Belgium - Senegal in the Round of 32 is the third game for Said Martinez, the referee from Honduras.
Match #82
Round of 32
1 July 2026, 22:00 CET
Lumen Field, Seattle
BELGIUM - SENEGAL
Referee: Said Martinez HON
Assistant Referee 1: Walter Lopez HON
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramierz HON
Fourth Official: Andrés Rojas COL
Reserve AR: Alexander Guzman COL
Video Assistant Referee: Guillermo Pacheco MEX
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Rodolpho Toski BRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 :Carlos Del Cerro Grande ESP
Not much before the break. 5 fouls. 4 by BEL. All correct. No YC potential. Good movement and position.
ReplyDeleteOT: Some predictions for matches in Round of 16,which are known for now:
ReplyDeleteMexico-England: Letexier
Paraguay-France: Elfath
Canada-Morocco- Abatti
Brazil-Norway: Faghani
Officials from UEFA in MEX ENG? I don't think it.
DeleteFaghani is a dreadful referee
DeleteYou could argue that a French speaking European is more ‘neutral’ than a Spanish speaking South American. Because it definitely won’t be Sampaio after the last WC. So logically if it’s not Faghani it’s a break
DeleteFaghani destroys the flow of games and he likes to be the centre of attention
DeleteGreat first half by martinez
ReplyDeleteMartinez calm, concentrated, clear, flawless in 1st half
ReplyDelete+ 1 (I like very much him. He reminds me Garcia Aranda a little bit).
DeleteYes, that's really true. No big gestures, natural authority, good positioning, nearly perfect foul detection, well but seldom communicating, well accepted by the players. Still 15 Min. to go, up to now best performance in the tournament and a real candidate for the final IMO.
DeleteMartinez has had great 1st halfs in all his games and then lets it go in the second half
ReplyDeleteI haven't really been following the referee in question, and to be honest, I don't know much about him.
ReplyDeleteBut from what I'm seeing in this second half, he doesn't seem confident. He failed to show a yellow card to the Senegalese player for the rough tackle on Trossard from behind.
Martinez not confident ? 😂
DeleteLets the senegal player get away with one and then books the Belgium for a similar challenge ,let himself down again in the second half
ReplyDeleteGueuye takes 30 seconds to get off the pitch and this joker does nothing.
ReplyDeleteSenegal YC may be a Red
ReplyDeleteThat comment makes me downgrade your previous ones
DeleteNever ever RC. You are joking.
DeleteAs two Belgians were in a confrontation before cooling break, if one of them cover his mouth is that a RC ? Or it’s just when you do it against an opponent.
ReplyDeleteIFAB wrote opponent. They didn’t think far enough.
DeleteOpponent only
ReplyDeleteOk good to know
DeleteImpressed. Outstanding performance by Martinez.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Michael's comments. Based on the game so far, I expect to see a 7 or 8. But we still have 12-14 minutes to go.
DeleteWrong offside judgement by SA system ?
ReplyDeletePredictions:
ReplyDeletePAR - FRA: Ramos (Amin Omar maybe as CAF representative?)
CAN - MAR: Oliver or Taylor
POR/CRO - ESP/AUT: Marciniak
USA/BIH - BEL/SEN: Tello
BRA - NOR: Barton
MEX - ENG: Tantashev (I save Faghani for the potential Brazil - England)
ARG - EGY/AUS: Letexier
SUI/ALG - COL/GHA: If Switzerland advances Elfath IMO will get it, but if it’s Algeria - Colombia, for example, maybe Zwayer?
QF’s? IMO Vincic is locked for a potential Argentina - Colombia match. Faghani is waiting for Brazil - England as I wrote above. Sampaio maybe getting a France-Morroco or Spain-USA…
We will see.
potential Foul by the goal scorer ?
ReplyDeleteIn basketball it is punishable
DeleteAgree. No foul IMO.
DeleteIt looks like the ball became defective during the lead up to the Belgium goal. Were they right to allow the goal to stand? I can’t find anything in the LOTG
ReplyDeleteIf the ball become deffective during play, play must be stopped and continues with new ball and drop kick. But I do not think that was case here that the ball was deffective
DeleteWhat kinda criterium is this?
ReplyDeleteOne criterium for impeding GK another match,now impeding defender mot even being looked at.
For me clear push by the attacker
DeleteNo foul at all. Goal is ok.
DeleteObvious foul for me. There was push strong enough to gain scoring position.
DeleteGoalkeepers are still kind of "protected", even if they were supposed to be treated like normal players
Delete@M
DeleteGood point. That's the problem when you defend undefendable... There was no foul in APP on the GK (Germany-Paraguay)
And now when you have "stronger" foul in APP there is no VAR intervention...
IMO both situations are play on
+1 @Miki
DeleteOnce again: "To increase the tempo of the match, referees were recommended not to punish normal football contact and to pay attention to some specific situations which may occur in relation to the tactics of certain teams. An example is when attacking players try to prevent defending players from moving. Although keeping position is not a foul per se, when an attacking player is not interested in the ball and deliberately moves, even marginally, with the clear intention of obstructing opponents' movement and prevents him from defending, then referees, and VAR when needed, should carefully analyse the incident and intervene. This is especially the case when the tactic aims to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from being able to defend the goal" There was a foul in Germany-Paraguay....
DeletePushing his opponent to take a better position and score is not a normal football contact imo.
DeleteNo foul here, he just touches him a bit, that's all.
DeleteNow impeding gk for spa,not even yc.
ReplyDeleteAlso protest by SEN #6,nothing.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Anything but yc
Missed 2nd YC for the foul on the keeper ? in a normal game it will probably happened
ReplyDeleteThis is normal game! So this is clear missed second YC.
DeleteAgree with that but since the beginning of the tournament we saw things that are not always normal so we never know
DeleteIs it really a mandatory YC for that ? Just a IFK no ?
DeleteThe keeper elbowed the Belgium player before any contact
DeleteVery solid performance by Martinez who is managing dissent without cards agree but with a lot of charisma and natural aura.
ReplyDeleteDisagree ,strong 1st half as usual ,but seems to lose his way in the second .Failed to penalise the Senegal subistution ,which took way over 30 seconds ,several missed YC and possible one red and a penalty to Belgium.
DeleteSpeaking of yellow cards, I’d like to know why Rudi Garcia was booked when Belgium scored the equalizer. I admit I didn't see any replays. Does anyone know?
DeleteHe is talking and dissent for the entire game so finally a YC shown. @Lincoln
DeleteCommentators seemed to suggest he threw a ball (one of the removed balls) into the crowd
DeleteAlso,Tielemans can do whatever he wants.
ReplyDeleteCiss can do whatever he wants.
Classic,as usual in this WC.
Trossard spent the whole game shouting at Martinez… not even a warning. Zero respect, zero consequences for his behaviour.
DeleteI just hate how all referees decided to manage the dissent situation, and after all that Collina said I’m very happy with players attitude with refs, only 4YC. That’s just terrible for all the referees in the world to let think that players can scream at refs and not getting any sanction, don’t know why Collina let that happen.
DeleteAnd then Senegalians weren't shouting at the referee ,surrounding him etc
DeleteNevel foul on goalkeeper at Belgium second goal in my opinion. The goalkeeper jumped under the ball, he didn't even touch it. Big mistake by the goalkeeper, correct goal scores and good decision by the referee.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not on the keeper but on the defender by the goal scorer
DeleteLoL buddy. It is the defender who has been pushed from behind!:)
DeleteA blatant foul before the equalizer… yet no VAR intervention. Huge error…. may cost Senegal the round of 16…
ReplyDeleteSituation: https://streamable.com/tr0itb
From this we see that the defender took a dive after being touched... Definitely not a blatant foul...
DeleteThis was a two-footed jump into the air. A classic attempt to draw a call. He felt pressure at the back and looked for a way to "defend" the player behind him when he wasn't sure he could get a clearance.
ReplyDeleteSome here must watch an other game. His 2 real mistakes: Waiting too long until starting to count during change of players and one!!! missed YC. That's it. A very convincing performance. But now a possible PK. Not easy to decide for BEL. For me a PK! Bad English, but right decision.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry but after everythimg thats gone this wc, you cannot give a penalty in the last minute for that
ReplyDeleteDon’t know why to call here he said ‘’white player can play the ball’’ not sure about that for me.
ReplyDeleteHundreds of cases where a defender puts their leg in front and an attacker accidentally kicks their foot. Always a free kick. Here it’s the opposite. So penalty.
DeleteFor me that is a good intervention. Correct PK. Disgraceful dissent once more from Senagl
ReplyDeleteLooks like one grabbed the arm being used to show penalty. No news of any YCs for that of yet. Then what followed... really poor behaviour from the players
Deletevery confusing public explanation. Be better to just point to spot and get on with it. Also spent far too long at VAR screen
ReplyDeleteQuite liked his explanation tbf just need a better English
DeleteAll announcements are completely unnecessary.
DeleteShould VAR react here??? Really obvious mistake??? VAR was checking 3-4 minutes, and ref watched in front of TV 10 times!!! How this is CLEAR AND OBVIOUS MISTAKE THEN??? And why they didn’t call for an OFR when Belgium scored 2nd goal.
ReplyDeleteIf a defender got kicked before a goal exactly like this. Would it be a goal? Never. So blatant penalty then.
DeleteThe aversion to giving out yellow cards leads to this sort of farce with dissent and lying on the penalty spot.
ReplyDeleteSenegal really making a fool of themselves
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWHAT A CATASTROPHIC DECISION!!!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe my eyes.
Belgium #8 clearly planted his foot in the path of Senegal #8. It was clear for the 1st angle VAR showed the referee.
I'm so so confused.
He planted his foot to take a shot. Whe the defender's foot landed on his it displaced that foot preventing a shot.
DeleteUnfortunately there is no Mateu Lahoz to explain that! He would NEVER give such penalty!
DeleteHe's already in front of the Sengal player. He puts his foot there in his own attempt to play the ball and the Senegal player goes straight through him
DeleteYep,no cards at all.
ReplyDeleteReferee and whole FIFA should be ashamed with this whole no giving cards circus.
I don't understand VAR in this competition
ReplyDeleteOne of the most disgusting decisions in the history of world football.
ReplyDeleteOh away and take yourself for a walk. Don't be so ridiculous
DeleteWho are you to tell me what to do? This isn't your blog, so don't try to shut others up.
DeleteStonewall penalty ,no attempt to play the ball ,the Senegal player knew exactly what he was doing.
DeleteIf Ecosse is thinking about the second belgian goal, he is right.
DeleteSaid Martinez's world cup has been quite eventful. A lot of big decisions failed.
ReplyDeleteVergonha que arbitragem houve prejudicar dois gols irregulares o segundo com falta no goleiro e um pênalti vergonhoso tem voltar pra casa.
ReplyDeleteExpected intervention for me. Bit surprised he took so long at the screen, maybe preparing to say? Scenens afterwards not the best PR for football as a sport...
ReplyDeleteAnd he said what??? Just incredible that refs officiating games in WC don’t know 10 words in English and are not able to make one simple sentence! What a disgrace for FIFA!
DeleteNo YC for this SPA what is that ?
ReplyDelete129' Even in Fifa that must be a YC
ReplyDeleteNo YC for BEL 19 is pushing it even for this tournament.
ReplyDeleteWHAT A JOKE OF A REFEREE TO NOT SHOW YC FOR CLEAR PULLING.
ReplyDeleteSORRY BUT THIS IS SUCH AN....I DONT HAVE A WORD...STUPID IS THE LEAST I CAN SAY.
FIFA and the politics! You can not give to such an amateur to officiate knockout game in the WC! Period!
DeleteI presume M is from Senegal because he is sprouting total garbage.
DeleteThis ref is real joke! Does he have cards??? What is this? Incredible
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNever a yellow card for SPA. Guidelines changed three years ago.
DeleteShots on goal haven't been a YC for handball for years
DeleteHow on earth is this fault by Moreira not a YC
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMartinez again giving everything to the 'bigger team'
ReplyDeleteSenegal could easily have finished the game with 9 players ,the penalty call was right . The issue was Senegal blew it in normal time ,nothing to do with the ref.
DeleteWhat?? UNBELIEVABLE final minutes. No added time after all the delays? UNBELIEVABLE.!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe added 5 minutes!
DeleteWere they played? Because it seemed he ended the match at 131 mins
Deleteextra time is 15 minutes first half till 105 minutes and the second half is also 15 finishing at 120 ,therefore the Senegal dissent lasted 11 minutes
DeleteTrue, so 1 more missed YC in the end, but still a good performance in a very challenging match.
ReplyDeleteYep,if you watch only 1st half very good.
DeleteThis guy should not handle any matches for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThis kind of stupid decisions and not booking players should be investigated.
Either he is not that smart or he purposely did not want to give any cards for some other reasons.
Pure nonsense, sry!
DeleteFIFA investigating themselves? Sure!
DeleteI can already tell you what their findings will be. LOL
Hoje vimos pior arbitragem dois gols irregulares da Bélgica colina deve tá com vergonha tem mandar embora a arbitragem de hoje .
ReplyDeleteOs golos foram todos legais. Sem margem para dúvidas
DeleteIn spite of the hysterical comments from many above I think Martin's did very well. The penalty is not easy to call live but ultimately the correct decision is leaked. I didn't see the apparent mountain of cards that other posters have seen in tur closing stages.
ReplyDeleteIn a very difficult game he manage it well with good decision making and good player management
The referee extended the game by 5-6 minutes because he wasn't quite sure about the penalty decision
ReplyDeleteno he extended the game because of the disgraceful behaviour of the Senegal team .The guy lying on the penalty spot should have been red carded
DeleteTBH I don’t know what’s going on with some people here…Dramatic is just a word…
ReplyDeleteI think the Internet servers in Dakar may be in trouble with all the users who seem to have piled on to this thread
DeleteI never imagined that so many FIFA referees would struggle this much with making announcements in English. Perhaps it is due to the pressure? I had assumed they were able to communicate with the players in better English while on the field.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I think that overall, many of the referees speak English quite well, but the announcements made during this tournament have not created a good impression.
They had PLENTY OF TIME to learn 3-4 sentencea for announcements! This is really circus! How do they communicate during classes, trainings, or with VAR room??? Simply incredible.
DeleteI really can’t understand the majority of the comments above.
ReplyDeleteThe penalty is clear.
- Yes, it took some time but it’s a crucial decision, they have to see all the angles.
- Yes, the attacker was clever. But what has to be made to award a penalty? The defender never touched the ball and prevented the attacker to try/play the ball.
Overall good game. Good fault detection, good decision to award the second goal from Belgium.
The dissent from the players is a consequence of this non sense FIFA policy of low number of YC. Martinez handled it as better as possible within this policy
What do You think about the equalizer?
DeleteFIFA encourages and applauds all of this while they piss all over the game some of us still respect and love dearly.
ReplyDeleteThis is the circus "SPECTACLE" that FIFA wants.
How else can they keep the casuals entertained? Yes, the casuals.
The ones who only watch "soccer" every four years.
+1
DeleteSenegal poor behaviour in a major Championship a disgrace ,FIFA should ban them
ReplyDeletePoor behavior? In FIFA's eyes that's "entertainment" and "spectacle".
DeleteVery sad for Martinez. He managed the match very well until the penalty: very borderline situation, the mexican Var called again a referee for OFR after the big mistake in Brazil-Scotland. In this case the call are, in my opinion, supportable but not 100% correct. Very difficult decision for Martinez in front of the monitor, he was not sure about the final decision. His face was very clear. Very very bad announcement and after the penalty very bad decisions the two clear missed yellow cards.
ReplyDeleteHis world cup finished tonight, he performed well during the tournament but this end was not good.
This blog is full of hooligans who really dont have a clue.
ReplyDeleteAll the hard work put in by Chefren and Mikael etc is undermined by the fools who come on here with no integrity at all to talk rubbish.
Penalty was a good OFR, announcement wasn't the best, performance was satisfactory
If FIFA has shown it has no integrity and no respect for the "beautiful game". Why should you expect any different from people on the blog?
DeleteLots of controversial decisions… but the biggest mistake was allowing the equalizer to stand after a clear foul by Tielemans. Hard to understand… and it cost Senegal the tournament.
ReplyDelete