40 ROUARG Pairetto

 

One of the classic World Cup games - Romania sensationally won it by three goals to two, reaching the quarterfinal for the first time ever; Maradona-less Argentina were out. Fast-flowing and simply thrilling in equal nature, this game earned its place in the annuals of football history.

Referee Pierluigi Pairetto was making his bow(!) in the competition - having picked up a small injury at the start of the tournament (before the first matches were assigned), refereeing director Paolo Casarin decided to save his compatriot for the knockout stage. Surely, Pairetto will be the last referee ever to initiate his tournament (no appointment as fourth official either) not in the group stage. 

An appointment indicative of nepotism or otherwise, Pairetto in my view did a very good job in this tough match. He always kept up (physically and mentally) with extremely dynamic play throughout, did enough to encourage fair and not foul play, and got the three crucial decisions of the afternoon spot on (penalty to Argentina is better described as "supportable" though). 

FIFA Assessor Károly Palotai agreed, but more importantly General Secretary Blatter didn't - and Pairetto was removed. In a way, all the arguing was futile as Italy eventually reached the quarterfinal anyway, so Pairetto's tournament would have been over in any case. Though the case does leave a rather bad taste in the mouth however you see Pairetto's performance. 

Let's start with those three decisive calls.

Key Match Incidents

15' - Penalty to Argentina given

Gabriel Batistuta turns past Daniel Prodan who by a mixture of holding and impeding the Argentina attacker prevents him from reaching the ball. Prodan's actions were only aimed at Batistuta's potential progress and not the ball. An interesting synthesis of the footage including from FIFA's official film for the tournament can be found here. The slight trouble with this decision being that an impeding foul, even one with contact, should have resulted in an indirect freekick. 

One can ask is that enough in a World Cup knockout match? Maybe the more adept call would be to play on, but Pairetto's decision is acceptable in my opinion.

53' - Potential Penalty to Argentina

Well-positioned, Pairetto got this call absolutely right - though the defender's tackle does not play the ball, it does not touch Fernando Redondo either, nor was the Argentina player really impeded as he could have gotten to the ball anyway. Italian referee saw it as it was, and played on.

68' - Potential Red Card (DOGSO) to Romania; potential penalty to Argentina

Tibor Selymes brings down Diego Simeone, and referee Pairetto faces two crucial questions.

Inside vs. Outside?

Very risky play by the Romania defender, but he does foul just outside the penalty area as replays show. Only just mind! Pairetto in a good position correctly detects that.

SPA vs. DOGSO?

Simeone's touch takes him rather wide, so a yellow card is the correct choice, which is also Pairetto's choice. 

-> The problem here is that in the 'spirit' of Blatter's professional foul intervention, at least as he saw it, then it should be a red card. That has no relation to the Laws of the Game and, of course, should not matter at all. Apparently later, Casarin explained to the Swiss administrator why it should only be a caution, and Blatter agreed. But it was too late, and Pairetto has already been ex-communicated from the tournament; FIFA, eh!

Balance

Pierluigi Pairetto managed to keep everybody in check with a smart piece of officiating. While his manner did not belong to the best at the tournament (it wasn't bad, by the way!) he took mostly predictable and sensible decisions especially concerning sanctions, and defended himself with a quite high level of natural authority. 

He gambled in not more strictly punishing fouls at the start of the second half when the match's character had changed from the very fair spirited first, but cards at 60' and 61' were very astute calls that let everyone know he was there. One could say he was slightly fortunate that some off-the-ball incidents did not escalate, but I would argue he earned and deserved the credit to pass through this game.

His biggest disciplinary mistake was no card at 69' for a very heavy charge / strike, after which he ordered the stricken play to "get up!" - he must just have not properly assessed the incident.

Luc Matthys had a very good start to the match but made two mistakes at the end, the latter in the very last play of the game (really poor and highly 'important' call). Domenico Ramicone also made an important mistake towards the end of the second half. 

Pierluigi Pairetto - 8,5 Domenico Ramicone - 8,1 Luc Matthys - 8,1 Lim Kee Chong ITA, ITA, BEL	Romania 3-2 Argentina Round of Sixteen
Popescu (50') - Delaying the Restart Selymes (68') - SPA (Tackle) Dumitrescu (84') - Delaying the Restart	Ruggeri (33') - SPA (Tripping) Redondo (60') - Tripping Chamot (61') - SPA (Tripping) Cáceres (82') - Dissent