24 BULGRE Bujsaim

 

A Balkan peninsula derby whose loser would be eliminated always promised a tough task for the debutant referee Ali Bujsaim; the Emirati's selection was a look to the future in FIFA refereeing, without Jamal Al-Sharif. Bulgaria defeated Greece four-nothing and in a World Cup where the officiating was seen as very strict, Bujsaim issued the most cautions in a match so far - eight. If that gives the impression of a referee who really took charge of this tempestuous game, it shouldn't.

Analysis:

=> Arturo Angeles and Bo Karlsson also had to face very demanding tasks whilst officiating games in this group, both involving Argentina. American and Swedish referee respectively had to find the balance between allowing exciting matches to prosper whilst acting against foul play. Bujsaim did not have to square an exciting football match here.

=> This game needed a pedantic referee. Bujsaim did not offer that. In the chaotic first minutes he had the chance to show the players that if they did not earn the scope to play (and not kick each other), they were going to meet a referee who would whistle freekick after freekick. Emirati referee did precisely the opposite, he just let the players play as they wished and then he would take the consequent decisions. Doing so did not only make the match an unnecessarily unedifying spectacle, he risked the safety of the players.

=> Bujsaim correctly awarded two penalties to Bulgaria (+ 0,1). Unfortunately, there were four further Key Match Incidents where he decided doubtfully, if not incorrectly: missed penalty for Bulgaria (holding); missed violent conduct (not detected); missed SFP (no sanction); under-punished SFP (yellow card given).

=> Bujsaim's manner was not bad, but he did lack charisma at the same time. His perception accuracy was again decent, but that wasn't really the problem. With a pedantic match practice he could have had eg. only three cautions, but a hand on the match. With his approach, Bujsaim was not really in charge on the pitch. 

Raimundo Calix García guessed when he took an offside decision at 47' - he was simply in no position to evaluate this very tight situation. Yousif Al-Ghattan correctly allowed Bulgaria's fourth goal to stand. 

Ali Bujsaim - 7,5 Yousif Al-Ghattan - 8,4 Raimundo Calix - 8,3 Rodrigo Badilla  UAE, BHR, HON	Bulgaria 4-0 Greece                               Group Stage
Hubčev (18') - SPA (Handling) Ivanov (27') - Tackle Jankov (34') - SPA (Holding) Borisov (85') - Charging	Alexoúdis (7') - Tackle Chatzídis (43') - Tackle Mitrópoulos (60') - Tackle Karagiánnis (71') - Tackle