Jesus Valenzuela, the Venezuelan referee, will officiate his third game at 2026 WC: Ivory Costa - Norwa in the Round of 32.
Match #78
Round of 32
30 June 2026, 19:00 CET
AT&T Stadium, Arlington
IVORY COAST - NORWAY
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela VEN
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urriego VEN
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno VEN
Fourth Official: Juan Gabriel Benitez PAR
Reserve AR: Eduardo Cardozo PAR
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Lara CHI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Juan Soto VEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 :Jarred Gillett ENG
Under the "death stare" of Collina
ReplyDeleteCollina is watching the match... I hope it doesn't negatively affect the Venezuelan referee.
ReplyDeleteCLEAR missed YC 23’
ReplyDelete24' SPA?YC missed?
ReplyDeleteclear yc for SPA missed
Deleteif the last defender is not there we have to even talk about dogso
23' interesting situation. I think it should have been YC for SPA, but I admit that it's not tipical SPA foul.
ReplyDelete23' debatable if it is a foul, for me just a collision, big fan of no YC as the ball was just too far away and I like how it is accepted by CIV
ReplyDeleteYou mean how it was not accepted!? :) BC they were furious…
DeleteThe final candidate (clearly if Collina is there) has missed a YC for SPA otherwise v good
ReplyDeleteNormally tend to only comment on overall performance and not missed fouls or cards but that was a clear YC and mistake in otherwise good performance somfar
ReplyDeleteIts officially time to give up as the referee decides the clearest yellow card ever seen is not worthy. This wc has been a shambles from a refereeing standpoint
ReplyDelete+10
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DeleteFor me good no YC call from Valenzuela on 23'. The attacker just kicks the ball excessively Infront of him and then the defender just runs into him and from the replay I think the attacker is never getting the ball so no SPA.
ReplyDeleteAttacker would blatantly clearly gain control of the ball. Extremely clear yellow card.
DeleteWell,no surprise there,everyone can do anything and foul however they want.
ReplyDeleteThat's why it will be interesting to see Mexico vs Ecuador with Vincic,Libertadores style match.
He had last year River vs Monterrey and issued around 10 -YC's and 1 Rc.
I dont think will see the same case tonight,but very fiery match for sure.
What hapenned with the rule which says you cant ask for a yellow card using gestures, if you do you get a card?
ReplyDeleteDiomande did that 3 times in this match so far...
Sometimes better to ignore some behaviour at low levels. Save cheap cautions which lead to a second later on. Manage what’s not so clear and deal with the obvious. Altho failed in 23 mins for YC . Very good advantage for goal
DeleteIn your point of view the ref should adapt to the players… if they do to much stuff that worth card, they shouldnt give it just to avoid a possible second card!???
DeleteMeanwhile letting the players shouting at them, making blatant fouls, and so on…
Very bad point of view…
*too much
DeleteCorrect first YC for Nusa
ReplyDeleteNow deserved Yc,but in terms on fifa and their guidelines.
ReplyDeleteSoft.
Soft YC
ReplyDeleteNorwegian defender lucky ivory player over exaggerated his legs collapsing on the shirt pull. Correct no intervention. Correct YC but only magnifies the one not given which was worse. Has a good style. Body language and approachable when required. Foul recognition and disciplinary action somewhat erratic
ReplyDeleteWhy VAR can annul corner, but can not award corner kick if ref missed it??? Which “expert” decide that? Very stupid rule!
ReplyDeleteYep,I agree.
DeleteAlso would like to add that imo stupid rules are the countings with throw in and goal kick all cause refs are not brave enough to show cards and add time for timewasting.
Because there is no danger from a goal kick. And FIFA don’t want a game decided from a GK Overturn. Interestingly enough this is a competition rule and does not require to be adopted in normal leagues
DeleteBut if GK is wrong, attacking time doesn’t get chance to score from the corner kick! And that occasion might be in last minutes when they try to equalize or win the match. The rule is very, very stupid.
DeleteA good commanding first half from Valenzuela in my opinion. Allowed a good level of contact and has been consistent with his foul detection. Covered the ground well and positionally been very strong throughout the half. The no YC call on 23' is supportable, and the YC that followed on 45' was correct even if it's not in keeping with other high bars for YC's in this tournament. Positive performance all round from the Venezuelan.
ReplyDeleteOverall good first half. Evidently one missed CK. Two YC situations (one given, one not) in which opinions are split did he made good decision.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned before, the level of players constantly asking for yellow cards is getting ridiculous, and the lack of punishment for it is honestly absurd.
ReplyDeleteNot even a warning in most cases.
So far, only Makkelie has actually shown yellow cards for dissent. No other referees have applied that standard.
The amount of dissent that goes unpunished is just disappointing. Cannobio the other day with Elfath, yesterday Hakimi doing whatever he wanted, Bruno as well, De Paul and the rest of the Argentina players — the list goes on.
Yet somehow, ignoring it seems acceptable.
What stands out to me is Euro 2024, where almost every altercation, aggressive reaction, or disrespectful behavior towards the referee was punished with a yellow card. Kovacs, Siebert, and Zwayer applied that rule consistently and correctly.
But now it feels like Collina and FIFA are sending the opposite message to players: you can kick, shout, act recklessly, injure opponents, and disrespect referees without consequences.
No cards, no punishment.
It’s a really bad look for refereeing.
10/10
DeleteNothing to add.
DeleteWe all know Fifa's stance in no cheap cards, don't want people sent off for technical offences, allow a very large amount of abuse and insults and just turn a blind eye to it. Whereas Uefa, (Germany and England especially), say it's bad for the image of the game, let's clean it up, Only the Captain, no imaginary waved cards, etc, and have much more respect for officials on the pitch because of it. Personally, think that's much better, as do most in Europe, but Fifa for some reason don't...
DeleteA COMMENT TO COUNT THE UNCALLED FOULS!
ReplyDeleteI would bet on more than 9.5 uncalled fouls!:)
Now Odeegard also,shout abd scream right in the face of linesman..
ReplyDeleteNothing.
How is this not dissent..
DeleteIt's incredible. AR should call referee's attention and demand the card
DeleteØdegaard is aggressively shouting at the assistant referee. No booking for that either.
ReplyDeleteSome of you always try to justify these decisions. How do you justify this?
+ 1 ⬇️
DeleteThe Ivorians have done the same and not been carded .consistency has been maintained.
DeleteDo you know where FIFA can shove that “consistency”?
DeleteI agree with you ,referees should YC the first bit of dissent ,and therefore you set the standard for the whole game
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ReplyDeleteHonestly, it pains me to see the refereeing I care so deeply about when such a violent and completely unacceptable confrontation with Valenzuela’s assistant referee in the 61st minute goes entirely unpunished. There was absolutely no reaction. This does nothing to help football. It does nothing to help the young grassroots referees who will inevitably face this kind of abuse and be put at risk if they dare to react. It hurts to see my sport reduced to this kind of marketing-driven, circus-style officiating.
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DeleteI see Valenzuela is taking notes from Jayed... The ball was in the corner quadrant! No need to fuss, if in the quadrant, no need to delay play
ReplyDeleteIf referee like Collina had been on the pitch, do you think Ødegaard would have dared to act like that? It’s unbelievable that he didn’t get a yellow card.
ReplyDeleteWe are in 2026.... not 1500 bc
Deleteand we shouldn't accept this kind of behaviour, no matter if it's 1500bc, 2026 oder 3500...
DeleteThe point is this has been the case since the 2010 WC and you people keep acting like it's a new development.... Missed YC for this and for that and piling on the specific referees like it's not clear its a directive.... It's pointless and adds nothing to the conversation...
Delete@Yk +1
DeleteUnfortunately we’re now at the stage where a cheap card either leads to a second or a player missing a game so the referees bend over backwards not to caution. And over manage allowing players to control the game. Plenty of reports of the teams writing to fifa complaining and of course fifa will obey the teams before they back an individual referee.. AR1 sleeping and signals the wrong way for throw. Very poor
DeleteCorrect no penalty decision
ReplyDeleteuff, trips him a bit
DeleteIf this was no penalty,then what was the criterium in Qatar when every easy contact was penalty?
ReplyDeleteAnd ødegaard again again again
ReplyDeleteLicense to kill.
DeleteHave to say poor management in pushing players at confrontation. Cannot understand why this escalation has gone unpunished
Delete95' And once again we see what the let everything go gets us... More scuffles, pushing, and complaints. This is not a great look for the game
ReplyDeleteAnd this is good refereeing in for Collina??????????
ReplyDeleteSorry to say,but what a bs world we live in if decisions are official guidelines.
Valenzuela seems to have found the solution to the zero-card policy: openly pushing players around to calm things down.
ReplyDeleteTerrible last 10 from Valenzuela
ReplyDeleteStandard performance for Valenzuela. Thing that eliminate him in my perception from bigger things is a lot of dissent! Makkelie,Vincic and Letexier are masterpiecies in this.
ReplyDeleteFar far too lenient at times. Players controlled the game. Although decision making in terms of foul recognition was good. He got away with one that the players didn’t end up fighting. Overall just satisfactory performance and perhaps the end of his tournamant
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ReplyDelete13 fouls called in this game and 2 of them were handball. No need to say more about this world cup😆
ReplyDeleteAlmost all of you talking about bad refereeing. Are you pro referees¿why you all so disrespectful. You never be there and never know how to deal with it. I feel that you never been on the field with a whistle
ReplyDeleteSo is it acceptable for you if the referee is pushing the players with 2 hands on the field and not calling clear fouls?
DeleteHow many top matches do you have in your country¿
DeleteNot bad, but highly inconsistent and you just can’t man-handle players these days. Too many players controlled the game
DeleteI don’t blame Valenzuela who is a GREAT referee. I blame Collina, Busacca and his commitee.
DeleteUntil IFAB publishes two different sets of Laws of the Game.
DeleteOne for the non-professional matches and one for professional matches. The same Laws of the Game apply to ALL matches.
Choosing to completely ignore and/or disregard the Laws of the Game just because it's a "pro" match doesn't make it right. It's actually a disservice to the game and to all referees. Regardless of what level they officiate at.
We see this B/S application of the Laws of the Game and we see this abhorrent amount of dissent and complete lack of respect towards referees. Yet, those in charge wonder why people don't want to become referees or why new referees don't last.
The powers that be have created this mess yet their egos prevent them from realizing this.
Well clearly they don't see it as a mess? Referees being subservient to the players, who are the product and are allowed to stay on the pitch... I'm pretty sure the powers that bde are very happy actually
DeleteJust because the non-refereeing personnel are happy isn't the "flex" that you think it is.
Delete?? I don't know which lalaland you inhabit nor how you could possibly be interpreting that I consider it a "flex". It simply is a reality that the powers that be and fans consider referees to be obstacles/nuisances to enjoying the "beautiful game" rather than enforces of the "laws of the game"....
Delete"Under the "death stare" of Collina"
ReplyDeleteWhat a laughable comment. Nobody fears this sell out corporate shill who is obviously a shell of his former self.
If he had only stayed true to who he was as referee. We'd be in a much better place. But Busacca and he lack the "stones" to do what is right and what is expected according to the The Laws of the Game.
Right, he has the power to just do what he wants.... When Collina was refereeing did the FIFA president come out to explicityly criticize refereeing, especially regarding cards, or not?
DeletePower? He has it. Isn't he the man in charge of refereeing at FIFA? How much more power does he need? He's like literally the man in charge of the refereeing department. Now if he's a man who easily folds under pressure from non-refereeing personnel. Well, that's on him and his lack of conviction.
DeleteBut then again, if all he cares about is keeping a job. Then yeah, be a "SELL OUT".
Overall a very satisfactory performance from Valenzuela but the last quarter of the game for me lacked real clear direction from which the first 60+ minutes had. First half you had a calm, composed, authoritative referee who handled the game in an impressive manner as I stated in my half time summary. The second half for the first part followed the same suit. Unfortunately the latter portion, the referee lost that approach and I wouldn't say lacked control but certainly lacked the management elements (at that point) to deal with the intensity increase that the game needed. Last 10/15 minutes became a bit untidy for my liking and left a slightly underwhelming element. Overall though the Venezuelan should be happy with his performance under the watch of Collina. I would suspect we may see him again in a L16/QF at a push but based on the complete showing tonight nothing further.
ReplyDeleteNot sure a referee of his stature under Collinas gaze can go further given he failed to recognise the rise in tempo and deal effectively in controlling the last 15 mins. But it’s infantinos rules so he will probably get the final
DeleteI’ve came to the conclusion that all referee rules and guidelines are completely out the window this tournament. It’s a free for all, inconsistent. The amount of dissent, clear mandatory cards for the last 10 years is now nothing. I feel like I’m watching an amateur tournament at this point
ReplyDeleteI See Barton doing Brazil-Norway.
ReplyDeleteI think that we have to understand that we can't comment refereeing at the WC in the same way as we usually do in games during regular season. Every WC has specific guidelines and expectations from referees (i.e. remember no YCs for diving in Russia 2018?) and we have to adapt our observation of refereeing to them and those specific circumstances of the WC.
ReplyDeleteIn the most respectful manner, I politely ask you if you could please direct me (show me where to find) to the Laws of the Game that only apply exclusively to World Cup competitions.
DeleteI am sincerely interested in reading that version of the Laws of the Game. I wholeheartedly thank you for your time and assistance. Have a beautiful day.
Oh, and one more notice. We can't know in what mental state Valenzuela was before this game, considering devastating and tragic events in his country. I assume that he couldn't solely focus on preparation for the match and not be distraught by them.
ReplyDeleteSome referees struggle to make decisions, either because of a lack of courage or because they do not fully understand how FIFA’s directives and overall approach should be implemented within match management.
ReplyDeleteTo believe that FIFA would not support stronger preventive work against mobbing and dissent, like Ødegaard showed in a few situations, is in my view naive. It also becomes an excuse to shift responsibility away from the individual referee.
We can see with referees such as Letexier, Glenn and a few others that personality and match management allow them to deal with these situations differently. They issue cautions when they are truly needed, but they also avoid ending up in these situations as often because they show a level of proactivity that some other referees lack.
This is not a coincidence. It is about competence, personality and the ability to manage a match while using the disciplinary ladder in a smart way.
Clear examples of this could be seen in Germany vs Paraguay yesterday, where the referee lacked the personality to deal with dissent and irresponsible behaviour, partly because trust had not been built earlier in the match. The same tendencies were visible in Ivory Coast vs Norway today.
I hope that going forward, referees will deal with things at the right moments, read the temperature of the match better and not be afraid to act according to what the game actually needs. They should not become trapped by what they think FIFA wants them to do, but instead trust the ability and judgement that brought them to this level.
You don't have to like 'the FIFA philosophy' to say that Valenzuela was very (very) good today. The extent to which he continually refused to award soft fouls, including the no penalty call with perfect positioning at 77:10, was absolutely outstanding. The play on call at +93:52 was one of the best individual decisions I've seen by any referee at this WC - how many officials would take the easy route out and award the soft/not existent freekick there? His understanding of what the players were trying to achieve with their actions was at the top. Obviously, Civ no21 should in an ideal world have been immediately been booked for aggressive behaviour at the end and the confrontation not been solved with Valenzuela pushing players, but the people who matter will have been satisfied with how the Venezuelan handled this.
ReplyDeleteThe allegations of 'Euro-centricism' in the last couple of days, in my view, are absolutely fair - both Sampaio, who was outstanding in Netherlands-Morocco (perhaps the best performance of the WC so far!), and Valenzuela showed that they are two of the best referees around in the last 24hrs. They should both absolutely be in with a shout of doing the WC final!
Mikael,one question. Do you think that referee that allowing so much dissent in one game should be in the WC final? I dont see Valenzuela, or Sampaio. At least Makkelie and Nyberg were far better than them through WC!
DeleteAgree with Mikael completely regarding general impression of two South American referees in last two games
Delete@Ref Fot: Some referees might have officiated better matches, but if they failed to follow "certain" instructions from above, unfortunately they essentially lose the race against those who raise doubts but do follow orders.
DeleteI agree but if one referee have an option to officiate by the rules, or by Collina, I think its essential to work by the rules. Maybe I am wrong,but thats how I see it.
DeleteDon't agree with Sampiao, think on the whole he's excellent as was the way he started the World Cup I don't think he performed that well yesterday I would say he did 'okay' . Valenzuela I agree- up there with some of the best refereeing performance this WC- elite management , correct calls very personable and consistent & he did that in a rather challenging game .
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