Debut for the third Argentinian referee at 2026 WC, Dario Herrera in charge of Belgium - Iran.
Match #39
Group G
21 June 2026, 21:00 CET
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
BELGIUM - IRAN
Referee: Dario Herrera ARG
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Navarro ARG
Assistant Referee 2: Gabriel Chade ARG
Fourth Official: Yusuke Araki JPN
Reserve AR : Jun Mihara JPN
Video Assistant Referee: Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Leodan González URU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 :Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Herrera looks way too serious in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteHow is that different from the "'militant" approach people were praising Barton and others for?
DeletePotential SFP ?
ReplyDeleteWhy not red ?
ReplyDeletePossible RC for Lukaku?
ReplyDeleteUnless someone is dead no red will be awarded this WC
ReplyDeleteYou mean, unless it's group A or B ;)
DeleteHahaha good call
DeleteOrange card foul of Lukaku. I think YC is supportable.
ReplyDeleteAt this World Cup, definitely. Unless Bel att made full contact with the head, then no chance this would be given a RC at this World Cup.
DeleteNever ever a red card. Honestly people on here act like they have never seen a game of football and don't understand collisions happen
ReplyDeletekicking the goalkeeper in the throat with full force be allowed?"
DeleteExcept he didnt kick the gk in the throat did he
DeleteI will go with yellow there. Totally enoguh. Var correct to stay silent!
ReplyDeleteLukaku is lucky not to have been sent off."
ReplyDeleteWhy red card? Lukaku is only going for the ball and is unlucky to catch the keeper on the way. The studs are not straight at the keeper and it is not deliberate at all.
ReplyDeleteThen the red card against Qatar for the broken leg was wrong
Deletecrn.ple +1
DeleteYes, it sort of was. We are unfortunately seeing more and more refereeing based on an "unfortunate result" rather than the severity of the foul itself 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
DeleteNever red. Glancing contact. Retracts leg. Contact on arm, upper body.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYC is ok. Good decision by Herrera.
ReplyDeleteImo this action by Lukaku is putting his opponent in danger by not controlling his movement, for me it’s a SFP, if the keeper is going out then a red would had been giving, not really understand.
ReplyDeleteI think If Herrera had shown a RC, I don't think VAR would have intervened.
ReplyDeleteThe BEL9 situation with the GK of IRN for me is not SFP. He comes in with high leg and studs showing, in a normal football action to try and get a touch on the ball and score. However, before he makes contact with the GK he retracts his leg (not streched) and his studs don't make heavy contact with the tie of the GK. YC is mandatory here, RC would be harsh. Don't think VAR would intervene here tho. So no KMI missed
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/1c62ff
ReplyDeleteBasically, the classic late challenge by an attacker on the goalkeeper, when the attacker cannot stop or is unaware of the keeper in the immediate moment, is a yellow card. Here we are maybe facing a slightly more particular case: had referee shown a RC, VAR would have supported, but the yellow card will not be considered a mistake. As someone pointed out, there are also elements of accidentalness in the contact. Obviously, these can't cancel everything and the challenge stays as very bad, but a caution is acceptable. It would, of course, have been a serious mistake not to issue any card at all, and in that scenario one would have been curious to see the VAR reaction (which probably still wouldn't have intervened). Then again, it is clear that much more forceful challenges can sometimes be punished with a yellow card, while less dangerous ones in other matches may result in a red card; it is impossible to make direct comparisons from one game to another.
Agree, very difficult to compare games and cards. I think there is also an element here that the BEL att has a right to challenge for this ball, the position of the goal keeper in his closeness to the ground and heading lower to the ground from his starting position. I think the bar set for fouls and for disciplinary action, meant that a YC is what would be the acceptable decision.
DeleteGoal should be disallowed even if not offside. Attacker in the wall
ReplyDelete"We couldn't hear the referee's announcement.
ReplyDeleteOnce again long check for an offside call, SAOT down once again ?
ReplyDeleteWay too long to see it, after the Hydration break it appeared on the screen
DeleteTight offside on free kick, given it was a set piece, AR2 should have spotted it.
ReplyDeleteHerrera didn't want to show whether fluent in English or not, announcement not working once again.
I’m not so sure, it sounded like he was giving a decent explanation after he showed the VAR signal. I also have a feeling after the really poor ones early on, they have probably spent some time doing some training on there announcements in camp.
DeleteI think it was just a shame the announcement didn’t go through either the TV or to the stadium. Maybe because the VAR hub is in Dallas, they don’t always have the ability to control the referee communication? Or maybe it is the TV director who controls? Surely not.
Blatant offence by attacker being closer than 1 m to the wall. But VAR cannot intervene for that (I emailed the IFAB about it previously). So lucky for the referees that it was offside.
ReplyDeleteChelsea v Crystal Palace in PL last year, a goal was ruled out for that after review
DeleteIFAB has been clear that it is not a reviewable offence. Which I disagree on.
DeleteInsane that is not a reviewable offense
DeleteHe made it but the mic was not yet on... Again ridiculous that it is not the referees in charge of the mic... So stupid
ReplyDeleteIt has to be either the VAR hub in Dallas in control or the TV director. Crazy they don’t test these things out before the game huh?
DeleteEnglish level from Herrera is outstanding ! 😂
ReplyDeleteDid I miss hrydation break or did they forget
ReplyDeleteVery late hydration break, 28/29 minutes
DeleteVery tight offside, good job for VAR, extremley hard to spot it due to one player raised hand of Belgium!
ReplyDeleteWhy they don’t have mics like NFL that are activated by a button on the hip?
ReplyDeleteIn Germany, refs had tested that option last year during their training camp but deemed the button on the waist as uncomfortable. I am also not aware of any confederation that would do it "NFL-style"...
DeleteI think it being uncomfortable comes from the fact that football referees are required to do so much running. When you compare it to NFL style refs, they move but not the distance or sprinting required in football
DeleteIn my opinion, they deliberately skip the announcements because South American refs don't know English... there's no other explanation."
ReplyDeleteHe clearly gave the announcement, the mic was just not on and when they turned it on he was already telling the players to restart... This comment is ridiculous.
DeleteThe ref is aware his mic isn't working because his voice isn't echoing in the stadium. He could've repeated the announcement... that's what Felix Zwayer did."
DeleteIt’s also hard, he spent a good period talking and the mic never went on. Surely had it started working during the announcement, he could have started again however right up to when he put up his hand for offside, the mic never switched on.
DeleteThe Mice wasnt activated
ReplyDeleteGreat game from Herrera so far! Body language +++
ReplyDeleteThis issue with announcements almost never working properly is unacceptable, anyway. I repeat, in Serie A in Italy during this season nearly half of the announcements experienced some kind of problem. I honestly don't understand whether these are issues that simply can't be solved at all; if so, they should just abolish this procedure, because otherwise it really makes no sense whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteEven VAR communication itself is sometimes problematic, but the failure rate there is still acceptable.
These announcements, on the other hand, have been a complete disaster ever since they were introduced. If they really can't fix them and still want to keep the thing, my suggestion would be to display the explanation as on screen text, both as a VAR graphic on television and on the stadium screens.
Simple solution, give back the ability to open the mic to the referee himself and not VAR. Push to talk button and it will be way better.
DeleteIn Germany, they worked fairly well to be honest. I don‘t like announcements in general, but there are ways to do it properly. At WC it is done so unprofessionally though.
DeleteI cannot understand why FIFA is not able to organize this. In Germany we have these announcements since March 2025 in a couple of "test stadiums“, since August 2025 in all Bundesliga stadiums and since October 2025 also in the Second Division and it works without problems. You can always hear the referee.
DeleteThis isn't exactly a new thing, why wouldn't it be fixable? Many sports already have it and it works fine... Reminds me of how the English FA tried to go against the grain with VAR (for no reason) and just made a mess of it 'til they finally gave in...
DeleteExactly crn.ple
It is especially embarrassing because these matches are mostly in stadiums used by American football where the official make announcements every penalty over the in stadium audio and tv audio. And have for years. It is not rocket science yet it seems incapable in this tournament (and certainly other competitions).
DeleteIronically for all the issues in Australia, never had an issue with announcements either on TV or in stadium. Probably because the VAR hub and the TV director all in one location, same stadiums, same process for all games.
DeleteCrazy they haven’t tested this prior to games to ensure it is working.
Herrera very firm, but he doesn't want to show cards.
ReplyDeleteSo far, this game is the paramount example of what Collina and Busacca want: very mandatory cards (Lukaku), then you can manage all the rest.
Exactly.
DeleteThere was at least one more yc for an Iran Player. Which other yc do you think he should/ could have given?
DeleteI like that he ist not falling on Irans actings...
Spot on. This approach works for two teams interested in playing football and getting on with it. It doesn’t always work, especially in those games with some spite (Australia vs USA played a very physical and ill tempo’d friendly months prior), teams that are very physical and dominate using physicality. Thus far approach is working and managing well.
DeleteThis announcement nonsense should be completely scrapped
ReplyDeleteIt gives nothing for the sport and just confuses everyone. Let VAR write the explanation so it’s shown on the big screen and on the broadcast.
DeletePotential 2nd YC for Lukaku no replay yet.
ReplyDeleteI like what I have seen so far. Authoritative and decisive, yet able to reach the players through softer interpersonal skills—this is what I observed between minutes 20 and 45 (I did not see the opening stages of the match).
ReplyDeleteHe awards the correct free kicks and demonstrates very good match management around the 30th minute when he initially considers applying advantage but correctly recognizes that a free kick is the better option. He engages with the player involved (the gesture used to call the player over was slightly aggressive and exaggerated, but this is a minor detail), and then calmly and composedly delivers an effective verbal warning to the player who committed the foul.
The only point I can remark on is a slightly delayed signal for a handball offence by an Iranian player.
Good performance so far, but in the last ten minutes, it felt like listening to a South American whistle concert again…
ReplyDeleteSorry, but disagree with most of you. IMO
ReplyDeletea FH not brilliant at all
The technical assessment was too often late, inconsistent, and uncertain; the disciplinary management was questionable and non-linear. If you add a nervous and unresponsive approach, tbh his authority is just above a sufficient level.
I dont see a nervous approach at al
DeleteLook at him more carely even only by his gesture: more authoritarian than authoritative
DeleteI feel the technical approach is in question because of the high bar expected by Collina/Busacca, this is above the comfort zone that many referees are used to in their own confeds or home competition. If this technical approach changes (in a World Cup of all places, not a friendly match) then you almost have improvise the disciplinary approach which is why it might seem questionable or non-linear (I read that as consistent)
DeleteThat’s a red card
ReplyDeleteSo many countries talk about protecting player safety. It's unbelievable the level that that isn't cared about. He has completely misjudged this challenge
DeleteMissed YC in 47'
ReplyDeleteAgree!!
DeleteThe referee didn't even give a yellow card for a potential red card... unbelievable..."
ReplyDeleteI will keep my cards in pocket for this situation, he goes for the ball, unintentionally trip his leg. Good Herera.
ReplyDelete‘Trip’? He clips his studs on the back of his opponents leg, should be at least YC
DeleteYou must be absolutely joking. Bare minimum is YC here. Clear stud marks on back of the leg.
DeleteNever ever unintentionally. At least dark yellow, even RC supportable, but NOTHING is unacceptable!
DeleteI agree with you all, but I think we need to adjust our radar based on the high bar expected by Collina and Busacca at this World Cup. We have many of these challenges go unpunished with disciplinary action this World Cup so we shouldn’t be surprised here.
DeleteStuds, making a raking contact down the back of BEL att (incredible did you see the studs marked and the ripped sock, wow) leg. Perhaps maybe a glancing contact, but I’m just trying to justify it now.
Thats a horrible challenge. Honestly pathetic for var to stay silent
ReplyDeleteThat’s Red card. Even not a YC is here scandalous and completely Incredible.
ReplyDelete100% red card missed, not even YC given. Terrible decision by both Herrera and VAR
ReplyDeleteBlatant YC missed 46’. I’d say even borderline red.
ReplyDeleteAre refs competing who will miss the most gruesome challenge?
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling that these kind of stud tacklings are instructed to not be a straight red
ReplyDelete+1
Delete47:00 – Clear missed disciplinary sanction. The player challenges from behind with the studs exposed towards the opponent’s unprotected leg. Even though the contact is not clean, the challenge is highly dangerous and ranks high on the UEFA scale for reckless play. The situation requires at least a caution (yellow card) for reckless play.
ReplyDeleteVideo of possible RC for SFP in 47', clear missed YC at least:
ReplyDeletehttps://streambug.org/cv/9f3cec
This is a more debatable incident than the early challenge by Lukaku on keeper, that can be more codified than this one.
Here the referee is surely unable, in my opinion, to make a proper assessment, because, as you can also see, this extremely dangerous contact with studs happens in a while and if you stay at live sequence, you can't think immediately about such an outcome. Then, add the fact that referee was far away and you have explanation why no card.
The possible intervention was left to VAR but once again we discover that FIFA doesn't want interventions unless extremely mandatory incidents (I think back to the opener and I'm convinced they assessed Gallo intervention as mistake about the red card for violent conduct).
Here the decision is very bordeline, the effects of the challenge are terrible and I'm inclined to say VAR should have intervened for protecting the safety of the player. This was a very rough one, extremely risky, socks with a hole and a stamp on the leg with obvious marks, that seems enough to me.
+1
Delete+1
Delete+1
Delete+1
DeleteMissed YC on 58’ for BEL #4. Too many now
ReplyDeleteI have no issue with, and generally encourage, proactive match management through good communication, strong presence, clear signals, a balance between keeping the right distance and showing proximity, and the use of preventative refereeing where appropriate.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are situations where match management cannot replace disciplinary action. When clear cautionable offences are managed without the appropriate sanction, the referee risks losing credibility and sends the wrong message to the players. It also does little to protect player safety or support the long-term control of the match.
I have noticed this tendency in this referee’s performance, and also by the Paraguay referee yesterday in germany match. At this level, it is not acceptable to manage obvious yellow card offences without showing the card. The best referees understand when a word is enough and when the game expects a clear disciplinary response.
Absolutely agree
Delete+1
DeleteIt works in certain matches but in other matches it just invites more serious challenges, increases the tensions and matches get out of control (look at Zwayer match with USAvAUS)
DeleteI don't know but to much fod foul detection
ReplyDeleteCLear missed foaul again
ReplyDeleteAnd now clear RC,Herrera cant ignore even that.
ReplyDeleteCorrect RC for DOGSO
ReplyDeletesoft foul
ReplyDeleteRed card for dogso
ReplyDeleteNow the big decision with red card, very clear. Impossible to turn it into SPA ;)
ReplyDeleteGood decision very clear red card for DOGSO
ReplyDeleteNow we do finally have a red card. Correct decision. Well done
ReplyDeleteMy only issue with that RC, is the level of contact, given what has come before. I feel we've had many, much stronger contacts completely ignored, yet that minimal, very fleeting hold was given. That being said, once given, Dogso the only option. And if his bar hadn't been so high for much of the match, I wouldn't be having any issue with it
ReplyDeleteHand in face.
DeleteAgree with you and that’s where I don’t understand guidelines, every contact needs to be very strong to be sanctioned and for DOGSO like in the opening, game soft fouls are given with a RC, that’s a big problem imo.
DeleteYes, it’s like I’m living in an alternate reality. The studs on back of calf no card, then a little grab equals a DOGSO/RC.
DeleteDB, I couldn’t agree more. I know it was a tactical foul compared to the previous foul where you could argue the others were playing for the ball or at least contesting however it is crazy to me.
A red card without any doubt, and perfectly issued by Herrera. But Collina and Bussacca have created a monstrous version of football. Yes, it is often enjoyable to see a flowing game with fewer stoppages and players spending less time on the ground. But is this really the football we love when a hand on the mouth or a slight denial of a goal-scoring opportunity results in a red card, while assaults such as the one on De Bruyne sometimes do not even earn a simple yellow card?
ReplyDeleteI no longer subscribe to this biased and one-sided approach to disciplinary management that puts players’ physical integrity at far too much risk. Shameful — simply shameful.
+1 well said
Delete+1
DeleteI hope these situations happened in the game can bring some reflection. The clear and obvious mistake in this match regarding the failure to issue a card in 47' is evident. It becomes a conceptual issue when the VAR chooses not to intervene because Collina and Busacca don't want sending offs. Therefore, our criticism should rightly be directed at them rather than at the referees themselves, although I believe that a bit of initiative on the part of some officials could never be criticized by those at the top, at least in the face of such clear evidence, like today.
DeleteReferee analyst spot on!
DeleteCompletely nothing against referees Chefren. You are right. Guilty guys are italian and swiss. ;)
Delete+1
Delete100% agree
Delete@RefereeAnaylst - so true, it’s just crazy. Spot on
@Chefren - agree, we can’t blame the referee on his debut for this performance. In saying that, Collina and Busacca have bosses too, they are doing what their bosses want. This competition is about money, dynamic ticket pricing, hydration breaks so when the bosses say they don’t want as many YC or RC (players missing games affect attractiveness of matches) is it fair to blame them?
82:30 crystal clear yellow card missed
ReplyDeleteNot missed. A choice, possibly a choice influenced by Colina et al.
DeleteThe bubble will explode at some point. The bar for showing YCs will rise, until something terrible happens that will cause a change in this regard.
ReplyDeleteCollina or not Collina, a referee must apply the rules. In WC or out WC.
ReplyDeleteCollina has caused inconsistency amongst the referee ,tonights referee appeared to be under instructions not to YC the Iranians
DeleteWell, so far the best performance od MD2. Herrera was very good with excellent communication,fitness and techincal deicisions. About disciplinary decision he was also good, especially with Red Card for DOGSO. Actually, from Conmebol Referees, currently the best performance. Hope to see him as part of MD3.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the sarcasm, but with all mu respect if Herrera’s performance was the best among the COMNEBOL referees, imagine what the others were like…
Delete+100, best performance of the tournament in fact.
DeleteLet's stay in reality! At least one missed "dark" YC, imo some problems with foul detection in 2nd half, RC mandatory and well executed. Full control of game, good body language, communication sometimes a bit too aggressive, but still ok. So all in all just good average.
DeleteRef Fot-I can agree with that to some extent, especially regarding the first half, where I thought his performance was more on the positive side. His communication, fitness, presence and several technical decisions were good, and the DOGSO red card(secind half) was a good on-field decision.
DeleteHowever, the second half was a different story for me. There were several clearly missed cautions, including one challenge where it is honestly difficult to understand how he failed to show at least a yellow card. In addition, there were some delayed signals and a lack of a proper escalation in his match control. Too often he tried to manage situations verbally when the game required disciplinary action.
While there were definitely positive aspects, the second-half disciplinary management and overall control issues meant that, in my view, the performance ended up being far from a strong one.
I think it is unfair to criticise a performance from a foul detection point of view when the referee’s are just doing what they are told.
DeleteIf you take away the foul detection and the disciplinary action, he has delivered a performance that as you mentioned communication, fitness, presence and technical decisions.
For me the biggest test of these referee’s is the ability to manage players and control the players without using disciplinary actions. In this aspect, you must say he did very well (it also helps when both teams are willing to play rather than battle).
Are referees being influenced behind the scenes by FIFA ,not to YC certain nations ,tonight the Iranians appeared immune to getting YC. The challenge on Trossuard was certainly a YC ,if not a RC ,also the Iranian 14 commited a number of fouls including blatant shirt pulling on 82 minutes ,stopping a Belgium attack.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it is a case of not YC certain nations but rather it is this incredibly high foul bar. The Belgium players just aren’t as physical and don’t commit these types of fouls.
DeleteAre referees being influenced behind the scenes by FIFA ,not to YC certain nations ,tonight the Iranians appeared immune to getting YC. The challenge on Trossuard was certainly a YC ,if not a RC ,also the Iranian 14 commited a number of fouls including blatant shirt pulling on 82 minutes ,stopping a Belgium attack.
ReplyDelete@DD trust me in Argentina Herrera doesn’t bottle cards
ReplyDelete2025/26 - 19 games - 97 yellows - 12 Reds
2025/26 - 36 games - 207 yellows 7 reds
Strong performance from Herreea in this terrible Collina / Bussaca instructions
+1
DeleteFewer cards in the tournament than usual from all top referees. Not a coincidence.
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