20 Jun 2026 09:30:58
Something that concerns me about World Cup final tournaments is the inexperience levels of some of the officials. Take a match between two teams chock full of players taken from the big leagues of Europe and South America, and put it in the control of a ref from Jamaica or New Zealand or Jordan, and they'll be totally unaware of the dark arts and gamesmanship they'll have to deal with.

I spotted a couple of incidents in the Morocco v Scotland game which the Uzbek ref let go where a more experienced official might have given at least a free kick, maybe even a yellow card. I don't think they affected the result, but they could have done. When/ if we reach the knockout phase I'll always be happier to have a German or Italian ref rather than a Jordanian or Jamaican.

1.) 20 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026 09:56:44
I had a laugh at two female fourth officials trying to figure out how the sub board worked in the Scotland game. Hilarious.

2.) 20 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026 11:50:23
I guess you didn't find it funny in the Brazil game when the men struggled with it, Aus?

3.) 20 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026 13:55:23
To be honest, whilst I agree there have been a couple of questionable decisions, I have preferred the level and method of refereeing far more than any given weekend in the EPL.

It's been a breath of fresh air v the constant stop start crap we get most weekends.

Has anyone else appreciated the new medical breakthrough rendering near-death injuries fully cured in a few seconds; who knew, all it needed, was the referee ignoring you and / or the imminent prospect of the trainer coming on [and a minute of the side-lines].



Even VAR has almost become workable [I hate VAR].

4.) 20 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026 13:00:05
Yeah I did ani. Did you find it funny the women struggling? Or just the men?

5.) 20 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026 14:50:40
Second post, I agree with Ani 100%.
Think there has been less diving, there has also been less staying down if no whistle. If I heard correctly, if a trainer comes on, it's minimum 30 sec on the sideline before the player can come back on.
Think the second round has been a lot dirtier and nigglier than the first round.

USA, Aus and Paraguay, Turk, were very niggly.
I don't get it, also. Not a corner, penalty or anything serious. When has a ref ever changed their mind on a simple free kick? Why challenge it? Also, I didn't like the Mexican manager saying the player dived. Not etiquette.
More to come.

{Ed001's Note - 30 secs was the Prem reg last season, in the WC it is 1 minute mate.}