Stéphanie Frappart to officiate the crucial game between Costa Rica and Germany and Victor Gomes to referee Japan - Spain are under focus this evening in group E decisive ties. Let's see how they will perform.
JAPAN - SPAIN
Referee: Victor Gomes (RSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Thusi Siwela (RSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Souru Pathsoane (LES)
Fourth Official: Salima Mukansanga (RWA)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Malick El Hadji Samba (SEN)
Video Assistant Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Adil Zourak (MAR)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Taran (URU)
Game 44 - Al Khor (20:00 CET)
COSTA RICA - GERMANY
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Neuza Back (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Karen Diaz Medina (MEX)
Fourth Official: Said Martinez (HON)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Walter Lopez (HON)
Video Assistant Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Jerome Brisard (FRA)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Corey Parker (USA)
Good evening, this is the first time I write here, but I often read your articles, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering why FIFA didn't call up a complete female team (for example Frappart and her two ARs).. Here we have a referee from UEFA, an AR from CONCACAF and the other one from CONMEBOL. It seems FIFA WC 2002...
Indeed, I was thinking about that. And also, FIFA has been lamentable in developing women VAR. And that does not seem to change.
DeleteI think it will take time before we get there. Glad they gave an important match to a female team of officials. As people get used to seeing this, maybe women teams will be called up in the future.
ReplyDeleteFor now, I celebrate this small step forward, hoping it becomes the norm eventually.
Good offside call by AR, facinating facial expression 4'
ReplyDeleteGood call, bad facial expression.
DeleteMaybe in the future we will se mixed WC...
ReplyDeleteExcept men,we will also see women's national team ,that would be fun,wouldn't it?
Confident body language so far from Frappart.
ReplyDeleteOT: Does anyone know what FIFA's alleged new policy regarding referees means for the Women's World Cup? Will we see mixed teams there too?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, we'll even see male referees in the WWC? Equality, you know...
Delete(No.)
We've seen plenty of them as VAR, while hardly any women are trained in the VAR booth. Meanwhile, one woman team at a men's World Cup does not make equality.
DeleteGood offside now by AR1 7'
ReplyDeleteGomes with a game on his hands. Looks like it will be competitive--at least for a time.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if we can find somewhere fitness statistics regarding referees similar to these presented on fifa website regarding the players?
ReplyDeleteIncredible missed corner kick
ReplyDeletePoor movement from the assistant 2 at 17:30'
DeleteWTF ! The ball was out ! Missed by AR2
ReplyDeleteWhich match?
DeleteMin 1 meter. Ar2 too slowly. Incredible not to see that
Delete@Spanishref : Costa Rica - Germany
DeleteShe had to come from very far. Don't think you can really blame her. But should have seen that even from her possition.
DeleteMissed CornerKick by AR2, 1/2m over the line. I think very difficult to spot for AR an R. 17'
ReplyDeleteNow correctly applied delayed flag by AR2, then a good decision by Frappart to give advantage.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful teamwork by Team Frappart at 24': Through ball for Germany, assistant delays flag, raises it as the GK kicks the ball away. Frappart recognises the tactical advantage to Costa Rica, and play continues. Excellent (and reassuring for a team unused to working together).
ReplyDeleteAbsolutly agree. I wanted to post something about that. Really liked that advantage
DeleteAnd another well delayed flag at 26', again by AR2. And again, given the prolonged German attack, no doubt the decision to raise the flag was taken in collaboration with Frappart, seamlessly so. Well done.
Delete25' Good advantage by Frappart on offside by GER
ReplyDeleteSampaio will referee NED-USA
ReplyDeleteSecond time NED this tournament
DeleteIf I saw right flagged offside by assistant in CRCGER 24' ended up not being given by frappart. Rightly so as an advantage.
ReplyDeleteMarciniak in ARG-AUS
ReplyDeleteEscobar as 4th official
DeleteMissed yc for foul on Gavi
ReplyDelete+1. Gomes really trying to keep his cards in his pockets tonight.
DeleteFinally the card comes out.
DeleteFrappart showing incredible fitness. She is smaller than the players in stature, but she is constantly moving and adapting to play and is always near the action. Bravo !
ReplyDeleteIndeed :))
DeleteCorrect YC for JPN4 (reckless challenge)
ReplyDeleteWrong offside by AR2 Diaz
ReplyDeleteFrappart has been excellent so far, though her AR2 has had 2 poor decisions
ReplyDeleteSorry, but AR2 is far from convincing tonight… Now, a wrong offside flag against Germany, about 1 meter no offside position. Frappart is very solid but AR2 with some blatant mistakes.
ReplyDeleteAR2 in CRCCER not on WC level. Sorry to say that. Totally wrong offside flag after missed 1 m ball outside the pitch
ReplyDeleteAR2 on CRCGER not good today
ReplyDeleteRidiculous YC decision for Yoshida in 45'
ReplyDeleteCorrect YC for reckless challenge for JPN3, but later a wrong one for JPN22 (barely a foul, deceived by Morata's scream)
ReplyDeleteSo far both matches have been very "cagey"/straight forward for the most part.
ReplyDeleteFrappart has been very good. Fitness excellent and her decisions good and well accepted by tha players. She is being let down somewhat by AR2.
ReplyDeleteA bit Barton being let down by his ARs
Easy game for Frappart with 2 easy to handle teams and no critical situstions.
ReplyDeleteThey should have assigned Nesbitt. She's consistently been a top performing AR in MLS.
ReplyDeleteSolid first half by Frappart. She was not faultless, honestly speaking I miss a clear line in foul detection, but nothing major to report. Full control of the very fair match. Her fitness is impressive, that is definitely something to mention: very quick, good positioning. But, as already mentioned before, AR2 is overpowering, maybe too movitated and therefore lacking in concentration. She missed a clear corner kick for Germany. What I find more important is the wrong offside call. Sorry to say, but it is not acceptable to flag for an offside position if the attacker is about one meter behind the defender… It spoils the overall good performance by Frappart.
ReplyDeleteSo far so good for Frappart. Not challenged at all.
ReplyDeleteWhen did AR2 last have a match?
ReplyDeleteHardly best preparation is it.
OOh Gomes will have a challenging 2nd half!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame AR2 for giving a goal kick there though. Very, very close!
DeleteVery long check to see if ball in/out before goal. Goal given. Interesting one one of the replays shown it looked like it was out.
ReplyDeleteAfter very long check to see if ball in/out before goal, goal is given. On one of the replays shown it looked like it was out.
ReplyDeleteBut it was a very tight decision.
DeleteThat ball looked out, but I trust that VAR have got it right
ReplyDeleteBoth teams will be under pressure for the remainder of the match. Let's see how they handle it.
ReplyDeleteHave we already been shown the ultimate proof which VAR used to overturn the on field decision in Japan-Spain? We cannot be denied that IMHO.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dramatic night in WC history. We will remember this many many years later
ReplyDeleteI would surmise referees have been told to avoid YC as much as possible in the final round, as they can be a tiebreaker. After Germany's 2-2, Havertz could very well have merited a YC for inciting the confrontation. Lucky.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he really did a lit wrong. So YC would be harsh. I think good desicion managment wise to keep it in the pocket. Booking both is a bit useless I think. Deffinatly because there wasn't really a lit going on.
DeleteExcellent onside by AR1 Back
ReplyDeleteSmall confrontation after 2-2 in CRC-GER. I don't think very convincing by Frappart. Is difficult of course with them towering over her. But did the right thing by feeling interfering wasn't going to work, and giving warnings. But warning should have been to costa rican player and not Havertz i think.
ReplyDeleteNo, it was a good management. As it was GER who scored the goal, the kick-off is for CRC and the ball should be in their possession.
DeleteFully correct yc by Frappart to CRC. Almost orange card IMO
ReplyDeleteWich time, I must have missed it.
Delete77' the attack right before the save from Navas. German player tackled off the ball by CRC #6 on the midfield
DeleteFrappart is in charge, but her foul detection, as I have already mentioned in the first half, is simply not good. I do not see any line to be honest.
ReplyDelete+1 about foul detection.
DeleteI didn't really see a problem with it to be honest.
DeleteNot impressed by Gomes tonight. Getting sucked in by the play acting of Spain.
ReplyDeleteShould say of both teams, not just Spain
DeleteRodri blatant YC missed
ReplyDeleteVery poor offside call by AR1 Neuza Back right now...
ReplyDeleteI strongly disagree with this characterization of the cal as “very poor.” It’s an extremely challenging offside call with the attacker and the defender criss-crossing at high speeds, and even still, the freeze frame indicates the difference was not that large, maybe about a yard.
DeleteWrongly disallowed goal by AR1
ReplyDeleteI do not know what AR1 saw in CRC-GER to be honest… Where was the offside position?
ReplyDeleteMaybe shoulder?
DeleteOh, Frappart‘s headset did not work…
ReplyDeleteFrappart has a failing microphone and earpiece, it appears.
ReplyDeleteLot of problems with the comms systems today. Both games I have watched today have had problems with them. Not good for advertising for Riedel
ReplyDeleteWhere is the VAR angle for ball over the line. What a terrible comms episode from FIFA
ReplyDeleteGood performance by Frappart in quite football focused match. ARs not convincing.
ReplyDeleteIMO:
Frappart 8,4
Back 7,9 (8,4)
Medina 8,2 (-0,1 for wrong offside, -0,1 for missed corner)
AR's of Frappart's team... What a terrible in FWC level... Sorry Mr. Collina... It's not shot on goal...
ReplyDeleteThe evidence used to award the goal to Japan.
ReplyDeletehttps://i.imgur.com/UlyJ9Rs.jpg
I still don't think the on field crew appears to really make a decision though which is a big issue.
In my opinion, quite good match for Frappart but not convincing match by the ARs.
ReplyDeleteA question: which were in your opinion some outstanding performance from ARs in World Cup matches? Irmatov ARs in 2010? Rizzoli ARs in ESP-NED 2014? These were very challenging matches. CRC-GER I don't think
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/albertocosin/status/1598422640099631104
ReplyDeleteAnalysis of JPNESP
ReplyDeleteKey match incident:
51' Goal disallowed by AR2, given after VAR intervention.
I will be quick and resume my thoughts with these words: Thanks VAR. Such infinitely tight calls to make needs a frame by frame cut, to be done by a sophisticated machine. You simply can't rely on human eye to decide. Furthermore it was located on the opposite side of AR2's position, with the posts and a Japanese player blocking his view. Simply impossible.
Overview:
To be totally honest, I wasn't convinced by Gomes performance tonight. The biggest problem of his officiating was a rather weak disciplinary line. He missed two crystal clear cautions in 32' (reckless step on foot) and 82' (blatant simulation), while issuing a plain wrong caution in 45' (for a foul which is nowhere near reckless). YCs in 39' and 44' (reckless challenges) were goods picks though.
One can argue about a borderline charging offense in 55' as well, where the South African was quick in allowing the doctors' intervention considering the contact occured in the head area, but missed the plot: not appropriately punishing the guilty player at least with a strong verbal warning (if not with a booking, which wouldn't have been unwarranted), and with a poor management of dissenting players.
He correclty rejected a penalty appeal in 74' (no foul at all), and let the game flow as often as possible (5',13',31',62',75'). Gomes' tactic and game plan was clear: stay in the background, using his cards to maintain control in potentially heated moments.
This lenient and quite passive showing worked in some extend: the game was under control from the beginning to the FT whistle.
However if we take a closer look at precise incidents during the game, it was quite erratic at times.
AR1 had a calm evening (only an interesting quick flag on 25' for a quite tight offside), and AR2 was unchallenged besides the impossible 51' call.
Marks:
Victor Gomes - 6
Zakhele Thusi Siwela - 7
Souru Pathsoane - 7
Fernando Guerrero - III
Agree with this, was not impressed by Gomes tonight, missed some mandatory YC's and then gave fouls when in some cases where there was 0 contact.
DeleteI agree too, and can also admit that I definitely expected more from him. There's a certain limit on how lenient you can be regarding disciplinary line. However, as you stated, no problems in control whatsoever.
DeleteI think you are missing the two 6th minute missed offside calls and the one at 9 minutes as well. No way should AR2 be near a 7 for this
DeleteNot to mention the bizarre mechanics on the goal incident where he failed to provide any signal at all…
DeleteGoalline angle:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamja.com/gwAWv
Is this authentic footage or a simulated animation (it looks a bit computerized to me)? If this angle was available for VAR I think the review shouldn’t have taken over 3 minutes. And remarkable that it was not shown during the match.
DeleteIn Japan, a person at KINEXON, a company that develops a sensor chip function placed in a ball, explains in the media that the technology is used in this scene. I don't know how much the VAR actually believed it and how much they checked the video evidence.
DeleteIs there any actual evidence that AR2 raised his flag on the Japan goal? The TV pundits here keep saying so, but I didn’t see it.
ReplyDeleteChapeau to Stéphanie Frappart !
ReplyDeleteAfter many doubts about her ability to handle a WC match, she proved tonight that she has nothing to envy to many officials in this World Cup. I read on this blog that this appointment was not based on meritocracy, but certain officials from Zambia or New Zealand would be well advised to take inspiration from her performance.
Congratulations !
Then FIFA should save her for semifinal and potential Argentina vs Brazil match,if she is to be example to some other refs...
DeleteI don't think many people doubted if she could handle it. It was more about her category, experience and the fact that there are so many other referees who are not there or are only 4th officials because of the fact that this was a gender thing.
DeleteShe handled the most difficult game in the world! Best referee this year no doubt!
DeleteBravo Frappart. Good
DeleteWell, actually we saw what you call "experienced referees" (without Supercup or WWC final experience but anyway) struggle in this WC, with absolutely incredible mistakes (Conger violating VAR protocol, Sikazwe whistling an offside from a back pass, Makkelie with a phantom penalty, Faghani with a phantom penalty, etc.).
DeleteI'm not comparing Frappart with Faghani or Makkelie, but I just say that she deserved a chance. She was excellent yesterday, and gave a better image of refereeing than what we saw since the beginning of this WC.
But one must also conclude that she was quite unchallenged yesterday. She didn't invent e penalty or make a crucial mistake out of nothing but she also had the luck not to be confronted with very difficult situations, borderline RC offences for example.
DeleteSo she did a good job, but excellent ist too much for me. Fot that it was a far too easy match.
How can you mention the super cup as any sort of experience? She was given that as a token, literally her first UEFA men’s game… it was not a sign of any qualifications like it usually is.
DeleteExactly Cassius! It’s really comparing apples to oranges. Are we to assume that the referees mentioned would’ve made a mess out of a football focused game with no tight KMI?
DeleteThe referees from Zambia and New Zealand earned their way here through the normal process. The appointment of Frappart is like giving Senegal's place in the Round of 16 to Italy.
DeleteThis continued attitude of calling criticism of this irregular appointment sexist is damaging at all levels. It destroys the motivation and morale of ALL referees who know even more that advancement is politics over merit. It undermines the real achievements of good women referees. And it also creating a bad attitude in some of the young women where they can do no wrong because anyone who says otherwise is doing so out of sexism.
My impressions upon watching the games:
ReplyDeleteFrappart did fine in a very (and quite surprisingly, given what happened with the scoreline at times) football-focused match that didn’t ask too much from her. One wrong offside call I noticed by each assistant: Diaz in the 42nd minute (which was not a totally straightforward call, but she should really be getting it right), and Back in the 89th (highly difficult call, I don’t fault her at all for putting the flag up. Attacker and defender criss-crossing at high speed with lots of lateral distance between them, and it still winds up being within ~a yard of offside on the freeze frame). My only critique is that there were a few management opportunities after Germany’s 2-2 and 4-2 goals that she didn’t really do much with.
Frappart succeeded by not creating any mistakes out of nothing in an easy game. Gomes, unfortunately, was the exact opposite.
It started off very poorly for AR2 Pathsoane with two obvious missed offsides in the 6th minute, followed up by another bad miss in the 9th minute. Gomes gave a soft yellow card to Japan at 42’ (perhaps this was for PO or something, so I won’t fault him for it), and then a simply wrong foul call and caution(!!!) at minute 43 when the replays indicated there was no contact. Similarly, in the 83rd minute he gave a wrong free kick for Japan after a “hold” for which there was barely a graze if the fingertips across the jersey.
The big call in the 50th minute was correct after a long but objective video review that did not require Gomes to view the monitor. The ball is clearly still in play, another mistake by AR2 Pathsoane, though one can understand how he misperceived it on the field. Very weird mechanics from him and Gomes though, it was not apparent what decision they made on the field.
In short, Gomes created mistakes out of nothing in an easier-than-average game whose only real difficulties were a few fouling tendencies in Japan. His AR2 Pathsoane deserves a failing grade for making many mistakes that are just not World Cup material.
Interesting language: ball is "clearly" in--even though it took VAR 3 minutes--so another MISTAKE for AR2 Pathsoane vs "not a totally straightforward call"--which was definitely simple IF she was in position--for AR2 Diaz + no mention of missed corner where ball was a meter out.
DeleteI should clarify when I say clearly: I mean that it is clear after looking at the image from the goal line camera. It is very close, but unambiguously in. I’m not trying to criticize Pathsoane for missing this call, however his mechanics in this incident should be criticized.
DeleteAnd good point about the missed corner, I forgot about that one.
I should clarify when I say clearly: I mean that it is clear after looking at the image from the goal line camera. It is very close, but unambiguously in. I’m not trying to criticize Pathsoane for missing this call, however his mechanics in this incident should be criticized.
DeleteAnd good point about the missed corner, I forgot about that one.
I'm going to be the one to disagree with most (not all) in regard to Frappart. Today we saw the same Frappart we've seen time and time again. The only difference was that there were men on the pitch and it was a World Cup match.
ReplyDeleteWe saw a Frappart who has poor foul recognition. Mostly because of her bad positioning on the pitch. Because of this she never truly develops a clear line. No doubt that she's a very fit referee, but she puts herself in positions that make it difficult to properly judge duels/challenges. She's at a point in her career where if she hasn't changed by now, she never will.
I totally agree with you. I reiterated the same impression during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022. Her foul detection is dubious at best and her handball decisions are erroneous. However, any ref needs a fair portion of good luck.
DeleteShe is fit as hell, but too slow in general. Compare her movement and speed to other referees regardless of gender
DeleteAnalysis of CRCGER
ReplyDeleteKey match incidents:
21', 28', 55' - https://streamable.com/opo5nf
Although Stéphanie Frappart issued three very good preventative warnings before set pieces (3', 27', 30'), three off-the-ball penalty area incidents occurred after which GER players more or less appealed for a penalty being awarded. Only after the first such incident a replay was shown and there was a mutual holding initiated by a GER player anyway, so definitely no-penalty was the optimal call. As for another two scenes, studying the footage I can't find any offence by CRC players.
36', 68' - https://streamable.com/rr69hb
Two very risky late tackles by CRC players in their penalty area but fortunately for them no contact / offence occurred. Another two good no-penalty decisions by Frappart.
84' - https://streamable.com/23hpuv
Play-on call initiating APP at Germany's third goal. Unfortunately, no replay was shown and therefore impossible to be 100% sure about no offence. I hope that the communication with VAR worked well at that point and everything had been cleared by Fischer.
89' - https://streamable.com/dpxipn
Fourth Germany's goal, initially disallowed for offside, allowed after VAR intervention (through fourth official due to communication system failure) - no offside. AR1 Neuza Inês Back had quite a difficult situation in front of her due to contrary movements of the players but I would say that at a WC level he should've spotted the onside position of GER player. Not a tooooo big mistake though.
Overview:
Unexpectedly, the game become a real challenge for Stéphanie Frappart who really convinced and surely passed a very important exam for women's refereeing!
I liked her preventative (and a little bit theatrical) approach at set pieces (3', 27', 30') and the ability to easily connect with players (20'). Her fitness is on an outstanding level as well.
She was very focused and alert:
- excellent advantages after offside flag by AR2 (24'), after a reckless impeding by 6CRC (76', YC shown afterwards) and in 82' - why not signalling all of them with gesture though?!
- assessing penalty area incidents (36', 68')
- delaying offside calls (8' too early flag by AR1, 26')
- at kick-off prior to 2H.
I disagree with comments stating that the foul detection was weak in this game. On contrary, it was surely not worse than most of other referees at this tournament. She started rather strictly, allowing more in the later stages of the game.
Both assistant referees - AR1 Neuza Inês Back from Brazil and AR2 Karen Janet Díaz Medina from Mexico - were quite challenged in this game. Back was too quick with flagging for offside in 8' and wrongly perceived offside in 89' what led to GER goal being wrongly disallowed at first. Díaz made two bad mistakes, not spotting the ball clearly crossing the line in 18' and flagging for non-existent offside in 42'. Good onside call at CRC goal in 69' and well delayed flag for offside in 26' though.
In spite of media attention and strongly differing views this appointment caused, Madame Frappart took the chance to promote refereeing among girls/women and surely passed the exam very well! It all went even better than FIFA expected, in my opinion, as I'm sure FIFA (Referees Committee) hoped for an easy-going one-sided game while making this appointment. But it's really good for the French that the game turned out to be a real challenge as she coped with it really well. Less so the assistant referees though.
Marks:
Stéphanie Frappart - 8
Neuza Back - 5
Karen Díaz - 5
Drew Fischer - III
Thanks for this report, in my opinion at WC level the fourth goal should have been confirmed live, the mistake is important because player was always ONSIDE, in such situations assistant referees must be clever, and raising the flag only when 100% sure, in my opinion it is a classic situation in which to keep flag down. We saw worse calls, for sure, but this one was not good.
DeleteAbout Frappart indeed a good game for her and not an easy game also due to the goals and the big emotions during the 90 and more minutes. What I don't like is the use of warnings before corners, free kicks and so on. It seems useless: indeed incidents happened even after the words spent by Frappart. Players must know by themselves what to do and what not. In case they disagree, they can be punished. Not clear penalties in all situations you posted. And about the possible foul before goal by Germany, very strange and particular situation, based on what we see absolutely impossible to understand why COsta Rica player falls down, I don't see any action by opponent, so I would say OK by Frappart to play on, but at the same time I really can't understand what exactly happened. I really hate when there are these situations before goals and since broadcaster are not refereeing expert, they don't send replays about the incident, but they start after with the last passes before the goal. But I think we can be sure VAR checked it.
Analysis of CANMAR
ReplyDeleteGood performance by Raphael Claus and his whole crew in the quite challenging Canada vs. Morocco tie - this Brazilian team should/will be able to access a third appmnt in the KO stage after two solid showings thus far. The most interesting situation was a disallowed goal just before halftime, comparable to scenes from NEDECU and BELMAR matches. Sth more detailed to follow after the earlier games today!
7 - 7 - 7 - (III)
Full clips: https://fromsmash.com/clausclipscanmar
DeleteDisallowed goal: https://streamable.com/qx5nji
Correct (and well-collaborated with his assistant, Danilo Manis) to disallow Morocco a third goal at +48’, referee Raphael Claus and his teammates ensured a second good performance at Qatar 2022 and surely secured themselves a next appmnt (in my idea they could take a QF). The opening YC, an immediate one at 7’, was a really good call, and disciplinary control was overall a strength of the Brazilian’s performance in this game - closely patrolling all incidents.
That being said, there were some more doubtful elements to this performance too:
- does Claus really succeed in dealing with the 29’ dissent? Not really IMO.
- missed caution at 43’ for reckless treading by problem-player Canada no.2 (also 47’ scene about stamps)
- it WORKED and was well-judged for this game, but 81’ DtR mgmt was rather chaotic…
————> OVERALL though, Claus did a very sound job for sure. All Morocco games have been difficult thus far, and by a *long* distance, Claus’s performance has been the best of the three Americas officials whom have faced them in the GS With strong linesman at his side, we can expect to see some more of Raphael Claus at the Qatari WC - and deservedly so.