KO phase of 2026 FIFA World Cup, Portuguese referee João Pinheiro appointed to South Africa - Canada in the Round of 32 "opener". It will be his second game in the tournament.
Round of 32
28 June 2026, 21:00 CET
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
SOUTH AFRICA - CANADA
Referee: João Pinheiro POR
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Jesus POR
Assistant Referee 2: Luciano Maia POR
Fourth Official: Omar Al Ali UAE
Reserve AR: Mohamed Al Hammadi UAE
Video Assistant Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Rodolpho Toski BRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Hernan Mastrangelo ARG
A very impressive first "quarter" (hate that term) from Pinheiro so far. By far the best I've seen him, looks relaxed, confident and displaying very good personable qualities.
ReplyDeleteHe for sure looks calmer than usual.
DeleteGood positioning overall
Been very impressed with his fitness and positioning. A referee daring to go wide at points, that will never catch on ;)
DeleteEasy 1/4 for Pinheiro. Good foul detection and nothing else to report.
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ReplyDeleteGiven the bar for a YC in this tournament I accept no YC but the RSA player is fortunate IMO not to receive one on 38' for a blatant shoulder into the back.
ReplyDeleteVery surprising no card on 38’. Certainly reckless
ReplyDeleteExcellent no penalty decision
ReplyDeleteExcellent no penalty call for me on 45'
ReplyDeleteTop no penalty call by Pinheiro! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteGreat no pen decision
ReplyDeleteMissed penalty for me
ReplyDeleteClear pen missed
ReplyDeleteI have difficulty to evaluate this play. Sincerely, I don’t know whether this was a right or wrong decision
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI think this can’t be intervened on by VAR regardless of how it’s called on field. I tend to agree with no penalty, but wouldn’t think it’s terrible to call a penalty.
DeleteReally tough decision
I think this can’t be intervened on by VAR regardless of how it’s called on field. I tend to agree with no penalty, but wouldn’t think it’s terrible to call a penalty.
DeleteReally tough decision
Disagree. 100 % for me.
ReplyDeletePenalty
DeleteExcellent no pen call. His #1 fan will be pleased.
ReplyDeleteVery big fan of this non penalty call.
ReplyDeleteGood to him and VAR
Although he made great no penalty decision, he will be under bigger pressure in second half because of it.
ReplyDeleteThe good referee does not need video assistant referee
ReplyDeleteBut neither do I want a user who inexplicably keeps praising him. I don't think he's a good referee, and through your comments, you're trying to make him look better than he actually is
Delete+1 with Hans it's like a PR role for you, Ahmed are you getting paid though today the Portuguese ref Pinheiro has been flawless and fantastic so far 51'
DeleteThe precedent that if you stick your leg infront of someone shooting, trip them over and it not being a foul as the attackers leg is the one in motion is ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteA very impressive first half from Pinheiro who has justified this appointment and then some. Excellent fitness and movement (not afraid to go wide when required), strong foul detection and consistent contact allowed. The challenge on 38' on another day may have seen a YC but Pinheiro was spot on in line with FIFA instructions to issue no YC. The no penalty call on 45' was a brave and strong call helped by Pinheiros positioning to go wide to allow him to see the contact the correct way around. Interesting Christina Unkel for British TV thinks VAR should have overturned it and recommended a review but I have to say I disagree with her. Excellent stuff and keep up the good work Pinheiro and team for the rest of the game.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Despite me not being a big fan of his, that was surely an excellent first half.
DeleteAlso excellent from Del Cerro Grande to confirm pinheiro’s call
DeleteChristina Unkel has now reversed her opinion and confirmed VAR was correct not to intervene but made no clear comment on if she thought it was a penalty.
DeleteI'm genuinely confused by the controversy about this incident. Unlike Scotland-Brazil, the Rsa defender just moves his position, and he gets kicked by the attacker? Am I missing something?
DeleteI don't think this was a great performance however. Pinheiro is completely missing a stepped approach to deal with the (by now surely famous!!) rough play by Rsa: clear YC for off-the-ball fouling missed to Rsa6 at 10:07; borderline to reckless foul given like a normal one by Rsa14 at 19:25; then good verbal warning to Rsa21 at 20:41 but by then Pinheiro could/should have already started dishing out cards; what happened at 27:08 was a total accident so okay. The incident I would be firm on is 38:32 - this MUST be a yellow card. It is a yellow card on its own, but a top referee HAS to read the nature of how (one of the) teams is playing the game. Sorry, but this 39' scene is simply poor. Rsa4 then tries to undermine the referees authority at 43:45 but clearly no card is needed for this dissenting-ish behaviour.
So: not a bad first half, but I would say only okay.
The key call though was clearly correct (imo!).
No, not missing anything, I think your summation of the key incident is in line with my opinion and summation.
DeleteTerrible no call penalty
ReplyDeleteWhat are the arguments in favor of no PK call ?
ReplyDeleteThe call was made by a UEFA ref?
DeleteThat the attacker kicked the defender, so that attacker was gulity of initiating the contact. The defender in my opinion did nothing wrong.
DeleteAgree. Explain me why this isn’t a blatant foul here ?
DeleteThe defender played the ball, then was kicked
DeleteHow can he be this good making correct decisions at same time have the weakest body language of all referees! Lacking charismatic
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSuperba analisi Damir, superb analisys
DeleteMissed foul that could have been YC for Buchanan.
ReplyDeleteNever a yellow based on what we’ve been seeing the past few weeks
DeleteHe is not handling the South African well,he is allowing far too much appealing by them ,but by the same token a Canadian opens there ,mouth ,he is sending them away. NO consistency ,he should be refereeing the teams in the same way
ReplyDeletePoor from Pinheiro to get in the way when Canada pressing
ReplyDelete