Foo - is it just me, or are the World Cup refs terrible?

Not just the US/Slovenia game, but some of the other games as well. Just some of the most baffling, inconsistent, terrible officiating. Terrible Terrible Terrible!

Sounds like they were today at least

I have not noticed a consistent lack of quality throughout the games. they are human, there's no replay, and there's a lot going on - there's going to be some misses I think.

that said, the ref in the US-Slovenia game was appalling. to miss a foul in the middle of the fiield, to misjudge the severity of a foul... these things are forgivable. to rob a team of a match-winning goal for no apparent reason is NOT forgivable. furthermore, his calls were consistently off to the point where they seemed almost random.

the good news is that he will probably never call a match of this magnitude again. it's just too important a competition. also, what an inspiring come from behind game from the US squad. :) I feel so lucky to have seen that!

no worse than the Germany match today. Klose did not deserve to be red carded. Then again how do you disalow the US's last goal?

I've noticed a trend of in-game inconsistency; a tackle in the first half gets a yellow, but in the second half a similar play is a no-call. Just baffling....

depends on the ref.

The role of the referee (in all sports) is exceedingly difficult - the athletes are in such great condition and play the game at a pace the referees simply can't match. I don't know if the answer is more referees in a match, more training, use of instant replay, or a combination of all the above. Or maybe just leave it alone and accept it.

That said, robbing the US of a match winning goal in that particular instance was just horrific.

The role of the referee (in all sports) is exceedingly difficult - the athletes are in such great condition and play the game at a pace the referees simply can't match. I don't know if the answer is more referees in a match, more training, use of instant replay, or a combination of all the above. Or maybe just leave it alone and accept it.

That said, robbing the US of a match winning goal in that particular instance was just horrific.

Officiating in Laker v. Celtic was terrible, but the Celtics left themselves open to fouls often. Unfortunately, drawing fouls is strategic gameplay, e.g Gasol. Rebounds and fouls won the Laker championship.

The US v. Slovenia match was very disappointing. The players gave it all on the field and the referees were not at the same caliber. I do not think I am being biased when I say the U.S. was stripped of a proper goal. However, like the quote above by Baftap, I do not know the answer to it. They are in a similar position of stress as the players and the stress can effect the outcome of their officiating.

Instant replay is constantly spoken of. Especially when events like the US v. Slovenia/Dallas Braden perfect game are happening, however if they get implemented it must not take the officiating away from the Ref's, but be used sparingly as a last ditch effort.

For example, 2 challenges per team throughout the entire World Cup appearance; however I am still a skeptic.

I had no real loyalties in the US/Slovenia match, but decided to start out supporting Slovenia. By the end, the US team had won me over - I couldn't believe it when that goal was disallowed :(

is it just me, or are the World Cup refs terrible?


I have never tasted one.

todays usa/slovenia and germany/serbia games were bad but before they seemed good. made up for it today though.

Being a ref is very difficult, there is a lot going on...you guys should try it, I do! it is a lot of fun and a good way to get exercise....

Being a ref is very difficult, there is a lot going on...you guys should try it, I do! it is a lot of fun and a good way to get exercise....
I have been a ref. I really enjoyed it. These refs today sucked ass.

Not to digress, but the reason I was upset about the result of today's match was that after the 1st half my reading was that overall, the US side just didn't have the investment in the result that their opponents had. To every other side in the World Cup, the event is life and breath itself. To the US, its a big international tournament - no more. Yet, they proved me wrong in the 2nd half and even though it didn't mean much to most US "fans" the effort was outstanding. Thats why disalllowing that goal was all the more frustrating. Its one of the few instances where I can actually say the US deserved a critical win in international play.

As an aside (and somewhat understanding the position of the ref) my son was a soccer referee certified for matches thru U21. I thought it was great (and great exercise, and easy money) but after a while he hated it. Had to put up with too many a-holes (parents mostly) on the sidelines who had no real understanding of the game, but were annoyingly vocal and detracted from the actual competition. I know thats not nearly the level of World Cup play, but at every level the ref has a tough job.