Fernando Rapallini had a successful UEFA EURO 2020, and he returns for this World Cup officiating another European side - Morocco vs. Croatia for the Argentine. After Joel Aguilar, a Salvadorian also returns to the top FIFA stage, Barton refs Germany's tie with Japan. Meanwhile, 'MAHM' will reencounter Costa Rica again after the controversial playoff, and Sikazwe will reencounter the spotlights after the infamous Tunisia vs. Mali affair - where the Zambian suffered from heatstroke in the midday sun.
Game 9 - Al-Khor (11:00 CET)
MOROCCO - CROATIA
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Pablo Belatti (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Bonfá (ARG)
Fourth Official: Kevin Ortega (PER)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Karen Díaz (MEX)
Video Assistant Referee: Julio Bascuñán (CHI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Leodan González (URU)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Nicolás Taran (URU)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Martín Soppi (URU)
Game 10 - Ar-Rayyan (14:00 CET)
GERMANY - JAPAN
Referee: Iván Barton (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: David Morán (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Zachari Zeegelaar (SUR)
Fourth Official: Said Martínez (HON)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Helpys Raymundo Feliz (DOM)
Video Assistant Referee: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Katheryn Nesbitt (USA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mahmoud Abouelregal (EGY)
Game 11 - Doha (17:00 CET)
SPAIN - COSTA RICA
Referee: Mohammed Abdullah Hassan Mohamed (UAE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE)
Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE)
Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Shi Xiang (CHN)
Video Assistant Referee: Abdulla Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Muhammad Taqi (SIN)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Bruno Pires (BRA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Taleb Al Marri (QAT)
Game 12 - Ar-Rayyan (20:00 CET)
BELGIUM - CANADA
Referee: Janny Sikazwe (ZAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (ANG)
Assistant Referee 2: Arsénio Marengula (MOZ)
Fourth Official: Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Neuza Back (BRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Soto (VEN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)
Morocco plays against Croatia :)
ReplyDeleteThx :) - you can see that Chefren and not me is the maître for appointments! :DDDDD
DeleteThanks Mikael, you are very kind!
DeleteQuite expected assignment for Rapallini, Croatia still favorite side, but something can be challenging in this game.
A potential Morocco - Canada would have been by far a below expectations assignment for the Argentinian.
At this point, I think we could see either an African or Conger in Belgium - Canada.
So looks like my assessment of Martinez vs Barton was different from FIFA’s view.
ReplyDeleteWith Martinez and Ortega (at least) repeating as fourth officials twice in three days, it seems quite likely that those appointed as fourth officials are support referees who will not see the field. I wonder if there will be any exceptions to this.
I expected a Concacaf ref in GERJPN but I thought FIFA would play it a bit safer by appointing Escobar or Elfath.
ReplyDeleteSaid Martinez should be indeed the reserve referee from CONCACAF.
ReplyDeleteAfter Elfath and Ramos, Escobar should be third name in the ranking, while Barton in my opinion the fourth and this is an excellent appointment. Still one could see it with European glasses and talking about a favorite team, but... Japan for sure is strong opponent.
Didn't expect such a good assignment for the referee from El Salvador.
Rapallini already had Croatia on Euro's so logical to appoint him there.
ReplyDeleteI actually had him down for Spain v Costa Rica
DeleteMohammed for ESP v CRC
ReplyDeleteSikazwe for Belgium vs Canada
ReplyDeleteSikwaze has to have a better game then his last for me. Remind him it's a 90 minute game not a 87 or 85.
ReplyDeleteOnly I remind you that that was not Sikazwe's "last" game, nor his only one. He is a very competent ref, who had the misfortune to suffer a medical emergency on the pitch. Let's not crucify him for having a health issue strike him at a very inopportune time...
DeleteIts the last one I watched with him in the middle.
Delete@smala017,if that happened why did he whistle the end 5 minutes before the end?
DeleteWhy did he not call 4th official to substitute him?
And yeah,better to remind him not only that games are 90 minutes long,but 90 minutes plus added time,he is at WC,where every mistake he makes will be seen and will be talked about.
Why are names missing in every game?
ReplyDeleteMohammed got a match to ref while Ma Ning still 4o. WHAT A JOKE!
ReplyDeleteReferee observer?
ReplyDeleteI don't like such a strict commitment to confederational neutrality. It sends the wrong message for referees who, in later rounds, will work games that violate this principle.
ReplyDeleteHonestly speaking, Mohamed‘s appointment seems very risky to me. Spain and Costa Rica are difficult to handle, I can easily imagine players from both teams mobbing the referee from the very beginning. It could be an intense match. I know not enough about Mohamed to evaluate whether the appointment is "too much" or not, but at least I would not have predicted an Arab referee for this match.
ReplyDeleteThats why I was sure someone from Conmebol will be chosen. But maybe they expect Spain to win by a landslide so they do not consider the risk being too big...!?
DeleteIs there a reason as to why Vigliano isn't Rapallini's VAR? Vigliano and Bascuñán could have been switched easily, right?
ReplyDeleteJanny sikazwe again the first match for Belgium after Belgium vs Panama in wc 2018
ReplyDeleteBarton is set up for success with this assignment. He's got two football-focused teams, that tend to play fairly, and maintain their composure.
ReplyDelete