Official FIFA South Africa World Cup Thread

[jay santos]

The 3rd non-goal is the reason why soccer will never be popular with the majority of Americans. A refereee can eliminate a goal, that completely changes a game, without making any specific call.

Pure bullshit.

The ref took a win and 2 points from the US and gave a point to the Slovenians, withotut any explanation.

Pure bullshit...

What exactly happened on the play?

[Hot Lunch]

What exactly happened on the play?

It was a free kick, Donavon placed it perfectly in the box and Edu put it in. The official called offsides to negate the goal. I don't think there was an offsides at all and that was very questionable. There were also two U.S. players being held on the kick. One was drug down by a defender.

[DrumNFeather]

It was a free kick, Donavon placed it perfectly in the box and Edu put it in. The official called offsides to negate the goal. I don't think there was an offsides at all and that was very questionable. There were also two U.S. players being held on the kick. One was drug down by a defender.

It sounded on the broadcast like he actually called a foul. That they initially thought offsides, but that he called a foul on the U.S. don't know if that is actually the case, but it seems like it was what was called.

[Hot Lunch]

It sounded on the broadcast like he actually called a foul. That they initially thought offsides, but that he called a foul on the U.S. don't know if that is actually the case, but it seems like it was what was called.

So the call was a foul on the U.S? If that is the case then I will be even more upset than I already am and just might start a riot or a revolution. Whichever makes more noise.

[falafel]

It sounded on the broadcast like he actually called a foul. That they initially thought offsides, but that he called a foul on the U.S. don't know if that is actually the case, but it seems like it was what was called.

So the call was a foul on the U.S? If that is the case then I will be even more upset than I already am and just might start a riot or a revolution. Whichever makes more noise.

IIRC there was no explanation for the call whatsoever. There was no flag indicating offside, so unless the ref made that call without the help of his side officials, then he must have called a foul on the U.S., which of course is ridiculous. At least 2 U.S. players were fouled themselves, but regardless they should have been given the advantage and the goal should stand.

After that play I am suddenly a proponent of instant replay in soccer. I hope that ref is removed from further officiating duties at the world cup. Horrible call.

[The_Tick]

I've never seen such a poorly officiated match.

Apparently you didn't watch the Laker's game last night.

[Hot Lunch]

IIRC there was no explanation for the call whatsoever. There was no flag indicating offside, so unless the ref made that call without the help of his side officials, then he must have called a foul on the U.S., which of course is ridiculous. At least 2 U.S. players were fouled themselves, but regardless they should have been given the advantage and the goal should stand.

After that play I am suddenly a proponent of instant replay in soccer. I hope that ref is removed from further officiating duties at the world cup. Horrible call.

I just read that they called a foul on Edu which is complete Booshit. Very disappointing. I am going to start a riot in Provo in a few minutes. Anyone want to join me?

[Surfah]

So the call was a foul on the U.S? If that is the case then I will be even more upset than I already am and just might start a riot or a revolution. Whichever makes more noise.

I am pretty sure it was a foul on Bradley. I mean phantom foul.

[falafel]

I am pretty sure it was a foul on Bradley. I mean phantom foul.

Damn Bradley. He kept forcing his body between that defender's circled arms. Leave that defender alone already!

Btw, that was a freakin' awesome goal by Bradley.

[Art Vandelay]

I am pretty sure it was a foul on Bradley. I mean phantom foul.

He was obviously holding the Slovenian defenders arms with his chest. It's an easy call...

[jay santos]

IIRC there was no explanation for the call whatsoever. There was no flag indicating offside, so unless the ref made that call without the help of his side officials, then he must have called a foul on the U.S., which of course is ridiculous. At least 2 U.S. players were fouled themselves, but regardless they should have been given the advantage and the goal should stand.

After that play I am suddenly a proponent of instant replay in soccer. I hope that ref is removed from further officiating duties at the world cup. Horrible call.

It's impossible for one ref trying on a corner kick trying to watch 16 guys push, grab, punch each other for position and try to make sense of it. Instant replay, additional ref's on the field. I'm not sure of the perfect solution, but it needs something.

[falafel]

It's impossible for one ref trying on a corner kick trying to watch 16 guys push, grab, punch each other for position and try to make sense of it. Instant replay, additional ref's on the field. I'm not sure of the perfect solution, but it needs something.

Definitely needs something. For that call though you would have need 2 or 3 extra refs.

[statman]

IIRC there was no explanation for the call whatsoever. There was no flag indicating offside, so unless the ref made that call without the help of his side officials, then he must have called a foul on the U.S., which of course is ridiculous. At least 2 U.S. players were fouled themselves, but regardless they should have been given the advantage and the goal should stand.

After that play I am suddenly a proponent of instant replay in soccer. I hope that ref is removed from further officiating duties at the world cup. Horrible call.

German TV commentors said there never was any explanation of the call. The ref immediately waved off the goal without a reason why.

There was no US offsides.

There was no obvious US foul (although there were two clear Slovenian fouls).

There was no clear call.

It brings a Russian-figure-skating-judge feel to the World Cup...

[falafel]

German TV commentors said there never was any explanation of the call. The ref immediately waved off the goal without a reason why.

There was no US offsides.

There was no obvious US foul (although there were two clear Slovenian fouls).

There was no clear call.

It brings a Russian-figure-skating-judge feel to the World Cup...

Totally agree. If we were England we'd be rioting in the streets. This is horrible.

[statman]

It's impossible for one ref trying on a corner kick trying to watch 16 guys push, grab, punch each other for position and try to make sense of it. Instant replay, additional ref's on the field. I'm not sure of the perfect solution, but it needs something.

How about a 'no call'? That would've been perfect. Especially since there's really no evidence that the team he penalized did anything wrong.

German sports media are really pissed off about the refs right now. They're saying that Klose's elimination ensured the German loss, and although they say both yellows were individually borderline as yellows (they don't really argue that either of the calls were wrong individually), they're arguing that his overall play didn't deserve a double-yellow elimination. But they think Schwansteiger should have been kicked-out and wasn't. And they think the US really got screwed.