Did that referee in the USA Vs. Italy World Cup match try to screw the USA or was he just that bad?

Answer 1

Soccer is a game where not necessarily the best Team wins. In addition, the World Cup is a very unique tournament in which tension and "points strategy" are very important factor.
Yes, Italy may have not played the best game, but if you look at the stats (go the FIFA official site) you'll noticed few important facts: shots on goal, fouls, corner kicks...
Plus the big argument about the referee: a lot of USA's fans, blinded by their ignorance on understanding soccer, are complaining about the ref e his calls.
In reality, who really has to complain is Italy. Here are some facts that can be confirmed if you have recorded the game:
- In the 5th min. Totti was given a yellow card while he did not even touched the opponent
- In the 27th min., when USA scored, the ref called a foul of Cannavaro on Reyna which it was a perfect tackle on the ball. From that foul USA scored (own goal Zaccardo)
- De Rossi red card was legitimate: he elbowed McBride and he deserved to be ejected.
- All the first half, both Gilardino and Luca Toni received "special attention" from Mastroeni, Pope and Onyewu.
- Mastroeni red card was legitimate: that foul is automatic red card.
- In the whole game, at least 4 offsides called against Italy were NOT offside (few to remember called to Luca Toni and Iaquinta). FYI, usually calling a player offside, that player has good chances on scoring goals.
- The goal scored by Beasly on the 66th min., had McBride in front of Buffon, and he even made a move with his right leg to disturb the goalkeeper action. In soccer, that is NOT a goal, but a foul for Italy. So, that was one of the few good calls.
- On the other hand, in the min. 36, when Gattuso newly entered scored, Luca Toni was stopped for an inexistent offside: that goal should have been allowed.
- Someone complaining about Pope's red card??? Helloooo... he committed so many fouls the firs half, what would you have expected? The foul he committed on Gilardino (min. 47) was a yellow card foul, but because he was already "booked", automatically the red card was legitimate.

Are the above points enough?
So, for people complaining I say to be happy about the tie, and at the end, who is going further it is a better team but do not complain about things that do not make any sense.
To all the others, just read who are the finalists of the World Cup in the last 40 years (you can start from 1970...) then you will open your eyes on who will be in the final this year too.

Answer 2

Apparently this ref was not allowed to referee the 2002 World Cup for reasons FIFA wouldn't make public. I think the World Cup as a whole has had bad referees. They're giving out cards for every hard fouls, without ever giving players warnings first. I'm all for a ref trying to keep the game under controll, but on a first hard foul, give the player a wrning to settle down first. Important players are going to start getting banned for the 2 yellow card rule (like Ballack in 2002 when he had to miss the final) and it ruins the World Cup when good players get cards because the ref isn't wise enough to give them a warning first.

Answer 3

I think he was going a bit too strong, yet I do applaud him for calling red cards in World Cup play. It seems that whenever it is a big event, whether it be World Cup, or other sports, referees tend to be less strict. It's good to see this isn't happening here, at least not yesterday!

Answer 4

The ref was suspended for corruption and officiating "irregularities" in '02. He was "irregular" in his calling of the game. He missed a # of advantage calls as well. Bottom line.........all you US haters out there are wrong. I've played the beautiful game for years and have been a referee for some time as well. It was a horribly refereed match with the US getting the short end of the stick.

Answer 5

no he was trying to screw both sides usa should have a goal and italy should have a penalty kick the score proably 2-2 let ref could not make a call.

Answer 6

I think he was just more of a strict referee. I read that each year, there are more and more yellow/red cards being given out and that they ask referees to be stricter. I think that particular referee is just adhering more to those 'rules'.

Answer 7

He is defintely not quality to be an international referee. He made at least two mistakes during the game.

Answer 8

Like anybody other person he was sick of their sh*t so he sent two off. But the US is stupid, somebody forgot to tell them they should play smart when they have a man advantage not foul constantly and expect to stay on the pitch.

Answer 9

yes, the ref is an idiot. that is the reason he was suspended from the last world cup. people who say he is a good ref are really amusing...

Answer 10

He was just bad. The really egregious call was the red on Mastroeni, which was a make-up call.