleteOne step in the right direction by a CONCACAF referee. Still have a ways to go in whistling crystal clear PK's though (min 65).
DeleteAnd VAR? Yeah, lets not even go there. May as well not even have it in use.
CONCACAF referees are not always card shy. They have this reputation after the two finals of Mario Escobar, but if you look at Escobar's stats in other games besides the final, he is actually quite card-happy in those games. It's really quite strange and I don't know how to explain it.
DeleteIt's not just those two matches which lead to that belief. Villareal in Curacao vs Guatemala didn't do much dispel that belief.
DeleteThe comments here seem quite harsh. I must preface this by saying I haven’t seen too much action so far, but many people are predicting an absolutely calamity and I think we should be a little more optimistic than that. Some people here will see what the expect to see, let’s watch the games and then come to a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteRead what USAREF wrote down below and then tell me that "the comments here seem quite harsh". The comments match the rubbish that we're seeing on the pitch and in the VAR room.
DeleteYou watch the games (I have) and then tell me we're being "harsh".
I'm not so much talking about the comments judging these Gold Cup games of recent days. I'm more speaking on the comments about CONCACAF's history. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the officiating in this confederation is good, but some people here seem to have something personal against Brian Hall.
DeleteHe's in charge of the referees, isn't he? Why should anybody else be held accountable?
DeleteCAF match officials to participate in the 2021 Gold Cup as part of a referee exchange with Concacaf.
ReplyDeleteThe agreement will see referees and video assistant referees take part in the other Confederation’s men’s flagship competitions.
Miami, FL – The Concacaf Referee Committee has announced the match officials who will be in charge of the 2021 Gold Cup matches to be played on Monday, July 12, 2021.
Match:
Jamaica vs Suriname
Referee:
Bakary GASSAMA (Gambia)
Assistant Referee 1:
Djibril CAMARA (Senegal)
Assistant Referee 2:
Micheal BARWEGEN (Canada)
Fourth Official:
Adonai ESCOBEDO (Mexico)
VAR:
Drew FISCHER (Canada)
AVAR:
Ismael CORNEJO (El Salvador
Match:
Costa Rica vs Guadeloupe
Referee:
Ismail ELFATH (USA)
Assistant Referee 1:
Corey PARKER (USA)
Assistant Referee 2:
Kyle ATKINS (USA)
Fourth Official:
Nima SAGHAFI (USA)
VAR:
Chris PENSO (USA)
AVAR:
Armando VILLARREAL (USA)
Canada - Martinique, thank to CONCACAF for uploading full game on Youtube.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzU22xEuItY
The situation mentioned in 65' (01:22:10) video time.
Penalty to be whistled. Clear holding, preventing the attacker from reaching ball. Referee should have seen it, but he missed.
VAR didn't intervene. aLet's remember that for intervening, holding must be very, very clear and missed by referee. This was in my opinion the case. However, in such situation it is more understandable why VAR was reluctant, differently from objective steps on foot.
Here's what everyone needs to know and understand right now as this tournament continues. The bar for VAR intervention in CONCACAF is going to be impossibly high. We are talking astromepheric levels.
DeleteHall is awful at referee management and education. Full stop. And he knows nothing of the implementation of VAR. CONCACAF is so far behind that you will essentially see the WC18 standard, only worse, because barely any of the referees have any experience with VAR. Outside the MX and MLS referees, I'm not sure there's a referee there with more than a half dozen matches with VAR on a competitive match and some probably have far fewer.
Anyway, as you see from the selected list, you're relying completely on VARs from PRO and the FMF. The problem is the standard is going to be far higher than you see in either league. I've already counted 5 incidents that definitely would have or likely would have (depending on VAR) been sent down in MLS. Those are the two early Mexican penalty shouts, the penalty shout above (though that's probably the most debatable, given 'holding' standards), Marrufo's second caution at 33' (VAR dependent) and Barton's caution at 84' (which is clear VC). I'm privy to a lot of the VAR work in PRO and in MLS I'm sure 2-3 of those get sent down and I think there's a chance all 5 do. Yet here, in the Gold Cup, none of them were sent down. None of them. Same VARs, different result.
So it's Hall and his instructions. He doesn't want his non-FMF and non-PRO referees being overwhelmed with a system they are not used to, so the bar has been set at impossible levels. What makes it all worse is that US VARs will be under pressure not to take decisions that disadvantage Mexico and vice versa (as, almost implicitly, every result or call that helps one country hurts the other).
The bottom line is that it's a mess. Don't expect anything higher than terrible VARing and below average refereeing with, hopefully, a couple bright spots (Barton being the first--though even he missed/ignored/downgraded the VC at 84').
Is CONCACAF using the budget friendly version of VAR? I've noticed that on tight offside decisions. They haven't shown images with lines drawn. This technology would have left zero doubts about Mexico's disallowed goal.
DeleteCONCACAF VAR is pretty much being taught by the people who run VAR in MLS, where it’s been largely successful (IMO). MLS doesn’t use the lines, so that’s the way CONCACAF is doing it.
Delete@usaref I agree that the bar for intervention has seemingly been higher this tournament than we are used to in MLS and Liga MX. I don't really know how to explain this, since PRO is taking such a heavy hand in instructing VAR to CONCACAF referees. I'm willing to hold my judgement on this subject until we see a few more games; perhaps there have just been a few coincidental errors by individual VARs.
DeleteThe bar was high in the final qualifiers. There were clear incidents where Villarreal or Penso would have intervened in MLS, but they didn't here. I believe it's because the other referees are so uncomfortable with the system and they don't want it seeming like the US and Mexican referees are taking decisions away from the referees from other countries. I also believe, of course, that Hall doesn't want a ton of penalties and red cards, so you can't have VAR calling stuff that he doesn't want called.
DeleteThat said, we had our first intervention tonight. Penso-to-Elfath. Well done for off-the-ball VC.
Why not use "the line" technology for VAR to judge offside?
DeleteBy not using it doesn't the decision remain just a judgement call by VAR just like it was for the AR.
N'Diaye and Samba have not yet been granted visas to enter the US, so the CAF trio is different from what was initially announced. They still try to get the documents and participate in the tournament.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know if Brian Hall (or any member of of the CONCACAF Ref Comm) has ever held any sort of press conference.
ReplyDeleteKinda like Rosetti did during the recent EURO or like Busacca does at the World Cup.
It would be great to hear from them as to what their objective with the referees is.
I totally agree!(!)
DeleteIt is genuinely fascinating trying to work out what Hall's and CONCACAF's vision for refereeing is.
Perhaps this video gives the best insight that is in public domain - https://youtu.be/V9ZUSXC-vps
Mikael,
DeleteThank you for the video. It was very interesting (to say the least) video to listen to. But the guy totally lost me when he said the following lines.
"Next time you watch a game or two. Forget about the decisions made by the referee. Just watch how she or he delivers them."
Those lines tell me that the CONCACAF Ref Comm seems to care more about appearance and visuals than referees actually making the correct decisions.
If other blog readers watch/listen the video Mikael so kindly posted. I would like to hear your opinions.
By the video, you indeed get the impression that they have a wrong focus and prefer someone who acts like he is a good referee (in the sense of being an actor).
DeleteHowever one has to admit that this video focusses on this topic and there seem to be other videos in the series, which focus on other refereeing aspects - that relativizes it a bit.
Not too impressed by Gassama so far, honestly. He’s been too lenient as has tried to take an approach of trying to be friends with the players, but it hasn’t worked at all. Wrong approach for this kind of game IMO. It’s become not just physical but pretty dirty.
ReplyDeleteAre you surprised? In most of your other posts, you staunchly defend and justify or make excuses for Brian Hall/CONCACAF/MLS. To the point where it seems as if you're employed by one of those entities or Brian Hall himself.
DeleteGassama may be from CAF. But if the need to do it the Brian Hall way was drilled into his brain pre tournament. What do you expect to happen? The CAF or World Cup version of Gassama would have done things differently. But what choice does he or any referee have when they're told to do it in this illogical anti-football manner.
Maybe his personality wasn't "DYNAMIC" enough to smile, chat, gesture his way through the match.
"Forget about the decisions made by the referee. Just watch how she or he delivers them."
-Concacaf Center of Refereeing Excellence
I'm not going to engage every time, because while you're right about certain things it's also clear you have an agenda. But I will pop-in here to stress the equivalency between CONCACAF and MLS is just plain wrong, particularly when you lump Brian Hall into things.
DeleteWebb, Barkey and PRO are distinctly not doing things the way they are done in CONCACAF. You or anyone else can quibble over individual referee performances in MLS. And there are examples of mistakes or bad misses, just like they are in any league. But I'm privy to the instructions, particularly on VAR. I can state unequivocally that the instruction around and standards for misconduct and penalties are good.
What Hall is instructing and leading in CONCACAF is a totally different animal. And yes, I know that PRO personnel are involved in the Gold Cup and CONCACAF teaching... but how can they say 'no?' They are from one of the two biggest federations in the confederation. And one of only two that has good knowledge of VAR. So they have to participate. But it's wrong to equate the instructions and training for CONCACAF VARs with what has happened within PRO. It would be like saying Italian VARs or English VARs operate the exact same way between their domestic leagues and within UEFA. And we all know that isn't true.
Finally, to individual referees... Marrufo is his own institution and has to be judged separately. At this point, we all know how he operates re: misconduct and it "works" for him. So don't expect changes. Elfath is hit or miss. As I've said forever, he is deficient in the technical aspects of the LOTG, but he is a good player manager. I think his deficiences will catch up with him, though. We shall see; he has not been strong this year in MLS. Finally, Villarreal has ebbed and flowed. He has the right tools. He was very good in the 2015-18 range in MLS. Then he seemed a little confused or lost as he started to get more international experience. I think he struggles jumping between the two (as opposed to someone like Howard Webb, who used to adjust well between UEFA and the EPL). It also probably jarred Villarreal that Elfath knocked him off his perceived perch for USA's #2. We'll see how Villarreal does going forward. I think he has the best raw tools of an American referee on the international stage right now. But, perhaps ironically given Hall's focus in the video above, he doesn't have the command presence or "acting" abilities that are more intangible aspects of a top-flight referee. In short, he can referee well but he needs to mature quickly if he has a chance at, say, being a referee at WC26.
No "agenda" here bud. Just a long time follower of CONCACAF Referees. Who is fed up and beyond frustrated with the illogical direction one man is taking our regions refereeing.
DeleteI'm old enough to remember the greats like Brizio Carter, Baharmast, Codesal and the great generations of referees who followed them.
I've been around long enough to know that CONCACAF always had a select group of referees who were just as good as their UEFA and CONMEBOL counterparts. A select few who were always highly trusted by the FIFA Ref Comm to handle countless sonorous matches throughout history.
The quality of referees that CONCACAF presented for as long as I can remember were considered only second to their UEFA and CONMEBOL counterparts. With as I stated before, a few referees at each generation who were just as good if not better than their European or South American counterparts. However I can honestly straight faced say that CONCACAF is no longer #2 only behind UEFA and CONMEBOL. I see better talent, better direction, and better instruction from AFC and CAF referees.
So as I watch players getting seriously injured due to referees allowing overly physical/violent play. Or as I watch VAR yet again fail to act on a clear and obvious incident. All while the CONCACAF Ref Comm focuses on appearance and visuals and not about actually making the right decisions.
You're damn right I am going to heated and pissed of by it. Because I know that our region is better than this. Because I know that these referees are better referees than what they are forced to become by the Ref Comm.
So in summary, am I passionate about our regions refereeing? YES
Do I want things to be done better? YES
Do we as a confederation deserve better? YES
Can the CONCACAF Ref Comm do better? YES
Is Brian Hall the one who can make it better? NO
So do I have an "agenda"? NO
Okay, but why are you tying MLS and PRO to the debacle that is CONCACAF? You're deliberately conflating the two things. I'm saying quite clearly they are separate. There's a reason Hall isn't involved with PRO and MLS. Using Hall's incompetence in Miami to launch broadsides against PRO and MLS is lazy. Just because a few USSF referees are operating under Hall in CONCACAF isn't evidence. Because I could use the same principle to attack the Liga MX and FMF based on the Mexican referees in CONCACAF. But I don't.
DeleteAlso, while you and I actually share an opinion on the current state of things, I would argue that you're cutting some historical corners. Brizio Carter was great. So was Batres. Codesal wasn't my cup of tea, but I'll also stipulate he wasn't a weak referee and was accomplished, obviously. And Baharmast was strong, though I think a bit of a myth developed around him due to the Norway penalty that added to his reputation. And obviously Rodriguez and Archundia had their plusses. Badilla was another name worth at least mentioning.
Here's the thing, though... there were weak referees ALL OVER CONCACAF outside Mexico, the US and the occasional top guy or two from Central America. So while we can go back almost 30 years and pick 1-2 names from any era and praise them, let's not pretend that CONCACAF used to have amazing refereeing depth and now it's suddenly gone. Below the very top, CONCACAF officiating has always been below average.
What's changed now, almost ironically, is that there is more consistency from top to bottom but that the instruction is so bad that you have the better referees officiating down to a terrible level. Barton could be turned into a world-class referee. Walter Lopez could have been, too (if his time hasn't passed, then the mistake in WCQ18 was too devastating). Villarreal could be. I'm sure there are several in Mexico that fit the bill. There's no reason why Hall and CONCACAF couldn't be churning out some world-class referees save for the fact that Hall is fully incapable of doing so and instead promotes guys who give performances like Escobar and holds them up as his model.
So, in sum, we're largely in agreement. But stop pretending MLS/PRO = Hall/CONCACAF. And let's not romanticize the last 30 years of a confederation with overall terrible officiating just because there has been a few top guys at any one time.
Bud.
If the officiating in any other league in the region resembled the current "CONCACAF way". Then I would link those two things together also.
DeleteHowever, based on what I've seen in MLS and the various USL tiers. The similarity and direction are the same. Thus the reason I link the two together.
But that's just my opinion. If you disagree, more power to ya bud. Maybe we just have different priorities, views, and/or ideas as to what a football(soccer) referee should be.
With that said, if you had the power to bring change to the CONCACAF Ref Comm. Who would you appoint to the leadership position? And what type of approach to instruction would you like to see that person adopt?
At the end of the day. You and I both know that our region deserves better. And we both know that it can be better if not for a misguided approach by the leadership. But no matter how bad it gets or how tarnished our regions reputation becomes. I will always be a proud referee from the CONCACAF region.
I agree with most of what you're saying, usaref... I would like to add I feel quite bad for Walter Lopez. He was a fantastic referee who could have accomplished a lot at WC 2018 and WC 2022... His mistake was awful, yes, but it was also very flukey and doesn't erase the fact that he was a very talented referee who could have performed very successfully at these tournaments... to see that his assignments have completely fallen off a cliff after this incident is very sad. A waste of a very good referee who would have been very useful for CONCACAF (and beyond).
DeleteTo add to my last comment: I don't know the details of what caused the WCQ error in Panama, but it certainly seems odd to me that the referee's career has sunk while the AR (Gerson Lopez) continues to work internationally with their brother Bryan... unless the error was totally Walter's fault, I feel awful for him.
DeleteIsmail Elfath shows the first red card of Gold Cup 2021 after an OFR for a punch to the stomach on a set piece. Eerily similar incident to the red card shown in Colorado - Minnesota earlier this week in MLS, also for a stomach punch on a set piece after OFR.
ReplyDeleteNow a wrong penalty for holding whistled by Elfath, I think he suspected when he called it that it might be sent to OFR, strange moment.
ReplyDeleteSome clips from the Jamaica - Suriname game handled by Bakary Papa Gassama [VAR: Drew Fischer].
ReplyDelete30' - Tackle incident
https://streamable.com/lex232
65' - Challenge incident
https://streamable.com/7zmpmj
77' - Potential penalty to Suriname (handling)
https://streamable.com/6pq00m
I only watched the last half-an-hour but I agree with smala017's impressions. Gassama was very isolated as a leadership figure, unable to connect with players; his technical accuracy in perceiving incidents was also pretty weak.
Seemed to be a clear 6-level performance :)
https://twitter.com/GoldCup/status/1414742667263627264?s=20
Delete:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDD you couldn't even make this up!
Thanks for the clips, IMO
Delete30' I'm quite shocked that the outcome is no foul here. The ball can maybe jutify a YC instead of a RC (which I strongly prefer here) but of course not a go-on.
65' Foul by the red player for me, he jumps in the yellow player at least carelessly with one leg raised.
77' Penalty for me, arm is raised and increases the body surface; not justifiable by the jumping movement (the arm is in a 90° angle, that's not the result of a jump).
30': In the live picture, one can understand the wrong perception that he mainly played the ball, but with the replays it's a clear foul and a dark yellow IMO.
Delete65': Interesting, I would have said the yellow player commits the foul, because the red player is in possession previously and the yellow player makes the more active movement. Depending on how much intention you see there, all disciplinary measures are possible there.
77' With the text of the new LotG, it should be completely irrelevant, whether the ball touches the body before, if the arms are in an unnatural position. But I am not sure, whether IFAB really means it in that way.
Here I agree with Flip, that it is not natural.
So if on the Mikael ref scale this is 6 perfomance (I agree BTW). Then this would probably then be equivalent to about an 8.5 to the CONCACAF Ref Comm. They'll give Gassama that extra .5 for his "Dynamic Personality" LOL ;)
DeleteIn regards to Mikaels second post.
DeleteIt's pretty sad and disappointing to see CONCACAF as a Confederation praising foul play. No wonder we're where we are as a region.
Miami, FL – The Concacaf Referee Committee has announced the match officials who will be in charge of the 2021 Gold Cup matches to be played on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch:
Qatar vs Panama
Referee:
Cesar RAMOS (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1:
Alberto MORIN (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2:
Miguel HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Fourth Official:
Bryan LOPEZ (Guatemala)
VAR:
Carlos AYALA (Mexico)
AVAR:
Ricardo MONTERO (Costa Rica)
Match:
Honduras vs Grenada
Referee:
Fernando GUERRERO (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1:
Michel MORALES (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2:
Henri PUPIRO (Nicaragua)
Fourth Official:
Pierre-Luc LAUZIERE (Canada)
VAR:
Arturo CRUZ (Mexico)
AVAR:
Tatiana GUZMAN (Nicaragua)
Interesting situations from Qatar - Panama with César Ramos.
ReplyDeleteVAR intervention to check a penalty decision in 76':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8YJeVbqV6w
Originally whistled by referee, I think that this intervention was not consistent with the very clear penalties missed in the other games, one can't be 100% sure about a simulation. Indeed Ramos took a very long time and he didn't change idea, I fully understand this choice under the refereeing point of view.
To add, after so many years of VAR use, such calls in my opinion must be clearly avoided by VAR officials, they must understand when it is not a clear and obvious mistake, calling for such incidents just puts in trouble referee. A referee without personality would have changede idea but without being so much convinced. That's actally still a real problem about VAR.
I'm more troubles by the complete and total lack of consistency shown by the referees on the pitch.
DeleteBut I much prefer this than what was displayed in the first two matches.
Canada vs. Martinique game handled by Iván Barton [VAR: Edvin Jurisevic].
ReplyDelete65' Penalty (holding)?
https://streamable.com/xo0w6j
84' Violent conduct?
https://streamable.com/xcq1u8
In general, very good performance by the Salvadorian referee - other CONCACAF referees could learn a lot from his de facto flawless approach to disciplinary measures. Well done.
IMO
Delete65' Theoretically, I think that this is a penalty. The defender prevents the attacker from reaching the ball by putting both arms around his neck. Given the position of the ball, I can understand the decision and would support the referee here.
84' Rather a YC here for me. The CAN player seems to step on the MTQ player unintentionally and without force.
Thanks for the clips Mikael!
DeleteWhat's are your opinions on these two incidents?
65' IMO it's a clear PK. I'll cut Barton some slack for not spotting it himself. Mainly because of the amount of "traffic" between him and the incident. The only thing that is open for discussion for me in this incident is the color card that should be given.
ReplyDelete84' To me that's Violent Conduct. The Canadian player clearly knowing what he's doing, intentionally stamps/steps on fallen Martinique player (who BTW made a clean tackle). I'm not in the camp that VC has to be brutal, forceful, or vicious to show a Red Card.
I wholeheartedly agree that Ivan Barton used the correct, proper, and required approach in this match. But I'm a bit disappointed that he for himself didn't properly punish Cavallini for his VC. VAR should have intervened to help Barton. But VAR has largely been "hit or miss" so far (mostly miss).
I am now left wonder how Mr. Hall and his Ref Comm will rate Barton's performance. Will they unjustly punish his for his correct approach? I sure do hope not.
Gold Cup matches to be played on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch: Trinidad and Tobago vs El Salvador
Referee: Selvin BROWN (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 1: Christian RAMIREZ (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 2: Roney SALINAS (Honduras)
Fourth Official: Oshane NATION (Jamaica)
VAR: Armando VILLARREAL (USA)
AVAR: David GANTAR (Canada)
Match: Guatemala vs Mexico
Referee: Daneon PARCHMENT (Jamaica)
Assistant Referee 1: Logan BROWN (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Ojay DUHANEY (Jamaica)
Fourth Official: Rubiel VAZQUEZ (USA)
VAR: Barkary GASSAMA (Gambia)*
AVAR: Drew FISCHER (Canada)
*CAF match officials are participating in the 2021 Gold Cup as part of a referee exchange with Concacaf.
Hi Arbiter. Do you know how far in advance the appointments are being announced, please? Thanks
DeleteUnlike FIFA and UEFA who are pretty good at announcing referee assignments 24-48 hours prior to a match day. CONCACAF is pretty much all over the place. They might publish one match day 48 hours prior. But they may also publish assignments the morning of a match day.
DeleteI periodically check the CONCACAF Gold Cup webpage "News" section to find published referee assignments.
Did anyone watch TRI-SLV? I watched a most of GUA-MEX and Parchment was basically what we expected from him in a fairly easy game. He's a reliable and serviceable (if unremarkable) pair of hands in games that don't push the difficulty level to CONCACAF's max, in my opinion.
DeleteParchment at the moment seems to be the best the Caribbean has to offer. He's definitely ahead of Radix and he's managed to leapfrog Oshane Nation (thank God).
DeleteNeedless to say, I am not a fan of Mr. Nation, nor have I ever been. But if you watch him, and watch the "educational" videos put out the The CONCACAF Ref Comm. He's the prototypical referee the CONCACAF Ref Comm wants. Nation presents a good appearance, he's very fit, and he is able to "act" like a good referee on the pitch. Afterall, CONCACAF wants "actors" with "Dynamic Personalities" as referees. So Mr. Nation has all those traits. BUT faking it, can only take you so far. Because he's just not that good of a referee.
Gold Cup matches to be played on Thursday, July 15, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch: Haiti vs Canada
Referee: Juan Gabriel CALDERON (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 1: William ARRIETA (Costa Rica)
Assistant Referee 2: Caleb WALES (Trinidad and Tobago)
Fourth Official: Benjamin PINEDA (Costa Rica)
VAR: Allen CHAPMAN (USA)
AVAR: Tim FORD (USA)
Match: Martinique vs USA
Referee: Mario ESCOBAR (Guatemala)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicholas ANDERSON (Jamaica)
Assistant Referee 2: Jassett KERR (Jamaica)
Fourth Official: Diego MONTAÑO (Mexico)
VAR: Angel MONROY (Mexico)
AVAR: Juan RANGEL (Mexico)
I only skimmed through the El Salvador - Guatemala game, but my impression was of a good performance by Jair Marrufo. The American referee was on top of all the incidents in an intense 1H; the 2H was a bit easier.
ReplyDeleteHowever, he only cautioned what should be a very clear red card in my opinion. I guess CONCACAF disagree with me that this should be assessed as SFP. Clip is below.
https://streamable.com/corqxa
I agree with you that this tackle should result in a RC.
DeleteThe white player 'flies' in the opponent with both legs off the ground and hits him with high intensity on/slightly above the ankle - he therefore endangers the health of his opponent.
It's a dangerous trend, when (clear) RCs like that one are ignored and this is a problem for both, referees and spectators.
Hm, I already disagree with the description, because his trailing leg has contact with the ground all the time and is not involved in the tackling. Therefore no "two leg tackle" IMO.
DeleteAnd the high contact is caused by sliding over the ball. This was widely accepted as an excuse in the EURO final.
So for me, the YC is the best decision here - more RC than no card though.
We are wading into unknown and potentially physically harmful (to the players) waters if we start nitpicking and dissecting these types of dangerous challenges to justify a Yellow Card when a Red Card is more than deserved.
DeleteBrilliant performance by Selvin Brown in the Trinidad and Tobago vs. El Salvador game - not difficult to see why he was moved from the TARP talent group to be a main ref! A real talent, hope we can see him again in further match(es).
ReplyDeleteOne KMI scene worth discussing - penalty to be given at 62'?
https://streamable.com/rdw06u
More of a flop by the Salvadoran player, than an actual foul by the T&T player. The attacking player goes down, embellishing the ever so slight jersey tug. IMO, the attacking player realizes that he's not going to reach the ball prior to it going over the goal line. And he goes down.
DeleteGood no call.
IMO a penalty could be definetly whistled, but the go-on call is certainly defendable as well.
DeleteThe defender wants to block the attacker from reaching the ball and steps between him and the ball. When the attacker breaks into a sprint to reach the ball before going over the goal line, the defender 'panics' and slightly grabs the shorts.
The problem is that the attacker realizes that his sprint isn't working out and he can't reach the ball before it is out of the FoP and therefore falls quite easily - I doubt that the contact justified the falling.
Actually quite a complex scene, I would support Brown (and Villareal of course).
I didn't watch the game Mikael, could you elaborate on what made it such a good performance?
DeleteGold Cup matches to be played on Friday, July 16, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch: Guadeloupe vs Jamaica
Referee: Bryan LOPEZ (Guatemala)
Assistant Referee 1: Frank ANDERSON (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gerson LOPEZ (Guatemala)
Fourth Official: Jose TORRES (Puerto Rico)
VAR: David GANTAR (Canada)
AVAR: Tatiana GUZMAN (Nicaragua)
Match: Suriname vs Costa Rica
Referee: Fernando HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn NESBITT (USA)
Fourth Official: Fernando GUERRERO (Mexico)
VAR: Cesar RAMOS (Mexico)
AVAR: Jair MARRUFO (USA)
Who chooses these referee tricot? They are both ugly and not visible on the pitch...
ReplyDeleteShould they add reflective tape or flashing lights to them? Or what do you mean?
DeleteThe official CONCACAF referee kit supplier is Canadian sports apparel manufacturer SaviFoot. The current jersey comes in your worldwide standard colors of Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, and Black.
DeleteIMO If you want flashy and eye catching, then you've gotta go with what's provided to Italian (Legea) or Mexican (Eescord) referees.
My only gripe with the these SavitFoot kits is the grey shorts and socks (IMO black only/always). The sweat the referee produces leaves the grey shorts looking like the referee peed himself.
They’re really red, not orange.
DeleteAh yes you're right. Red is the color.
DeleteI was thinking about the Orange with Graphite jersey the manufacturer had previously provided referee's.
So far in SUR-CRC, Hernandez is taking I think a bit of a stricter disciplinary line than most other CONCACAF refs. Two correct YCs for reckless fouls and he looks very strong in showing them. Just 30 minutes in but he looks good.
ReplyDelete43’ very interesting DOGSO/SPA handball decision against the Costa Rica goalkeeper. In my opinion the handling occurred inside the penalty area, and then it hit the GK’s arm a second time as the goalkeeper was out of the area, but not in a way that was an offense. Hernandez showed YC for SPA. For me, the promising attack was gone by the time he touched it with his hand outside the box, and I don’t agree with the handball decision in the first place. But this is not VAR territory at all, so quite a challenging decision for Hernandez (and his AR Nesbitt from USA) to make, and a very interesting one for us to analyze.
DeleteInteresting moments in the last 10 minutes. Red card for Costa Rica after OFR for striking an opponent on a set piece before the ball was in play, the second one of those incidents at the Gold Cup. Clear decision I think. Ball was not yet in play so no penalty kick for Suriname. Then, Costa Rica’s Kendall Waston subs onto the field before being given permission by the referee, and gets the requisite YC for it… it’s suspicious for me, as he will now get to serve his suspension in the (barring a late equalizer for Suriname) dead rubber third group match and have his accumulation wiped for the quarterfinals.
Deletesuper weird play there on the qatari opening goal. Possible handball by the scorer but very tough to tell for sure if it hit the hand. Ultimately villareal allows the goal on the field then upholds his decision after a verrrrrrrry long on-field review.
ReplyDeleteI think it probably hit the attackers fingertips, but we were never able to get a 100% view of it. I think Armando made the best decision that he could and that the VAR should not have sent it down.
DeleteGold Cup matches to be played on Saturday, July 17, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch: GRENADA vs QATAR
Referee: Armando VILLARREAL (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Logan BROWN (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Carlos MORA (Costa Rica)
Fourth Official: Daneon PARCHMENT (Jamaica)
VAR: Arturo CRUZ (Mexico)
AVAR: Leon BARAJAS (Mexico)
Match: PANAMA vs HONDURAS
Referee: Bakary GASSAMA (Gambia)
Assistant Referee 1: Djibril CAMARA (Senegal)
Assistant Referee 2: Micheal BARWEGEN (Canada)
Fourth Official: Nima SAGHAFI (USA)
VAR: Drew FISCHER (Canada)
AVAR: Rubiel VAZQUEZ (USA)
*An all Central American clash for Gassama. Both teams with plenty to play for. Hopefully he changes his approach from his previous match. Because it's definitely not going to work tonight and it could get ugly for the Gambian.
I agree definitely a huge match for Gassama, very interested to see how he does. First 10 minutes have been as expected, very energetic.
DeleteEXCELLENT advantage by Gassama for a Honduras goal 10'. However, close offside decision sent for OFR... but it's very close, and without lines, I'm not sure it's clear and obvious. Also checking the challenge by the Panamanian defender for potential misconduct.
ReplyDeleteFinal decision. Offside by Honduras, so no advantage, free kick for Honduras, yellow card to Panama's defender. If the offside decision is clear and obvious, I think this is the correct outcome.
Utilizing a VAR system that lacks drawn lines technology for tight offside/onside decisions leaves more doubts than answers.
DeleteNo drawn lines equal just a "judgement" call by VAR. A judgement call that's no different than what the AR does. These decisions are less credible because of the lack of "hard evidence".
DeleteThat OFR took forever!
DeleteThe OFR would not have been needed with a better VAR system (drawn lines).
Huge moment in the 30th (ish) minute. Blatant, blatant handball by Figueroa of Honduras missed by Gassama (and, really, Barwegan) in real time, corrected quickly with an OFR, but shockingly no yellow card given to Figueroa despite the handball clearly blocking a shot towards goal. It would have been his second caution of the match! Big miss by Gassama I think... his demeaning and stylistic choices (again trying to be a friend of the players) is proving very successful so far, but the technical accuracy is lacking, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteAnd now more drama 49’. Penalty awarded to Honduras by Gassama for holding on a set piece, but it’s very soft and turned over after OFR. Again, Gassama’s “people skills”, body language, appearance etc has all been very good in this game, and the players seem to respect him so far… but after 3 changed decisions (one of which I think missed a clear second yellow card on the handball…) it’s tough to defend his technical accuracy in the final third, and I wonder how long until the players’ respect starts to wane in light of these mistakes. (Note: I think he’s actually been pretty spot on with his fouls and cards so far *other than* everything related to the three reviews).
DeleteSorry for the multitude of comments I’ve been leaving, but this has definitely been the most interesting game refereeing-wise (and football-wise!) of the whole tournament, so much to analyze and talk about.
One more note: 79’ (I think), Panama would have equalized if it hadn’t been for Camara’s flag for offside. I would like to examine the replay more closely but it certainly seemed onside to me… we could’ve had a first OFR.
DeleteIn summary of this match: An otherwise EXCELLENT performance by Gassama in a very difficult match spoiled by (in my opinion) a few crucial errors.
Without hearing the comms we won't know for sure, but there was a potential second offside decision in there when the original attacker who received the ball took his second touch and his teammate was ahead of the ball in an offside position directly between the goalkeeper and the ball. That player ended up jumping over the goalkeeper as he slid into challenge the original attacker for the ball. I'd have to look at it closer, but that would seem to fit the definition of interfering with an opponent.
DeleteAfter watching the replay again I completely agree with you, CWY. I've changed my opinion, this is offside. He jumps low over the GK's legs, between the GK and the ball, after having been in an offside position. This is an obvious action which impacts on the goalkeeper's ability to play the ball.
DeleteI don't know if this is the offense Camara called on the field, or if this is what Fischer/Vasquez decided in the booth, but I think ultimately they came to the correct decision!
This "budget friendly" VAR system that CONCACAF is using SUCKS!
ReplyDeleteTight Offside/Onside decisions are being left with no real clear evidence based outcomes.
Honestly that was going to be one of those where it depends where exactly the var drew the armpit line which people also hate. I kind of like sticking with the original decision there even though preferably the AR keeps the flag down there.
DeleteIt's not about what one "likes". It's about VAR being in use to make the right decisions. Multiple goals have been disallowed for supposed offside offences that are not crystal clear. The lack of a drawn line leaves doubt. It also takes credibility away from VAR as a system and leaves fans frustrated/confused.
DeleteGold Cup matches to be played on Sunday, July 18, 2021.
ReplyDeleteMatch: GUATEMALA vs TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Referee: Oshane NATION (Jamaica)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicholas ANDERSON (Jamaica)
Assistant Referee 2: Iroots APPLETON (Antigua and Barbuda)
Fourth Official: Pierre-Luc LAUZIERE (Canada)
VAR: David GANTAR (Canada)
AVAR: Benjamin PINEDA (Costa Rica)
Match: MEXICO vs EL SALVADOR
Referee: Said MARTINEZ (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 1: Walter LOPEZ (Honduras)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian RAMIREZ (Honduras)
Fourth Official: Reon RADIX (Grenada)
VAR: Allen CHAPMAN (USA)
AVAR: Selvin BROWN (Honduras)
Match: USA vs CANADA
Referee: Adonai ESCOBEDO (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1: Michel MORALES (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2: Henri PUPIRO (Nicaragua)
Fourth Official: Keylor HERRERA (Costa Rica)
VAR: Carlos AYALA (Mexico)
AVAR: Juan RANGEL (Mexico)
Match: MARTINIQUE vs HAITI
Referee: Ismael CORNEJO (El Salvador)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan FRANCISCO ZUMBA (El Salvador)
Assistant Referee 2: Geovany GARCIA (El Salvador)
Fourth Official: Bryan LOPEZ (Guatemala)
VAR: Tim FORD (USA)
AVAR: Fernando HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Similar to what was done by a few National teams during the recent Copa America. The Mexican Football Federation(FMF) has submitted a formal written complaint/request asking for the suspension of Referee Ricardo Montero (CRC).
ReplyDeleteThe written request from the Mexican Soccer Federation(FMF) was delivered to Concacaf and FIFA to prevent another player from the Mexican National Team from being seriously injured again because of a bad performance by the referee.
The Mexican Football Federation made the following statement,
“In the FMF we have a great concern, because it is not just from the last game, this is a behavior that we have seen in the Concacaf Champions League tournament, we saw it in the Nations League games. The issues with the referees are discussed internally, we have sent a series of notices to the General Secretariat of Concacaf and FIFA, expressing concern for the physical wellbeing of the Mexican player, it is a situation that we cannot allow to continue to occur ”.
Mexico, as we know, is one of the two "major" nations in CONCACAF. I would not be surprised if Mr. Montero no longer appear as a main referee. He was recently assigned as an AVAR. A position he might find himself in for what is left of the tournament.
Ridiculous. Concacaf must reject this claim and publicly support Montero (either with a statement or by giving him at least another game), otherwise this will establish a bias for referees to support the big federations like Mexico.
DeleteTeams cannot be allowed to run the show of refereeing.
+1
DeleteI don't think FMF is asking for referees to be biased in their favor or for any special treatment.
DeleteThey're asking for something that in the long run will benefit ALL the nations in CONCACAF.
They're asking that the referee be better and do better. They're asking that the referee prioritize player safety on the pitch. Not the at all cost implementation of the ridiculous directives/instructions received from the Referee Committee.
This action by FMF may very well be what finally forces the CONCACAF Referee Committee to take a long hard look at itself. And hopefully cause a reevaluation of what they're instructing their referees.
Accountability should not be a "taboo" word in regards to referees and Referee Committee's.
Coaches and players are constantly sacked or benched for underperforming. Why should referees be any different?
Finaly the football people are beginning to realize that the referees also should be kept accountable for their actions. I hope that this is just the start. And sorry for you, gentlemen, but I find these official written complains absolutely reasonable and justified in order to prevent from injuries. Actually the safety of the players should be the main priority of any referee but in practice it is not, because many/most of our colleagues are more concerned about directives, image, etc. So I found your comments 'Ridiculous' very cynical and in absolute contrast to my understanding of our profession.
DeleteFor the good of the game within CONCACAF. I sincerely hope that things change for the better in regards to the Referees and the Referee Committee. CONCACAF needs and deserves to have REFEREES on the pitch, not "ACTORS"!
DeleteAgree that there should be accountability, but not to the point where national associations run the referee appointments. They should keep the head of refereeing of CONCACAF accountable as well - there is no sense in VAR if it is not used in obvious situations. As a referee, I want to know that VAR has my back if I make a mistake...
DeleteWhat national association is trying to "run the referee appointments"?
DeleteIf filing a complaint means benching underperforming referees. So be it.
Eventually when enough complaints are filed. Or enough referees are benched. The attention will shift to those in charge. And they too can see themselves out.
Missed penalty USA vs Canada just now that VAR didn't ask for a OFR. If anyone is watching the game - thoughts?
ReplyDeleteFor me the most appropriate decision should be an offensive foul before the penalty - there was some pulling by the Canadian player. BUT... If Escobedo has actually seen this and decided PLAY ON, then the non-penalty decision is a HUGE and UNBELIEVABLE mistake by both the referee and VAR.
DeleteAgree with you - I think the pulling that happened prior should have been called. But since there was no foul called, and it is outside the jurisdiction of VAR, surely they had to review the following incident in the PA? On field call was a corner kick, not the foul!
DeleteBut the pull would still be considered in the APP.
DeleteAgree, although since the referee didn't see it wouldn't it have been better to simply go to OFR to have the referee decide both incidents? He clearly thought it wasn't a foul - hence the corner kick.
DeleteAnother possibility - was the contact outside the PA?
I'll admit that this was an interesting situation, but the original scope of VAR asks the question here "was it a clear and obvious error to not award a penalty kick?" not "was it a clear and obvious error foul on the attacker in the penalty area?". Those are two slightly different questions. I would probably say the potential foul in the buildup meant it wasn't a clear and obvious error to not award Canada penalty kick.
DeleteHa-ha-ha... So, actually by 2 mistakes you are saying 'no mistake'? I cannot disagree more.
DeleteImagine that. A Mexican referee giving the US a hand.
DeleteQueue up Geiger (Panama vs Mexico) flashbacks.
Move along folks. Nothing to see here. Just another case of "The CONCACAF Way".
Streamable link:
Deletehttps://streamable.com/tzi822
Another example of "The CONCACAF Way". Add it to the ver growing list. Because that's the type of "TACKLE" that any NFL or Rugby player would be proud of.
DeleteAnd here I am thinking that this was soccer/futbol/calcio/football.
Clear penalty, without taking the possible foul prior to that incident into consideration. Needless to say something about CONCACAF's vision of refereeing - condemnable for me.
DeleteWasn't that a push just now? What's the threshold for a penalty kick?
ReplyDeleteIMO this situation depends on the referee - so, for sure not a VAR thing. For me personally a little bit soft for a penalty.
DeleteSurprise surprise. USA wins and secures the top spot in their group.
ReplyDeleteAnybody want to bet that Mexico will also win later tonight and secure top spot in their group.?
These results would ensure that a USA v Mexico match doesn't happen until the Final.
#CONCACAF'd
Why even mention the missed PK in favor of Canada that could've changed things. There's no need since it would have been BAD for business.
I'm sure our users will treat this comment with the contempt it deserves.
DeleteOh Mikael, it shows how little you know or understand how CONCACAF works behind scenes.
DeleteBut you do you (no matter the ever growing evidence to the contrary) and carry on believing that all is fair, clean, and just within CONCACAF.
OT:
ReplyDeleteThe Liga MX Cup of Champions is currently being played in Carson, California. The FMF keeps the correct idea in using it's own referees for this match. In the past MLS/PRO referees were used just because the match was played on US soil. Needless to say, things would typically not end well thanks to the overly lenient/permissive officiating.
REF: Luis Enrique Santander Aguirre
AR1: CHRISTIAN KIABEK ESPINOSA ZAVALA
AR2: Jose Ibrahim Martinez Chavarria
4TH: Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava
All four referees have their FIFA Badge and are on the current FIFA List.
What a great performance by Saíd Martínez in the Mexico vs. El Salvador game - wow! Honduran referee was always on top of the incidents, his foul recognition flawless, and he synthesised verbal warnings and sanctions quite perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAreas for development would be getting more of a grip on Mexico's slow restarts (both with disciplinary measures and additional time), and he missed two very clear cautions at the beginning of the 2H.
But in general - very impressed by this twenty-nine(!) year old referee from Honduras. A very pleasant surprise indeed :)
https://fromsmash.com/mexslvmartinez
Good and correctly given early (2nd min) yellow card. But then to quote the TV announcers, "he forgot that he had cards". He finally "remembered" a whopping 61 minutes later.
DeleteHow come I never wind up watching very closely the games that you are complimentary of!? XD
DeleteThe competition between Martinez and Barton is very intriguing to follow. They’re at very similar points in their careers.
The two penalty area incidents from the USA CAN game (I included the pull in the first video so you get the full picture):
ReplyDelete1: https://streamable.com/pxgdpa
2: https://streamable.com/ktvuxm
In reply to the announcers question, "in what world is that not a PK?"
DeleteIn the CONCACAF(usa) world it's not a PK.
If Escobedo and VAR weren't willing to call the crystal clear first PK for Canada. That slight push in the second clip had no chance at being called.
Delete1 is clearly outside the penalty area. And how is a player careless or more if he is losing balance naturally? Anyway it was outside.
DeleteOutside?
DeleteYou can literally see the footprint left by the Canadian player on the white penalty line where his foot was when he began to be tackled down. But I guess you can't make somebody see the truth when they obviously refuse to see it.
The contact was outside. Footprint? Learn how things work. The contact was on the calf. Footprint has nothing to do with where the contact was. But I guess you can’t make somebody see the truth when they don’t know where the contact was.
DeleteVG, I would agree with you. But then we would both be wrong.
DeleteAnonymous, unlike you, knows exactly "how things work". He correctly states that the Canadian players foot(also the majority of his upper body) is on the penalty area line when the contact is made. And even a rookie referee knows that the line is considered part of/inside the penalty area. Furthermore, that's a "continuous foul" which may have started outside the penalty area. But it most definitely continued into the penalty area. Thus making it a penalty kick.
Two RCs for DOGSO issued by Ismael Cornejo in the Martinique - Haiti game.
ReplyDelete56' [after OFR; YC original call]
https://streamable.com/2faoay
78'
https://streamable.com/1hwgq2
56': More DOGSO than SPA, but was it completely clear, that the attacker would have reached the ball before the GK? With the general high line for intervention, I would have preferred no OFR
Delete78' is correct IMO.
BTW, the white stain (print?, glue?) on the Red Card doesn't look good.
Regarding the first incident,in my opinion correct by VAR to intervene, only question can be about reaching ball, but I think without foul attacker would have controlled it before keeper.
DeleteYC seems to be a clear and evident mistake.
Second case: RC is correct, DOGSO, some doubts about the call, maybe soft... correct by VAR to support.
I agree with Philipp here.
DeleteIn the first scene I prefer a RC; the position is clearly DOGSO-like but the ball control leaves some doubts about the clearness of the incident.
The second scene is a quite clear RC for me.
Nitpick and overly dissect anything and everything just to not give a Red Card. Stop shying away from showing RED. It's going to be okay if they use it. If it wasn't, referees wouldn't have it at their disposal.
DeleteIt's just the CONCACAF Logo that is printed on the cards that the referees are given. Said logo doesn't take away any effectiveness of the cards. It is what it is.
Match: Suriname vs Guadeloupe
ReplyDeleteReferee:Fernando GUERRERO (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1:Micheal BARWEGEN (Canada)
Assistant Referee 2:William ARRIETA (Costa Rica)
Fourth Official:Jose TORRES (Puerto Rico)
VAR:David GANTAR (Canada)
AVAR:Tatiana GUZMAN (Nicaragua)
Match:Costa Rica vs Jamaica
Referee:Mario ESCOBAR (Guatemala)
Assistant Referee 1: Caleb WALES (Trinidad and Tobago)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Fourth Official:Diego MONTAÑO (Mexico)
VAR:Arturo CRUZ (Mexico)
AVAR:Armando VILLARREAL (USA)
Match:Honduras vs Qatar
Referee:Jair MARRUFO (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Frank ANDERSON (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn NESBITT (USA)
Fourth Official:Nima SAGHAFI (USA)
VAR:Tim FORD (USA)
AVAR:Daneon PARCHMENT (Jamaica)
Match:Panama vs Grenada
Referee:Cesar RAMOS (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto MORIN (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2: Jassett KERR (Jamaica)
Fourth Official:Drew FISCHER (Canada)
VAR:Angel MONROY (Mexico)
AVAR:Leon BARAJAS (Mexico)
Hmmm, no Ricardo Montero. Interesting. Interesting indeed.
DeleteOh well ;)
Montero should be on his way home after his poor display in the opening match. There are lots of other referees who performed much better.
Delete+1
DeleteWhy is that “interesting”? There are 19 referees at this tournament, for only 24 group stage games. Plenty of referees will only get 1 group stage game, this is not atypical. Stop reading too much into this with your own agenda.
DeleteIt took an eternity for CONCACAF's VAR system to start to be used in a somewhat acceptable manner.
ReplyDeleteBut it seems that VAR interventions for missed SFP or VC incidents are happening more regularly as demanded by the LoTG.
However, VAR interventions for missed PK's is still a work in progress.
Interesting, it was the same VAR who had no reactions in the opening match...
DeleteMaybe all the negative feedback and outright hate that CONCACAF as an Organization has been receiving. Finally forced the Referee Committee to come back to reality and adopt a "sane", common sense, and good for the game approach to refereeing.
DeleteI'm just happy that David Gantar(CAN) is stuck behind a monitor and not out on the pitch where he would endanger the physical well being of players.
DeleteAn American referee assigned to a game which will determine what team Mexico will face in Quarterfinals.
ReplyDeleteCONCACAF never learns from its mistakes.
Seriously, what is the problem with that?
DeleteIf you don't understand the CONCACAF way. Then I can't help you.
DeleteBy this standard in American or Mexican referee basically couldn't work the quarterfinals or afterwards. You have one of the most experienced referees in concacaf who has worked at the world cup assigned to a quarterfinal match. There is nothing controversial at all about this.
DeleteIn fact you could probably argue that the referee being of Mexican descent from a Mexican FIFA referee is more of a issue than him being american.
Predictiones for GOLD CUP QUARTERFINALS
ReplyDeleteQATAR - EL SALVADOR
Referee: Adonai ESCOBEDO (MEX)
Assistant Referees: Miguel HERNÁNDEZ (MEX), Alberto MORIN (MEX)
Fourth: Fernando GUERRERO (MEX)
MEXICO - HONDURAS
Referee: Jair MARRUFO (USA)
Assistant Referees: Corey ROCKWELL (USA), Henri PUPIRO (NCA)
Fourth: Armando VILLAREAL (USA)
COSTA RICA - CANADA
Referee: Daneon PARCHMENT (JAM)
Assistant Referees: Nicholas ANDERSON (JAM), Geovany GARCIA (SLV)
Fourth: Bakary GASSAMA (GAM)
USA - JAMAICA
Referee: Ricardo MONTERO (CRC)
Assistant Referees: Juan Carlos MORA (CRC), Roney SALINAS (HON)
Fourth: Said MARTINEZ (HON)
SEMIFINALS
QATAR (pred.) - USA (pred.)
Referee: Bakary GASSAMA (GAM)
Assistant Referees: Djibril CAMARA (SEN), Mike BARWEGEN (CAN)
Fourth Official: Daneon PARCHMENT (JAM)
MEXICO - COSTA RICA (pred.)
Referee: Said MARTINEZ (HON)
Assistant Referees: Christian RAMIREZ (HON), Juan ZUMBA (SLV)
Fourth Official: Mario ESCOBAR (GUA)
FINAL:
MEX-USA pred.
Mario ESCOBAR (GUA)
Juan Carlos MORA (CRC)
Nicholas ANDERSON (JAM)
Said MARTINEZ (HON)
Christian RAMIREZ (HON)
Seems CONCACAF didn't like your assignments.
DeleteGold Cup Quarterfinal matches to be played on Saturday, July 24, 2021
ReplyDeleteMatch: QATAR vs EL SALVADOR
Referee: Fernando HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 1: Michel MORALES (Mexico)
Assistant Referee 2: Henri PUPIRO (Nicaragua)
Fourth Official: Fernando GUERRERO (Mexico)
VAR: Arturo CRUZ (Mexico)
AVAR: Juan RANGEL (Mexico)
Match: MEXICO vs HONDURAS
Referee: Mario ESCOBAR (Guatemala)
Assistant Referee 1: Caleb WALES (Trinidad and Tobago)
Assistant Referee 2: Logan BROWN (USA)
Fourth Official: Oshane NATION (Jamaica)
VAR: Allen CHAPMAN (USA)
AVAR: Tatiana GUZMAN (Nicaragua)