US referee Ismail Elfath has been appointed for his third WC game, he will be in charge of Japan - Croatia in the Round of 16. We discuss here his performance.
JAPAN - CROATIA
Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)
It's interesting with how much Fischer is getting used at VAR that he isn't getting paired with his league-mate.
ReplyDeleteIt could be a matter of Fischer can direct the referees who are less strong using VAR and Elfath can tell a weaker VAR what he needs.
DeleteIt could also be politically difficult to also put Fischer on the final so no point to pairing them now.
DeleteA) I think Fischer is so versatile that he can get used elsewhere.
DeleteB) Fischer actually had 2, I believe, OFRs sent down that Elfath rejected in MLS this season. Not saying they can't work well together, but that MIGHT provide a window contrary to the idea that they are naturally on the same page.
C) It doesn't seem like FIFA is interested in "pairing" anyone past the initial assignments unless language absolutely requires it. Fischer is with Ramos instead of Guerrero, for example, when I don't think Guerrero has done anything wrong to warrant any sort of "demotion."
D) All that said, if Elfath gets a semi I kind of expect Fischer to land on it with him, despite B above. Fischer is very, very good at acting as a VAR. I'm glad FIFA has noticed this and seems to appreciate it.
I would also add that Elfath was likely a surprise inclusion for today, right? Fischer was already assigned yesterday, which meant it was difficult/impossible to include him on today's match and allow him to adequately prepare with Elfath's team.
DeleteAnd then Fischer gets rushed back out again for tomorrow. It seems like a full day's rest is required for a main VAR (as it should be).
It's also worth noting, that Fischer is the only VAR (including the AVAR roles) outside UEFA and CONMEBOL used in R16.
DeleteSo he is basically the obvious choice for any UEFA vs. CONMEBOL game occurring in the next rounds.
Yeah, I think Fischer is the obvious choice at this point for a non-UEFA/CONMEBOL VAR in the final three matches. So, if Elfath wins himself the whistle on one of those, I'm sure they'd be paired at that point.
DeleteI'd expect to see Fischer two more times after tomorrow. Possibly paired with an English referee in the QFs first.
12' Wrong goal kick.
ReplyDeleteEither a corner kick or foul by attacker.
12' YC missed for hard slide tackle that took out Croatian player and goal kick given instead. Perhaps Elfath thought ball was out of bounds at time of foul, but replay showed it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteIt was a missed foul. But not a missed yc. At Maximum a possible yc in my opinion
Delete24' YC missed
ReplyDelete30' foul and YC missed.
ReplyDeleteI really hate to go here because people are going to object because they aren't consciously aware of their biases, but I think implicit racism plays a role in the overly harsh attempts to find any faults with Elfath. Especially in a bore 0-0 draw where no fans or commentators are talking about the referee.
ReplyDeleteHim not looking or talking like the UEFA referees or the European-appearing South Americans who are favored by many does not mean he is bad. In fact, in a tournament of different cultures, that diversity is a strength that should be easily recognized when thinking objectively.
To be fair, I think Elfath is having a good tournament! Questionable penalty decision in his first game, but I for one really like his soft skills. FIFA obviously trusts him, as this is his third match.
DeleteWe can mostly agree with the soft PK to Portgual. But people have been saying he had the worst game at the entire tournament since then. That standard hasn't been applied to refs from other regions.
DeleteIt's got absolutely nothing to do with the way he looks, In-fact a lot of people have been saying prior to the tournament that he was among a strong group that were in contention for big KO games!
DeleteApart form the penalty call, he's recovered well IMHO and is very much in with a shout for further games!
Best to leave the views on diversity about this tournament way alone - as we all know how controversial the decision to host the tournament!!
If the WC was referee by commentators here It didnt have any player more (all by YC). Equal same boring sound of the English Band (recurrent in all games)
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIn my opinion the first half was a full expected level without any challenge for referee, now we can expect maybe a bit more difficult second half because Croatia must do something. But so far, nothing to say about him.
ReplyDeletePenalty?
ReplyDeleteGood no call. Attacker went down very easily after lost ball. He shut down the Croatian dissent very well too.
ReplyDeleteOne can discuss from a technical standpoint (YCs, freekick after given advantage...) but in terms of personality, being a leader, managing the players an outstanding good performance in my view. Totally accepted and respected.
ReplyDelete+1. Empathy and a smile go a long way :)
DeleteThis is what I really like on Elfaith: He seems to be very likeable person, I'd like to go for a beer with him. At the same moment he is very solid manager with clever communication with players.
DeleteWell done, a fully preserved late YC, Elfath really convinces me tiday with good foul detection, very good communication, good physics :
ReplyDeleteI wonder what was inside the tea he drank before his 1st match - the 2nd match and today he has been much much better and it might not be his last game.
It was Portuguese tea after all...
DeleteDon't worry, nobody saw the 1st match
DeleteI would not be surprised if Mr Elfath receives another appointment!!
ReplyDeleteSurely it now comes down to FIFA's level of confidence. Do they want a more difficult test on a QF or do they go direct to the final knowing he is a politically safe choice as the most popular referee of the tournament?
Delete115' Correct YC for CRO3 (reckless)
ReplyDeleteWell done from Elfath and crew. They got the offside call right on the goal and didn't have any real KMIs, but he certainly seemed to have the respect of the teams.
ReplyDeleteCroatia finally claims their World Cup penalty revenge against Japan...
ReplyDeletehttps://i.imgur.com/3CDFHFj.png
Excellent remark :) and we can add, the next game in Quarterfinals could be Brazil - Croatia again... let's wait for next match, maybe South Korea will disagree!
DeleteElfath is now a candidate for a further game, especially if FIFA wants to keep (and it seems so) the confederations rule for almost all games.
ReplyDeleteStarting from NED - ARG... but I think they could keep him even for a semifinal.
Elfath ready for 3rd place play-off. After his big fail in PORGHA there should be no more.
ReplyDeleteAlfath received appreciation after he had another game after one bad performance and he will go on to handle further game, but I have one question why did they the apportunity to one referee and prevent another one from the same thing only because ONE MISTAKE, they ignored 176 Minutes of excellence because an idiot intervention from VAR. Faghani deserve to have another chance.
ReplyDeleteAnd one more thing, THERE IS NO REFEREE IGNORE VAR INTERVENTION AND STAY WITH HIS INITIAL DICISION, correct if I am wrong.
Siebert overturned VAR at this world cup. Cakir did in the last one. It happens in the UCL, in MLS, etc. Faghani could have overturned the decision and it wouldn't have been unheard of.
DeleteFaghani made a clear, indefensible error on the same level of giving a player 3 yellow cards. This has always been an elimination for the referees.
DeleteElfath's penalty to Ronaldo was supportable due to contact at minimum if not deemed outright correct by FIFA consistently with other seemingly soft penalties in this event. Any other supposed issues are of taste and opinion only.
Analysis
ReplyDeleteKey match incident:
52' Potential penalty to Croatia
https://streamable.com/a4bnu4
Interesting situation where the American referee decided to play-on.
The only replay we got shows the Japanese grabbing the Croatian's shirt with his hand, however I have to say I am more than satisfied with Elfath's decision here. In my opinion, there isn't any relevant pulling by the defender, who is 'only' holding his opponent without really preventing him to move, and this was certainly not the reason of the theatrical fall of the attacker, who simply couldn't reach the ball and tried to persuade the referee he has been fouled. Without another camera angle, I'd say there is more than enough evidence to support the call: that is what Gallo correctly did.
Overview:
Not a challenging game for the trio from the USA, the officials simply refereed what was in front of them, staying in the background and acting in a inobstrusive manner.
Elfath chose not to caution a few careless vs reckless offenses in the 1H (12',24',30'), and delayed as much as he could his opening card, which eventually came out in 90' for a reckless tackle. This strategy paid off completely, as he ensured the control of the game. One must underline the good behaviour of the two teams as well, mainly focused on playing football, committing fouls because of the delay of their intervention, and the fatigue as the game progressed.
Another YC was rightly shown on 116' for another reckless tackle.
Elfath's known strengths were clearly visible here, much like in his two previous games: player and game management. He felt well how to let things go because of the calmness of the match ( dissenting gestures in 88' and 95', DtR-like action in 90+4'), and when to step-in (DtR in 88', dissent in 52', warnings in 23' and 79').
This is clearly the area where he excels, and compensating his rather limited technical accuracy (not in this game in particular, but PORGHN comes to my mind).
Kudos to AR1 who played a brilliant onside before 1-0 (+0.2), otherwise not much to report on both assistant referees.
In a nutshell, the American referees have allowed themselves to dream of a fourth appointment with another solid piece of officiating, with the asset of being a neutral option on a Confederation level (no CONCACAF team left, only Morocco's progress might create a probelm, considering Elfath is Moroccan born.)
Marks:
Ismail Elfath - 7
Corey Parker - 8
Kyle Atkins - 7
Nicolas Gallo - III
I'm a bit late, but I can fully agree with your analysis. Let me just say that I concur with your assessment of the potential penalty situation in 52': there was really nothing in it, our striker fell of his own accord, trying to "win" a penalty IMO.
DeleteAs for the rest, let me say that I'm really pleased to have finally gotten to see the Elfath I was expecting at this WC. His last two games showed his vast abilities in game management and controlling a game in a really empathic and humane way. Although this is not my personal style, it is still absolutely a pleasure to watch (when used in a match that fits for such a style well, of course).