The Fastest Card in the West

If man was meant to play soccer,God wouldn’t have given him hands.

Posted from  United States

While I agree that what could have been a beautiful game of football today was spoiled in great part by the ineptitude of the referee, I believe we are forgetting that the players – and coaches – also share a significant part of the blame, and nobody seems to be mentioning them. These guys are all professionals that make A LOT of money for doing what they do and should be able to exert some control over themselves. In the end it is US, the fans, the ones that end up being cheated.

Posted from  United States

I think you’re going OT on the ref’s performance. They were 2 of the most unsporting cheating timewasting team performances I have seen and they happen to occur in the same match. Both teams deserved everything they got. Deco’s first yellow should’ve been a red, Figo was disgusting, Robben is a known ‘diver’. Don’t blame the ref, blame the players … they’re the ones destroying the game or at least, it’s spirit.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I wholeheartily agree with JimmyUK.

We want the skilled players to be protected and not carried out on stretchers, but then we accuse FIFA of being too harsh and making their referees card happy.
We all complain about time wasting and then cry foul when referees show yellows for it.
We all hate floppers and fakers, but can’t stomach players being sent out because of it.

It is my understanding that ALL players have been made aware of the rules. The new one as well as the old ones. They KNOW they will be penalized but seem to not care.

So, unless you have a better suggestion to get rid of the cheaters, strap yourselves lads. Get ready for a lot more 9 on 9 football. Because until the players get the message, games like today’s, will keep on happening again and again.

Posted from  United States

While I agree with everyone that some ref’s are “card-happy” I would never blame a game on a ref. I’m a certified FIFA grade 8 referee, and even in youth games find myself worried and pressured to discipline kids who misbehave. These refs have the entire world watching them, and if they don’t card such-and-such it might allow the player to believe that such behavior is excused. These refs are being overly cautious. It’s better to caution a player than jeaopardize the safety of the other 21 on the field. These referees have basically gone to ref boot camp and have “tried out” to be in Germany. Let’s try to cut them a little slack. There’s 4 officials there, 22 players, at least 2 coaches, and an entire world watching. Imagine doing your job with that kind of pressure and scrutiny.

Posted from  United States

PORTUGAL is the most undeserving team in soccer. Once they score, they begin diving pushing the ball and acting more than anyone can bear. They break all records. Today they made it impossible to play in the second half. There should have been 60 minutes extra time awarded.
It is not only referees fault. Since the day Sepp Blatter took over FIFA, soccer has fallen to depths that no one could ever imagine. I am so disgusted by FIFA that I guess I would have to turn to other sports. Thank god I’ve moved to US so I have other choices.

Posted from  United States

I agree with JimmyUK..
they deserved what they got..
the referee did his job as it should to be.

Posted from  Saudi Arabia

Steve – If man didn’t have hands, how would we play pocket pool?

Posted from  United States

Gosh, what a disgrace! The referee should have been given the T-Mobile man-of-the-match (man of the mismatch would be appropriate).
If this match went into overtime, each player and the referee would have needed bodyguards.
Shame on FIFA! Shame on the players! Shame on the referees! Shame on the coaches for such boorish, savage, barbaric behaviour!

Posted from  United States

I see 2 interpretations of what happened during the now infamous POR-HOL. One is purely athletic. The other has some sociological coloration.
On the first one:Why blame M. Ivanov why most of the players destroyed the game by their childish behaviour? He did not misinterpret the rules, he applied them. He made some mistakes not worse than any other ref in this WC. He did not impact the outcome of the game like the ref of TUN-UKR.The players are to be blamed. Figo headbutting another player…What a waste of prestige. He (figo) is not known for that type of acts on the pitch.
The second fact is related to the aggressiveness of the Portuguese team(bunch and field payers)showing how the Portuguese (as citizens of the EU)want to respected. Do not forget that Portugal (like Greece or Cyprus) not long ago was and maybe still is seen as the “orphan” in the Eurofamily where the Anglo-Saxons and others seem to see them as the “others”. Discrimination always leads to frustation and conditionnes the people pschy. And the soccer pitch offers the plateform for expression. Right or wrong? I don’t know. But it is logical.

Posted from  United States

I am outraged by FIFA.

Why?

Since the day Sepp Blatter took over FIFA, soccer has fallen to depths that no one could ever imagine.

AMEN.

The ref was doing exactly what FIFA was dictating him to do – protect players and keep the game on a world class level, not some 3rd league match. And that’s exactly what he was doing — don’t blame the ref.

I am outraged by Blatter’s criticism of the ref issued after the game. And where exactly was Sepp during the game? Did he even see the acts of outrage on the field?

Sadly, in my opinion the blame is purely on the teams: 50-50. It takes 2 to tango. If one side would try to be the “greater man” of the match, things would not have gone as awry as the have. The players were the sole cause of the unrest and unsportsmanlike behavior. Yes, Portuguese players did wrong, but so did the Dutch.

Btw. I watched the game twice today only to conclude that the ref was unbiased (however blind 1% of the time) and as a matter of fact did not give out enough yellows (ya, imagine that!), but both times I did find the game quite tense and very fierce in all the meanings of this word!

I have been very critical this entire World Cup of the liberal manner in which the refs have been dishing out cards, but this is the first game that I’m gonna go out an d say that 95% of those cards were deserved. Players from both teams are to blame here. I have not seen such animosity between 2 teams in a while. Frankly, i think the ref should’ve given out even more cards for the kind of play we say today (especially for that Bruce Lee kick by a Portuguese player against Robben in the box). If anything, I feel that the ref did his job today (a tough one at that).

Posted from  United States

Exactly pf, the referee was very good. Thanks to him the game was able to continue. Both teams new exactly what they were doing. Before the world cup, FIFA visited each federations outlining exactly what the referee were going to be calling. 2 weeks prior to the world cup they visited each federation again to remind them. Each player on the pitch new exactly what the consequences were for their actions.

The referee would have bin warranted to issue some strait reds. ie. Figo. Any players that struck another when play was stopped.

Posted from  Canada

Good on you Valentin.
For a long time I have been appalled at the blatant violation of the rules.To me Soccer has steadily deteriorated to the point that I wonder if I’m watching Irish Football or Soccer.
I think the man is to be commended for trying to control the game and have it played cleanly.

Posted from  United States

That ref is terrible agreed, but the players didn’t do their part to make his job any easier.

A red card for Boulahrouz due to his attack on C. Ronaldo and for N. Valente for his Kung-Fu act on Robben would have calmed everyone early on.
That’s when the game got out of Ivanov’s hands (if it ever was…).

But the unsportsmanship of the portugese and the dutch has to be underlined also. They are a shame to the game and I will (reluctantly) support England in the quarters. They don’t play entertaining football, but at least they play fair.

Posted from  Switzerland

I agree with Jimmy 100%… Both teams were out of control. The ref had no choice but to hand out cards. I thought he should have given more cards, not less.

I see lots of my fellow Americans complaining about the refs in this world cup. For those of you not in the US, we do it all the time. Basketball or American football. It is always the refs messing up the game. This world cut has been one of the best. The refs have nothing to do with it. Oh by the way, for those of you who think the US did not advance because of that PK for the second Gana goal. Even if the game has ended 1-1, Gana would have advanced not us. American futball has a long way to go.

Posted from  United States

Portugal vs Holland was bound to be a grudge match, so some real knocks were bound to take place.

The tone for cards was set in the second monute when Mark van Bommel (the dirtiest player of them all) was carded. While that kept MvB on the straight side for most of the match, the others took on the role of enforcers.

Boulahrouz is a savage (or cannibal as he is nicknamed) and deserved his marching orders. Deco was hot-headed, Costinha naive, van Bronckhorst over enthusiastic, but none of them were particularly dirty.

The red card that was missed was Figo’s headbutt, but did anyone see that or van Bommel’s WWE-worthy collapse?

van Bommel’s fall reminds me of a former WWF grappler Greg Valentine who used to fall theatrically (and in slow motion) after being head-butted. Now THAT deserves a red card, and perhaps an Oscar!

Posted from  Singapore

Expect more cards to fly when England meet up with Portugal… another grudge match awaits!

Posted from  Singapore

red card for deco was sooooo stupid.

Posted from  Canada

It is easy to blame the players. They are the only ones playing the game and have a lot of experiences. An experienced soccer referee sees the difference between an infraction of the rules and the intent of the infraction. If a referee doesn’t see it, he will kill the match.

Posted from  United States

Agree with most comments regarding the lack of fairplay on both sides.
To those who praise the ref for the way he handled the game, I have just one comment.
When you allow in the FIRST 4 MINUTES the dutch players to blatantly try to injure C. Ronaldo, with only yellow cards as a result, you are setting the mood for the rest of the match. That behaviour is not only disgraceful (i tought the Dutch prided themselves on being civilised, apparently not) but it also ruined the match completely, not to mention injuring a promising young player (who knows how badly). After that Ivanov lost control of the game as the portuguese responded to the aggression in kind. Also, Heitinga’s appaling lack of fairplay led directly to Deco’s hotheaded response.
The winner: Portugal
The losers: Holland (for starting the game intent on injuring ronaldo and not giving the ball back) and Football in general because Deco’s magic will be absent from a great match on saturday.

Posted from  Belgium

I don’t get some of the commentary around here. hot game? Of Course. The ref needs to be respected by the players. This one did not.
Figo should be sent out? Sure. As Van Bommel. And some others.
But DECO? DECO?
Both yello cards to DECO are ENORMOUS ERRORS.

First. Deco in fact made the fault. But if you guys think and defend THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME that play should be replayed. Marco Van Basted told specifically to his player to NOT GIVE THE BALL TO THE PORTUGUESE TEAM.
The spirit of the game is FAIR PLAY. The guys didn’t have a clue on that. That’s why Deco made it.
The ref should have interpreted the SPirit of the game.

And then, the second Yellow was invented. In fact Deco didn’t picked the ball 2 seconds. That is “time wasting”? Come on…

For the ones that say Nuno Valente entry on Robben was fault. Yes that was. But not a penalti. Why? Because the game was stopped, Kuijt made a charge over Ricardo before.

Things are now controled to stop Portugal. Half the team with Yellows. If we beat England, probably we will not have players to play against Brazil or Spain.

By the way. Italy trully helped today. Where in the world that was a penalty. Socceros, i’m with you. You were robbed.

Posted from  Portugal

I think FIFA should incorporate a ‘20 yard rule’ for fouls. The opposing team should be able to place the ball at any spot 20 yards from the spot of the foul (some thought needs to be given for placing the ball in the penalty box, but you get the idea). Placing the ball at the spot of the foul, in my opinion, gives an unfair tactical advantage to the fouling team.

Posted from  United States

JimyUK, diego, Jaffar and others are right: the ref was forced to act as he did by two sides who arrived intended to dive, handball, cheat and hack. Sepp Blatter betraying his own official is just typical of the man – he did the same after the Champion’s League final – when he should be pointing out that almost every decision was right. The Times went through all 16 and only disagreed with one of them.

This should be the standard for refereeing, and people will soon stop diving and play-acting.

Posted from  United Kingdom

I don’t think there was much the ref could do… Maybe a couple earlier yellows could have prevented one or two later yellows, but both teams were filled with hot head and dirty players…Either way this was one crazy game

Posted from  Uzbekistan