<p>“It was wonderful to see the crowd boo that “Erica-on-stretcher” stunt. I think the crowd support helped them. So sad that our men never get such fan support.”</p>
<p>For all we know the men did get such support. But unfortunately for the men’s WC the cheering was nearly always drowned out by those infernal vuvuzela.</p>
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<p>Perhaps the commentator did a John McEnroe and uttered what most people who know soccer have witnessed for a long time. The refs who have officiated the games so far do NOT have the experience and athleticism required at this level. In other words, they are simply not good enough. The decisions of today’s ref at crucial moments of the game simply underscore what is wrong with the quality of the refs. This was a quarter final and if this person is among the best seven female refs in the world, the sport is in quite a pickle. </p>
<p>The issues regarding the men’s game are of a different nature. There are plenty of excellent refs who officiate high level games all year round. When it comes to the WC, the issues of politics and corruption are showing their ugly heads, and the result is that a few clueless or corrupt refs falls through the cracks. </p>
<p>Lastly, let’s not confuse a criticism of female refs as a sign of misplaced misogyny. We watch those games because women soccer can be (and is) a beautiful game. For instance, the manner in which the US women kicked the penalty kicks would make Bradley envious. </p>
<p>The point is that the players deserve … better than having those incompetent and biased primadonas calling important games.</p>
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I do not know the rules for the female refs … for the men I do know the rules in general. They do NOT just take the best refs worldwide; they take at least some refs from all the regions in the world … this has the affect that some of the refs from regions with lower level professional leagues are not used to the speed and level of play at the top world cup level … and some of them are not ready for to ref at the very top level and for soccer where a typical game only has a few big calls so getting each one right is huge. </p>
<p>For example, today …
wrong = 1) Red card (should have been yellow) … 2) Brazil retakes PK … 3) Off-side on Brazil’s second goal … 4) Missed intentional hand ball on USA (that should have been a red card)
right = 1) Retake of USA Pk at end … 2)-5) 4 or so non calls in the box (a couple both ways)
That’s only about 50% on big calls … need to be way better than that. </p>
<p>Back to the women … minimally I’d guess they require refs from each geographic region … and I would not surprised at all if they ensure some % are women. Given the issues at both the men’s and women’s World Cup being a top ref is a very difficult and finding enough top refs is a challenge.</p>
<p>Nice scoring highlights here:</p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - USA Fights Back, Downs Brazil On PKs](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>Some of the problem might just be me. I admit to not watching soccer every weekend like I watch baseball during baseball season and basketball during basketball season, etc. I watch my son play and big games like during the World Cup and other big tourneys. Ds2 is a soccer ref, so I feel like I have a better-than-average understanding of the rules, which is why, I suppose, the relatively few times I tune in I’m shocked by the level of officiating. Did the U.S. player leave the line a half-second early on the PK? Yes, but what ref, in such a big game, makes that call when it was so inconsequential? In other sports, at the highest level, they “let them play” and don’t call the game so tight on the little stuff. Technical proficiency in the rules of the game is only part of ref’ing; not overinsinuating youself is another.</p>
<p>I feel like I am still holding my breath from this game!</p>
<p>One of the best displays of grit and determination I have ever seen from the US women.</p>
<p>The US players should be asking themselves why they looked like a stronger team with 10 players than with 11. Obviously, that is not how it is supposed to work.</p>
<p>I do not think the US player should’ve got a red card. A PK and a yellow I could live with, but I am not even sure it was a foul. They were both pushing each other, and both lunged for the ball.</p>
<p>On the retaken Brazilian PK… well, that is never called. The player was in the box by a half step (if her lead foot was even on the ground) and played no part in the play. If you call that all the time, you will NEVER get the PK taken.</p>
<p>During the PK shootout, the Brazilian goalie was 3 feet (plus) off her line each time the US player shot. I wonder if the ref would’ve given us more rekicks if we missed any others.</p>
<p>Regarding the level of officiating… there are plenty of European male refs that could handle these games. I understand why FIFA wants females to do the officiating, but I believe the players would want the best refs available, regardless of gender. There are officials that make their living in the top leagues in England, Germany, Italy, and Spain. They are used to this level of competition every week.</p>
<p>Being a referee in the Australian domestic league does not mean you are ready for the World Cup. Just like in the men’s tournament, some of the referees proved that they were not capable of officiating at the high level required.</p>
<p>I don’t know a darn thing about soccer and have never watched a game on tv or in person (unless 5-year-olds running amok on a field counts), but I happened upon this game while channel surfing. It was at 70-something minutes when I started watching and I coudn’t turn it off. What a great comeback and exciting end!</p>
<p>Watching the rerun…</p>
<p>Hope Solo, yum. ;)</p>
<p>Hope was amazing today!!!</p>
<p>Nice. Nice. :)</p>
<p>Even better the second time around!</p>
<p>From ESPN.com:</p>
<p>“Shortly following the post-match news conferences, soccer’s often bumbling governing body, FIFA, said it was because Solo went forward before the ball was struck. Replays didn’t really support the argument. And, of course, Marta took advantage of the second opportunity.”</p>
<p>I call BS on that. The Brazilian goalie was consistently much farther out during the shootout and never was called on it.</p>
<p>Not sure why FIFA cannot admit that they blew the call, as the replay clearly shows. The Brazilian goalie only got called for coming off the line once even though she, as YouDontSay mentioned above, did it on every PK by the US.</p>
<p>^^^ I’m assuming they gave advantage to us and would have called it if our shots had been blocked.</p>
<p>I think the refs got mad because the US did not play with Australia.</p>
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<p>FIFA might be a bumbling governing body, but the call by the ref on the first PK was not about Solo moving. The video provided by FIFA points to the offense. In addition, the ref seemed to have checked in the direction of the linewoman who might have signaled the encroachment violation by a US player. The real question remains if this encroachment should have called. </p>
<p>Haha. ESPN is unfortunately not the best source for expert commentaries. They tend to go to older players, who despite their past glory might have an approximate knowlegde of the rules. For instance, one good thing about the coverage of soccer in Mexico is that they used to have one of the great refs analzying all the questionable calls every Sunday. It showed not only the errors by the refs but most importantly how often the live comments were.</p>
<p>It was such a blessing to have BBC announcers at the last WC, because hearing the usual talking heads of the US can be painful. This said, the commentator who did the U-17 WC final between Mexico and Uruguay was excellent yesterday.</p>
<p>FIFA has always struck me with their lack of transparency on many levels, be it the selection of World Cup sites or post-match discussion of referree calls.</p>
<p>They never seem to care what the public thinks about anything.</p>
<p>Xiggi is right. The video does show why the call was made. I also agree as far as if the call really should have been made. Hope stopped the ball. The US player did not interfere with the play in anyway. Oh well, it sure makes the win that much sweeter <3</p>