35 ARGBUL Jouini

 

For whatever the goings on of this match, the headlines from this match were going to be who wasn't here - Diego Maradona had failed a doping control test and was removed from the tournament. Maradona would have equalled the World Cup appearances record in this match, and of course broken it in the knockout stage. Only recalled to the team for Argentina's playoff matches with Australia, he fell foul of taking a prohibited weight loss drug. A man for all his problems, showed brilliance on the pitch that few if any could ever match.

Diego Maradona, Rest in Peace.

For that reason, the match was quite subdued in atmosphere - Argentina already through, Bulgaria needing a point to join them. The lack of flow in the game did not lead to any less amount of fouls; referee Neji Jouini was the chosen CAF official for a second game, after a good showing in Switzerland - Romania, and faced a very challenging, choppy game. 

Not without fault, Jouini should be satisfied with how he handled this very challenging game. Tunisian referee really was not offered any choice but to punish heavy and tactical fouls with cautions, and he did that in a very consistent manner. I found his style quite excellent - strict, always focused, arousing respect, good presence. 

If he was more fortunate with his physical condition (as others were), then I see no reason why he wouldn't be a final candidate. Limited somewhat, I have such admiration for Jouini and found his performance quite inspiring. All of us have flaws, but if we work hard, there is no reason why we can't overcome them!

Analysis

=> Both sets of players offered Jouini very little in this match, and the Tunisian referee was forced from the start to issue cautions to try and take unfair play out of the match. Of the nine bookings - seven were totally correct (including the second yellow card), one was a trifle harsh (but tactically valuable) and one was totally wrong, and simply not perceived right by a screened Jouini. 

Referee was criticised in the English media but I don't see what he could have done differently here: an ultra-strict foul selection in this already apparently dire game? Just tolerate all these fouls without punishment (no, that was World Cup 1990)? They should have blamed the players if they were bored...

=> Jouini stood out positively for his excellent style, cognisant of some limitations - his work rate was good, his disciplinary control was consistent and not flow-based, and his gestures and mimics were good and anything but lazy. I really respect him for that.

=> That being said, his performance was not without fault:

- Zlatko Jankov certainly ran the risk of being sent off with his foul at 31', having already been cautioned. I would argue there is still some scope to assess that as a careless sliding foul though?

- Jouini missed cautions for reckless fouls at 51' and 77'.

- I would support him regarding all of the penalty appeals he faced. 

- Tunisian referee's technical accuracy fell off a cliff somewhat between 55'-63' where he wrongly assessed quite a few duels between players, which led to the incorrect caution at 59' and irritated Bulgaria a fair amount. From not always optimal positions, Jouini's technical accuracy was pretty high throughout, but he struggled here in this period. It is also to his credit that he recovered and finished the game without issue. 

Not the best afternoon for both linesman. Tapio Yli-karro flagged with the ball in the net twice - in the first half the situation was tight, but the Finn was in no position at all to assess the position and had to totally guess (crucial mistake); in the second, his flag was incorrect in a very important situation. Rharib El-Jilali made two hard to accept mistakes (65', 82') in important scenes. 

Neji Jouini - 8,2 Tapio Yli-karro - 7,8(1) Rharib El-Jilali - 8,0 Lim Kee Chong TUN, FIN, MAR	Argentina 0-2 Bulgaria Group Stage
Ruggeri (33') - SPA (Holding) Rodríguez (44') - Tackle Batistuta (80') - Dissent	Stoičkov (7') - Tripping                           Jankov (24') - SPA (Tripping) Cvetanov (+46') - Tackle Ivanov (59') - Tripping Balăkov (74') - SPA (Tackle)
	Cvetanov (66') - SPA (Holding)