Bent Or Hopeless Referee?

[sunny-dave]

[ in Sport because it's a genuine question, hoping for answers based on the game, rather than re-hashing the penalties/racism/louts discussions ]

In what proper game (with a decent referee) would Italy have ended the match with 11 players on the pitch ?

The cynical pull-down of Saka was a straight red in most peoples' eyes - he we was through on goal (even if a long way out) and at least one other white shirt was belting up in support on the left.

The studs-up tackle on Grealish was slightly more debatable (it may have been inadvertent) - but it was a potentially career-ending assault (and possibly fatherhood-opportunity-ending too) - and I've seen loads of those straight-redded too.

Then there was the 'play advantage' nonsense when England had a clear free-kick opportunity denied on the very edge of the box in extra-time - the illusory advantage lasted a microsecond before the ball was hoofed upfield.

There were others too - cynical fouling and faking of injuries were rife by the Italians and blandly ignored by the man in pink.

In the absence of any evidence, I'll just assume that the ref was an incompetent wimp ...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2021/07/12/TELEMMGLPICT000264079672_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqjJeHvIwLm2xPr27m7LF8mUYMapKPjdhyLnv9ax6_too.jpeg?imwidth=1280

[Mozz71]

He wasn't through on goal. It happened over by the touchline, other players could've potentially covered the break. It was cynical, but not a red.

[bednobs]

it seemed to me there was also many times when the ref indicated "just get up and get on with it"

[Mozz71]

The Grealish tackle? Well, I've seen them given before.

[ummmm]

I think it was def a red card. Refereeing is just a hobby to him.

[sunny-dave]

Interesting opinion on the Saka pull-down, mozz - I was watching on RTE who had an Irish (and possibly, slightly, pro-Italian) commentary team actually in Wembley - they were unequivocal that it was a Red, as they could see the left-side support arriving - which wasn't obvious on the TV feed.

[ummmm]

You only have to look at the picture to see it was clearly a red card.

[ichkeria]

No Chiellini’s collar tug was certainly bit a red card.
Jorginho’s foul on the other hand was certainly that it should have been
But the otherwise excellent referee did not have the benefit of VAR, which wasn’t used for that purpose here,
Some might actually say “thank goodness” :-)

[ichkeria]

Chiellini def “not”

[highbury57]

Referee was fine. Better than most Premier League referees. England lost. Get over it and don’t look for excuses.

[royfromaus]

I disagree

Saka = yellow
Grealish = red


Poor ref but so was our performance and in particular Southgate's use of subs. (Once again)

[dannyk13]

Seems some fans agree with you Dave:-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9779979/Fans-start-petitions-calling-England-vs-Italy-rematch.html?ito=push-notification&ci=302271&si=34683987&ai=9779979

[ummmm]

Highbury - I think we are over it. England done us proud.

[Lie-in King]

On both of the incidents you've highlighted, I did wonder about the absence from the commentary of "VAR will of course be looking at that...", with them then inviting the ref to look at the pitch-side screen.

I agree, Jorginho was clearly unhurt after that appalling (yes, *possibly* inadvertent) tackle on Grealish, yet managed to convince everyone to the contrary & he should have been sent off forthwith. Chiellini's pull-back of Saka was blatant & should also have been red-carded.

*On the whole* though, I thought the ref had a decent match.

[Ellipsis]

LOL, Lie-in King!

[highbury57]

Of course some fans will agree. Others won’t. The origin thread is not as unbiased as it claims. Proper game? Decent referee? Cynical pull down. Look at the slanted adjectives.

[sunny-dave]

You could argue that Chiellini should already have been on a yellow card for any one of sundry Dark Arts - but refs are reluctant to card him early in a match because they know that he'll do something appalling at some point and that would then mean red ...

[ichkeria]

That’s embarrassing :-)

The referee was excellent apart from missing the red card.
Time and again he took no nonsense from players trying to make a meal out of tackles.

Petitions to have games replayed are a nonsense. I’m reminded of the ROI v France World Cup playoff. My cousin even went on a match through Dublin over it!
And the FAI eventually tried to get the ROI in as a 33rd team .

[Ken4155]

Pity fans can't just accept that, on the night, the better team won. Their 'keeper didn't have a single shot to save from the 2nd minute onwards and the first time Kane touched the ball in the opposing team's area, throughout 120 minutes of play, was when he stepped up to take our first penalty.

[Ellipsis]

All part of the reason why football is not the world's greatest game. Or even a beautiful one.

[sunny-dave]

Roy - I winced when Southgate sent on the 'penalty experts' so late in the game - how could they be up-to-speed and used to the atmosphere in such a few moments?

Grealish was used too late too - why not in the 90 minutes?