22 ESPPAR Al-Ghandour
HIGHLIGHTS
Gamal Al-Ghandour handled this Hispanic duel well, but two crucial mistakes sour an otherwise satisfying impression.
Referee from Egypt's in the background but intervening-when-necessary approach worked well in this not too challenging game. His early card for a heavy tackle at 9' was good. He perhaps could have been a bit stricter in some situations though. Conversations with players and self-presentation were really satisfying.
Unfortunately there were two wrongly solved Key Match Incidents - a headbutt missed by the officials at 56', and the correct penalty given to Spain (holding) should have resulted in the Paraguay player being sent off, as he denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity at 81'. In the first situation Al-Ghandour was not helped by his very central positioning, though his AR Brighton Mudzamiri ought to have caught what went on (Al-Ghandour went over and spoke to him but evidently he had no information to offer). Medially the latter situation would have been largely superfluous.
ARs were always correct when they raised the flag.
Gamal Al-Ghandour handled this Hispanic duel well, but two crucial mistakes sour an otherwise satisfying impression.
Referee from Egypt's in the background but intervening-when-necessary approach worked well in this not too challenging game. His early card for a heavy tackle at 9' was good. He perhaps could have been a bit stricter in some situations though. Conversations with players and self-presentation were really satisfying.
Unfortunately there were two wrongly solved Key Match Incidents - a headbutt missed by the officials at 56', and the correct penalty given to Spain (holding) should have resulted in the Paraguay player being sent off, as he denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity at 81'. In the first situation Al-Ghandour was not helped by his very central positioning, though his AR Brighton Mudzamiri ought to have caught what went on (Al-Ghandour went over and spoke to him but evidently he had no information to offer). Medially the latter situation would have been largely superfluous.
ARs were always correct when they raised the flag.
| Gamal Al-Ghandour - 7,3 Wagih Farag - 8,4 Brighton Mudzamiri - 7,9(4) Mohamed Guezzaz (EGY, EGY, ZIM) | Spain 3-1 Paraguay Group Stage |
 Baraja (9.) - Tackle | Arce (44.) - Delaying the Restart Gavilán (60.) - SPA (Holding) Santa Cruz (80.) - Unsporting Behaviour |
I think he is a rather likeable referee, but not necessarily a great one. This match was telling of his style: Lots of soft skills and leniency. That extends to reckless challenges (38', 45'+2, 46', 66') and dissent (78', 82'). I'd like to point out three scenes that proove for me that such an approach is lacking: PAR #14 commits two fouls in 12' and 25'. Both are not SPA but stop a Spanish player who has made metres and/or got past opponents. It's ok to let the first one go, but the second such attempt should be a booking in my eyes - call it PI or prevention. It is not surprising the same player commits at least one further foul, this time a SPA and is booked. If you check the final scene in the highlights, the Spanish left-back Juanfran jokingly complains about the high number of fouls on him. That is why PI prevention is important. If the foul in 77' is whistled (it should and was), it is both reckless and SPA for me.
ReplyDeleteBut I feel like Al-Ghandour knows this, but his generally friendly way of managing players (e.g. 88') makes sure that such a style works actually. He can be tougher, e.g. when dismissing the protests after the penalty call in a rather bored way or with a very harsh DtR booking in 44' (five seconds between the allowance and the stop!).
The VC in 56' was hard to see, but is still a crucial mistake for him and AR2 - though a replay would be neccessary to judge it. Both the penalty call and the no handball call on the second ESP goal were good. I would even call the penalty brave, considering how tight the match was and Raúl got the shot off. Still, missed RC for DOGSO, but apparently these weren't a thing in 2002.