Don't blame the ref

I totally agree with you that referees should be respected just as players, coaches, fans and most importantly the game of football should be respected, but there is no smoke without fire. I have played and watched world football (soccer as it is called in North America) all my life and I must say, if you go take a survey of top players around the world, they would tell you referee�s can't be relied on.

I have read were Thierry Henry (a world class player) and Gullit (a former world class player and top class coach) complain about referee�s being spoilers of the game. The list goes on and on, but I would save the readers the embarrassment referee�s bring to the game.

What is the difference between the penalty that was awarded to Chile and the hacking down of the Nigerian captain in the Chilean box that should have resulted in a penalty?

The last final, 2 penalties that was awarded to Argentina against Nigeria. In the previous U20 finals; if it was a non-African team I don't think those penalties would have been awarded.

If you look at the 94 World Cup, the penalty awarded against Nigeria in the game with Italy, how can that be a penalty?

I'm beginning to think FIFA is composed of elderly folks that probably don't even know the difference between windows 98 and windows XP. My point here is it's time we employ technology to help the game of soccer. We have high tech pitches, jerseys, boots, stadiums, coverage of games on the internet and the list goes on and on. Yet the only thing that still remains the same is poor officiating, why can't they employ technology like in the NFL or even tennis to aid referees?

These same FIFA personals I believe live in houses filled with high tech gadgets for their comfort.

And lastly Dick, with all dues respect, I would suggest you also ask FIFA to ban all those teams that say prayers before a game, players that do the catholic sign of the cross when they are substituted, players that look up to the sky and thank whatever up there when they score a goal, players that when they miss chances look up to the sky and ask the sky why?

Soccer is not a North American game, that�s why you probably don't understand that what you wear under your jersey makes no difference on the pitch. Soccer is not about what you were in Europe, South America or Africa. It's about satisfying the fans, and true fans don't care what color of your skin or under wear you have on

Where were you when during the World cup when the Ghanaian player waved the flag of Israel after his goal?

Please, I like to listen to you talk soccer passionately not emotionally. I heard you say Howard Webb is your friend and he sat close to you during breakfast during your commentaries, well that�s fine but look at the issue here objectively instead of just from a Nigerian perspective.

For whatever it is worth - the first goal against Nigeria was offside - 2 chilean players were clearly offside. The second goal - from a penalty kick was simply outrageous. If the referee and the linesman on the north side of the field were not biased, then they are incompetent.

I have to heartily disagree with the comments and sentiments expressed by Tim from Calgary. Soccer is not about technology, it is about the skill of the game. It is patently ridiculous to say that it is because of some backwards thinking and ideas that things like instant replays to aid refs in decision-making have not been implemented by FIFA. The fact is, the ref is part of the ethos of the game. He is a human and makes human decisions made based on his perceptions. I applaud FIFA for not giving in to the pressure to add technology to ref'ing (have you noticed how much precious time is wasted in American football games reviewing replays?). And, lest you think that I am an old fuddy-duddy, I DO know the difference between XP and 98 (and Vista and Linux, and Windows 2003 server, etc, etc.).

Bottom line ... on the field, the players play, the refs ref and the fans cheer. Sometimes our favorite players make mistakes (sometimes stupid ones that cost goals and games) and sometimes the refs (our favorites or not) make mistakes. Frankly, I have seem many more games decided by bad calls by players than by bad ref'ing ... unfortunately for refs, their best games are those when we do not notice (and therefore cannot criticize) them.

If you could check the TV footage as the Chillean players moved forward, you could see the Nigerian right back running out just as the ball hit the ground.
It should be obvious that the right back kept Chile on side.

Ben... first Chilean goal was not offside... the two players were behind ball line...
penalty: Nigerian defender made contact with Chilean atacker's ankle.
and Tim. When Nigerian atacker felt, he had not ball possesion, and had not won position, defender, on the other side, won the position.

Nigerian goal keeper against Larrondo it was penalty fault, so human mistakes sometimes happen.

To Tim in Calgary:

Whether it is "not a North American game" or not, it is still against the rules to make religious statements in the game. Come on, we all know what impact religion has on people.

Also, clearly you've never heard Dick Howard talk, but he's definitely not North American.

However I do agree that we need to start using technology to our advantage in the game of soccer. Too often do I see divers and also missed calls. It seems like the non-North Americans are very reluctant to this (traditions? I'm not sure)... Why not? It's clear the game is flawed and the refs get a bad rep no matter what they do. Take an example from the NHL, FIFA!

With all due respect to Ben Simpson, I have analyzed the first Chilean goal to death. There is good video on YouTube of the goal from a fan sitting high up that shows a view of the whole situation, and that clearly shows a Nigerian defender to the keeper's right watching the play as the ball is cleared and not moving up. When the ball is lofted right back by a Chilean defender, and realizing his mistake, he tries to run forward but it is already too late as the ball has been played. The 2 Chilean attackers start running back into the Nigerian penalty area only after the ball is played forward again, and at that moment, they are clearly miles onside. There is no doubt whatsoever that the officials made the correct call. As for the penalty kick, I don't understand what was so "outrageous", as replays were quite clear that the Nigerian defender first tries to tug at Vidangossy's jersey, and then sweeps his legs from behind. Even the Nigerians didn't protest that one.

As for Tim's comments, I would respectfully say that every country in the world that has participated in some sort of competition has at one time or another felt hard done by the referee. I'm sure the Chileans could recite a long list of grievances against referees, including the ones in this tournament. Referees are human, and will make mistakes, but technology can only help in a very limited way. You cannot stop the game after every call to see if the ref got it right or not. As for the first Chilean goal, technology would definitely not have helped them, as it confirms the official's decision. Tim cites a list of calls or non-calls that have gone against Nigeria. He fails to mention the numerous times the Nigerians have been the beneficiaries of referee decisions, naturally. In this particular game, Webb more than indulged the Nigerian tendency to tackle with both legs and studs showing on almost every occasion. The Nigerian keeper himself should have at least been carded for sticking his leg straight out and digging his studs on Grondona's back as the Chilean went to challenge for a ball inside the area. I was surprised the Chilean got up after that. I have watched the game three times, because the charge by the Nigerian coach really bothered me and i was anxious to see if there was anything to it. There was nothing but better than average refereeing, and I think that FIFA should take disciplinary action against this coach.

I watched this game live on television, and then with the advantages of YouTube and also TSN highlights, I got to see the extra-time period of this match many, many times.

As has already been outlined by another reader, the first Chilean goal was clearly onside. The Nigerian right-back did indeed 'forget' (likely from fatigue as he had played over 100 minutes of football at this point) to jump ahead for the offside trap, and that's all it takes to put both attackers onside. In fact, if you know the intricacies of Law 11 (Offside), the subsequent passes between the Chilean players were also onside under the Law.

Then we have the second goal, taken from the penalty spot, and the red card. Again, watching the replay, yes there is tugging on the jersey etc., but absolutely nothing to warrant the penalty UNTIL the defender kicked out at the attacker's legs from the back with absolutely no intent or chance the play the ball. At that moment, he was the last defender (other than the GK) so he was rightly sent off for denying an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by means of foul play. None of the players protested the decision--that should tell you something about the correctness of the decision.

The player sent off removed his jersey to show a shirt that said "ALLAH IS GREAT" and there was at least one other player on the field who had a "JESUS IS GREAT" slogan on a t-shirt that you could see through his jersey. The football pitch is no place for religious slogans--it is a place for football. To see players crossing themselves when they enter or leave the pitch or looking to the sky after scoring is only a matter of their own personal beliefs and/or superstitions--they are not subjecting others to them.

Laastly, the accusations by the Nigerian coach were totally unfounded and potentially the stigma he associated with Mr. Webb cost him the Final. He has been arguably the best referee at this tournament along with Martin Hansson (Sweden). This despicable coaching 'tactic' is really nothing more than petty retribution.

Tim from Calgary, I am sorely disappointed to hear that you believe referees are a detriment to the game of soccer or football. Consider that referees are people who love the game as much as you purport to and have simply chosen a different route to be involved with the sport. No referee, especially at the International level, makes decisions in an attempt to alter the outcome of a game, or with any bias against a team or a player. No referee tries to get it wrong, just like no player tries to hack the ball miles over the crossbar!

By and large I do agree with Dick Howard- almost all the officiating at this tournament has been impeccable, however I wonder if "Dicky" (LA '94, we remember Graham Leggett's on the spot reporting) might want to add a post script in light of Wolfgang Stark's performance in the Argentina-Chile clash last night.

Hi Tim :
I appreciate a lot your comment reg. the israeli flag during a Ghana game in the world cup. this is a very fair comment , attention to which was ever drawn to here in North America.

"No referee, especially at the International level, makes decisions in an attempt to alter the outcome of a game, or with any bias against a team or a player. No referee tries to get it wrong, just like no player tries to hack the ball miles over the crossbar!"

Hey Josh tell that to Massimo De Santis!

I know serving as an official is not an easy matter. As you indicated, game officials are human beings and can make mistake too. In soccer, there is a lot of emotion that is flowing from every corner. Other sports have worked hard to minimize untended or intended official mistakes using advanced technology. It is about time for FIFA to consider other means of resolving the problem right on the field. I think it is time for the head referee to watch to instant replays and make final verdict in instants where the decision could significantly affect the outcome of the game. In my view, it is about time to give a strictly controlled chance for teams to make complaint to the referee right away. I would say giving a maximum of two or three chances for each team per game could minimize charged accusation against the officials. If time limit of two minutes for replay is set then even if both teams use their maximum possible complaint it will not add more than 15 minutes to the game time. The decision the referee will make after looking to the replay still remains as final. If the referees make mistake after looking at the replay and if FIFA think there is a deliberate error by the referee then FIFA can take its own action. This way I believe the negative image or blunt accusations leveled at FIFA could be minimized. Let us not also do not forget that FIFA was once officially biased against African teams. All 53 African countries used to send one or two teams when smaller continents with lesser population send twice or three times Africa. They have to fight to earn respect from FIFA. So when this kind of accusations are thrown out we do not have to assume as they are baseless they have some historic root. I strongly believe implementing this policy will build FIFA�s image and the image of the game billions around the world love it and play it.