Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz will officiate a sonorous quarterfinal between Netherlands and Argentina. Let's comment his game here.
Game 57 - Lusail (20:00 CET)
NETHERLANDS - ARGENTINA
NETHERLANDS - ARGENTINA
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau Cebrian Devis (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto Diaz Perez Del Palomar (ESP)
Fourth Official: Victor Gomes (RSA)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Video Assistant Referee: Alejandro José Hernandez Hernandez (ESP)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Drew Fischer (CAN)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Corey Parker (USA)
Give Lahoz another 10 minutes and he is gonna talk with a spectactor
ReplyDeleteIt‘s his style. You can like it or not but e.g. this YC (to the coach?) was not discussed at all. This is definitely also because he is well respected due to his proactive communication
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DeleteI like Lahoz's style the best so far of giving YCs when warranted. Five in first half so far.
ReplyDeleteNow six!
DeleteImportant to notice, and contrary to most of the previous games, is that this match needs strict sanctioning to guarantee match control. Players immediately react strongly when an offence worthy of a sanction occurs. Exemplary is the Dutch reaction when Mateu fails to award Fernandez a (mandatory) YC for his retaliation foul in front of the Dutch technical zone.
DeleteMissed YC for Alvarez imo
ReplyDeleteWell, this is clearly a missed card for the foul on Frenkie de Jong. It's fine to give Weghorst the yellow card for protesting, but this was just a revanche action. I don't think Lahoz does a bad job, but this kind of fouls should be punished.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point here
DeletePerfect first half of the ref
ReplyDeleteWow, 6 YC. When did we see that last at FIFA level? :) All justified for me!
ReplyDeleteAlso the 2 for the benches
DeleteWe saw at least as many first half yellow cards (to field players) in the very first game of the tournament.
DeleteOne Word to describe lahoz - Masterclass.
ReplyDeleteThere is one word to describe MATEU : UNIQUE....
ReplyDeleteEurope refs level is the few class higher than others. Next example of differrence
ReplyDeleteI hope France is a finalist, so Mateu Lahoz will have the final and not Clement "the one who has everything arranged" Turpin
ReplyDeleteI think the bench YCs helped calm down players on the field, which is fantastic refereeing. If cards to the bench calm players on the field down, less chance of 2nd yellow then red to either team's 11 on the field.
ReplyDeleteHow is that not YC for Messi?
ReplyDeleteWas not SPA
DeleteDoesn't necessarily have to be SPA to give a YC for handball..
DeleteRefSF: Yellow for handling can be given for SPA or when a player attempts to score a goal with it. None of that happened there so a yellow would be completely incorrect.
DeleteDeliberate handball is DFK. If not SPA, a YC can be issued for UB, but that's rarely needed
DeleteI like his style too but no yc for Messi is crazy
ReplyDeleteFor what? Deliberate handball is a DFK. It wasn't spa.
DeleteDoesn't necessarily have to be SPA to give a YC for handball... And now geving a free kick for this...
DeleteReferee giving benefit of the doubt that it was just an awkward body reaction (because it is Messi). Also different than first half YC hand because here it was midfield and not SPA. First half was a more defensive reaction in final third.
Deletethis was CLEARLY not SPA. Romero's was clear SPA. For what do RefSF & Hans think Messi should be cautioned??
DeleteI don't understand why people keep saying that is wasn't SPA when both people have claimed that it doesn't need to be SPA to be a yellow. Take them up on that because they are clearly not arguing that it is SPA. Lol
Deleteyes, I am agreeing with VAR below. Why does anyone here think that a deliberate handball in that Messi instance SHOULD be a yellow? under what law?
DeleteBut unlike VAR your response implies that the only way to get a YC for handball is for it to be SPA, which is not true.
DeleteFor those who automatically think deliberate handball is a yellow card, please update yourselves on the laws of the game. It is never a yellow card for the purpose of deliberate handball.
DeleteThanks Yk, I know the laws of the game very well. I was solely asking WHY anyone thinks messi should be cautioned because I don't see it. Some made up "doesn't respect the game"????
DeleteSure bet for the FINAL... MASTERCLASS
ReplyDeleteA bit of scene by Argentina player, but still contact and penalty expected decision...
ReplyDeleteSo soft of a pen for me
ReplyDelete+1. Let's see if this will interfere Lahoz's possible indication for a F. Sampaio maybe?
DeleteVery clear penalty...
ReplyDeleteLahoz use his whistle more than a policeman in an intersection at this conflicts between players. :)))
ReplyDeletePenalty decision
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/ly45b0
Clear contact with left leg, but exaggerated reaction by attacker.
DeleteAll in all, given the action by defender, penalty always expected decision here. Would have been by far more controversial to play on. Indeed as Quilava wrote, similar to Turpin's incident, even more as concept.
Chefren, I'm Dutch and fully agree with penalty for your reason
DeleteEerily similar to Turpin PK in BRAKOR. Not as clear as the replay shows, but even the one who commited the PK expected it to be given
ReplyDeleteMateu Lahoz became Rapallini with excessive use of whistle...
ReplyDeleteVery clear penalty to me...
ReplyDeleteHe can't whistle it that much in 20 seconds come on now
ReplyDelete20 times blew his whistle... Spanish style...😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteI want to see replay of contact in Argentine penalty box at 76' with no call.
ReplyDeleteA Referee or Traffic Police?🙈🙉🙊
ReplyDeleteI really like Lahoz, but his using of the whistle is awful today.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, sensational performance so far. But this was an absolutely clear 2nd YC missed
ReplyDeleteThis is the effect of Lahoz his style
ReplyDelete2 YC -> RC, no discussions for Argentinian player
ReplyDeleteIt's really a no brainer.
DeleteWow, no YC to Van Dijk???
ReplyDeleteGiven
DeleteVvD given YC
DeleteI am sorry, but the fact just 1 yellow card was shown for this scandalous foul in the 88th minute and than kicking the bal into the dug-out is scandalous. This should have been two yellow cards.
ReplyDeleteSome very easy yellow cards to The Netherlands. I am biased, as a Dutch person, and the penalty was absolutely correct, but I am not a fan of the performance of Lahoz today.
I would say no YC for kick into dugout because not at a player.
DeleteOh camon. Here it needed to be at least 1 RC and at least 3 or 4 YCs
ReplyDeleteHe missed one YC to Netherlands player no. 4
ReplyDeleteIf he gave this one (which was quite clearly more than supportable), he surely would have had to issue YC + RC for the aggressive kick of the ball towards the bench.
DeleteLahoz made the game unmanageble for himself. I like him very much but today he had very interesting desicions. He was my fav for the final but after tonight unfortunately it looks impossible.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Lahoz got really cornered by the Argentine gang mentally, there was no foul on Messi there. geez.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about 87' YC because it looked like Dutch player got ball first and then Messi. 89' Van Dijk hard chest bump could have easily warranted RC after scrum, but no one is going to give that unless absolutely necessary.
ReplyDeleteThis is what happens when you don't adapt yourself to the players and think you can keep your style. He should have realised he can't just walk and blow the whistle. The fact that Otamendi once again in his career gets away with trying to attack players by shooting the ball at them with full force after the whistle is laughable.
ReplyDeleteSPA/reckless take your pick, followed by kicking the ball away (agressive action or DtR, take your pick). I'd have liked two yellows for that and a red
ReplyDeleteWorst performance of World Cup by far.
ReplyDeleteFaghani was worse. Broken rules changing the score versus subjective decisions without ideal outcome.
DeleteFaghani was a call that he got right on the field and then sided with VAR to avoid confrontation as is his style. He should have stuck to his decision (though even refs worldwide have debated the merits of that being a PK).
DeleteHe never lost control of match, not even debatable imho.
Damn man, this game was going so well for Lahoz, but he blew it after 80' or about. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteHave been lurking for some time, but I think what took place the last several minutes means this is his last match. Losing control is a cardinal sin.
ReplyDeleteMass confrontation:
ReplyDeletehttps://streamable.com/e52cj9
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DeleteThe problem is that van Dijk's shove could be RC or nothing. It goes beyond reckless, so it could be only violent conduct or nothing. With the game on the line, I can see why Lahoz didn't want to become the focal point of a controversial decision.
DeleteOnly one YC after all happened is indeed difficult to accept.
ReplyDeleteNowadays mass confrontations are always managed in the most possible lenient way and this wasn't an exception. No calls from VAR, I must say that this time I strongly disagree, it was a very poor moment between the teams. You can say that his decision was accepted, yes, but we have also LotG... here I disagree with Mateu Lahoz.
Agree. The tackle alone was worth a YC. The kick afterwards by #5 ARG into the technical areas, and the charge from #4 NED. Unacceptable and sends a bad message to grassroots football.
DeleteIMO, a more than supportable solution would be at least: YC for the foul, YC + RC for the kick towards the bench, YC to NED 4 for retaliative pushing... What Lahoz chose was a "compromise", however I also agree that this compromise is difficult to accept...
DeleteWhat can VAR do? Second yellow is not reviewable. No direct red offenses.
DeleteAnon, what Otamendi did is clearly violent conduct. That's exactly what excessive force is. Trying to injure someone by shooting the ball at them long after the whistle. He is the reason for all chaos that happened.
DeleteLahoz has lost control of this match unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHe has been poor, but let's not forget that FIFA doesn't want red cards at all costs and everyone on the field knows it.
DeleteDoes creating a spectacle of bad sportsmanship the world is watching override 'at all costs'?
DeleteNo one cares about sportsmanship. This is the most entertaining game of the tournament and will be all over Twitter.
DeleteNow Lahoz is all over Twitter as well, and not in a positive way I’d add…
DeleteLahoz just lost it. No final for him for sure.
ReplyDeleteIf I were ref; wheter it is within rules or not I will show YC Arg No 5 for his faul another YC for kicking the ball to the bench.
ReplyDeleteThe kick towards the bench is 100% violent conduct.
DeleteI can't believe what i am reading here. this is far from a masterclass IMO. Missed YC's, wrongly given YC's, no clear line, confusing players. And in the end he is losing control. It's because of the way he approached the match. It was a chance for a Spanish ref to reach far, cause of the early elimination of Spain, but that chance should be over now.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm biased for Lahoz tonight, but kick towards bench wasn't at a player.
ReplyDeleteYes, but kicking the ball away is a YC too. And the way it has been kicked towards the bench certainly warrands a YC for me.
DeleteIt was against the whole team. Clearly to hurt someone. Clear violent conduct.
DeleteJust quibbling here, but YC is for delay of restart by kicking ball away, but if it bounces right back from the bench then not much delay, haha.
DeleteI've watched the footage a few times again, and believe me, he didn't care at all about the direction of that ball, he just shot it away in frustration. The fact it didn't hit anyone was due to luck only and, if I see it correctly, it missed one player by mere centimeters. I have to agree with VG, this shot was intended to hurt someone, probably anyone, just to vent frustration, which is unacceptable. But even if you don't consider it a VC offence, it has to be at least UB (this was everything but sportsmanlike behaviour).
DeleteSorry I think that lahoz has been quite poor tonight
ReplyDeleteAnd so we will have extra times ;) incredibile end.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the red to the Argentina trainer on the field after the ref?
ReplyDeleteAnd next confrontation...
ReplyDeleteFor me, god call to give free kick to Netherland. Most challenging game so far, I think that is god that Lahoz is in the middle.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhy?
Deletei don't think the worst performance of the tournament, but indeed a lot of referees would have handled this match differently and would have kept (more) control.
DeleteYes, can be a foul but only for ARG.
DeleteYes, easy to say in front of the TV.
Deleteit's a strange thing, but i have the feeling that this very experienced ref - with many tense games on his palmares - isn't up for the tension tonight...
ReplyDeleteThis is why our job is so difficult. It's easy to judge, but this can happen to anyone, regardless of level. This is also why I enjoy this blog - we can see many situations to learn from.
DeleteYes, true!
DeleteIf there is not a red card at the end of this match I will be shocked
ReplyDeleteLahoz is performing very poorly tonight. There is a big problem in match control.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant free kick routine, but did the Dutch break the law requiring them to stay one yard away from the wall at the time the free kick was taken?
ReplyDeleteYes they did.
DeleteOf course Lahoz lost it. Of course from 80‘ on he did almost everything wrong. Of course, most probably this will be his last game in Qatar. But these last 10 minutes were impossible to referee. I feel bad for the Spaniard.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteArgentina very angry with Mateu Lahoz, but that's nothing new, just because they have to play extra times now and they didn't accept goal scored.
ReplyDeleteLive score says we are at 13 yellow cards Is that a record
ReplyDeleteBattle of Nuremberg?
DeleteBattle of nuremburg had 12 yellow cards but 4 red cards aswell
DeleteLahoz is (rightfully) being punished for showing that he is too scared to show any justified RCs tonight. No wonder he is losing control.
ReplyDeleteI really dont know what all of you speaking tonight. I respect your opinions a lot, but all of us knows that this will be hot game tonight. Currently we have the game of championship and performance of championship. Lenient approach, all congrats to Lahoz. No big mistakes, if he dont make any bigger mistake I saw him in final, without any dobut. Romero shoot of the ball was not intention, so no good no card. Go on, Mateu!!!
ReplyDeletei regard missed RC's (2YC's) as big mistakes
DeleteAfter rewathing the 2-2 goal there is clearly a Netherlands player closer than 1 meter to the wall when the ball is kicked. This is law is basically never applied, it's like the 6 second law, but he was clearly closer than 1 meter.
ReplyDeleteThe point of the law is that he can't interfere with the wall. When the player has made space, a measuring tape shouldn't be applied.
DeleteThat's what I wrote above, but I think as long as he doesn't knock the wall over, no VAR in the world will ever call that.
DeleteTaylor should be rhe referee for this match. I am sorry for lahoz, this is not öne of his good matches.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that Argentines speak the same language as the referee makes complaints much easier. And Lahoz didn't expect so much work in this game and unfortunately he couldn't respond to the height of the difficulty that this match was. (in my opinion)
ReplyDeleteGreat first half by Lahoz, but that second half was terrible, so many mistakes, even just in the big masscon incident, but so many more beyond that. Good tournament for Lahoz, but sadly I think he threw away his chance at the final that his national team gifted him.
ReplyDeleteNot best tonight for Lahoz. He is unfocused and lost control.
ReplyDelete100' Very bad to not play advantage for foul on Messi when Argentina were breaking down the right hand side.
ReplyDeleteOh my God... come on Lahoz... please handle the game...
ReplyDeletemandatory yellow
ReplyDeleteLahoz lost this match. He is very inconsistent in his decisions...
ReplyDeleteI believe that Lahoz is a very good referee but I cannot accept messages praising his performance in the first half, let alone the second one. Lots of useless chatting with the Argentinian bench, pure egocentric and theatrical performance. Many yellow cards in 1st half, which apparently many appreciate here, and a second half full of random gestures and wrong calls. No acceptance from either side.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that there was for criticism for Oliver's performance than Lahoz's makes me wonder. While this has been one of the most challenging matches in the tournament, a more "normal" referee or a humbler one would have done better here.
To me this was a problematic appointment as Argentina has plenty of players that play our used to in Spain. He thought he could exploit the relationship with them but in fact this turned against him.
Lahoz can't concentrate as he loses control of the match. Bad night for the Spanish refereeing
ReplyDeleteSad ending of career if this is his last international game.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to predict, but it seems unlikely that Lahiz will get the Final after this match. The spot is open IMO: maybe Turpin (if France's out), Marciniak is possible, Orsato with an odd SF + F appointment, even Sampaio now that Brazil is out. A CONCACAF ref feels impossible, but idh this WC is weird
ReplyDeleteShame for Lahoz, a great referee but complete lack of adaptation to the game has cost him today. Totally lost control. In complete contrast to Michael Oliver earlier
ReplyDeletecan't wait that long to see if advantage develops and then go back (1st foul of 2nd half of extra time)
ReplyDeleteWhat a long advantage.
ReplyDeleteThen followed by "possession" advantage the other way.
DeleteSometimes it isn't only the referee...
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Nuremberg_(2006_FIFA_World_Cup)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_Final
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_knockout_stage#Netherlands_vs_Argentina
The Dutch are not the nice team people think they are. Argentina is Argentina. This is a rematch. It was always going to be nasty.
So, we needed a Cuneyt Cakir..
DeleteI wonder what he is up to right now. Sitting on a comfortable couch laughing, I hope.
DeleteWe're all sitting in front of the TV, relaxed, with our cold drink in hand. On the pitch we watch probably the most exciting and thrilling game of this World Cup. From 0:2 to 2:2 - overtime, drama, confrontations on the pitch.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the middle a referee who tries to solve everything with personality. Honestly? For me, one of the best performances I have ever seen. No RC, 11:11 - that's the show we want, Mateu has exhausted everything possible and tried to play FOOTBALL. And in many situations he more than succeeded. Sure, there is also sometimes a mistake and something we would have done differently, but in the end he just gets along with everyone - and that will remain so. Bravo!
I certainly want to underline his ability to recover and remain calm. Not easy to do when tensions are this high!
DeleteOh come on. Yes, we like a match full of passion and yes a referee can contribute to that and yes Mateu Lahoz can use his personality and style in a very good way to contribute to all that.
DeleteBut that's not what he did tonight. Tonight he confused and try to solve things in a way that didn't work.
+1 sv
DeleteI think this match is end of the road for Lahoz
ReplyDeleteI hope this doesn't end with a 2nd yellow card without a red...
ReplyDeleteHe needs a very good memory now to only book players, who are not on a yellow card already...
Delete4th official will help with this. With the communication systems they should be doing ok in this department.
DeleteTypical Lahoz match, if you ask me. This has always been his way of refeering
ReplyDeleteIt seems indeed unlikely that Mateu Lahoz will get the final, after today. I must be honest, I thought he was first candidate now, given the path, but this performance was too problematic. The weird thing is that we know him and he decided to officiate in this way because this is his style. In other words, he could have done by far better and it wasn't difficult for me, but he made something like a deliberate choice to ruin himself. A choice that can cost the WC final assignment. Again, the game was maybe the most difficult of the tournament so far, but evident cards were missing in extremely obvious way. That's all.
ReplyDeleteWithout the Spanish, it becomes extremely difficult to predict a referee for the final. Not to be excluded Elfath to be honest, but would be too much, even more after first game...
Yes, Lahoz is unique referee and I respect him, but I have to say that he doesn't deserve the final after this very strange performance. If you ask me, I would choose Elfath for the final, even if I understand it is problematic name for some people after his first game. But the decision is not mine.
DeleteNeverthless, taking especially into consideration the difficulty of the game and other factors (good things in first half, OK penalty), it is possible committee will assess this perfomance as good, but for me different idea. I wouldn't appoint him again.
DeleteToo much excitement for a final but the assessment won't be bad. People are again nitpicking fouls and yellow cards while shouting for reds that FIFA clearly doesn't want and wouldn't be accepted at any level. He even came with early yellows and tried to save field players by going to the bench. At the end of the day, when players know they won't see red no matter what, they play how they want. The handcuffed referee can only make suggestions.
DeleteAn extremely challenging match in high atmosphere and 13 yellow cards.
ReplyDeleteAn extremely challenging match in high atmosphere and 13 yellow cards and poor performance by the referee
ReplyDelete18 yellow cards.
Delete"I've no idea to who. I've given up on the referee and these yellow cards, to be fair" says Jonathan Pearce on BBC comms on the shootout booking 😬
ReplyDeleteJonathan Pierces commentary has been a lot worse than Lahozs refereeing. Which isn't saying much
DeleteThings like these are why people shouldn't be so quick to judge referees keeping cards pocketed.
DeleteThe 16 yellow cards equal the record by Ivanov 2006 (POR-NED) and Lopez Nieto 2002 (CMR-GER).
ReplyDeleteHighest number of yellow cards without sending-off so far was 12 by Wegereef in SEN-URU 2002.
There has been a sending off after the final whistle, Dumfries has been shown 2 YC. 18 YC in total according to FIFA's match report.
DeleteOK, looks like I should have waited a bit longer before making my comment... At the time I wrote, there were only 16 YCs in the report.
DeleteBravo,Mateu. Hope to see you in the final. If we take under the consideration fact that the game was extremlley challenging, the hardest in the championship, this was poetry of officiating. If we compare Elftah games vs Lahoz games and take both performances under the considerstion, Lahoz is obviously better. So, after this it is logical to give Croatia-Argentina to Orsato.Final,definetley Lahoz. Cheers!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteRef Fot: Sorry, If you think Lahoz has better tournament than Elfath, you probably watch different tournament.
DeleteI hope you were being sarcastic. Only then can I find logic in that opinion. After the Otamendi kick towards the bench he lost control.
DeleteAccording to fifa.com, 17 yellow cards (including benches)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/17/255711/285074/400128139
Mateu Lahoz had an excellent performance in terms of KMI, with some minor mistakes on foul detection (wrong foul + YC for NED for a wrong foul on Messi. I guess he though that a stamp had happened). However, he made a mistake that cost him match control: he should have sent off Paredes for kicking the ball towards the bench (2nd YC would have been the wiser approach). He tried to avoid RC at any cost, probably due to FIFA instructions (I can't remember any RC so far in the tournament, although I admit I have not been able to watch all matches), but that made NED players confront ARG at many situations. Excluding that, the performance was very good IMO.
ReplyDeleteSuppose France is in the final:
ReplyDeleteTurpin can't
Lahoz after this I think Collina will not name him
Orsato possible SF I don't see it repeating
Marciniak possible SF I don't see him repeating
I don't see Makkelie, without any playoff game it's almost impossible
????????????????
Sampaio?????
Elfath?????
What awaits us...
Surely the only solution is to hold Marciniak until the final. Unless they think Elfath is up for it, but even as an American that makes me nervous. I would love for it to be Orsato, but that seems impossible.
DeleteI think Wilton Sampaio, with his political backing, could be a very important name, if Marciniak is on a semi...
I would say Oliver is a name to be mentioned as well after his good performance today. Which is a good thing, too, otherwise Sampaio would have something of a conflict of interest on his game tomorrow, for the Turpin reason you allude to.
Marciniak and Makkelie for SF and Orsato F
ReplyDeleteOrsato final without any game in play-off stage is almost impossible.
DeleteSuppose England get knocked out. That leaves two English refs, both of which have had good tournaments so far. Either a possibility for the final? They haven't had many mentions so far...
ReplyDeleteYes, Oliver could be another final candidate, If England leaves...
DeleteDo not forget Makkelie. He is also avalable now
ReplyDeleteSome case like Orsato: It is almost impossible get final without any play-off game.
DeleteOnly to second SF. Impossible to see a Dutch referee in Argentina match after today.
DeleteOT: It totally logical two call this name in history of football :,,The War for Doha" - :)
ReplyDeleteThis might also have been the longest game in WC history?
ReplyDeleteIt ended 2:55 after kick-off.
SFs: Elfath (CRO-ARG) & Orsato, unless Morocco beats Portugal.
ReplyDeleteFinal should be for Marciniak. At least a referee who had a KO stage game.
This match was one of the most challenging matches in WC in this century, no one can survive from this. Chaos.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mateu will not get a final after this.
Firstly Faghani, secondly Orsato, now Lahoz. Who will get a final? It will be very hard to predict now. Maybe Marciniak? Elfath or Ramos imo are not WC final level. Turpin (if France out) is possible, Makkelie without KO stage match? No. I think that at this moment Collina regreat about Sampaio for ENGFRA, a Brazilian could be a first candidate.
fest: If you say Elfath and Ramos are not WC final level, it is only your personal opinion. Both of them can handle it. Marciniak could be also the final candidate, but it is very unusual to have only two matches before the final. Just like I said before, I would choose Elfath and he is definitelly one of the candidates (of course if Morocco leaves), If not Elfath, than the final wll be probably for Turpin or Oliver (depends on which teams will continue to the final). I don't think Conmebol referee will get the final because of political reasons (on the last WC Conmebol referee had the final).
Deletehttps://twitter.com/a11ymckay/status/1601337720835428352
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest games ever (and Mateu *was* ready for it). And still he failed - badly, too. Much to assess......
He had control until he missed several cards including a red card during the fight when Otamendi shot the ball at the bench. That's where he lost the game.
DeleteA hard-headed egotistical referee who has the erroneous idea that the players should adjust to him and not him adjust to the needs of the match. Bound to fail and did fail. Those who have enabled him along his career path are also at fault for allowing him to become the rigid and insufferable referee that he is.
DeleteVG: The non-RC for the RAP11 (I don't exaggerate) violent conduct at the benches is a shameful, shameful moment for refereeing/top football in general, FIFA's job isn't to protect grassroots referees by WC directives, but even so, defending such behaviour is ludicrous...
DeleteArbiter: A predictably boring take, with respect. It is much more multi-faceted than that. Mateu loved being the centre-of-attention so much that he genuinely looked completely depressed during ET, right! And he has such ego that he ignores the FIFA 'keep 11 v 11' at all costs idea! Of course, I'm being faceticious with those two comments, but they are observations worth making. His approach of personality + cards DID NOT work tonight, long long before the craziness really started. Alvárez's trip is NOT a YC at WC2022, but more and more it seems that THIS was the moment where he lost it. And Messi's 'fuck you and fuck the game' deliberate handball confirmed it (and when you work on a player, even to such extent as later inventing freekicks on him because to play on is to dangerous for match control...).
Btw this was by far the hardest WC game for thirty-six years.
I missed it live but Dumfries gets a 2nd yc after pushing arg.#19 after this
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/nocontextfooty/status/1601340694878375936?t=dxqA963cEbSj50eujFqBDg&s=19
First time ever 2yc during a penalty shoot out?
It would become his 1st, as YCs are erased at the KFTPM
Delete@VAR But he conceded his first during the KFTPM, so actually it was a second YC -> RC
DeleteLooking at things as a former player and a current coach (who is also a long-time referee). Lahoz is the type of referee I detest to have assigned to my games or as a partner in my referee crew.
ReplyDeleteHe's the type of referee who goes out of his way to become the center of attention.
The type of referee who is pompous and gets off on irritating players because he can.
The type of referee who allows the supposed power he has to go to his head.
The type of referee that doesn't miss an opportunity to seemingly brag to the players, the coaches, or his crewmates that he's in charge.
The type of referee that has becomes this way because of all of the enablers that have failed to reign him in along the way.
Matches need referees or else they'd just be scrimmages. But matches don't need referees who step out onto the pitch with the sole purpose of "outshining" or overshadowing the players.
Be part of the game don't become the game.
I agree. IMO He has an enormous EGO, that's a pity. And this is not his fault only. He is a great referee, but he is so arrogant. If he was more humble, he would be a fantastic ref
DeleteYou really have no grasp of how bureaucracies work...
DeleteBut by the same token, perhaps you are right after all :D - I think he ended up pissing the players off somehow (he didn't in ITASWE, et al). Messi's handball showed it BRILLIANTLY(!!). His trump card didn't work, and in not carding Alvárez (again, this is NOT a card at WC2022, but conventions needed to go out of the window this time), the rest slid and slid away...
The scariest thing is that he read the game perfectly and still by far the best referee in the world (in terms of aptitudes) was defeated tonight. The hardest WC game since Argentina vs. Uruguay in 1986. Together with Escobar, the worst performance IMO... :/
IMHO an exaggerated conclusion Mikael. Yes, the game was extremely challenging but I have to disagree with your opinion about Mateu “reading the game perfectly”. I think he simply didn’t, with just too much inconsistency in foul selection and not convincing enough in the disciplinary area at key moments.
DeleteI feel that a simpler way of refereeing, more predictable, would have better enabled him to keep control.
Having said that, admittedly it would still have been a hell of a job for every official.
Messi after match was openly critical of Lahoz,says that ref like him shoud not whistle matches like that
ReplyDelete100% agree! Many people on this blog are biased towards Lahoz, but he was bad tonight. Imagine that this performance was produced from e.g. Sikazwe - there would be thousand comments that criticize every of his decision. But since it was Lahoz, then it is ok. Well it isn't.
DeletePerformance Review from our fine friends @ArbitroInteBlog
ReplyDeleteNETHERLANDS 2 ARGENTINA 2 (TPP 3-4)
RATING: BAD
When a referee officiates by walking, with some occasional jogging but can't sprint because physically he's unable to and also tries to become more than the game, because he wants to be the center of attention, he ends up with a deplorable job.
In the first half, he wanted to be the center of attention by arguing with the benches and cautioning. In the second half stopped with that but his technical reading was weak due to his distance from play. He called a total of 48 fouls and his only important success was the correctly called penalty for ARGENTINA.
In regards to discipline, he had another record since he cautioned 14 players because of his lack of credibility from the protagonists and had so many more, but he did not dare to send anybody off for a second yellow card, which he could have done with one player per side.
He had no control, the players fought while he blew his whistle endlessly without being able to restore order.
In short, MATEU proved to be a referee without conditions for a game of this importance. His performance was deplorable and the decision of the Commission that appointed him was just as deplorable.
A dark night for world refereeing.
It is fully justified that a lot of criticism has been aimed at Mateu Lahoz. But who is REALLY responsible for the chaotic scenes and the many problematic decisions? We all know Mateu's approach and style over many years, and we know that he never seems willing and capable to adjust that. And it was also clear what type of refereeing would be needed for the NED-ARG battle. So why would Collina and his colleagues think that it would be a good idea to nominate Mateu for this particular match??? Did Collina tell Mateu that "I give you this match but you must be ready to change your normal approach completely!" Obviously not; but this also means that Collina did not mind having a game where the players behaved terribly without appropriate punishment. There have been many matches followed by the comment that clearly FIFA does not want red cards or too many yellow cards. So presumably this means that Collina got what he wanted and that why was Mateu had this game. If anyone should be blamed, it must be Collina. Mateu simply did what he has always done and what he assumed what was wanted from him!
ReplyDeleteI’m just asking, but why are we so sure Collina & Co more or less prohibit their referees to issue red cards? Do we know, do we assume we know, do we think…?
ReplyDeleteThe DOGSO/SFP red card to the Welsh goalkeeper was warmly welcomed wasn’t it? And it’s not that until now there were that many CLEAR sending off offences not punished appropriately to make decisive conclusions about committee instructions, or am I wrong?