Maurice Edu’s Winning Goal for USA Disallowed. Can Anyone Tell Us Why?

I don't see anything. It was from a free kick, and he was way onside. No idea why the ref would disallow that.

FIFA only cares about getting money from US marketers, nothing more.

when did the flag go up?

such a perplexing and pathetic call (among others in the game)

I thought we had pulled someone down at first but looking at the replay we were getting mugged so this is the second call the referee see something no one else saw. As a referee I can not wait to see the referee review for today. The officials played to big a part of both games so far today.

A. Bradley was not offside.

B. Bradley was not only NOT offside but fouled in the box for a penalty/red card.

C. Edu was nowhere near offside and he put the ball in the back of the net. Bradley, if he HAD been offside, provided no advantage to Edu.

because FIFA would be horribly embarassed if it let America's 5th-tier athletes get all the way to the finals like what happened last summer… before we finally fell apart to Brazil. This is the third straight World Cup where officials have cost us a match, or made very botched, biased, anti-American calls (like the 2006 frenzy of yellows)

ditto for the big FIFA marketeers.. comment…little pinto bean hernandez WAS OFFSIDE.in game vs FRANCE..SO THERE IT GOES…Budweiser, UNIVISION and FIFA make more money out of the Mexicam beer dinking drunkards 25 million of them in USA and say 120 million in Mexico (do the math)

Sorry, I'm a France fan, but Hernandez was even with the defender, so the ref rightly gave the benefit to the attacker.

Referees absolutely ruined the most epic comeback in american soccer history

A dreadful call through and through. Complete bad luck for the US. No other explanation for it.

The U.S. got jobbed by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly. The U.S. made one of the most remarkable second-half comebacks in World Cup history, becoming only the fifth team ever to gain a tie after taking a 2-0 deficit into halftime. But this result should have been the first time a team had ever won 3-2 in the World Cup after going down 2-0 at halftime. Maurice Edu‘s goal was disallowed by Coulibaly, apparently on the grounds that Edu committed a foul on Landon Donovan‘s free kick. That simply wasn’t the case, and one of the greatest moments in U.S. soccer history was negated by the call. You have to wonder why FIFA lets referees from less-established soccer countries work in the sport’s most important games. How often does Coulibaly officiate a top-level game in Mali? Still, the amazing U.S. comeback puts the Americans in a position where they could qualify for the second round with a win against Algeria on Wednesday. This was an all-time game marred by an all-time officiating blunder. – SI

There were about 3 fouls on American players that could have been called penalties. That was egregious refereeing. Like the yellow card for a hand ball that hit Findley in the face.

Uh, not totally well-informed about the comments posting guidelines on this site, but if a comment is both racist AND off-topic, is that enough cause to scrap it? I'm just sayin…

Silly racists like you make me sick. I am sure the reason why Mexico has been so 'successful' in the World Cup throughout its history is because of their big influence on the game and their officials. Too bad one has to find such hateful ignorants as you in such a beautiful game.

The third goal was there, but from our BBC broadcast it was said the ref had not yet blown his whistle to start, which is why the goal was disallowed. I'm no expert on the rules though, so if that WAS the case, then I'd expect the USA would've got another kick.

Nonetheless, these kinds of calls hit ALL teams good and bad, and America is no exception. The real question is more like why FIFA does not bend and allow more than one official referee to make calls, like the NFL or NHL etcetera.

Expat Yank in England

“I've just seen that disallowed goal for the US again – and not only was there no foul by a US player, there are probably two penalty-kick offences being committed by the Slovenian defenders. Shocking decision.” – BBC Radio 5 live's David Moyes

“The Americans thought they had won it through substitute Maurice Edu's volley but the strike was harshly ruled out by referee Koman Coulibaly for an alleged pull and the US players were furious.” – BBC David Ornstein

This was one of the best matches so far of the world cup. USAs comeback in the second half, then to have their wining goal disallowed, due to a bad decision on the Malian referee part. This cost the USA valuable points, and a much needed win. Can the referee's decision be contested by the USA?

Yes, it absolutely shameful how the United States is the only team that ever gets a bad call against them. You must be blind to not see a conspiracy. How is it possible that referees never make mistakes, except against us?

I am giving the referee the benefit of the doubt, but whatever he saw I didn't see it. To me it looked like a bad call. I think he will have some explaining to do.

It's called the sport is FIXED. WWE has more integrity, it at least doesn't claim to be anything but sport entertainment. You want real sport, go watch the bar teams or little kids in the park where they play for nothing but braggin rights and love of a game, not billions of dollars in a world where convience store workers and little old ladies get killed for a mere couple of dollars.

Gary Lineker and the other BBC presenters on Match of the Day, were totally dumbfounded by the referees call on the disallowed goal. The malian referee Koman Coulibaly, does need to give a clear reason for disallowing this goal. I have seen the highlighted clips and commentary from various sporting pundits, it should have been allowed.

Why not have a video referee, as they do in rugby. The referee on the pitch, has much more information at hand, to make an informed decision.

Baffled — completely. The replay shows Donovan acknowledging the whistle to commence with the free kick, the ref blows the whistle again when the ball touches the net. No offside — no flags are raised by assistant refs — if he was trying to signal a foul it should have been for US as there was plenty of pushing and holding by Slovenia. Definitely one of the most controversial calls of this WC so far.

Horrible, horrible call! I do not know the game well, but truly enjoy it and even I can see there was so much wrong with that play. If it did in fact have anything to do with going before the whistle – I ask – how can one hear a whistle through all of the horns anyway!!?? Just ridiculous! Can it be overturned somehow or will it stand?

The referee Koman Coulibaly should lose his credentials to referee. His obvious blunder is beyond any bad call I have ever seen. The yellow card for a hand ball that hit Findley in the face was also an obvious “bad call”, the ball hit his face as cear as day. The referee's decision on the goal should be contested by the USA and reversed by FIFA. This referee should be band from ever working at any FIFA match. Go USA… one of the greatest come-backs in FIFA history.

you guys are dumb, fixed? usa have got let off with so many bookings in that game, fouling slov left right and center, open your eyes, elbowing slov players behind the refsback, without either having the ball is also just as retarded, that goal was right yes, should have counted, but it was by a freekick that shouldn't havecounted, if you look closer, slov shouldhave had the freekick, why you ask? because that yank shouldn't have forcefully nudged him on purpose, you're getting the same outcome as if he got up retaliated by punching the black yank back and get done for racial attacks. but hey, the reality is, i don't like either team, sowhy am i disputing? simple, everything in this game was played dirty, but if anything, usa got one booking, even though they were fouling slov players A.L.O.T lol… they should have had a few sent off by theend of the game, but didn't, however then thyey start diving and flopping as a form of tactic.. and it worked, 3 slov players booked in a row, some accidental, so if anything slov got screwed over, so why don't you shut the hell up complaining and just deal with the fact that both teams are utter shit and can't play a skillfull game? so what the goal wasn'tcounted, big deal, it's not as if he should have got a freekick to begin with, calm down deep breath, it's not the end ofthe world

Does anyone know what the final call actually was? I've heard several speculations and the only source I've been able to find was the interview with Donovan after the game where he said: “The referee would not tell us what the call was.” I have ref'd before and I cannot imagine the pressure he was under but I still believe he should justify his call, the US did deserve a win. Is it possible for FIFA to look into it and overturn the call?

Googling him just after this incident, I found numerous articles on his “controversial” calls in the past… Tunisian fans have been calling for his removal for over a year now. Why is this man still credentialed?

“Coulibaly is rumoured to hate the United States of America with the burning passion of a white hot sun”.
ROFL
That's Mr. Coulibaly's Wikipedia entry being vandalized right after the game haha (it has already been changed, a friend of mine posted this on facebook a few minutes ago).

Was Slovenia trying to get yellow cards for their entire team? Looks like they were trying their best. Edu's disallowed goal is one of the most controversial calls, of the world cup so far. Especailly if the disallowed goal costs them a place to the knock off round. I am sure there are going to be a few more controversial decisions.

Seems this referee had more than one “bad call”, the so called hand ball that hit Findley, clearly hit him in the FACE! Damn right it should be contested and reveresed by FIFA. Koman Coulibaly, should not be allowed to officiate at any other matches for the world cup.

How on earth did he get to officiate at the world cup, if he has numerous “controversial” calls in the past. FIFA should have more than enough credentialed referees to choose from, that can officiate in the most important soccer tournament in the world. FIFA should give us an explanation!

yeah Koman Coulibaly makes bad calls sweetheart, let me put it n a way girls can understand #1 bad call = (equals) giving usa thefreekick to begin with, considering usa didn't deserve it, if anything, slov should have gotthe freekick, that black american was just too rough, with his forceful nudging, #2 bad call is after not acknowledging the foul on the slov player, he wards usa the freekick and disallowing the goal. why in the heck would you want a goal to count concieved by a freekick that shouldn't have happened anyway? just take the draw you greedy little bitch, why think about what could have happened, when you could think of what did happen, are you blind?

look everyone in the world knew there was no foul there on the usa. in fact there were like 3 fouls on the usa by slovenias so fifas only choice is to reply the game giving the usa 3 consecutive pk's in oreder to make up for the bad call….HAH

Wait you're telling everyone to calm down and take a deep breath after that rant?

You all need to understand that during free kicks you are not allowed to use your feet to score a goal, and the goal scorer MUST be in an offside position in order for it to count.

Koman Coulibaly is the only referee who knows the rules of free kicks.

Malian referee Koman Coulibaly was taking charge of his first World Cup game.

“I'm a little gutted,” said Donovan. “I don't know how they stole the goal from us. I'm not sure what the call was.”

USA Coach Bob Bradley said: “I still don't know why the goal was disallowed.”

Is there any clarification from FIFA or referee Koman Coulibaly, why this goal was disallowed?

Mike do you happed to know the rule book that Koman Coulibaly is using, or is it all in his head. Maybe there should be a “Koman Coulibaly's guide to refereeing” post.

“You all need to understand that during free kicks you are not allowed to use your feet to score a goal, and the goal scorer MUST be in an offside position in order for it to count.” – Mike Castro

Rules regarding hand ball, if the ball clearly hits you in the face, that counts as your hands.

Remember when handing out yellow cards, hand them out like candy. Make sure you bring enough for the team!

The referee was wrong and US was unfortunate.
But ESPN and lots of fans are stressing on the country/African origin of referee. Thats uncalled for.
Its a genuine mistake by an 'individual' and there should be stricter FIFA rules to review controversial decisions using replays and penalise extremely errant officials with something like a RED card.

His call was not a blunder, it was pre-meditated. An investigation needs to be made if FIFA really cares about the integrity of the Cup. look at the replays again, every set piece the US had resulted in a foul on the US. He had the whistle at the ready before the ball was kicked. It is well known that the US won't get a fair shake in international play because we're hated the world over. Politics play a big part in international sports. If this ref was really this incompitent he wouldn't have even been allowed to ref a game at all. He knew what he was doing the whole time.

I was furious.

I am furious.

But the quicker the US shakes this off, the better our prospects for decimating Algeria next week. I'm extremely proud of our beautiful second half comeback, so let's take that knowledge and proceed forward. Nothing is going to change at this point, unfortunately, no matter how horrifically wrong the ref was.

Good grief, with all of these “fixed” accusations, the numerous exaggerated claims and the calls for video replays, you'd think the U.S.A. is the first and only team to ever have a bad ref.

Get over it; ref saw a ghost and made a bad call. Happens all the time in the sport you barely bother to watch.

Having said all of that, it's a pretty crappy call, especially with so many fouls being committed by the Slovenian players inside the box.

From everything I have heard and read, the ref refused to tell the players after the call, what the foul was. Is that an, “Ooops! My bad but I can't take it back,” or “I hate you and you won't win the game so I made something up”?

If I recall correctly the ref screwed Ghana over in the African Cup Final in January . . . . so he's borked the second biggest event of the year in soccer and FIFA lets him into the biggest?

Actually the controversial call was on Edu, who committed the textbook foul of being the only one of four Americans who was not given a bear hug by the Slovenian defenders.

The call was outrageously bad and the ref should be banned from ever calling another game. The reason there are accusations of a fixed game is because he made several bad calls during the game and they were all against America. Normally, if it's merely incompetent calls, they'll be spread between both teams.

If this prevents America from moving into the next round, America should withdraw from FIFA. I am outraged not only at the bad call, but at the lack of any recourse. There should be a way for teams to appeal bad calls with FIFA and have the goal count and the points awarded accordingly.

I agree. I would protest if it had happened to ANY other country. It ruins and taints the integrity of FIFA and the spirit of the games, if a referee, who is clearly biased, is allowed to make wrong calls just because he personally wants another team to win. What is the point then, if the referees get to decide who wins the world cup?

Not the first or the last horrible call to be made in the World Cup.. ie Klose's red card today… or Šimunić three yellow cards before being sent off in the 2006 World Cup.. as unfortunate as the mistake is it is not the first or the last. I think instant replay and all that non-sense would be devastating to soccer..imagine watching a replay each time a Portugal player takes a dive.. games would be 5 hours long!

Seemed like a bad call…plain and simple. I am wondering what the ref will write in his game report. I picture him right now with some FIFA officials furiously going through the rule book and trying out some ideas. I think Germany had a bad call also.

I referee and I know I make some close calls, but, the disallowal of the US goal was just blatant.

Waiting for the reason…way too obvious a bad call to just let it go.

Can the US protest.

First of all, I am Italian, and I watch football all the time, and have since I was a child. Throughout the entire game this referee was appallingly biased. Sure, they make bad calls sometimes due to the fact that they do not have the benefit of slo-mo, but it was one after another. From a satellite in the sky, that goal was clearly good.

Having said that, I don't think you would be so harsh had it happened to your own team.

Moreover, referees like that can greatly affect the outcome of the World Cup. I believe the integrity of FIFA was compromised today.

Agreed. Seems like something fishy with the way this game was refereed. Why no red card when Altidore got fouled on the breakaway? I can't wait to hear the official's response to the outrage

Yes, report should be fiction. I have sympathy for the refs but, this call was way out of line…either he lost focus/concentration or something else..dunno..

We are not talking about fouls, off-sides, to be reviewed each time in a game, that is just petty and no one has called for that.

This is a goal loss. A lost GOAL at the WORLD CUP.

What will be devastating to soccer, are referees like him, who can decide who wins the World Cup based on their own personal favorites.

blabla…you should also get some yellow or even red card, starting the elbov hit in first minutes, but you didin't

i forgot…dont talk about disallowaling the goal. The referee stopped the game before you scored so there was really no third goal!

Strictly speaking, the USA player no. 3 is holding Slo defender, which could have cleared the ball otherwise, so the decision was correct. However, it is true that the decision was unbalanced, as there were many similar incidents on both sides which were not caled faul. But on both sides, starting with an awful faul of US player at the very start of the game and a broken leg of Slo attacker, both should be a red card for US players, and were not called.

x2

While it may appear very partisan to say, the U.S. did actually get robbed this round. They certainly did not play to the best of their abilities by all appearances, and that falls squarely on their shoulders, but horrific officiating picked up where their lack of fire left off. The yellow card on Robbie Findley was just awful. Even people in the nosebleed seats could see that the ball hit him in the face, traveled downward, and then hit his hand. It was not an intentional handball, but none the less he is out for the next match. The welt on his face should have proved the point.

Koman Coulibaly, the official that made the call, was called out for having blown it by commentators in as many languages as the game was telecast in. It was simply an inexcusable, and inexplicably botched call. When the Slovenian commentator even says the U.S. got a raw deal and it looks like the official has an agenda, it really is that obvious.

Some say bad officiating is a part of the game, and it is, but when it is so blatantly awful and no review is used, then that is just wrong.

For goodness sakes please settle down you US fans. I know it sucks when a ref screws up, but that is part of the game. Look at the Hand of God goal with Maradonna and imagine if you were a Republic of Irleand fan who DIDN'T get to the World Cup thanks to a referee missing a blatant hand ball. Think yourselves lucky Clint Dempsey didn't get a red card in the first minute for his callous elbow on the opposition. I guess it was OK then that the ref
was incompetent.

For goodness sakes please settle down you US fans. I know it sucks when a ref screws up, but that is part of the game. Look at the Hand of God goal with Maradonna and imagine if you were a Republic of Irleand fan who DIDN'T get to the World Cup thanks to a referee missing a blatant hand ball. Think yourselves lucky Clint Dempsey didn't get a red card in the first minute for his callous elbow on the opposition. I guess it was OK then that the ref
was incompetent.

It's just a scandalous call. French commentators were shocked. I just hope that this call won't change anything for USA who deserve to win the first place of the group.

it was definitely a stupid call – not much going on in the box, a little roughing maybe, and definitely no offside. but the goal was NOT disallowed. the whistle had already gone, so the play was stopped and the goal was always inconsequential. unfortunate decision, yes, and it cost the u.s. three points. but everyone keeps saying it was disallowed, and it wasn't.

I just watched the recap over and over and couldn't see it, however if this happened, and the ref tells someone in FIFA, and they release a camera angle that sees it then I will give him credit. And I will even admit that technically there was no goal b/c the whistle was well before Edu's goal. But between bearhugging Bradley, knocking around Altidore, and having Bocanegra (#3) in a headlock (which is why he was holding the Slovenian defender) I don't see how the whistle could have blown and not been for a US penalty kick.

Yes, I have reviewed the play a couple of times from the Canadian feeds (which don't have as much talking as most feeds) and you can hear the whistle before the goal. That, and you can see a) the ref place the whistle on his mouth before Altidore struck the ball and b) the Slovenian keeper didn't even try to stop the goal.

So please, be honest with your comments: it was a terrible call, but you don't know whether it would have been a goal.

What looks to you as Bocanegra holding the defender is actually him trying to get out of a earlier headlock — don't mind the other 2 bear hugs that were going on at the same time. But such is the game of soccer! Play on!

Too bad Coulibaly hadn't made that same call against a team like Colombia.

Oh please, he had no chance to stop the ball. No keeper in the world would have gotten that.

Now that's not nice

Absolutely terrible call. Either it was a goal or it should have been a penalty kick. Bradley was in a bear hug and Bocanegra was in a headlock. I thought I was watching Monday Night Raw.

This is just the latest example of why I've been saying for years that we need to use instant replay technology on goals and we need an extra official on the field. Instant replay on goals would not in any way affect the “flow of the game” since the act of scoring the goal has already interrupted the flow of the game for celebration and getting set up again. You could have an official watching replays upstairs who could overrule calls that are obviously wrong. And they really need to put another ref on the pitch. One could work behind the goal line and the other behind play, depending on the end of the field, just as they do in basketball. Then you could have all four directions covered.

Edu put it into the back of the net.

Not Jozy.

As much as it was a completely incompetent call the fact remains that reason this US didn't win this game was because they played absolutely dreadful soccer for the 45 minutes of the game and gave two goals they absolutely should not have. So yea, the ref blew it. But if the US didn't blow it for the first half of the game that call would have been inconsequential.

Stop with the nonsense that the US put themselves in that position. They gave up 2 goals and fought back to a 3-2 tie. Imagine if England went down 0-2. Dempsey lifted his elbow for protection, which if you watch the Premier League is needed. There was no foul on the goal, the referee believed that a foul might occur, which resulted in him place the whistle near his mouth and he blew his whistle prematurely. Like all refs in this tourney, he needs to stick the whistle somewhere else.

Possibly he was fixiated on Slovenias #7 had being held in a big clew of players. I can't blame the ref. Must have been one of his linesmen. Supposedly his southern linesman.

It was for sure not an off-side call. The assistant referee did not put his flag up and all replays confirmed not off-side. If he did call off-side on his own it most certainly is the worst call ever. First of all the assistant referee is in a better position to see off-side and I did not see the referee put his hand up to indicate an indirect free kick resulting from off-side. From all the videos I've seen it certainly looked like all the grabbing was being done by the defenders which in this day of soccer world it seems to be acceptable… If the referee saw an infraction by the US players in the middle of all that shoving, pushing and grabbing to disallow the goal and if he blew his whistle before Edu made contact with the ball he should have at least explain what the infraction was. Videos also show several players obviously asking but no explanation was given. And, that would be the part I have a problem with. For my money the referee looked and acted like he was incompetent to work games at this level. But then again nobody is asking me…

Well, then I guess every team that doesn't either get it together, is disorganized for some reason, doesn't score in the first half and out of some miracle by God, due to absolute incompetence, scored not 1 but 2 goals (actually 3), then every team should lose. What an absolute disgraceful and stupid statement

I certainly meant no disrespect to a great team like the Columbians – not in any way. But their response to a call like that – after playing their hearts out, would've had an entirely different outcome from the fans and for Coulibaly, and rightfully so.

My point was that it is childish and flat out wrong to blame the tie on the ref's bad call. The team is just as much at fault, if not more so.

The problem I have with the horrible calling in these games is the fact that there is no outlines in the FIFA rule books that allow a call as badly as these today not to be overturned or at least some type of compensation be awarded. Whether they allow a partial points (which may offset ties in the end for advancement) or the goal be allowed for tie breakers to advance teams, something should be given. Also if the refs have to file paper work after a game to advise FIFA officials of the card penalties and why, then there should be a very detail explanation of why a ref would not allow a goal. The reason the ref didn't give the USA players an explanation is simply he didn't know what to say……Just one final note if you replay the videos that are seen for the shot on goal, watch the head ref, he never took his eyes off the players directly in front of him. He never looked to his line judge, and he never looked to were the actual play was made…he was in fact looking directly at Edu and the Slovenian player that had him locked up while Edu was breaking for the goal and call the whistle the instand that Edu head butted the ball…now doesn't that seem strange, if it's an offside call the whistle would have blown a second or so earlier when the break was actually made. I'm with the gentleman that said more refs need to be on the field. There is no way one guy can see all angles well enough and accurately enough to give both teams the best chance for a fair and even game.

Bense235, for your information, now the rule of player being offside is that if he get any contact with the ball itself. If the player supposed to be offside did not make any physical contact with the ball, there will not be any offside although he do make an attempt to chase the ball down. So in this game USA deserve the 3 point. The referee is just a scum and although the lineman did not raise the offside flag, he still rules out the winning goal.

Dempsey pushed the Slovenian number 17 just as the ball was struck.

As so a push is worse than the 3 bear hugs and choke holds that were clearly being done before Dempsey ever got to push off. I see push off's worse than WWF Smack Downs…got it I'll remember that during the next weeks games.

More that the foul was committed first.

Whoops. Clicked like when I meant to hit reply.

For the record, I'm not certain it was a correct call, but everyone is running around saying they don't know what the foul was for, and I'm pretty confident it was for Dempsey's push.

Only one or two of the half a dozen or so shots of the incident picked it up, and then only on the edge of the frame, so its hard to be certain whether the Slovenian defender was actually carried forward by it or if he just ran to the wrong place, but Dempsey definitely made contact.

Mostly, you see players get away with those little shoves. It would appear that Dempsey didn't in this case. And as Oliver points out, the foul happened before any of the other incidents you talk about, so it doesn't matter which was worse.

Moving on..what are the different scenarios for the US to advance?

US win vs Algeria and England win vs Slovenia, both advance
US tie and England tie(but score less than 3 more goals than US overall), US advances
US tie and England lose
those are the scenarios that result in US advancing

as a former soccer referee, offside is called based on when the ball is kicked and if the player in question makes a play toward the ball those are the guidelines for referees to call offside

Strangely enough, the official FIFA record shows that the foul was on Edu, not Dempsey. And the ref called it just as the ball was being kicked. There is no record of what the foul was, and if you look at the replay there does not seem to be any foul from Edu who is merely charging forward to kick the ball. If you go to the FIFA website there is no mention of the third goal, or the foul. Nor does the summary video of the match even show it. Interesting…

But the FIFA website does show the incident where Findley is hit in the face by the ball and is given a yellow card for it…

Ultimately (and this will be my last comment) the key issue is how the rules of the game are managed and decided as the game is being played. Having one ref that makes all the calls, and in fact has the ability to “call” one team to win and one team to lose with no video replays or additional ref input, is just bound to cause problems. Not only is the ref unable to see beyond what is immediately in front of him, he is also subject to extreme pressure and is an easy target for bribery or other forms of persuasion.

Until FIFA fixes this problem, we will continue to have these negative discussions about the refs. I guess it will have to get to the point where fans start boycotting the games because they become a joke before FIFA will do anything about it. Obviously, on their website, they don't even mention the bad calls, the refs judgment or anything related to the fundamental issue. In this instance, FIFA does not even mention what Edu's foul was, just that it was on him

That is interesting. Do you have a link to that record, Bailun? I can't seem to find it.

So the FIFA information that states the foul was not on Dempsey but that Edu made foul…explain that one…the call was on Edu for contact and a foul not offsides not Dempsey…Edu…and Edu clearly didn't commit a foul…so now gets even worse.

I agree with your comments that not having an instant replay is a definite problem. If you look closely, both teams were fouling left, right, and center. Some players (both sides) had their hands around their opponents' waists. A lot was going on and impossible for the ref to see… well, maybe!!

I was in Germany for the match against Trinidad and Tobago and England. The teams were tied in the 82nd minute until Peter Crouch grabbed the dreadlocks of Brent Sancho.. a blatant foul, which lead England to score. What was done?.. nothing. The referee was sent back to Korea.

The problem is not new and will continue until FIFA addresses the autonomy of the ref in making decisions.

Go Argentina!!

It's because they cheat – they don't want upcoming teams to get anywhere in the cup. Lots of underhanded money changing hands…. It's quite shameful. Can't take this sport seriously – it's so obvious what's going on. Dumb asses.

Cheers,

Not sure if anyone else spotted it, but the Slovenian keeper looks like he stays on the line a bit too long…like he did on the donovan goal. Good be a weakness that ENG could take advantage of.

My theory is that it was a make up call. The ref had already decided to call a foul even before the play. Both sides had been pushing a lot and he was starting to call a lot of fouls against Slovenia, so he decided to give the free kick to the US and then immediately call a foul against them to nullify it. He was making the calls to reassert control over the game. So, I think the key to understanding the call is not to watch the replay of the goal, but rather to watch the sequence leading up to it. Bad reffing to say the least.

US Wins and they advance no matter what happens in the ENG-SLO game.

I can relate to the frustration of US fans, but then again – this is soccer and soccer is by definition very traditional, conservative sport, i.e., use of technology is strictly verbotten. Some even go so far to claim all these mistakes of referees are the integral part of the beauty of football (the term used in the ROW) – I personally don't agree with it. Maybe a bit of consolation for American friends: in the World Cup 1982, Yugoslavia was playing against Spain and a foul more than 1 m outside of the penalty box was given to Spain as the present in the form of the penalty shot: Spain won 2-1. I watched the game Steaua Bucharest – Real Madrid (1-4) in the Champions League and saw how Cannavaro had been hand-playing twice within the penalty area: the whistle remained silent on both occasions. It is a frustration indeed for American fans who are used to video replays in other sports, but football is esentially the game that does not allow long intermissions during the match (for such deliberations to be made). At the end of the day it is only a football, and it is about 22+ hard-working men that have – from a value perspective – nothing to do with beer-drinking, swearing, stupid, ignorant, and highly aggressive fanatics, totally alienated to any sport activity. A little (totally necessary) note about arrogance coming from the USA and Great Britain for the past 6 months or so: if your guys are so great as they have claimed for months, they will easily beat Algeria 5-0. And then England beats Slovenia and the whole media machine will have a chance again for hours to discuss how Anglo-Americans rule supreme and also the backwater Eastern Europeans and Maghreb Arabs (”Ignorance is definitely a bliss.”). I know very well that comparison with communism hurts American pride but nevertheless: during the match Brazil – North Korea, it was mentioned that North Koreans cannot watch the games their team has lost: in the US and Great Britain it is practically the same: yesterday, very little was said on the CNN, BBC, Skynews about the games of the group C – the “easiest group of tournament”, while few days ago, annoying commentaries about the England-USA derby were going on and on for hours that even relevant news about BP spill could have not gotten through. My dear friends, enjoy the football with all its imperfections, and be sure, England will be generously awarded the penalty shot on Tuesday (Gerrard is a great diver) as the compensation for yesterday's mistake… and then you will be able to cheer and make all the implications that have nothin' to do with sport itself. My final advice: go jogging for one hour… and – believe me – you will be closer to this beautiful sport than you have ever imagined.

Hi guys,
if you're all so sure he meant to disallowed the goal, watch his hand. He whistled before the goal was scored. He didn't know there would be a goal. He obviously whistled for a reason.

Hi David. I realize that football (or soccer, as it's called by people in most of the major predominantly English-speaking countries) is old-fashioned and can only be dragged into the 21st Century kicking and screaming. It's a lot like baseball in that respect. But even baseball is slowly taking steps to modernize. I've been calling for the use of video replay and an extra ref in soccer for many years. This incident has just brought the subject more to the forefront. I disagree with your assertion that there is not time to use video replay, which I favor to review goals. You could have an official in the press box looking at the replay and he could make a decision in less time than it takes to finish the celebrations, the dancing and lining everyone back up to start play again. If a mistake was clearly made, the replay official could quickly overturn the call. If there was no clear evidence, simply play on (the vast majority of time you wouldn't even need to know the play had been reviewed). Also, just to clear up any misconception, fans of the USA team never assume that any game is going to be…

E
A
S
Y

…we're proud of the fact that our team has progressed to the point where we're capable of beating anyone on a given day. But we're also very well aware of the fact that we're also capable of losing to anyone on a given day. The USA team doesn't have the superstar roster that England has, but we do have some very talented athletes and they know how to play as a team, they know how to give a maximum effort, they know how to achieve total fitness and they know how to play with passion and heart. Every American fan will be quite satisfied if the USA beats Algeria by a single goal. I can't imagine that any of us expect us to win by five goals and I know I would be completely shocked if that happened. Maybe you are confusing us with England?

Enjoy the games!

While I resent the comments regarding American arrogance, I will concede it can be seen as fact. I also understand the nature of the game and the “Culture of soccer,” (Reference: Commentary; Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 6/19/10), but can defend the U.S.'s disgust for FIFA's complacency and refusal to admit error. To quote the FIFA website regarding postings, the following are cited, “There is ZERO TOLERANCE for:

- Swearing, Intimidation, Racist,-or any other form of-abusive language

- Postings which inspire hate or contain malicious use of stereotypes

- Commercial postings, spam or messages from dummy accounts

- Impersonations of FIFA staff, celebrities or characters.

- TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! You are solely responsible for your postings and comments

- SHOW RESPECT! Respect other users' rights and opinions “

It is THIS arrogance and complacency to which I, as an American and childhood through adult soccer player, view as the problem to breaking the sport into America. The notion that “past oversights will be rectified by future accomodations” smacks wildly of “two wrongs make a right.”

Though I was deeply upset by the disallowing of the goal (I am not one who takes easily to a tie game or 'draw' and i would prefer to loose 2-1 fairly than to tie 2-2…the American in me I suppose) the worst part about it is not (for me) that it caused a tie game or that it 'cost' the American team a hypothetical 2 points (because they would have had 3 but instead got 1 though the goal differential is actually 3). For me it's that the person in charge of making the call will not step forward and explain what he was making the call over in the first place and if he made a mistake that he won't 'man up' and admit it. Having said that, the whole situation might have been avoided in the first place if the Americans could play a strong first half. This one call did not lose the game for them (or make them lose the win i should say)…they 'lost' that in the first half when the defense allowed two scores in the first half…

Hi, guys, thanks for valuable comments. I will respond item by item:

1. my writing was not an act of complacency, but more of resignation – wink – or better put, realistic way of looking at vicissitudes of football and life in general. The first football game I hazily remember was Yugoslavia against Spain (1-0) in November 1973 and since then I have watched many games and faced many frustrations as the fan. I well remember how I lost an interest in football after “hand of God”, but now, with a healthy time distance, I need to agree that Maradona was a grand player. And this sort of acceptance of imperfections helped me to start enjoying the game for its beauty and to minimize “us vs them” mentality. Unfairness hurts and I will never forget a play-off game (I believe in 1998) in the all-American sport when Utah Jazz were denied the rightful victory: I have never seen so utterly destroyed sportsmen as Stockton had been during the press conference after the game. We all witnessed unfairness at work and what do we do: we bite our lip and move on and – lo and behold – employer either recognizes the mistake or we are moving to the greener pastures. FIFA is similar to our employers: an incredibly conservative organization that pretty much throws its weight around according to its needs: for example, last year, FIFA decided to seed the draw for the 2nd round of European play-offs not according to the performance of teams during the 1st round of qualifications but according to the FIFA ranking. This move discriminated young, rising teams, and there was some uproar but it quickly faded away. (If the performance criterion had been used, Portugal could and would have never played Bosnia and Herzegovina and maybe never qualified.)

2. I did not want to be too technical (as first and foremost I wanted to express my sympathy to American friends), but since I see that you were playing football yourself, you know very well that the whistle of the referee means the game has stopped (just like in any other sport): so pretty much as there was likely a phantom foul, there was definitely – according to the rules – a phantom goal. Because in any other case, the other side may start arguing that it stopped playing since it heard the whistle: and they would be entitled to this argument. Coach Bradley knows all these details of any team sport – to repeat again – very well as knows them Zala (probably the Slovenian lady). If the video replay deliberations would be allowed, or the fifth, sixth, … referee would be present, USA would at best, albeit very likely, get the repetition of the free kick. In this particular case, football is no different from any other team sport.

3. I like very much “past oversights will be rectified by future accomodations” since this does sound like our own workplaces. And FIFA does act as an employer: in my view, on Wednesday, England will be awarded – very subtely – at least one penalty shot (if necessary, two) to end the game 2-0. There is no way, and Slovenians are very naive, if they think the four of Top 10 best-paid players will be let go home – BBC commentator put it nicely: you guys are afraid to go home, come on play 90 minutes and win the game; and no worries, they will: we will see a variation of Spain-Yugoslavia 1982 game. USA will be – as a compensation – allowed to play very physically without restraint, so to slam dunk at least one goal or two; and then, my question will be how will you feel with such kind of victory?

4. On Friday, USA and Slovenian teams left their hearts on the pitch and it would be right and fair they qualify to the next round. (England just doesn't deserve it.) But as I have already said, fairness has nothing to do with it and as FIFA is above everything the corporation it will see this indeed happens. USA may be facing another high-quality ex-Yugoslavian team Serbia in the next round, though, and it will be enjoyable to watch.

5. I agree that we need to show responsibility and I think Coach Bradley should do just that: firstly, explain the laypublic what was in fact stolen from the USA team (not from the USA itself as politics should be kept out of the way). This typically American “jumping-on-the bandwagon” behavior is counterproductive for at least two reasons: 1) it is an enormous negative campaign for the sport that should have become a bit more developed and competitive in 16 years since the World Cup was held in the USA; 2) it defocuses the minds of players and consequently – on Wednesday – they will go to play with anger and thirst for vengenance, leaving maybe more than a broken ankle behind. And on top of it, with all the groups on the Facebook voicing for death of the referee – I guess people need to lighten up a bit. If this campaign is to press FIFA to make future concessions (covered in point 3.) then “two wrongs will make it right” at least in the hearts of fans of one team. But the suspicion of perpetual foul play will remain in all the US folks that prefer American football, basketball, ice-hockey instead…

6. I like sharing various points of view and would not like to feel anyone has been told to abstain from raising her or his voice (who am I to say something like that): my advice to go jogging stems from the fact that sport fans all over the world are often overweight (if not obese): sports activity definitely brings one closer to the beoved sport and idols.

7. I want to end with a pleasant memory: in 1974, when I was six, we had in the neighborhood of apartment buildings Football (actually small version fussball) league, where kids from age of 6 to age of 15 (believe it or not) were organized in teams playing against each other. I was in the team of 6 and 7 year olds, the true cannon fodder for other teams. After we lost yet another game with 40-0 or sth against 14 or 15 yr olds, I decided for the first time in my life to play as the goalie. The next game we played against 10 or 11 year olds, and during the preparation for the corner kick an 11 year old bully was repeatedly pushing me: the referee gave him first a warning and then quickly a red card; later on, I saved a penalty shot, and although we lost 4-0, it was and in some ways still is the sweetest lost game of my life. The referee was probably around 18 or 20 yrs old, his name (probably nickname) was Mak (which means Poppy in the Slovenian language) and he was the referee who bothered to protect a 6-year old child from being pushed around by the aggressive bully. This is what football or soccer (or whatever the name) is all about: it is about being inspired for greater achievements than our, so often, miserable lives.

I am very impressed with the level-headed and cogent responses here. At first I was angry about the disallowed goal but your insights have given me more knowledge on this subject. I hate blogs for all the bashing and narrow-minded know-it-alls but this is refreshing. Side note. Don't you want your team to have arrogance? Don't all teams have arrogance? Isn't some arrogance a necessary component in the highest-level of play? Yes, yes and yes. Comparing what with communism hurts American pride, your perception of Anglo-Americans ruling supreme? Your arrogance reveals your ignorance with this vague statement because last I checked capitalism beat communism 5-0.

No, arrogance can never be positive, neither in sport nor in business. It is for reason that old saying is teaching us: “Arrogance” (sometimes called pride instead) “comes before the fall.” Arrogance means to focus on yourself (thinking how great you are), while not paying attention to your immediate surrounding (pure psychology). And that's how one can lose the game or the market share.

The best example how arrogance can ruin the team was 2nd round play off between Romania (who was at that time coached by Hagi) and Slovenia for World Cup 2002. Slovenia was with the exception of Zahovic a group of 2nd or 3rd league players yet they have won the first game (2-1) and leveled the second game (1-1) and qualified for the World Cup; they actually even played those two games without Zahovic. This is probably one of the biggest upsets in the history of football. While Hagi was a grand player, he could not comprehend that coaching is about keeping your feet firmly on the ground; I had a feeling he didn't learn this lesson even after his team had lost.

Comparison with communism was regarding the media coverage and unfortunately, it stands: North Koreans are censoring the games, CNN, BBC, and media machinery of US and UK are using other means: they just devote the minimum amount of coverage time if their teams have not won (very cruel to their own sportsmen, obviously demanding victory at any cost). I presented it in a bit provocative manner as we are all very proud of our “democratic” media – wink… so some shock is obviously needed – double wink.

Comparing our media to North Korean media is like comparing steak to rotten meat. I, personally, would rather have more coverage of a win than a loss. Who wants to see their own team losing again and again on television but yes, I want to see that sweet Landon Donovan goal over and over and over…I guess I don't understand your explanation of how American pride is hurt. Arrogance may have cost Romania but how many titles does Brazil have? They expect nothing less than to win everytime. That is arrogance and it has paid off. I'm not saying it is a good thing and I'm not talking about total arrogance but confidence without some arrogance isn't gonna win you that 50-50 ball.

@ David……. u obviously have repressed issues about America/Britain. simple a clear goal was disallowed and the offended party has a right to be 'offended' duuuuhhhh! all that analysis sh*t u wrote -t total unneccessary and unrelated to the core of the issue at hand. PS I'm not American