(Un)Happy New Year, World Cup refs! Qatar officials treated as mercenaries for hire in their domestic competitions... and has the fully expected consequences

The last ≈ten years have been a uniquely bad time to be an elite class football referee. It seems somewhere along the line, their managers seem to have forgotten that they are dealing with real human beings and not pure robots. The winter World Cup has been tough for all involved regarding scheduling, but those referees should not accept this argument without contention, as they were ridiculously hoisted back into action post-Qatar as individual athletes. Howard Webb, Medina Cantalejo, et al. - think again, please. 

Well played RFEF-CTA, well played... (sarcasm)

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - Selected Officials

Thank to Arbitro Internacional on Twitter, please find below the list of selected officials for Women's 2023 World Cup.

2022/23 UEFA Women's Champions League - Referee appointments for Matchday 6

 Referee appointment for Matchday 6 of 2022-23 UEFA Women's Champions League.

2022 FIFA World Cup - An overall analysis

Please find below an analysis about each referee who officiated at this World Cup in Qatar. Feel free to discuss and integrate with your opinions.

Collina and Busacca can be content for some reasons but definitely not for others...

The logical consequence of the Qatar WC benches madness - Olivier Giroud's caution for entering the FoP in the final.

Contrary to UEFA, whom much to their credit ordered strict policing in this regard at the summer course, FIFA took the benches laissez-faire at the World Cup to the extreme. Broken windows indeed as Giroud ran fully twenty yards onto the pitch before trying to sneak off...

Analysis: Marciniak masterclass! Polish official was at the top in the Qatar 2022 final, and delivered one of the best World Cup refereeing performances ever.

In the game of his life, Szymon Marciniak displayed surely the best performance of his whole career - the widespread praise for the Polish official was much deserved (I'm sure he won't be losing any sleep over L'Équipe's sour mark :P). A breakdown of the officiating in the World Cup Qatar 2022 final.

Deserved medals - and plaudits - for the referees

Szymon Marciniak to referee World Cup Final Argentina - France (discussion, part 2)

Discussion about Marciniak's performance continues in this topic. 

Szymon Marciniak to referee World Cup Final Argentina - France (discussion)

Polish referee Szymon Marcinik is at the pinnacle of his career, ready to officiate the World Cup final, Argentina - France. We wish him and his crew good luck!

Analysis: Al-Jassim's third place performance was far from first rate, it was terrible. But don't just blame the home ref for the Croatia vs. Morocco mess.

Abdulrahman Al-Jassim had a nightmare in the bronze medal match. The penalty not given to Croatia by him and Chilean VAR Julio Bascuñán was a hilariously bad mistake, and ultimately the Qatari official had realised one of the worst performances of the whole tournament by the end.

How did a ceremonial match go so wrong for a relatively competent international official? This post tries to set out how.

Now it all makes sense...

Abdulrahman Al Jassim in Third Place Game Croatia - Morocco (discussion)

The referee from host nation will be in charge of his second game at 2022 World Cup. Third place play off between Croatia and Morocco, let's comment here about his performance. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - The Winner is Superstar0110

The game is over, here the result after Final games. 

Szymon Marciniak (POL) to referee 2022 WC Final

Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has been honored with the most important game for a fotball referee, he will be in charge of 2022 WC Final. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Finals

Last round for our Predictions' Game at 2022 World Cup. 

César Ramos in Semifinal France - Morocco (discussion)

We comment in this discussion the performance of César Ramos, appointed to handle his first WC semifinal, between France and Morocco. Good luck! 

Daniele Orsato in Semifinal Argentina - Croatia (discussion)

Daniele Orsato about to officiate his well-deserved semifinal at 2022 World Cup. Let's follow him closely during this duty. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Results for Semifinals

 Please find below the scores after Semifinals. 

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Semifinals (14 December)

Second semifinal at 2022 World Cup. FIFA has appointed the Mexican referee César Ramos to officiate the game between France and Morocco. 

Refereeing in paralysis - World Cup refereeing operation decends into chaos... and FIFA's fait accompli

Nobody (I mean internally that is) has any idea how FIFA assessed Antonio Mateu Lahoz's performance in Netherlands vs. Argentina. Was his management good, did he show too many cards, should he have sent anybody off? No referee is any the wiser. FIFA actually gave up trying to assess the performances now. 

A terrible state of affairs! But one which was completely predictable too...

Massimo Busacca pictured in May/2014

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Semifinals (13 December)

The appointment for the first semifinal,  Argentina - Croatia, has been published. Italian referee Daniele Orsato has been assigned to this game.  

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Semifinals (II)

 The predictions game continues with the second semifinal to be guessed. 

Wilton Sampaio in Quarterfinal England - France (discussion)

To complete the Quarterfinals, Wilton Sampaio is about to officiate the European big clash England - France. Let's follow his performance. 

Facundo Tello in Quarterfinal Morocco - Portugal (discussion)

The Argentinian is about to officiate the third quarterfinal of 2022 FIFA World Cup: Morocco - Portugal. Good luck to him. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Semifinals (I)

 The predictions game continues with the first semifinal to be guessed. 

Antonio Mateu Lahoz in Quarterfinal Netherlands - Argentina (discussion)

Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will officiate a sonorous quarterfinal between Netherlands and Argentina. Let's comment his game here. 

Michael Oliver in Quarterfinal Croatia - Brazil (discussion)

The English referee kicks off the Quarterfinals of 2022 World Cup, by officiating the tie with Croatia and Brazil, a game that in 2014 edition led Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura to some troubles.  Let's see how things will turn for him. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Results for Quarterfinals

  Please find below the scores after Quarterfinals.

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Quarterfinals (10 December)

Referee appointments for 2022 WC Quarterfinals to be played on 10 December. FIFA has appointed two CONMEBOL crews, handled by Tello and Sampaio respectively. Confederations rule is kept for this set of games. 

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Quarterfinals (9 December)

The first set of referee assignments for Quaterfinals, with games to be played on Friday 9 December.  Antonio Mateu Lahoz and Michael Oliver in charge: confederations rule has been broken again, and the first two games of this round will be both officiated by UEFA crews. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Quarterfinals (II)

 The predictions game continues with the second part of Quarterfinals. 

César Ramos in Round of 16 Portugal - Switzerland (discussion)

A deserved Round of 16 for César Ramos, full European clash between Portugal and Switzerland. Let's comment his performance here. 

Fernando Rapallini in Round of 16 Morocco - Spain (discussion)

The referee from Argentina will handle his third clash at this tournament, and he will meet again Morocco. Let's comment his game here. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Quarterfinals (I)

The predictions game continues with the first part of Quarterfinals. 

Clément Turpin in Round of 16 Brazil - South Korea (discussion)

CONMEBOL - AFC duel for French referee Clément Turpin in 2022 WC's Round of 16. He is about to officiate Brazil - South Korea. Let's follow him. 

Ismail Elfath in Round of 16 Japan - Croatia (discussion)

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. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Results for Round of 16

 Please find below the scores after Round of 16. 

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Round of 16 (6 December)

The last set of referee assignments for Round of 16, with the games to be played on Tuesday 6 December. Fernando Rapallini (ARG)  and César Ramos (MEX) will be both at their third game.

Iván Barton in Round of 16 England - Senegal (discussion)

Third game for El Salvador's referee Iván Barton, in charge of England - Senegal. Let's comment his performance here. 

Jesús Valenzuela in Round of 16 France - Poland (discussion)

The referee from Venezuela can be absolutely content with what he is achieving at this World Cup, nevertheless there is still the possibility to do better and now a new test is waiting for him, Full European clash France - Poland in Round of 16. Good luck! 

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Round of 16 (5 December)

Third set of referee assignments for Round of 16, games to be played on 5 December. FIFA has appointed US referee Ismail Elfath for Japan - Croatia while French Clément Turpin will oversee Brazil - South Korea. The confederations rule is still kept. 

Szymon Marciniak in Round of 16 Argentina - Australia (discussion)

A Polish crew is about to referee the second Round of 16 game at World Cup. Marciniak will be referee for Argentina - Australia. Debut for him in the KO stage of a FIFA World Cup, after having ended his previous adventure after group stage back in 2018. 

Wilton Sampaio in Round of 16 Netherlands - USA (discussion)

The Brazilian referee, in charge of the first Round of 16, will be at his third match at World Cup. Kick-off for KO stage and let's follow him here. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Round of 16 (II)

 Send us your predictions for the "second half" of Round of 16 Games!

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Round of 16 (4 December)

Second set of referee assignments for Round of 16, games to be played on 4 December. 

Games 47 and 48 - Fernando Rapallini and Ismail Elfath in Group G MD3 (discussion)

Fernando Rapallini and Ismail Elfath will be the referees for Group G MD3 games. Let's comment their performance here. 

Games 45 and 46 - Daniel Siebert and Facundo Tello in Group H MD3 (discussion)

Daniel Siebert and Facundo Tello on duties for Group H decisive games on MD3. Let's comment here about them. 

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Results for Matchday 3

 Please find below the scores after MD3. 

World Cup 2022 - Referee appointments for Round of 16 (3 December)

First set of KO Stage assignments at 2022 World Cup. We start with Round of 16 games to be played on Saturday 3 December. Szymon Marciniak will referee Argentina - Australia as his second game, while Sampaio will be at his third assignment in Netherlands - USA. 

Games 43 and 44 - Victor Gomes and Stéphanie Frappart in Group E MD3 (discussion)

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. 

Games 41 and 42 - Anthony Taylor and Raphael Claus in Group F MD3 (discussion)

Group F is waiting for the last verdicts. Today Anthony Taylor and Raphael Claus are in charge of decisive games. Let's comment their performance in this discussion.

2022 FIFA World Cup - Referee predictions - Round of 16 (I)

Send us your predictions for the "first half" of Round of 16 Games!