22 KSAMAR Don
Both Saudi Arabia and Morocco impressed in tight first match losses, but the loser of their round two match in Group F would be almost certainly eliminated. Despite being probably the better team, Morocco succumbed by two goals to one and were out, losing a quite free-flowing and fair spirited match. The referee joined Saudi Arabia in making his World Cup bow in the United States; the last time Morocco played in the World Cup, Philip Don had just only been promoted to the First Division in England!
Despite entering the FIFA List in 1992 (benefitting from the generation change caused by lowering of the age limit to forty-five), Philip Don handled the Champions League Final in 1994. John Blankenstein from the Netherlands was originally appointed but then removed (his Dutch connection with Barcelona is said to be why, and not his sexuality as an openly gay man). Don took his place, and passed through without controversy. So it would be interesting to see what the English referee could reach in the United States as an international upstart.
Referee did a good job in this Arabsphere derby. A fast-flowing, mostly friendly game which did not contain (m)any reckless or clearly unsporting acts with the potential to explode would always put any referee in some sort of difficulty, but Don did okay. He correctly awarded Saudi Arabia a penalty at 7' which was rather clear in nature; he should have awarded them another one at 9' (crucial mistake)? Without doubt, Morocco no.6 does commit a violent conduct too after the said incident (9'), but I simply cannot see the scope for the referee nor his English linesman Roy Pearson to actually detect it.
In a game like this it is hard to set tactically clever signals and Don's disciplinary control for the first seventy-five minutes was not really optimal. For instance, can you really justify a card at 34' if you don't book at 41' for a borderline reckless tackle that stopped a really promising attack? But Don distinguished himself by changing his tack with the game drawing towards a close. He sensed that everyone was ready to kick off, Morocco losing their nerve facing elimination, and adopted a law-enforcer approach and issued three cautions in less than ten minutes (plus one for the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper, mandatory according to FIFA guidelines). This helped Don keep a hand on everything until the end.
His wider style of officiating was very unobtrusive, and he made very liberal use of advantage. His gamble not to start the game with some short, sharp whistles to show the players who was in charge payed off in my view. This game must have been physically demanding, and despite a partly hectic running impression, Don should be praised for keeping up mentally right until the end. Having handled this rather unique game, I would perhaps have tested Don in say Nigeria - Greece before appointing him to a Quarterfinal.
Rather quiet afternoons for both linesmen. Roy Pearson played a nice onside at 11' and made a correct call at 88' to flag; Tapio Yli-karro correctly solved a reverse crossover situation at 21' with an offside decision.
| Philip Don - 7,9(3) Roy Pearson - 8,4 Tapio Yli-Karro - 8,4 Hellmut Krug ENG, ENG, FIN | Saudi Arabia 2-1 Morocco Group Stage |
 Jebreen (50') - Tackle Amin (75') - Delaying the Restart Al-Muwallid (78') - SPA (Handling) ad-Daʿayyaʿ (83') - Simulation (Injury) | El Hadrioui (34') - SPA (Holding) Naybet (82') - Dissent |
9': It's a clear penalty for me caused by the second defender coming in. He is too late and goes heavily into the attacker, who otherwise would have a chance to get the ball.
ReplyDeleteUnderstable to not give it in the circumstances, when you are not completely sure, but still a mistake IMO.
My argument that the Morocco player had won the position seems pretty weak, and perhaps without any credibility at all, on close scrutiny, indeed.
DeleteI think Don managed this match without drawing too much intention on himself, but it was not perfect. Disciplinary control for much of the match was rather lax and not consistent. The double YC in 85' for example seemed way to overblown considered that he nearly avoided cards for multiple tactical infrigements in the first half.
ReplyDeleteHis matter looked rather well though, he clearly felt comfortable in this not so easy match. Correct penalty, but IMHO, a very clear penalty missed in 9', defender arrives way too late and just clatters into the attacker.