originally posted by erik wiberg:
originally posted by MLipton:
Regardless of how one feels about Spain's play today, the officiating was, yet again, atrocious. How long can FIFA resist the calls for some sort of additional official or review process when calls in such important games are this godawful?
Mark Lipton
Actually, I'm not sure the ref got any of the big calls wrong in this one, although some are certainly open to debate.
On the Paraguay goal waved off for offside, I think Roberto Martinez correctly pointed out the Cardozo, who was clearly offside, made an attempt at the cross and thus could be judged to have interfered with the play. It's a judgment call.
On the PK given against Pique (not a good name for a defender I guess!), I thought the PK and yellow card calls were both correct. I suppose Iker left the line a fraction early but most keepers do that if they guess a side and it is rarely called.
On the PK given against Alcaraz, again I thought the PK and yellow cards were both correct. Harkes was calling for a red card but I thought Villa cut in front of Alcaraz (as he has the right to do) to draw the contact, rather than Alcaraz initiating the contact, so I though a yellow was more appropriate. 2 or 3 Spain players were clearly in early so the decision to wave off the PK was technically correct, although most refs don't have the guts to make it. On the 2nd attempt, both Fabregas and Bousquets were again in early, which allowed Fabregas to get to the rebound first. Harkes was calling for another PK as Villar did foul Fabregas but I felt justice was served as Fabregas was in early.
