The refereeing so far.....

[jugularvein]

Has anyone else noticed how good the refereeing has been?

I'm talking in terms of creating a free-flowing game by not being fussy, rejecting players who go down too easily and being sensible with their cards...

It apears to me like there has been some sort of fifa/uefa directive to respect the physicality of the game, which seemed to be going out of the window. Good news if so.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

Howard Webb gets a game tomorrow.

 

[Malamud]

I agree. The refereeing, till now has been top class.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

It has been good. The only thing getting on my nerves is that a few players now, after getting knocked over, grab the ball with their hands and pretty much demand the free kick. I'm finding it quite annoying.

 

[Diamond]

I'd agree. I don't know whether it's any kind of policy but I've noticed that a lot of the refs have been quick to blow their whistle in the first ten and send out a message about the type of football that's acceptable but generally have avoided handing out cards at the same time. It seems to set a good tone for the rest of the game.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I think the refereeing has merely been good because England aren't in it

 

[jugularvein]

I think the refereeing has merely been good because England aren't in it

possibly. the van nistelrooy goal aside, (which was just following the letter of the law), there haven't been any mistakes, players who have gone down too easily have often been frustrated (which is great) and cards have been very few and far between.

Hopefully this will continue through the tournament and we will see players staying on their feet and free-flowing, physical games

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

Howard Webb, the lovable Pleb.

 

[gabi]

I'm loving this tournament far far more than any major one I've ever seen. Even including the English keystone cops who reffed tonights game (ohhh, we fucked up by awarding that first goal, lets even things up by giving a totally random penalty )

Long may it last. I never wanna see fatboy, steve 'errrrrm' g and shrek playing in a big tourney again. this is good shit.

 

[Diamond]

Got to say that I wholeheartedly agree. Is it just that the football's better? Maybe without the patriotic concern we can just watch the games without constantly calculating how good the teams are compared to the no-marks we cheer on.

 

[jugularvein]

only bad performance so far was webb. they must hate him in poland

 

[Deareg]

are there any referees anywhere in the world worse than English ones?

 

[Biffo]

The ref seemed to have an agenda against Italy tonight.

 

[Deareg]

The ref seemed to have an agenda against Italy tonight.

can't say i noticed, any examples?

 

[rosa]

There's been a fair few bizarre/downright wrong decisions but there's been a refreshing lack of superstar referees wanting to be the centre of attention. although graham poll was wheeled out with grim inevitability after the van nistelrooy goal for his 'expert opinion'. No-one cares what you think,dickhead,fuck off and learn to count to two.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

Heh-he.

Howard Webb has received death threats off the Polish prime minister.

That'll teach him.

Linky

 

[Biffo]

can't say i noticed, any examples?

Toni's disallowed goal was onside. The penalty awarded to Romania was debatable. The yellow cards for Pirlo and De Rossi were harsh, in particular the latter as it wasn't even a foul.

 

[jugularvein]

Toni's disallowed goal was onside. The penalty awarded to Romania was debatable. The yellow cards for Pirlo and De Rossi were harsh, in particular the latter as it wasn't even a foul.

yeah i saw that, although de rossi's could easily have been interpreted as a bad tackle depending on the angle as it was his following leg that got the ball.

hopefully this thread hasn't cursed them. been a bit dodgy since. the overall attitude to the physicality i appreciate though

 

[E.J.]

The refereeing so far has been quite good so far. Although the linesman in the Austria-Poland match should have raised his flag & disallowed Poland's goal. Because Roger Guerreiro was a yard offside. As Biffo has rightly mentioned Luca Toni's header was clearly a goal not offside, an unlucky decision for Italy. Plus the penalty decision to Romania wasn't one, because imo Petre was leaning or backing onto Panucci when contesting the ball in the penalty area.

In the Sweden-Spain match in the last attack of the 1st half Johan Elmander clearly barges into David Silva whilst challenging for the ball in the air - in the penalty area. No penalty was given, even though it should have been.

What i like most about the refs are not brandishing yellow cards for any form of physical contact, compared with previous tournmaments. Thus there is a nice flow & pace to most of the matches so far.

 

[Biffo]

Inconsequential game but Portugal were denied a goal incorrectly for offside tonight v the Swiss.