Apparently a lot of people are upset about the officiating in the match between Italy and USA.
Apparently a lot of people are upset about the officiating in the match between Italy and USA. They think the Uruguayan referee has denied a USA victory. I am not convinced. In fact I don't even agree to the slightest.…
Article comments
26 - Edgar
I think the referee did not do anything doubtful. the game had very high rhythm and everyone in that case could have some mistakes. The second goal of Americans was not goal, as the American player closed Buffon's sight, besides he was off side. everything was normal. I am just upset for Italy's game, because the Italian team was better and it was obvious, i am sorry that Italy did not win.
27 - Q Bit
Alan:
I guess we differ. Since you have already watched the replay few times and still not convinced, I don't know what else to say. Perhaps a different angle of the play could have helped.
Edgar:
Pope was clearly unfortunate.
28 - knowledgeable football fan
Follow the Ghana game, I think we can all accept the fact there definitely was some kind of conspiracy to facilitate an early US departure from the World Cup:
1. Placing the US in the toughest Group in the tournament. What ever happened to seeding by world ranking?
2. Assigning the refree who was kicked out of the 2002 World Cup for fixing games to the game in which the US plays the Mafia.
3. The penalty kick awarded for Ghana in stoppage time in the first half on a header ball that the 5'6" Ghanan had no chance of winning against the 6'4" US defender.
4. On top of all this the second place team from our Group gets to play the Number 1 ranked team in the world BRAZIL. What would have happened if the Czechs would have advanced - you would have had the #1 & #2 ranked teams in the world playing in the second round!
29 - Christopher Rose
There are many rumours of corruption in football at the moment but I think it's going a bit far to talk of conspiracies.
The groups were chosen at random in a public event on live television so they weren't fixed.
Neither of the Ghanaian goals should have stood and the USA should have gone through to the next round to meet Brazil.
The level of refereeing mistakes at the tournament has been unacceptably high so far.
As to the rankings, they are worked out on some complicated formula that is based on the quality and quantity of matches played. The Czechs probably aren't the only team that deserves a different ranking.
I actually don't like seeding anyway. It's only done for commercial reasons and removes some of the romance and unpredictability of a truly open competition.
30 - Q Bit
KFF:
None of your comments has any merit whatsoever:
1. Conspiracy theory is rubbish.
2. Tell me the source.
I have checked his record since 2002, and the Uruguayan referee has been assigned to all major FIFA tournaments including world cup qualfiers and Confederations cup. FIFA chooses the best referees for the world cup - not that they never screw up - they always do , but they are human making mistakes -nothing more.
3. The penalty was not justified -- it was indeed a mistake. US could have drawn the game but it wouldn't have helped.
4. That comment doesn't make any sense. The seeds are expected to win their group, so that in pre quarter finals they don't meet each other. It's not FIFA's problem if any of them comes second or fails to qualify from the group stage.
Chris: I don't see what's your problem with the second Ghana goal unless you are extremely prejudiced. In any case US didn't play like they were one of the top two teams in the group -- it's simple why they didn't advance-- they weren't good enough.
The ranking system is a bit complicated and has a strong regional bias - that's the reason why US is 5, Japan is 18 and so on - rarely these teams play top teams - they get points playing all the minnows in their region.
Czechs are indeed good, it's not easy to grab #2 spot from Europe - and that's why they were also a BIG disappointment. But that happens in every world cup.
31 - Alan
Q....
Are you suggesting that a different angle than the one you watch is the answer?
32 - vinnie
I am sorry if I offend anyone, but that referee should be sent to Iraq for public work for 1 month to see if any terrorist makes a mistake...