The second game for Raphael Claus, the Brazilian referee in charge of USA - Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
Match #81
Round of 32
2 July 2026, 02:00 CET
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
USA - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Referee: Raphael Claus BRA
Assistant Referee 1: Danilo Manis BRA
Assistant Referee 2: Rodrigo Figueiredo BRA
Fourth Official: Dario Herrera ARG
Reserve AR: Cristian Navarro ARG
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Soto VEN
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Nicolas Gallo COL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Jerome Brisard FRA
Hopefully after the circus of Martinez calm and respect for refereeing will return with a top referee in Claus from Brazil, supported by my favourite referee in Argentina along with Nick Ramirez… Mr Herrera !
ReplyDeleteIn terms of profile of match, it will be massive. Big match for him
DeleteI would like a YC for simulation there...
ReplyDeleteThere was contact so no YC
DeleteThats somewhat of a made up concept in my mind. Consider Marciniak YC to Thuram in the final of -22 for one.
DeleteAgreed, should be YC for simulation. Using minor contact to deceive the referee.
DeleteExcellent no penalty decision at 29'
ReplyDeleteSimulation. Very slight contact and a ridiculous fall.
ReplyDeleteYes agree here, slight contact so you couldn’t get a YC for simulation. In saying that, everything was just wrong for the foul. Attacker trying to feel the contact, contact comes and then the fall is delayed.
DeleteYes you can. You are wrong…
DeleteOne of the reasons for simulation in UEFA is “using minor contact to deceive the referee” so yes you absolutely can give simulation is there is contact.
DeleteFair call, are they using that definition and applying this towards this World Cup? If they are, then I haven’t seen it applied in any of the group stage or R32 games.
DeletePhenomenal offside decision by AR1
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteExcellent offside by AR1
ReplyDeleteMissed YC to Dedic,clear shirt pull
ReplyDeleteFIFA philosophy at this World Cup? I’d say it’s supportable but would have loved to see some player management here rather than just ignore it as if it was a careless foul
DeleteLot of soft fouls whistled. Now missed YC in 45+6.
ReplyDeleteI find the decision to require the player to come off there odd. If head injury and full evaluation, are they not supposed to be allowed to stay on. It was likely a missed careless foul (not card, fine) to create the injury, but would be frustrating to USA manager I am sure to then have player come off by requirement after head evaluation.
ReplyDeleteThat is correct, however the referee must determine if it is a severe injury if they are allowed to stay on the field. To me, the way the player remained on the field and the extended treatment on field, it would be considered serious?
DeleteThe incident wasn't one of the listed exceptions to the requirement to leave the field in law 5.3. (not a "severe injury" etc)
DeleteIt may be frustrating (without temporary substitutes like in rugby) but surely if it's a suspected head injury the referee (and medics) should be cautious and have the player go off to give additional time to make sure they are ok?
Yes I agree. The only thing I can think of here, is that he thinks because of the careless tackle it wasn’t serious? Mistake here by Claus.
DeleteI think with the issue around concussion and potential issue around CTE then at some point we will have to move towards temporary substitutes to protect players. I guess in football, we haven’t reached the tipping point as they have had in other sports.
Interesting match here for Claus and it isn’t unfolding as I expected it to play out.
ReplyDeleteUSA played some very physical matches, big tackles and lots of intensity. This match doesn’t have the same feel in terms of the energy or intensity of the players. BIH I found them very physical in terms of defensive tackles and used it to break down the attacks. I still feel they are definitely defensive, definitely trying to disrupt the rhythm of the USA but not the real physical battle I was expecting. Maybe the weather playing a part?
As a result, Claus hasn’t had the difficulty in terms of player or match management. Assured in his match decisions and despite the huge USA crowd, not being overawed or impacted by the crowd.
I am at the match weather is playing big part very hot here
DeleteThanks Chris
DeleteDedic super mandatory yellow card missed min 45+ 6
ReplyDeleteAt this World Cup? Nothing is mandatory at this World Cup
DeleteThat’s a good argument against the red card as well
Delete45+9’ Small incident to end the first half that was blown out of proportion by the players.
ReplyDeleteBIH player head injury as a result of a challenge and made contact with USA knee as he heads to ground. Melee with players coming together after BIH made contact with the shoulder in USA back. Storm in a teacup. Management was okay but maybe a sign of things to come second half?
This is the worst ref I’ve seen in the tournament by far. “Letting them play” does not at all include cynical fouls like shirt pulls to prevent attacking opportunities. Those are automatic yellow cards, and he’s missed at least 5. What a disappointment in a match like this. He’s promoting anti-football.
ReplyDeleteMy response to you @Baggio is that he is applying the FIFA philosophy and as a result, he is refereeing the game the way he is being asked.
DeleteI agree, this type of style tends to favour the teams playing more defensively and aggressively, but to say he is promoting anti-football is very harsh. You speak about automatic yellow cards but this World Cup this is what has been consistent every match.
Pulling a jersey to stop an attack is the definition of anti-football. The referees have of course not been instructed to allow that.
DeleteOrange card for Balogun missed
ReplyDeleteSFP imo
ReplyDeleteimo SFP USA #20 61'
ReplyDeleteOFR for red card, seems soft for what has been allowed… ankle clearly buckles. I have SFP
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGood VAR intervention for an OFR but why intervene now when we haven’t seen it earlier in the group stage?
DeleteGood announcement (hard with the reverb/echo around the stadium), clear and strong. Could he have said “serious foul play” as opposed to “serious foul”, minor point.
So many people are going to compare this with Messi and claim it’s the same. But it isn’t. This is a correct red card.
ReplyDeleteWith Messi the ankle clearly did not buckle. This one on the other hand the ankle buckles. Endangering the safety not excessive force IMO
DeleteIt isn’t the same because messi committed a blatant foul. Balogun was just tangled up with the guy and happened to land on his ankle.
DeleteHe doesn't even intend to make the challenge mate. He's falling over and just trying to land his foot on the ground. There was 0 intention to even commit any foul
DeleteHarsh.. orange card
ReplyDeleteThat is not a red.
ReplyDeletebe real please
DeleteYeah very real , I'm sorry but he makes 0 effort to make any sort of tackle / challenge . He was massively off balance and was trying to land. Are we refereeing purely on impact now with no regard to anything else ?
DeleteTHIS
DeleteCorrect VAR intervention and RC after OFR
ReplyDeleteYes, clearly.
DeleteAs a referee from USA, I agree
DeleteYes, me too. I think it is a red card too. Interesting, without the ankle buckling then I don’t think it would have been considered a red card. Clearly endangering the safety of the opponent.
DeleteDoes he get marked down because he didn’t see that in real time? Should have at least seen a YC, but then again at this World Cup we shouldn’t be surprised.
Absolutely the worst refereed tournament I have seen and I have seen them all since 1974. No cards the entire game and then that!
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked anyone thinks it's a red. I understand that for most fouls intention doesn't matter. But here he isn't even looking to make a tackle - literally just trying to land
DeleteMultiple shirt pulls on players off and running with no cards and then a guy accidentally lands on an ankle during a tangle and we see a red. Absurd
Delete^ +1 but be careful having a minority opinion - you'll be called a hooligan - but people making racist comments are warmly embraced
DeleteThat was unintended and accidental. Yellow could have been ok
ReplyDeleteI think this one hard because of inconsistent VAR intervention and fouls threshold in tournament. I think in most leagues that is straightforward serious foul play. But in this tournament will feel harsh. I think.
ReplyDeleteThe image of the ankle is too important there, they need to protect players safety so even in this tournament with weird guidelines this is a SFP all day imo
DeleteAgree @Will it’s the inconsistent VAR intervention and foul threshold that makes it hard to really see consistency across the tournament.
DeleteThe game needs to be refereed at game speed, not frame by frame.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I agree with you that fouls must be looked at in real time and not slo-mo’s. The purpose of the slo-mo and freeze frame is to identify the point of contact. I assume they were looking at the first bit to see which bit of contact to count, the bit at the top of the calf, was there raking contact down the back of the calf but I think it was the contact with the ankle that was the big issue.
DeleteCorrect intervention by VAR, endangers the safety of an opponent, maybe could have been spot live.
ReplyDeleteAfter missing a YC on BIH #11 (possibly a red) late in the first half, and missing any card before VAR, he is done.
ReplyDelete"A good referee needs to be lucky"
ReplyDelete-Author unknown
+1
DeleteWhile I agree that it is a correctly carried out OFR and SFP ejection, it is difficult to not think of Messi’s high contact on the calf in Argentina’s first match and the inconsistent application of VAR throughout this tournament.
ReplyDeleteMessi went studs to the calf during the act of committing a foul from behind with no attempt on the ball.
DeleteBalogun and the Bosnian tangled up a bit and Balogun happened to land on his ankle. If the messi one isn’t worthy of an OFR, neither should Baloguns
Can’t say I didn’t call it. Comically absurd red card. Bosnia’s player hit Balogun first and then they collided by accident. What a joke. This sets the sport back a decade in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteClear and obvious Red Card.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of if the right decision or not, I think showing a tight slo-mo at first does paint a much stronger picture for SFP to Claus. This seems to be the way FIFA (and UEFA) like, but really doesn't seem right. Coming from somewhere used to live speed (from a couple of seconds before contact) being a must first to show context (and given speed and intensity are key factors for SFP), I'm not really sure how showing this first helps judge the challenge as a whole
ReplyDeleteThis is a serious foul play. Its Red Card
DeleteYes strange he wasn't shown a full speed close up rather than all the slow-mos, seemed like he had to ask the VAR to show the other wider angle which was full speed.
DeleteWhat did just Claus pull out of his pocket?
ReplyDeleteRibbon?
DeleteBlatant red card for the manager for deliberately leaving the techical area to show dissent. Yellow is completely wrong.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteThe threshold for dissent throughout this tournament from both technical areas and the players has been disappointing at best. I suppose we should be grateful that a yellow was shown at all.
DeleteBIH head coach should be sent off for that, holding the ball, leaving technical area, throwing a childish tantrum.
ReplyDelete+1
Deletethis is the worst refeering this year, crazy
ReplyDeleteYC for Barbarez for dissent. Game is threatening to get out of control
ReplyDeleteRef blew the coach card. Letter of the law red: Sending-off offences include (but are not limited to):
Deletedelaying the restart of play by the opposing team e.g. holding onto the ball, kicking the ball away, obstructing the movement of a player
100%. That’s a pure technical decision that has to be red
DeleteThere’s no wiggle room once he grabbed the ball and entered the field
DeleteBefore he ever picked up the ball, he was on the field dissenting. You didn’t need slow motion angles to see that.
DeleteA clear foul isn't called on a BiH player a few minutes earlier and then this is called? What is Claus doing???
ReplyDeleteHe sent off a US player for accidentally landing on a guys ankle while they were tangled up a bit, didn’t send off the BIH coach for leaving his technical area, entering the pitch, and holding the ball to prevent a restart.
DeleteSafe to say there is no real standard by which he’s making decisions
You should know that accidental has nothing to do with it. It’s a clear red card. The BIH coach’s actions are also a clear red card. One is a correct decision, one is not. It’s still a red card even though it’s against our national team.
DeleteMaybe in a World Cup where the standard for cards is not absurdly high. For example, messi running through the back of a guy and raking his studs down his calf. Not to mention, the VAR standard has been extremely high as well. Germany foot to the head, England Ghana potential Pk, Harry Kane earlier today, etc
Delete'accidental' isn't an excuse when diving in for a challenge; you need to assume responsibility for the consequence. But in this case, Balogun was not even trying to make a tackle or challenge. He was just trying to land his foot while off balance.
DeleteIs it just me or the foul for the FK goal is a soft one ?
ReplyDeletenever a foul never
DeleteWith this standard never a foul, but IMO it’s a clear one.
Deleteno foul for me as well
Delete+1 @diego
DeleteThere was a slight push on the keeper (no foul in itself) but the push did lead to the keeper hitting his head rather hard on the ground. So even though the push itself wouldn’t meet the high foul threshold, the result of the action would have been
DeleteDid you see th "foul" before the second american goal?😆😆😆
ReplyDeleteThere was no contact and he called a free kick and the USA scored from that
First VAR intervention for SFP ever in the World Cup BTW.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely ridiculous that this is the first one…
DeleteIn 3 world cups?
Delete@rapenjoyer The Qatar red against Canada was the first SFP since 2014.
DeleteRaphael Claus Is in trouble, that free kick was below the threshold that was set for this World Cup! Collina and Busacca probably not happy about it
ReplyDeleteThat should be the least of his worries.
DeleteThe BIH manager has to be sent off there, no wiggle room once he grabbed the ball and entered the field.
Now there are decisions in every game which directly affect the result
ReplyDeleteTournament over for claus
ReplyDeleteOdd performance from Claus tonight. I'll preface by saying I'm biased but for me it wasn't a red card. Seems like an accidental tangling that happened to step on his ankle. Balogun is running and essentially loses his footing a bit since his boot makes contact with the Bosnian player's studs and fouls him in the process. Yellow card would've been supportable. There was also an extremely soft foul called for USA before their 2nd goal, probably too soft to be given. Lastly, the Bosnian manager should've been sent off for holding the ball and dissent.
ReplyDelete+10000000
DeleteI understand why people agree with the red card, but by this world cups standard, VAR absolutely shouldn’t be touching that.
DeleteIn no way should that have been the first card of the game after multiple players got beat and just grabbed a handful of shirt and hung on. Plus the screen play where Tyler Adam’s got run over off the ball.
Then the BIH manager committed multiple offenses under the send off category in the LOTG and got a yellow.
Even without considering the red card, everything else adds up to a performance that can’t be considered good.
What could Balogun have done differently ? Not land and levitate his leg for 5 mins ?
DeleteI just want to say that everyone here seems to be worried about referees missing a yellow card, mainly from a Laws of the Game perspective. But personally, I would much rather see referees not give a yellow card while maintaining full control, acceptance and avoiding controversy, than what we saw today with incorrect penalties and red cards.
ReplyDeleteThat creates huge controversy and frustration, while a missed yellow card is not being discussed by any team, player, commentator or journalist.
Choose your battles!
Two very major VAR interventions, both in USA - Bosnia and Belgium - Senegal, the latter being 100% crucial.
ReplyDeleteOne can discuss both decisions.
Once again, calls from the room coming from VARs not from UEFA.
My idea is that there hasn't been any consistency at this WC about the technology.
The Honduran referee was absolutely not convinced.
In my opinion the Brazilian ref was ok with a satisfactory performance
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete