30 KORUSA Meier
HIGHLIGHTS
If Japan's first two games were both high pressure and quite challenging to officiate, then Korea's two opening fixtures were most difficult as occasions to be the referee for, the actual handling pretty acadmeic. Certainly this game was no problem for the Champions League Final referee a weeks earlier Urs Meier, who had a good afternoon.
I was really impressed by Meier's manner - serious and a natural, reasonable, leader on the pitch. The players followed and trusted him. He was lenient with potential SPA offences earlier in the match. Actually the opening caution of the game, at 30', was a clear case of SFP - another crucial mistake assigned that is more for the de jure only category.
Certainly the most interesting decision for the refereeing is the penalty awarded to Korea in the first half. Camera from behind-the-goal does give the impression the attacker is indeed fouled in a somewhat combined effort from the two United States defender, including no.12 who was cautioned (it seems his teammate's pull is more effective, but the caution to him is not theoretically wrong). In any case, a supportable decision.
Not many situations for the ARs in this match but those that they did have to decide on were mostly tough - it's actually impossible to know if Egon Bereuter's flag at 45' was right, but well-positioned we should support him. Ali Tomusange was incorrect to flag in tight situations at 35' and 62'.
If Japan's first two games were both high pressure and quite challenging to officiate, then Korea's two opening fixtures were most difficult as occasions to be the referee for, the actual handling pretty acadmeic. Certainly this game was no problem for the Champions League Final referee a weeks earlier Urs Meier, who had a good afternoon.
I was really impressed by Meier's manner - serious and a natural, reasonable, leader on the pitch. The players followed and trusted him. He was lenient with potential SPA offences earlier in the match. Actually the opening caution of the game, at 30', was a clear case of SFP - another crucial mistake assigned that is more for the de jure only category.
Certainly the most interesting decision for the refereeing is the penalty awarded to Korea in the first half. Camera from behind-the-goal does give the impression the attacker is indeed fouled in a somewhat combined effort from the two United States defender, including no.12 who was cautioned (it seems his teammate's pull is more effective, but the caution to him is not theoretically wrong). In any case, a supportable decision.
Not many situations for the ARs in this match but those that they did have to decide on were mostly tough - it's actually impossible to know if Egon Bereuter's flag at 45' was right, but well-positioned we should support him. Ali Tomusange was incorrect to flag in tight situations at 35' and 62'.
| Urs Meier - 7,9(4) Egon Bereuter - 8,4 Ali Tomusange - 8,1 Gamal Al-Ghandour (SUI, AUT, UGA) | Korea Republic 1-1 United States Group Stage |
 Hong Myung-bo (80.) - SPA (Blocking) | Hejduk (30.) - Tackle Agoos (39.) - SPA (Holding) |
While in front of an eager crowd and quite contested, the match itself seemed not overly challenging. I agree with or can support all three penalty area decisions (No pk in 9' & 38', penalty in 39'). He could have done a bit more against borderline fouls (1', 3') and the Koreans demanding cards (3', 27'), but that's more of a detail. I agree with no card in 32' and the intervention after the penalty was very good (41'). Other smaller mistakes: Wrong call in 57' and missed foul and booking in 64'.
ReplyDeleteTwo bigger mistakes though: 30' is clear SFP for me, even with a certain tackle leniency. And the free kick that led to the 1-1 should not have been given: ball was played (77').
Where does that leave us? Good, but one critical mistake (not counting the SFP), just like Merk in an earlier game. Not perfect, but he surely still showed FIFA that he was someone for the critical matches to come.