Refereeing

The big controversy in this World Cup is the refereeing. Mind you, the big controversy in the last few World Cups has been the refereeing, but this time, apparently, it's serious. And there have been some very dodgy calls--the red card and penalty in today's Italy-Australia game to name but two examples.

But the primary evidence for the refereeing crisis is yesterday's Netherlands-Portugal match. Potentially a classic, it was instead a foul-tempered affair that set a record for yellow and red cards shown. Even renowned idiot Sepp Blatter jumped on referee Valentin Ivanov after the match:

"I consider that today the referee was not at the same level as the participants, the players. There could have been a yellow card for the referee," Blatter told Portugal's SIC television channel.

Not at the same level of the participants??? WTF game was he watching?

Listen, the ref could have done more to manage that game, and the red card on Boulahrouz was questionable. But frankly almost every other card on every participant was deserved. Both yellows on Costinha were justified, and the second was so unimaginably stupid that he should have a multi-match ban just for being a plonker. I understand Deco was pissed after Heitinga refused to give the ball back after kicking it out. But that first challenge was horrendous, and, yes, he clealry deserved the second yellow card for kicking the ball away. What's more, Portugal got off easy. Figo should have been red carded for the headbutt.

And the Netherlands were disgraceful. So many of their players took dives at the slightest contact, especially Van Bommel, who should also be facing a ban for unsportsmanlike behavior by exaggerating the effects of Figo's headbutt. (One of the many potential benefits of video technology.) No one will miss them.

So Blatter and the ABC-ESPN commentariat should lay off Ivanov and instead criticize the players who left him with little choice after a thoroughly foul (but admittedly engrossing) game. The only winner in this game was England, who now get to face a tired and Deco-less Portugal in the quarters.