Friday, 20 June 2025

2025 FIFA Club World Cup - Referee Appointments Matchday 3

 Appointments of match officials at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Group Stage, MD3. 

The list of all selected officials 

Group Stage, MD3

Group B
Monday 23 June 2025, 21:00 CET
Rose Bowl, Los Angeles 
Atlético Madrid (ESP) - Botafogo (BRA)
Referee: César Ramos MEX
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin MEX
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Bisguerra MEX
Fourth Official: Gustavo Tejera URU
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
Support Video Assistant Referee: 

Group B
Monday 23 June 2025, 21:00 CET
Lumen Field, Seattle
Seattle Sounders (USA) - Paris Saint Germain (FRA) 
Referee: Cristian Garay CHI
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Rocha CHI
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Retamal CHI
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
Support Video Assistant Referee: 

Group A
Tuesday 24 June 2025, 03:00 CET
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
FC Porto (POR) - Al Ahly (EGY)  
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN 
Fourth Official: Omar Al Ali UAE
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
Support Video Assistant Referee: 

Group A
Tuesday 24 June 2025, 03:00 CET
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Inter Miami (USA) - Palmeiras (BRA) 
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Michael Oliver ENG 
Video Assistant Referee:
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: 
Support Video Assistant Referee: 

101 comments:

  1. After Ramos appointment, one should stop to follow the tournament...

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    Replies
    1. He makes the games entertaining. For football fans it creates great matches. As a referee he isn't helping us. But since he has no management at all it means any game can get completely out of hand.

      Delete
    2. It's either a total sacrifice on an impossible match OR, as I said in the other thread, you might as well pencil Ramos in for the WC Final next year.

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    3. I don’t really understand option 2. How would this appointment relate to next year’s WC final? If so, which I don’t believe, wouldn’t it be far more sensible to keep him out of the spotlights in this tournament?

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    4. I'm assuming it's impossible for a performance to be rejected in this competition... Garay wasn't great, but Ramos... Surely it's better to break the confederation neutrality earlier, then it becomes less of a story when it inevitably happens later on

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    5. It's a bit of hyperbole @Unknown.

      But the point would be that Ramos can do no wrong in FIFA's eyes. He's already had a semifinal. And, politically, after the 2006-2022 UEFA/CONMEBOL domination, it could be time to see a referee from a third confederation. Plus it's a home WC for Mexico.

      I think we'd all be foolish to believe he isn't in consideration for that match next year, despite our near collective analysis on his abilities. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong.

      Delete
    6. Wow,speechless.

      You can have performance as he had in BOC-BEN,you wont be punished.

      Bravo Fifa,excellent.
      Teachincg refs that being lenient,forgiving everything and letting everything go is the way to go.
      Mobbing and aggressive attitude towards the ref is acceptable and that's the way Fifa views his style.

      I was excepting he would get another match,but match of this magnitude???
      Decider and almost similar in terms of passion?????
      Jezz.

      Then we can also not exclude Kovacs for some important matches,but he is different, he punishes dissent and that's not how Fifa wants it.

      Delete
  2. Assuming how Atlético always behaves, plus what Botafogo showed yesterday, and Ramos' style... this has only one word: COMPLETE DISASTER. (I hope not but it's going to be a very difficult/impossible game from minute 1)

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  3. 37' Salman Falahi - Di Maria.
    Yet another chapter of allowing everything to players...

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  4. Good to see the Qatari ref standing up to the dissent by Di Maria in Orlando

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  5. Correct foul given on the gk to disallow a benfica goal. May have been offside too

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    Replies
    1. Yes, correct foul, also offside. And good job by Falahi to delay his whistle until the ball was in the goal, just in case.

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  6. 43', I have a feeling the Qatari referee whistled exactly when ball was entering the net, maybe for a foul? But I think he was lucky because there was also offside before (quick VAR check, but no signals by referee to understand what he had punished...).

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    Replies
    1. I watched it again; at least on my broadcast, the whistle was well after the ball was in.

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    2. Yes, he whistled with ball in the net and punished the foul on keeper, but there was offside before. VAR simply confirmed the decision.

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  7. Very forceful message from the medic to the referee as they are going through the head injury protocol. And now what is following from the player, wow...

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    Replies
    1. Remarkable from that player. I actually think that reaction is reason enough to not let him back on

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    2. Based on his reaction there was no way he did not have a concussion. It was not a regular reaction in any way.

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  8. Good yc for dissent by action for the kicking of the ball in frustration. Now a correct penalty

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  9. https://streamin.me/v/667e40f9
    Correct decision. Missing YC for reckless?

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  10. Apparently what it takes to get a yellow card for dissent at this tournament is kicking the ball at the referee from 30 yards away. At least we know there IS a line!

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  11. Management in first half:

    37' Reaction to Di Maria dissent. At UEFA level, this is a clear YC and player is at the border of RC. Aggressive approach against referee, unacceptable. You can positively observe the body language of the Qatari, but on a scale of tolerating dissent, this is still a medium reaction. It's a YC missing. But I think we can't ask for more at this tournament.
    https://streambug.org/cv/ae38b1

    45'+4 YC for kicking ball (against referee? unsure) from a certain distance, but surely frustration
    https://streambug.org/cv/f42a30

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  12. Am I the only one getting totally annoyed by all the adverse weather suspensions? I cannot remember we experienced this so often in past bigger tournaments.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe FIFA should choose a host for next year's WC, where it is possible to play a game of football in June. ;)

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    2. If this is the standard of suspension in MLS, well, US fans can't definitely complain about VAR breaking up the flow of the game. They have definitely something "bigger" doing it very often...

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    3. From an American fan: this is definitely a lot more weather delays than normal. Usually in the summer we have delays for some games in Florida every now and then, but not every matchday like we are seeing. That region is very prone to thunderstorms on summer evenings. Delays in Cincinnati and New York would be pretty rare, though.

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  13. I can't understand how Carreras intentionally kicking the ball to the referee isn't a straight RC instead of just a YC. At least here in ESP everyone would expect a RC.

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    Replies
    1. From that distance, there can be an element of doubt about whether the ball was meant to be kicked directly at the referee, or just in the general direction of the penalty area in frustration.

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  14. Ivan Barton has definitely good skills.

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    1. I’m not sure that foul was reckless, but absolutely correct in his management of the situation

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  15. The Salvadoran referee has a certain demeanor when calling a foul and he makes some gestures that reminds me of Byron Moreno, but of course only in that regard.

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  16. I don't dislike Barton, but there is certainly an element of theatre. Not sure it really helps to calm things with an English team. He does seem more in control than many Americas officials have been

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    1. What you're seeing are the left-over remnants of CONCACAF under Brian Hall's control. Where referees were encouraged (expected) to be "actors" on the pitch. It meant, an excessive amount of gesturing and posturing with no actual refereeing qualities.

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    2. I think you are completely missing the mark if you believe Barton is a product of Hall. Like, not even close.

      Escobar, yes. Escobar is the model that Hall wanted to create and push.

      But Escobar and Barton are like night and day for refereeing. They could not be more different.

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  17. Clement Turpin is fourth official between Mamelodi Sundowns - Borussia Dortmund

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  18. Ramos + Botafogo aggressiveness/dissent + Atletico attitude/gamesmanship + possible must win for both teams = complete and utter DISASTER!!!

    It saddens me to see that CONCACAF has fallen this low in terms of referees. With all due respect to these other confederations. CONCACAF is at or below to AFC/CAF levels. Only above OFC!

    But it comes as no surprise with Mexican referees. As I've witnessed the steady deterioration/decline under the disastrous/draconian mandate of Benito Armando Archundia.

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    Replies
    1. Wow,speechless.

      You can have performance as he had in BOC-BEN,you wont be punished.

      Bravo Fifa,excellent.
      Teachincg refs that being lenient,forgiving everything and letting everything go is the way to go.
      Mobbing and aggressive attitude towards the ref is acceptable and that's the way Fifa views his style.

      I was excepting he would get another match,but match of this magnitude???
      Decider and almost similar in terms of passion?????
      Jezz.

      Then we can also not exclude Kovacs for some important matches,but he is different, he punishes dissent and that's not how Fifa wants it.

      Delete
    2. Maybe he will change his approach for this game,but I dont think so.

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    3. He's unable to. He can only be worse.

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  19. Great two onside decisions by Pupiro on the 1-1 goal in Flamengo vs Chelsea

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    Replies
    1. And another for the 2nd goal though it was a bit easier

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  20. WOW what a quick red card...

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  21. Great red card decision and very well managed in front of the technical areas

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  22. It is true that the referee from El Salvador has a rather "chaotic" style, but definitely skills of a big talent.

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    Replies
    1. Exactly. I think in the first half his demeanor was very risky, potentially even inflammatory at times (see: the first yellow card of the match, 11'). But in other moments that needed a big personality (YC in first half added time, red card to Jackson), he really shines.

      For Barton I think the one improvement I was would is for him to develop more nuance: instead of being at 100% energy, super high intensity all the time, being able to slow himself down when his default energy is counterproductive.

      Still, this has been a very good performance by Barton so far.

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    2. Maybe he was reading my mind... his lower-key reaction to the foul at 90'+4' was exactly what I was looking for (although in theory a yellow card could be justified too).

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    3. So, you want him to change the style that suits him best and that we've seen him succeed with?
      I can guarantee you that it would be detrimental to him and to his career.
      Referees come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. And unsurprisingly, not all of them referee in the same manner. Nor should they be forced to.
      Take the "cookie cutter" referee mindset and toss it in the trash bin.

      Delete
  23. Brilliant spot by Barton. I thought at first that the contact was only on the foot, but very well seen that it started on the shin and raked down, and his immediate presence on the situation diffuses any further tension.

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    1. I also thought the same until I rewound and watched again. Worth noting that El Salvador has no VAR in their domestic league. Perhaps VAR has caused the skill of recognizing SFP live to atrophy.

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    2. @thegreatwar, I've been saying this--your last sentence--for a long time. Maybe not the skill, per se. But the confidence in acting on what you see. I think the fear of being wrong with an affirmative decision weighs on referees; they'd rather be told they missed something via VAR than told they called something wrong.

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    3. Antony Taylor acted otherwise in this tournament. Nut interesting discussion, numbers of on field given SFP red cards before and after VAR should and could be evaluated...

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    4. And Taylor might truly be the exception to the rule. I believe we've seen him overturn himself a few times at the monitor on big decisions.

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  24. Excellent red card decision!

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  25. An argument for SFP with that challenge? It trapped the attackers leg

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  26. Back to Penso, Infantino visited the female trio after Al Ain - Juventus game to congratulate. It seems like a very strong endorsement by FIFA president for the American woman, we will almost certainly see her at the World Cup. Ramos, from her same confederation, is terrible, while Barton from El Salvador is excellent. I haven’t fully assessed the US referee so far, also considering the relatively limited assignments she has been given, but she might be better than Frappart, if we want to make a European comparison. Time will tell. But it's not hard to be the best in CONCACAF in recent times (said with all respect for both her and the others).

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    Replies
    1. From what I've seen, she's better than Frappart. By a fair bit. I think her inclusion is completely justified

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    2. There are of course other concacaf referees than the ones mentioned.

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    3. Will be interesting, whether she gets a challenging appointment in this tournament like INT-RIV on MD3 or even a KO match.

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    4. There are several referees in CONCACAF who do not have the same "support" as those mentioned and, therefore, 0 opportunities... TBH Ramos only for "reputation and name" is present in this tournament, Ortiz is much better (although many do not like his "protagonist" style on the field).

      And yes, Penso is much better than Frappart... I have seen an immense number of her games (live/TV) and I don't remember a "disaster"... The charisma she has and the feeling of always having the game under control that she transmits are keys to her success, added to the good decisions she makes in the field… Even Esther Staubli (who for me deserved the opportunities of Frappart and much more in the “male world”), Edina and even Katia Garcia with her level right now, are much better than Frappart.

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    5. I'll wait to see Penso and Co in an actual challenging "men's" match, to pass judgement. Let's not kids ourselves. Juventus v Al Ain wasn't exactly Boca v Benfica or PSG v Botafogo.

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    6. Penso is better than all the other female international referees insofar as how she performs in men's matches. By far. It's really not close. She's comfortable managing men and overseeing VAR in a way that other female referees just are not.

      That said, she's considered middle tier in MLS. She's good and I think she deserves more opportunity domestically. But it's not like she's USA's #1 or close. She benefits some from having men's international matches where either the teams want to play or, well, she's superior to the talent on the field (e.g., CONCACAF WCQ before the final round).

      So it is worth asking how she'd be tested in a top tier, heated men's match. It's a very open question.

      Of course, the fact that you can contemplate giving her such a match at a FIFA event proves she's light-years ahead of Frappart or anyone else. I cannot imagine Frappart, Staubli or Alves with an actual tough men's match in a senior tournament setting.

      So the question for me becomes whether or not FIFA just uses Penso twice next year on two lesser-to-mid matches OR if they really start to push her. Her next assignment at CWC should tell us a lot.

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    7. I watched some parts of tze 2nd half.

      She had very bad moment where instead of letting advantage,she whistled and booked Gatti from Juve.
      Then,not punishing blatant agressive running and potests towards her form Al Ain.

      But looking right now at that,trend is not punishing dissents and mobbing,players can do and say what they want.

      When someone like Kovacs does something about that,he is public enemy number 1.

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    8. Kovacs had much bigger problems than dealing with dissent. And, yes, when a referee gives out a card for dissent and clearly has no idea the player was already on a yellow, that is a problem--particularly when he could have picked the goalkeeper for the caution, as that dissent was much clearer. Oh, and also the fact that Kovacs mistake let to the whole scene.

      But we digress. Penso is not perfect. I would also say she possibly missed a DOGSO at 16', which no one seemed to notice or talk about here. That said, no one is putting in perfect performances. I would argue she deserves a difficult match, but given just how challenging some of these MD3 games could be, such an assignment could be more curse than blessing.

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  27. Barton with the best display of the tournament, and in doing so it also became the best football match. Well done!

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  28. Falahi had an OFR for a penalty in extra time. He should have spotted that live as he was in a good position (if anything, maybe too close).

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    Replies
    1. Some doubts about Di Maria attitude, from some angles, it can look even a dive or at least he used the contact to fall. But basically, one can understand why VAR called.

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  29. So, you're telling me that timely, necessary, and well given Yellow and Red cards, actually DON'T "KILL" a match. What an out of this world theory and approach.

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    Replies
    1. Yet Barton is from CONCACAF. How curious.

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    2. However, Barton has shown that unlike other CONCACAF referees. He's adaptable, flexible, and has the ability to adjust his style.
      He seamlessly goes from domestic Barton to CONCACAF Barton to international Barton. Of course, his worst version being CONCACAF Barton.

      Delete
  30. I shudder to think how messy and chaotic Barton's Red Card incident would have been. If it had been handled by one of those referees who have to wait and think about Yellow vs Red. The ones who are overly passive and are slow to get to the location of the incident.

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure all would have been fine... Waiting and thinking, replaying in the mind, having input from your team, can be a skill too!

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    2. And in that time the confrontations, pushing, and shoving amongst players starts. Followed by the inevitable intervention by the coaches and players in the technical area.

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  31. Wrong penalty by Eskas, overturned on review and YC given for simulation

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  32. Now Eskas overturned his penalty decision with VAR.

    Very eloquently and right to the point said that player fell too easily and also got YC for that.

    But then again,mobbing from LA players being not punished is obviously trend at this CWC.

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    Replies
    1. What mobbing, Didn't you hear, there's the Only The Captain rule now, so mobbing doesn't exist anymore :D

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    2. Yep,Captain with ref and around ref and captain 50 players 😀😀😀

      Joke of a rule.

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    3. The captain rule got forgotten within a month. And already within the first week there have been several per match where the 8-second rule is ignored too.

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    4. Captain rule,if more than 2 players surround ref automatic YC for someone,time added is not correct every time..

      I could go on and on,but today ever, game had their mobbing the ref moments.

      And I think Barton was the only one who delivered great today.

      But whole CWC there is trouble with constant pressure and mobbing on ref(Ramos obviously,Penso ,Falahi,Fisher and now Eskas).

      I say it,only english refs and english league are dealing with properly,booking every time there is mobbing and booking every time there is game delay.

      Delete
  33. Marciniak would have been ideal for Atletico-Botafogo.
    But given the last couple of months and his decisions where Barca and Spain are blaming him for Barca's loss,that was for sure factor.

    Also,maybe they were looking athe confederations neutrality.
    But then again,anyone but Ramos.

    Botafogo is already used to leniency and forgiving dissents,so nothing new for them.
    Atletico will now see how one ref can be different from other(Ramos-Kovacs).

    I'm sure they will like it Ramos way more than Kovacs.
    Teams like refs who punishes nothing and allows everything.

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  34. Hmm,should this be YC for going into the crowd?

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    Replies
    1. I thought that. But I don’t think Collina would be happy with a second yellow there. Goal was pretty controversial aswell

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    2. I also thought about the 2CT but he didn't actually climb a fence--those stands are quite low. I don't think anyone actually wants a card there and it's not technically required anyway.

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    3. Thus, the reason a YC for removing your shirt to celebrate is ridiculous. It's no worse than an entire bench and coaching staff crossing the length of the field to celebrate a goal.

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  35. Anyone else have a foul by the attacker just prior to the Esperance 1-0 goal? The LAFC defender wins the ball and the Esperance attacker trips him. Pretty surprised this goal stands.

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    Replies
    1. I'm with you on that one. The LAFC player wins/clears the ball and is then plain and simply taken out by the Esperance player.

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  36. Minute 71 goal for Espérance. There is no way that that's a goal. It's a clear foul. Defender clears the ball and gets completely tackled. Very easy and clear foul but it was allowed.

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  37. I still couldn't understand how could be this is biggest FIFA tournament if when the referee injured, there's no replacement and force FO (even if he should) to running in the lines that surely he's not running in that line for years.

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  38. I don't think it was clear and obvious error. I think it was supportable decision by Faghani to allowed the goal, but then he go to the monitor, surely the original decision difficult to stand.

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    Replies
    1. It's not a clear and obvious error, and I'm not entirely convinced its a foul anyway. Goalkeeper has to be stronger. Referee's call should have stood, and I think he should have been stronger and rejected it at the monitor

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    2. This isn't just not a clear and obvious error, it's not even a foul for me. They're both holding eachother. Completely wrong intervention by Guzmán, and once again it's Faghani who isn't strong enough to reject at the monitor

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    3. Come again? An attacker is deliberately backing into a goalkeeper and pushes him into his own net, thereby preventing him from attempting to play the ball at all.

      This has been a foul since the dawn of time. I am quite literally shocked that the first three comments on this play here assert it's not a foul. Making this not a foul would change the sport.

      Delete
  39. 43'very reckles foul on Kane,Costa shoud have seen yc

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  40. There are some positives and negatives in 1st half;

    So far Faghani has control,he has that experience and also players that they are dealing with one of the best refs.

    This last sequence I dont get it.
    Boca player pushes Bayern player,Goretzka,off the ball incident.
    Then Goretzka says something and then he's booked.

    So in the end of that mini battle,Boca player eon,I dont know if that was Costa

    1 clear YC,1 totally missed in 43',rest is ok.


    1 minutes of added tim in 1st H after VAR review and moments before that,this whole procedure after 1st canceled goal took some time,atleast 3 minutes..
    Then there were some protests throughout 1st half goal scored and you add 1 minute?!No words

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  41. https://streamin.me/v/7f2fb07a
    Here the disallowed goal for foul on keeper. I don't think that Faghani had a good view of the situation, maybe he didn't do any assessment at all. Always difficult situations when keepers are involved, for most of VAR it's impossible to play on. I think that no foul could have been accepted, but how things turned out, made the call mandatory for VAR...

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  42. 59' Possible second yellow to Advincula

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  43. Looks like a poor performance by Eskas.
    For me, a clear foul before Espérance goal, can't understand why VAR didn't call it. Late and reckless challenge.
    About the penalty he whistled and then revoked by VAR, you could be deceived live, but rewatching it's indeed a simulation. Player uses an extremely soft touch to make a big fall. Very evident.
    Then in the final minutes, OFR for assigning a penalty: correct again by VAR. Absolutely no discussion.
    Really sorry for the Norwegian, very sub standard and maybe he will not get a second game.

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  44. Disciplinary control somewhat lacking towards the end here. 90'+6' foul against Kane (for the umpteenth time this match) was purely frustration and cynical, should have definitely been a yellow.

    Nevertheless, very good performance by Faghani in a fairly challenging game.

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  45. Predictions for the last games:
    Auckland - Boca: Tantashev UZB (maybe Kovacs)
    Benfica - Bayern: Turpin FRA
    LAFC - Flamengo: Zwayer GER
    Espérance - Chelsea: Tello ARG
    Inter Milan - River Plate: Barton SLV
    Urawa Reds - Monterrey: Taylor ENG
    Dortmund - Ulsan HD: Sy SEN
    Mamelodi - Fluminense: Letexier FRA
    Juventus - City: Makkelie NED
    Wydad - Al Ain: Fischer CAN
    Al Hilal - Pachuca: Oliver ENG
    Salzburg - Real Madrid: Nyberg SWE

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