Horacio Elizondo to Referee World Cup Final

I so hope he has a good game and doesn’t ruin it with his cards and bad calls!

Posted from  United Kingdom

I am totally devasted to hear that Horacio Elizondo is going to referee the finals. I sincerely feel that he has been one of the worst person in charge of matches in this world cup. Arbitary sending off of Ujfalusi in the Czech-Ghana match, failing to see(or disregard to the Koreans)two clear hand balls in the penalty area by Muller in the Korea-Switzerland match-the offside decision overruled is best left to the assitant referees(didn’t he know such a rule existed). And his seemingly deep dislike for Wyane Rooney and the english. Such a surprise that the organisers picked an argentinian to watch over an english game.
I only hope and pray that he is sensitive to my much anticipated theatre from the Italians-of which of the Argentinians are no strangers themselves.

Posted from  India

I hate this guy.. His reffing of the Korea - Swiss game was terrible.. You don’t overule a flag from the line judge and ignore an offsides when a goal is on the line. Also I thought this was football and not foot(use your hands when you like)ball.

Posted from  Uzbekistan

I’m very disappointed with Elizondo’s appointment. He has not been anything more than decent and therefore doesn’t deserve an honor that was even given to Pierluigi Collina: officiating the opening game and the final of a World Cup.
I can think of a few others that were definitely more deserving of his spot, Lubos Michel for example. But he still young, his time will come.
Kamikawa’s appointment for the 3rd/4th game was well deserved.
FIFA’s decision to appoint only non-European refs from the QF onward is questionable nonetheless.

Posted from  Germany

Elizondo will be a great referee and should do well - as long as he doesn’t set foot on the pitch.

Posted from  Australia

Whether you like it or not, Elizondo will be the referee on Sunday. Every single referee in this World Cup (and others I’m sure) had their bad points - what about that guy in the Argentina vs Germany match, give me a break. Lets stop whining and enjoy the game.
Antigua & Barbuda

Posted from  Antigua And Barbuda

…..archundia should have been the referee

Posted from  Thailand

It really doesn’t matter who refs this game as it has been obvious that the Laws have been adjusted to orchestrate who holds the Big One in the end, hence the refs pissing on Latin American and African Countries:

2006 Laws of the Game a la Blatter

V 0.1 - Group rounds
V 0.2 - Second round
V 0.3 - Quarters, semis, and final

Posted from  Canada

Has Elizondo been perfect throughout this tournament? Has any official managed a match without heavy criticism from some corners?

People who don’t REALLY understand how the rules are applied should simply leave the refereeing to the officials and leave the rest of us to spectate and enjoy the action.

In particular, if you think Elizondo was wrong to award the goal in the Switzerland v Korea match, you’re wrong. Anybody who really understands the Laws of this game knows why. For a more thorough explanation of what I’m talking about, consult a rulebook…or take a look at the post about the match in question under the Referees section of this website. Click on the whistle icon.

Elizondo has not been perfect throughout this tournament and no referee has. However, he is eminently qualified and capable of handling a match with such great importance. Otherwise, FIFA would not have chosen him.

I think he is the best!
If not, he woudnt have been choseen. I mean, c’monn if he was the worst, how the FIFA chose him to be the referee of the World Cup FINAL. Please, I think they know more from football and rules and refeering than you guys.

Posted from  Argentina

the offside in SWI-KOR was passive so he was perfect. nothing to say about sending rooney out.
well merited. hope he has a good match.

oh no Henry’s going to have a field trip - this is the blind referee who can’t tell the offside when notified by flag chooses to ignore…Bring in Benito Archundia instead!!

Posted from  United States

Good referee has had a fantastic tournament. You have to be ignorant or biased to not see Rooney should be banned for 5 matches. If he actualy mis-stepped as players sometimes do he would have check to see if the player was alright not to mention immediately try to re-balance. As it was he Stepped, turned his foot while standing on the player and then stood waiting on punishment. no hand held high or anything. He is nothing more than a Yob who would have been knocked sensless had he tried that on Genaro Gattuso.
The English media and public are fooling themselves. They all know Rooney was prone to this kind of stupidity

Posted from  United States

Talking about Gattuso did anyone see him with his pants down on the pitch before th Germany-Italy game?
For a moment I thought Rooney got to him too.

Posted from  United States

After seeing the final game we can assure Elizondo is the best FIFA’s referee.
He didn’t see Zidane’ fault but reacted correctly after the indication of the lineman.
He was right showing the red to Rooney and Zizou as well.
Think this man has BIG balls to watch over any international game.

BTW, shame on Graham Poll, the english referee! By far, the worst in the world cup. Remember his “best” role in the match Australia-Croatia when he showed 3 times the yellow card to Josip Simunic.
Amazing!

I think he called an excellent game. He was probably one of the best refs i have seen. he let the players play, and kept very good control of the game. as for the red card. Zidane was an idiot to think the linesman was not going to see that.

Posted from  United States