Croatia and Ghana will meet on MD3 in group L and Canadian referee Drew Fischer will officiate them, second game in the competition.
Match #68
Group L
27 June 2026, 23:00 CET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
CROATIA - GHANA
Referee: Drew Fischer CAN
Assistant Referee 1: Micheal Barwegen CAN
Assistant Referee 2: Lyes Arfa CAN
Fourth Official: Campbell-Kirk Kawana-Waugh NZL
Reserve AR: Isaac Trevis NZL
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Rodolpho Toski BRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 :Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
How do they decide VAR crew? Entire trio + 4th and RAR are english, VAR crew speaks 3 different languages.
ReplyDeleteThey're all supposed to speak English.
DeleteGood no PK decision, Fischer doing well in an easy start
ReplyDeleteGood decision not to overreact to the situation in the GHA att when made contact with CRO def, was contact but in terms of this tournament was good management
ReplyDeleteWe understand “high bar for fouls”, we understand “let the game flow”… okay…
ReplyDeleteBut how on earth is that not a foul against Kovacic!?
Situation: https://streamable.com/dmj0j2
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ReplyDeleteInteresting offside call
ReplyDeleteLooking like Ghana goal being reviewed for blocking in the lead up to the goal. On field this has been given as offside and now they are doing the VAR check, OFR called.
ReplyDeleteBig mistake by AR1 to disallow goal for Ghana for offside.
ReplyDeleteOnce again we don’t really know if it’s the on field call, it’s a late call that is maybe due to the audio alert from SAOT for a player offside but he didn’t interfere in the play. But if it’s his own secession then clear mistake.
DeleteIf goal was originally disallaowed for interference of player that was in offside position than it was good intervention of VAR to sugest OFR. If it was for goal scorer than it should have been factual decision without OFR.
DeleteToo long VAR process
ReplyDeleteWorldclass decision by Fischer, very difficult situation correctly analysed and evaluated after OFR.
ReplyDeleteVAR took very long, clear goal IMO.
ReplyDeleteEventually the correct call. Apparently a large delay with the initial flag so potentially some issue with SAOT given the number of bodies in the box.
ReplyDeleteWe also nearly got a recreation of the famous "HOWEVER" announcement
“HOWEVER” would have become a Canadian referees trademark
DeleteThat was Attwell levels of incompetence.. should have taken less than a minute to work that one out. Correct outcome at least
ReplyDeleteAppropriate decision. His ability to play the ball was very minimal regardless. No impact.
ReplyDeleteI hope Drew Fisher doesn't get marked down for the VAR intervention here, this is what VAR has been introduced. Correct use here.
ReplyDeleteInteresting call. Weak announcement but still clear. Fisher has decided that the GHA att was offside, but the offside offense did not impact the goal being scored. I would disagree with that decision, anyone else?
For me, yes the goal scorer from GHA was no where near the CRO def blocked but what's not to say he could not have retreated back and made a block?
DeleteWeak???? How you want him to announce, it couldn’t be any clearer and understandable
DeleteHe used incorrect wording. Not good enough. Should’ve said ”The attacker, although in an offside position, has not made any obvious action which clearly impacted on the opponent’s ability to play the ball. He has not interfered with an opponent. Final decision is goal”.
DeleteThe main idea of the announcement for spectators it should be wording language they understand, not same as explaining decision to another referee, I think that was great Small words with clear intent
DeleteNot really. The above wording is from the laws and clearly state exactly why it wasn’t offside. Anybody would understand it.
DeleteHi Damir, that's why I said clear announcement but weak. 100% agree here with VG, for me we want referees to explain with clear references to the LOTG just like Taylor did yesterday with his announcement.
DeleteIf we dumb things down too much for the general person or the players, how can we ever expect them understand? It's to explain a decision so we can understand the reason for the decisions?
Excellent, excellent, excellent decision. Very good analysis by the VAR and very brave as mentioned above from Fischer.
ReplyDeleteCorrect decision in the end and well explained on speaker - but I think Fischer should have been sent to the screen earlier, don’t see a reason for such long delay
ReplyDeleteThis type of Clear Announcement I want to hear from every referee in this tournament! Good call For no offside since attack had no impact
ReplyDeleteJust brilliant by Fischer not being influenced by a disastrously incompetent VAR. The Canadian ref saving football and confirming the sharpness he had shown in first game.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely deserves to be in the knockouts.
The goal was disallowed on field. The VAR helped him overturn a wrong decision
DeleteThe on field decision was offside! Car called for it to change the decision, but it was good called by drew fischer
DeleteI saw Fischer point the arm horizontally toward the center circle validating the goal.
DeleteIt was the assistant ref who got it wrong? Broadcast was terrible then.
If goal was originally disallaowed for interference of player that was in offside position than it was good intervention of VAR to sugest OFR. If it was for goal scorer than it should have been factual decision without OFR
ReplyDeleteIt can’t be factual since it’s debatable decisions
DeleteI think it depends on communication between referee and VAR room. If offside was given because they taught goal scorer was in offside position than it could have been factual. But we can't know that.
DeleteI think it depends on communication between referee and VAR room. If offside was given because they taught goal scorer was in offside position than it could have been factual. But we can't know that.
DeleteVAR sent it back because it wasn't factual but needed the opinion of the referee. Well done in the end!
DeleteReally good and convincing performance, correct to take back the original offside call after VAR-Intervention, calm and good communication, full control and respect by the teams. Hope we see him again in knock-out games. We'll done, congrats!
ReplyDeleteNever expected this high level of officiating from Fischer, only watched the first half so far - not the 'biggest' name but if we're going by merit definitely top 10 performers at the World Cup albeit easier fixtures
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteDrew Fischer is Darkhorse of referees!! Grabbing opportunity front of him with conviction
ReplyDelete