Friday, 26 June 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup Match 62: Senegal - Iraq (discussion)

Two English referees will officiate MD3 games in group I: Anthony Taylor one of them, in charge of Senegal - Iraq. 



Match #62
Group I
26 June 2026, 21:00 CET
BMO Field, Toronto
SENEGAL - IRAQ 
Referee: Anthony Taylor ENG
Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick ENG
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Nunn ENG 
Fourth Official:  Khalid Al Turais KSA 
Reserve AR: Mohammed Al Abakry KSA 
Video Assistant Referee: Ivan Bebek CRO
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Fedayi San SUI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP 

32 comments:

  1. 4' Good no flag from AR1 to allow the Senegal goal

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  2. Clear mistake by Taylor in assessing a DOGSO.
    One should expect VAR intervention.
    Very long time before issuing the card and that's not good.

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    1. Agreed. Clear dogso but looked like he was asking help for assistants. Looked bad.

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    2. Taylor is obviously watching the contact, and by the time he looks over, the Iraq right back appears in good position to cover. Needing VAR in a close covering defender decision is completely reasonable and the fact it took so long is a clear indicator it was not an easy decision.

      I agree with the VAR intervention, but I also think it is perfectly reasonable to show yellow for SPA live on field due to the speed at which the covering defender gets back.

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  3. First YC for SPA but it wouldn't be wrong if it was RC for DOGSO

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  4. And Bebek once again if he doesn't take a long time before calling, it's not him!

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  5. We can hear everything from Taylor will post the clip soon

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  6. 9' YC given to IRQ #2 for SPA, possible DOGSO, review for DOGSO (possible red card), recommended for review by Bebek. Upgraded to RC for DOGSO. Good intervention by Bebek, Taylor for me caught flat footed and short and missed the DOGSO element (correctly identified the foul). AR1 may have helped but uncertain.

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    1. I agree with the end result, but I also think yellow is a completely reasonable on field decision. Taylor has to be focused on the contact to identify the foul. By the time he looks at that defender, he is close enough to make it an extremely close decision, so yellow is completely reasonable.

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    2. It was a GSO. It should have been detected on-field. The ref. was just 10 metres or so behind the players on their right hand side, and hadn't the best perspective to adjudge it correctly. Moreover, it could have been a case (an unconcious and very english one) of trying not to hurt the under-dog so early in the game.

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  7. Anthony Taylor gave a lesson how to make an announcement in English, yes, easy for him, but refreshing for us after the previous referees.

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  8. Nice to hear the considerations like this.

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  9. SPA is supportable imo, some doubt exists

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  10. What a beautiful explanation. Very nice to hear it from native English speaker.

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  11. Great to hear him during the OFR, correct DOGSO at the end could have been spotted live, good VAR intervention.

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  12. Very good to be able to hear communication with VAR. Possible change after several ocassions in which there was miscommunication when mic is open that now they open it as soon as ref is called for OFR

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    1. open mic during OFR for the TV would be great not sure they will do it but better for understand the decision.

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  13. Video of the OFR for DOGSO:
    https://streambug.org/cv/ed691d
    A decision that Taylor should have taken onfield.

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    1. Interesting that he uses term clear GSO, not obvious

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  14. 18' YC for SPA to SEN #4, IRQ players appealing for DOGSO but this time referees decision is correct. Not obvious DOGSO.

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    1. They’re only appealing because of the unnecessary intervention earlier

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  15. Now correct YC for SPA but expected severe protests from Iraq

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  16. İvan Bebek was already a bad and controversial referee. I don't understand why they put him in the VAR room for such an important tournament.. every review takes an hour

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  17. Missed foul on 37' for me, the Iraqi player clearly kicks the foot of the Senegal player

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  18. An interesting first half from Taylor. The big talking point will be the DOGSO intervention on 9' by Bebek. Missed for me by Taylor for reasons I've stated above. Apart from that Taylor has performed fairly okay. A fairly consistent level of foul detection and contact allowed with one or two minor fluctuations. For me I have found his movement to be very reactive as opposed to reading the game and thinking ahead but when you are an elder statesman of the group this is to be expected and experience is what carries you through a game. Not terrible but certainly room for improvement.

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  19. The first half situation is very interesting because it clearly highlights an aspect that could also be considered a strength of the English referee. In a scenario like this, with a crucial decision to make, a referee might easily feel very agitated and with a poor body language. Instead, he analyzes everything in the calmest and most composed way possible while communicating with VAR. He manages to remain very serene about the incident, and he doesn't let the mistake weigh on him, but rather processes it and moves on from it.
    This is clearly a quality, because another referee faced with such a mistake might have struggled to have then such a dialogue with the VAR.
    Of course, the main argument against this approach is that the decision should have been made on the pitch, but the English referee managed to maintain an apparently solid composure even in a situation where he was clearly wrong. Not a quality of all referees.
    That said, the mistake remains, and clearly, knowing Collina, he will not be happy about the missed red card.

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    Replies
    1. +1 well stated Chefren it's now ( bittersweet,) situation for the crew

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    2. The match had only just begun, so Taylor's pulse wasn't elevated yet. It's normal that he explained the situation so calmly. We shouldn't forget that his official language is English.

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  20. Cancelled corner kick by VAR in 87' I think'? But it was a handball made by Iraq missed just before, right?

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  21. Standard oefromance from Taylor. Expect to see him once more in Round of 32/16. That should be all.

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