Wilton Sampaio gets his third game at WC, as he is in charge of Round of 32 game Netherlands - Morocco.
Match #75
Round of 32
30 June 2026, 03:00 CET
Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
NETHERLANDS - MOROCCO
Referee: Wilton Sampaio BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Pires BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Boschilia BRA
Fourth Official: Cristian Garay CHI
Reserve AR: José Retamal CHI
Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Gallo COL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Leodan Gonzalez URU
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Armando Villarreal USA
Let’s hope for a performance similar to Jayed for 115 minutes
ReplyDeleteThis will be very tense match, if it is to judge by first 8 minutes
ReplyDeleteIncredibly high bar to start off, tense and large amounts of physicality.
Delete8’ Very difficult situation to manage, didn’t call a foul and then incidents in the previous minutes all converge in both players pushing one another. Good player management here but you just wonder to use this approach so early leaves him very little room to move without any disciplinary action from here. Does his talk calm things down?
DeleteYes very difficult game
ReplyDeleteVery much! It just 10 minutes and already feels like second half
DeleteGhost foul at 10 min
ReplyDeleteYou can’t argue that he didn’t sell it, he was metres from the incident but agree, soft compared to what came before it.
DeleteThe problem with giving that foul is that it makes his foul detection appear inconsistent.
DeleteWhat I have noticed from VAR intervention, any foul, no matter how soft it appeared (or how different it is compared to the high bar during the rest of the game) in the lead up to a goal, will be given. So perhaps this is a new directive from Collina/Busacca maybe? Food for thought
This ref I feel like is gonna lose control of this game
ReplyDeleteThis match will be entertaining to watch, quite difficult to referee. It feels like it will be hard to referee in FIFA standard with high bar for card and maintain control. Best of luck to Sampio.
ReplyDeleteSampson looks not comfortable
ReplyDeleteSampio
DeleteTwo attempts not correct Sampaio
DeleteBy the way, on the point you are right
DeleteThe way the game started? Not surprised, two teams prepared for a physical game but very difficult to control for a referee to control with the FIFA philosophy at this World Cup.
DeleteYep it will be an intense game and physical as well, Sampaio is going for very high bar for fouls for my liking, hopefully it works out for him in a huge match of the round
ReplyDeleteMaking things up as he goes along. Too involved and demonstrative
ReplyDeleteYou say too involved and demonstrative but I see this as game management, yes he is being aggressive (are you surprised to see this from South American referee) but he needs to manage these little fires otherwise the game will get out of control, fast.
DeleteSome people talk about referees having no personality and now his personality is coming out. You can’t have it both ways you know?
Tough start, but a missed YC on 27’
ReplyDeleteFor me? Are we surprised that it wasn’t given? In this tournament with the FIFA philosophy?
DeleteThe same two players back at it again, in a tit for tat battle between the two players. I agree here that after the strong talking to at the beginning of the game, the next step here is a YC.
My issue, do we blame the Sampaio for delivering exactly what he has been asked? Or do we blame the philosophy? Had this happened in the second half, he would have shown the YC.
Agree AFC referee. But when you see the foul and ankle on face…no YC is just a madness.
DeleteElbow lol 😂
DeletePerfect moment for card missed.
ReplyDeleteYC should have been issued to Ounahi
imo missed Yc in 27'
ReplyDeleteBad miss
ReplyDeleteMissed YC imo and i think misjudgment as he shows only the arm but a real elbow in the face here
ReplyDeleteThat’s a hard yellow as well. Some considerations for a red card there. Very bad miss.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at what the referees are doing then I think it's quite obvious that FIFA has decided that the European teams should not win the tournament.
ReplyDeleteWith the way the refs are officiating,you can say this lenient style suits non european teams.
DeleteEspecially Argentina.
They have plenty bodyguards that have license to kill without punishment.
In my opinion, that's VC and an acceptable RC if you are to give a slap in face a red card in the opener
ReplyDeleteSame ref same VAR different outcome!!
I don’t think it’s unreasonable at all to consider it VC. It’s a deliberate action, no attempt to play the ball. Result is an elbow to the chin. The force however is up for debate. But if you consider it a strike to the head/neck with no challenge for the ball and greater than negligible force, it’s a red card.
DeleteYC missed for SPA ? Maybe too far tbh.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but holding was obvious
DeleteI would say, factors feeding into no SPA: 1) how deep in the defensive half 2) 3 defenders could converge into the space that he was moving 3) Regather the ball? 4) FIFA philosophy?
DeleteSupportable no YC based on this World Cup
Now missed YC again for SPA at min31
ReplyDeleteAnd another one missed. SPA?
ReplyDeleteSaibari has committed too many fouls…
ReplyDeleteHow does Sampaio not give Saibari a yellow card? That’s a clear tactical foul.
ReplyDeleteSampaio since the shambles of the first game is too scared to card anyone. Not a good look at all
ReplyDeleteI think he should speak a litle bit more with NED players because for the start he's just never going in their way and they already frustrated by it.
ReplyDeleteWell they have every right to complain cause some of his decisions against them is not so good,let's say it like that.
DeleteAgree with that @M but if he thinks that it not deserve YC then he should at least explain it better or trying to calm them otherwise he will just lost them completely and that's the worst.
DeleteI don’t think it is the South American style when you compare it to the UEFA style. He is more trying to manage the MAR aggression.
DeleteCorrect no penalty as ball didn't change trajectory after contact with hand
ReplyDeleteCommentary just said that every ball has a chip in it, they’d be able to identify whether there was any contact with the hand. No need to look at ball trajectory or change of revolutions any more.
DeleteMy point was that even if it was contact with the hand it wasn't penalty
DeleteAnd now Van Hecke has his head in blood.
ReplyDeleteAnd there is nothing there no faoul nada normal contact
DeleteMaybe this will heat the general atmosphere
DeleteIt wasn’t hot enough already? Haha
DeleteBut still a very unbelievable quick VAR check on a potential PK tbh from replays it was very uncertain what truly occurred. So no penalty for me is more scrutiny
ReplyDeleteRemember what FIFA committee want from VAR this World Cup, they don’t want lots of replays, don’t want lots of analysis. They want a quick check.
DeleteAlso, with chip in ball, it will be a moot point. They can tell whether contact was made with the ball or not.
Absolutely, haha, and then they intervened with Germany's second goal.
DeleteWhat needs to happen that will make Sampaio to show YC?
ReplyDeleteSomeone injured badly?
Funny enough he almost disagreed with his assistant referee call! Sampaio not look confident, Big players like Virgil get him mind game
ReplyDeleteHe hesitate before whistle even the flag is up
DeleteAnother clueless half from sampaio. Send this useless ref home already
ReplyDeleteWell based on FIFA guidelines that did not change even in K.O. round(it's gotten worse),we can expect that physical teams who have tendencies to play dirty can go very far in the tournament since refs will allow and adapt to their style without them experiencing consequences.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
DeleteYes, the FIFA philosophy does penalise the teams who wish to play good football and does give advantage to the physical teams.
DeleteHalf time, overall good performance from the Brazilian ref Sampaio in a very difficult game and for the cards the man is still recovering from the horror show in Mexico City
ReplyDeleteOverall good performance????
Deletegood performance? You must be his mother...
Deletepoor first half! Not only was he way too lenient but called way too many ghost fouls and felt like he just was making stuff up as he went along. This talking to players instead of giving obvious yellows doesn't work when they don't respect you
ReplyDeleteSupposed foul on the goalkeeper near the end an example of that, when it was just the GK jumping behind the attacker and getting a hand to it.
DeleteAlso, still doing his annoying multiple whistles.
His movement is good. But that's all
ReplyDeleteI do feel a lot for all the comments above. What I see in the approach of Sampaio is management of a match that has everything to turn out as a battlefield.
ReplyDeleteThis is a derby with a lot of players knowing each other from their youth. By giving the yellows to early we can get a match that is going the way of NED-POR in 2006 with the record of cards.
By delaying the first YC you can keep control. The situation with Van Hecke ned#6 was difficult to spot live and to little for the VAR to intervene. As we see all tournament.
Let’s see the 2nd half.
By delaying the first YC you can keep control if you manage things well but to say that he has managed it well is hard for me to say.
DeleteI think in terms of the stepped approach to player management he went for the big public warning very early and then it leaves you very little room to manage. He then needed to repeat constant public warnings all the way during the first half.
Hard to say good performance but can say average in a game that is very difficult to control with two very physical teams.
YC at the start of the second half. I think it was expected that he would use first opportunity to start giving them
ReplyDeleteWe have seen a consistent approach across many games that first half, limit or no disciplinary action and then second half show a YC early.
DeleteFirst yellow is a very dark yellow. Studs raking down the ankle/side of the achilles. Could be considered borderline.
ReplyDeleteFirst YC at 46' imo this is all wrong from CONMEBOL officials to wait until second half to issue a first yellow card
ReplyDeleteGood no foul decision in 53’ that would’ve been given to NED.
ReplyDeleteClear dissent by kicking the ball away #6 NED in 60’ not given
ReplyDeleteI quite don't understand all the negative comments directed towards Sampaio in this match. It is a heated, physical match and he managed to control it, something we know wouldn't be true for all in this tournament. In fact, I believe he will be praised by his performance by Collina/Busacca if this level hold until the end.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt’s overly physical because he’s allowed that. Ignoring fouls and misconduct in favor of “heated physicality” isn’t a good thing. Doesn’t matter if he has control or not, if the decisions aren’t correct then they aren’t correct….
DeleteI do think Sampaio is a good referee, some of his no foul decisions are very good decisions. He reads the game well and has great movement. But again, referees in this World Cup are ignoring some fouls and a lot of misconduct, which I think deserves criticism.
Horrible horrible again… what they are doing is not high bar for fouls, this is literally ignoring fouls… It flies in the face of the Laws of the Game
DeleteAgree @Mitidieri delivering what is expected. Be interesting to see if he can hold control to the end of the match.
DeleteGood no DOGSO call, should have been an offensive foul.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAgree, clear holding by the NED att and looking for the foul. You have to say his fitness and positioning has been excellent all game, allowing him to be in a excellent position to see it.
DeleteIf he let the advantage there it’s brilliant
ReplyDeleteI don’t think he did, no foul mouvement on the replay
DeleteEXCELLENT wait and see.
ReplyDeleteAs with Elfath, a few good decisions doesn't make up for match control issues.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Still is good to see though.
DeleteNo DOGSO no advantage given no wait and see just PALY ON was the call
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ReplyDeleteI didn't see any indication that he left the opportunity open.
Missed YC off the ball holding 89’
ReplyDeleteNot close to a YV
ReplyDeleteClear YC, unsporting behavior - lack of respect for the game. The player makes a pass to a team mate and then runs to get in position and is blatantly held back by an opponent.
DeleteVery clear YC
Delete*YC
ReplyDeleteDR by MAR 90+4 not given
ReplyDeleteDiscriminatory chant 90+7… we’ll see if anything is done about that. Doubtful
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of the YC if the refs never use it?
ReplyDeleteSaibari with foul number 86 without a card
ReplyDeleteMy overall impression of regular time performance, without going into specific situation which we can debate, is that Sampaio took very risky approach to handling this game, but that risk paid of and he delivered phenomenal performance
ReplyDeletePhenomenal???
ReplyDeleteFirst 90 minutes (second half) there has been gradual increase in the performance of the ref as time went on which is good to watch and much much better than his first 45
ReplyDeleteI agree. First half way less control. Second half the players decided to play and he made some good decisions. The early YC in second half helped him. He did miss a few YCs towards the end of the second half though.
DeleteAgree with you both but @RAPenjoyer makes a good point, both teams both decided to move away from the more physical approach trying to out muscle each other but maybe the conditions/intensity of the game caught up with the players? The game also became more intense, less freedom and less end to end because both players knew they couldn’t afford mistakes.
DeleteAnyway, clear pivot from both teams away from the physicality (yes that early YC certainly helped things) and it helps him manage the game easier. I disagree with @RAPenjoyer about late YC, I feel that the game didn’t demand a YC like it did earlier in the game.
Decent performance so far. But could have been a masterclass with better management of cautions
ReplyDeleteI don’t think he will be negatively impacted by the lack of cautions because he is delivering the FIFA philosophy. In fact the ability of him to bring the match back under control without a rain shower of cards makes it all the better in my eyes.
DeleteFor one thing, he failed to acknowledge a YC level foul before the NED goal that rescued him.
ReplyDeleteI said excellent wait and see because I thought he considered that a foul and waited. Less impressed now. At least he didn’t whistle.
DeleteBut no advantage signal
DeleteIf we want to point out one thing to improve it is the whistling. Sampaio uses a lot the short whistle tone and not one short or longer one. This gives me a lot the idea that there is happening something since the multi short tone is most often used for calming down players while mobbing or pushing at a corner.
ReplyDelete2nd half was great. The style he uses is working perfectly. Players stay calm and the acceptance is high.
Goal of the Netherlands. My assumption is that he saw a normal duel and didn’t gave an advantage.
Now into extra time. Let’s see if he can keep it this way.
And the gestures he makes. The come across as to much and not helping. I’d like to see referees who are more calm in there gestures.
DeletePlayers stay calm!? You must be watching another game…
DeleteMaybe calm isn't covering it all. I've seen dutch players much more furious about decisions of referees in the past. Here there was emotion, but they didn't go all the way.
DeleteI’m watching this game and genuinely wondering: is this really what FIFA wants?
ReplyDeleteClear fouls are being ignored, and countless yellow-card offences are going unpunished. All it does is increase the tension and encourage players to keep fouling because they know there won’t be any consequences.
Why does FIFA want football to be officiated like this?
FIFA wants more flair more drama more excitement and passionate fans in the stadiums and with more cards players often play it safe and no taking risks which in FIFA eyes it's damaging the trend of the beautiful game, in my opinion
Delete100% @Tevinjm, for FIFA it is about making an attractive product to maximise the commercialisation of the event. Less VAR (= less interruptions), less fouls (=more football, more action), less cards (=more players on field, less players missing games due to suspension and more even games) and more potential injuries (players and clubs get compensated). This allows FIFA to maximise the profit from the World Cup and this is how money then flows to all areas of the world from this event. I mean look at the hydration breaks, still kept in games where the conditions don’t merit it.
DeleteDamaging yes to the purists but to the general public? To those that want maximum theatre and drama? All the better
That is the question of the tournament. Introducing new considerations or interpretations have resulted in unequal applications that leave the referees, and us, confused. Nearly chaos.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
DeleteAnother missed foul and an injury
ReplyDeleteReally really sad to see things like these… :(
DeleteIn terms of the high foul bar, then are we surprised that this wasn’t called as a foul? I think this would be supported.
DeleteThe issue and the injury, came from when the MAR fell on top of the NED player where his trailing leg actually caught the leg. Could have been a very serious injury but looks to be back on field.
Overall performance even after EXTRA TIME was very good performance in general in one of the difficult games of this round, Sampaio is well destined for at least a Quarter final well done among the all officiating crew
ReplyDelete100%
DeleteI think mention must be made about his fitness, his positioning and the runs he made. Elite level performance to keep going to 120 minutes.
Another disastrous performance by the worst referee of the tournament. No management skills, no card management, no foul detection, why on earth is he even here?
ReplyDeleteSampaio took a high risk by using this 'leniant approach but full trust in his unique, ay of communicating. IMO he missed 2 YCs in 1st and 1 YC in 2nd half. But he did control the game and won the respect by the players, and we were far away from any war zone some comments here were expecting (or maybe hoping for!?)
ReplyDeleteHad he given these 3 missing cards it would have been a masterpiece, now all in all I still give him credits for a good performance with room to improve in terms of disciplinary management. Well done.
+1
DeleteI do like what you mention about the two YC. But what if he did gave them. Than his line of card management would be different. And (maybe luckily) we would see more aggression of anger at the players towards the ref. From both teams. And would his performance be named a drama as he was to strict.
DeleteSo, as a dutchmen, I feel there is a very thin line he had to walk on. And he balanced perfectly to my taste. I haven't heard any critism about the referee in the first analysis after the match in the media.
Really really awful to watch from Sampaio tonight. I blame fifa ! He is a product of the referees briefing before the tournament.
ReplyDeleteBut someone is going to get seriously injured. The tackle at wild at rbis World Cup, players are not respecting. The referees.
I thought referees referee because they want to referee??? It eeeks to be like a baby sitter now
Referees at this level are there to keep the match entertaining at borderline level.
DeleteVG:
DeleteUnless you can show me where it says that in The Laws of the Game. You are WRONG! Try again.
Good performance by Sampaio, but, epxpect him maximum in quarter final,nothing more than that.
ReplyDeleteKudos to ESF and few others who read the nature of this appointment correctly.
ReplyDeleteSampaio is a great referee for difficult, technical (sacrificial) matches - not really a genuine candidate for the final.
The comments here are at least very clear about his performance: terrible, very good, awful and excellent.
ReplyDeleteWhy is not Collina using his own style of refereeing in his instructions to the referees!
ReplyDeleteBecause most if not all former referees who are now in Administrative/Management positions are a bunch "SELL OUTS" who have become corporate shills.
DeleteOnly one man has stayed true to who he was as referee now that he is leading the Referee Commission of Guatemala.
This man was a Strict Disciplinarian who wielded Unwavering Authority on the pitch and who was not afraid to change the complexion of a match with bold disciplinary calls.
All qualities that he continues to instill on the Guatemalan referees under his tutelage and direction.
I'll repeat what Mikael once said.
"MAKE REFEREEING GREAT AGAIN"
Did you notice the difference regarding the positioning of the assistant referees at those two games. The Maroccan was at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area. The Brazilian was at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area.
ReplyDeleteI believe the Maroccan assistant referee was incorrectly positioned. And the only explanation is a lack of knowledge of the rules, which is incredible at this level.
In LoTG, it says:
"Penalties (penalty shoot-out)
One AR must be positioned at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area."
Indeed, there is a recommandation that...
"Where the goal line can be checked for goalkeeper encroachment and goal/no goal through the use of technology (e.g. GLT, the VAR system), it is recommended that the assistant referee be positioned on the touchline, in line with the penalty mark (which is the offside line), as being on the goal line creates a risk that they may not be able to get back into a position to judge offside if the kick rebounds."
...but this applies just during the regular time because obviously there is no offside during penalty-shootout.
So we can rule out a FIFA directive in this regard, especially given the difference between those two games. Am I allowed to call it amateurish mistake by the African AR?
It doesn’t even matter since the AR has absolutely zero role in penalty shoot-outs with VAR and GLT. They aren’t needed.
DeleteWhat happend if glt and var didnt work correctly better safe then sorry
DeleteThey still wouldn’t call encroachment… and you can still see if the ball passes the goal line.
DeleteWe teach the new referees to have the power on the field but the way to act in this World Cup there is no possibility to be the reak leader. Collina introduce that only the captain could speakeuth the referee, totally forgotten! Why?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know of Sampaio, he must have been called by Collina after the first game to think about the distribution of cards. He has a different pattern than what is seen there in Brazil or in CONMEBOL competitions, and even from the first game. Things got very heated in Noca’s hometown, as they say, and he stuck to his procedure. He was very secure, even though it was far from his usual pattern, which, if applied to this difficult game, wouldn't have ended well, and each team would have finished with 9 or fewer players. Even with a bloodbath, he satisfactorily conducted the match and preferred punctual calls, maintaining the fluidity and the FIFA spectacle. If it were me, I would have sent at least 6 to the locker room earlier. I think his performance puts him as a serious contender for a final, in case Brazil doesn't get there. Collina likes a referee with a tough style, who keeps things under control even in heated moments, perhaps recalling his own past where he often yelled at players and asserted himself. Good times!! Perhaps Sampaio is the closest to that, far from the fancy referees who officiate nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI'm posting here because the other discussion has already reached a very high number of comments.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, regarding the disallowed German goal, we have a very clear explanation of why the VAR intervened. This suggests that specific instructions were given on this type of situation; otherwise, they would simply have referred to a generic foul.
The issue is not so much the decision itself. If you look at it from the perspective of the referee explanation, it is perfectly understandable. The real issue, in my humble opinion, is once again the way VAR has been used.
Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the overall approach, the guidelines, or what they should and should not expect from VAR. Naturally, many will see this as a very minor infringement compared to what they believe should warrant a VAR intervention. On top of that, the goalkeeper immediately continues playing and even attempts to make another save. That means absolutely nothing in itself, if it's a foul, it's a foul. We all know that. However, in other situations during this very same tournament, VAR has used that very argument as a reason not to intervene. England - Ghana is a perfect example, no protests so no intervention.
This leads me to believe that specific instructions were indeed given regarding VAR, but there has clearly been a failure in the overall communication, as people simply didn't know what to expect.
The referee explained that the goalkeeper was impeded from challenging for the ball, meaning that this aspect was analyzed very carefully and that officials were specifically instructed to pay close attention to it. Otherwise, considering the number of similar,, or even more obvious, incidents that were ignored in many other matches, there would be no consistency whatsoever.
In any case, as far as I'm concerned, VAR at this World Cup has been a complete failure.
I didn't watch the rest of the match or the other incidents, so I can't say more. But one thing is sure, the KO stage started and we have totally different scenario with big decisions and long discussions.
Right, Chefren.
ReplyDeleteAnyway as I wrote concerning Jalal performance, coming to issue an opinion on calls and ref managing, and trying to form a dispassionate, objective opinion I must admit what @Ref wrote yesterday is right: opinions expressed on this blog are often preconceived, stemming from a Eurocentric worldview that tends to be lenient toward certain (European) referees while harshly highlighting the errors of those from other regions.
In other (frequent) cases, judgments are driven by fan-like partisanship for one’s "own" favorite referee—an approach that is hardly professional.
This blog has really an extraordinary value: analyzing performances, seeking to understand the evolution of the rules of the game and their interpretations, and the trajectories of rise and fall of international referees, starting from their performances according to criteria of objectivity that crosses geographical origins. Turning by someone this blog into a one-man show or a sounding board to support a referee regardless of their performance does not do justice to the quality of the blog itself and its leading and qualified opinionist-bloggers like Chefren, Mikael and others f/i .