[Kazan]

USA v Italy - worst referee in the history of soccer, contrary to the bull**** claims of the british commentators who have their heads up their asses those were NOT even bookable - i have video of the entire game and i've watch those over and over

A) Both players got the ball first
B) Both players game from the side
C) In no previous match in the world cup, or no previous match i've ever seen in history, would those have been bookable offenses, let alone a straight red card
D) This referee missed the 2002 World Cup because his own country suspended him due to unspecified irregularities

PS: it clearly shows in the replay that Pablo Mastroeni's cleats were DOWN

[Ghostavo]

You think that's bad?

I've seen red cards simply because a player did a friendly tap on another players back.

Complaining doesn't lead to anything.

[Kazan]

Yes Ghostavo, but did you see those in the world cup

[aldo_14]

a)

watch the replay again.  I'll be happy to pop up one once it's up on youtube.  You will clearly see, in particular, Mastroeni clattering Pirlo on the ankle after the ball has moved away.  It's blatantly obvious in fact.

Oh, and they're called studs, not cleats.

[Night Hammer]

a)

watch the replay again.  I'll be happy to pop up one once it's up on youtube.  You will clearly see, in particular, Mastroeni clattering Pirlo on the ankle after the ball has moved away.  It's blatantly obvious in fact.

Oh, and they're called studs, not cleats.

at regular speed you cant really tell, but in slow-mo its very obvious they were up


not like it really matters anyway 1-1 remember

[aldo_14]

The more important thing is, IMO, him taking away Pirlos ankle with a lunge in.  If you dive in at that speed, regardless of how your foot is set up, and hit the ankle like that, it's dangerous.

[Shade]

Mastroeni's red card was clear as day. He was nowhere near the ball, in a sliding tacke, with studs first, directly on the ancle. He could have broken it easy had there been just a bit of bad luck involved, what with the speed he was going it. It was stupid and unnecessary, and he got what he deserved. Just like that Italian karate-kid wannabe who got the first one. Missed the 2nd US red so no clue if that was warranted or not.

[aldo_14]

Mastroenis red card was clear as day. He was nowhere near the ball, in a sliding tacke, with studs first, directly on the ancle. It was stupid and unnecessary, and he got what he deserved. Just like that Italian karate-kid wannabe who got the first one. Missed the 2nd US red so no clue if that was warranted or not.

2nd red was Pope sliding from the LHS (from behind) of Gilardino, and catching his inner leg.  It was a yellow (2nd) rather than red.

[karajorma]

And if anyone thinks that Pope got the ball before he got the Italians legs in that second challenge they must need their eyes checked. I doubt he even made contact.

I'll wait for the Youtube uploads but it's pretty easy to spot even at full speed, let alone in slow-mo

[Shade]

Taking the leg from behind is always at least a yellow, so guess that's warranted too then. Have to keep in mind that FIFA's line on such matters was tightened leading up to the tournament exactly in order to combat that kind of behaviour. Which was public knowledge, so they should know better than to tackle like that.

[Black Wolf]

USA v Italy - worst referee in the history of soccer, contrary to the bull**** claims of the british commentators who have their heads up their asses those were NOT even bookable - i have video of the entire game and i've watch those over and over

A) Both players got the ball first
B) Both players game from the side
C) In no previous match in the world cup, or no previous match i've ever seen in history, would those have been bookable offenses, let alone a straight red card
D) This referee missed the 2002 World Cup because his own country suspended him due to unspecified irregularities

PS: it clearly shows in the replay that Pablo Mastroeni's cleats were DOWN

Told you.

[aldo_14]

Told you.

you'll forgive me for not instantly seeking betting advice on the basis of that prediction,  I hope.

[Shade]

Anyway, the US should be happy. Draw vs Italy is a good result for any country, they put up a good fight and were very dangerous at time, and they can still advance with a victory over Ghana - Though that might be difficult as the africans also seem to have picked up their game big time.

Most importantly, they washed off the Czech defeat. Showed they can be contenders.

[karajorma]

Taking the leg from behind is always at least a yellow, so guess that's warranted too then. Have to keep in mind that FIFA's line on such matters was tightened leading up to the tournament exactly in order to combat that kind of behaviour. Which was public knowledge, so they should know better than to tackle like that.

That particular rule isn't even new. It's been in for at least 2 or 3 World Cups. At least with the first red the player can claim that the whole lunging tackle thing is new.

No idea what defence De Rossi is going to make though.   "There was a bee on his face about to sting him and I thought he might be allergic!"

[Kazan]

problem is - they didn't come from THE SIDE


i just watched the replay AGAIN cleats were DOWN, ball was contacted


FURTHERMORE even if his cleats were up it's a yellow card, not a straight red on pablo


Studs were DOWN as he slid in and he contacted ball FIRST, got boot not ankle, was from the side


Eddie Pope replay - from the side, cleats down, ball first, contact was SHIN GUARD TO SHIN GUARD

[aldo_14]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/5044220.stm

I'm sorry for myself, my team and the fans," said the 22-year-old.

"I didn't intend to harm him. I talked with him and now I'm hoping the punishment isn't too harsh. I feel terrible about it. I explained what happened with McBride and he was very kind."

It's strange the neutral BBC isn't criticising the referee, isn't it?  Or were they bribed too?

NB: it doesn't matter where the studs are, it's the danger of the tackle. I'll pull up the fifa rules to show it;
http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/regulation/0,1584,3,00.html

   A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or any other person
4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
5. denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receives a second caution in the same match.

hmm, does that mention studs atall?  No?  Shockeroony!

[Kazan]

neither tackle qualified for anything on that list

[Shade]

Mastroeni's qualified for both 1 and 2, actually. Anyway, might be a good idea to suspend this argument 'till the replays are posted on a site somewhere, because we're clearly not going to ever agree without being able to capture frames showing what exactly happened.

[aldo_14]

Yep.

*mentions ankle snap again*

FIFA 2006 directives explicitly require punishment for lunging tackles.  I'll have to try and find the guidelines themselves.

[Kazan]

Mastroeni's qualified for both 1 and 2, actually. Anyway, might be a good idea to suspend this argument 'till the replays are posted on a site somewhere, because we're clearly not going to ever agree without being able to capture frames showing what exactly happened.

bull**** - i've watched the replay over and over (nice thing about having a DVR)

Pablo comes in from the side, cleats down, contacts ball first, caught some boot (not ankle)

not a red card offense - was not "violent conduct" or "serious foul play"

Yellow card maybe (Even that would be excessive harshness on a first offense), but red card - no way

No previous person making that "offense" even with their cleats up, unlike pablo, and catching ankle, unlike pablo, was issued a red card for that in this world cup - they were at most issued a yellow card