[newguy]

i thought England-Congo was exciting.
and then Argentina played Cape Verde.

[newguy]

i thought England-Congo was exciting.
and then Argentina played Cape Verde.

[dabigv13]

i thought England-Congo was exciting.
and then Argentina played Cape Verde.

Was in the stands. 90 degrees and humid as a bowl of chili. Even so, up there with double nickels, triple OT with Luck in the Coliseum, Robinson for three as some of the best live events I've seen. Being there with my half-Argentine kids made it extra special. The drums and songs never stopped the entire game.

Messi's first touch on the goal, unreal. France looks unbeatable, but seeing Messi is such a treat, I hope we get several more opportunities.

[dabigv13]

i thought England-Congo was exciting.
and then Argentina played Cape Verde.

Was in the stands. 90 degrees and humid as a bowl of chili. Even so, up there with double nickels, triple OT with Luck in the Coliseum, Robinson for three as some of the best live events I've seen. Being there with my half-Argentine kids made it extra special. The drums and songs never stopped the entire game.

Messi's first touch on the goal, unreal. France looks unbeatable, but seeing Messi is such a treat, I hope we get several more opportunities.

[Nan3cy]

My son and grandsons saw France beat Sweden in East Rutherford. Mbappe is my older grandsons’ hero, so it was a great game for them to see. Has taken me almost 80 years to be a soccer (sorry, futbol) fan, but I think it’s happened.

[Nan3cy]

My son and grandsons saw France beat Sweden in East Rutherford. Mbappe is my older grandsons’ hero, so it was a great game for them to see. Has taken me almost 80 years to be a soccer (sorry, futbol) fan, but I think it’s happened.

[Hieronymus]

My understanding was that intent is part of the analysis on issuing a red card.

Technically it’s not in the rule, but practically soccer isn’t like the high sticking rule in hockey where there is no discretion and intent is irrelevant.

From 12.4: serious foul play
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.


Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

The tell that the referee got this wrong is it’s only the minimum 1 game suspension. Direct red cards for violent conduct or serious foul play almost always go at least 2+ games instead.

[Hieronymus]

My understanding was that intent is part of the analysis on issuing a red card.

Technically it’s not in the rule, but practically soccer isn’t like the high sticking rule in hockey where there is no discretion and intent is irrelevant.

From 12.4: serious foul play
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.


Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

The tell that the referee got this wrong is it’s only the minimum 1 game suspension. Direct red cards for violent conduct or serious foul play almost always go at least 2+ games instead.

[newguy]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

[newguy]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

[Hieronymus]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

Sometimes you might wish that France would get more riled up then they do. They are so good that getting a bit lackadaisical is about the only way they lose. However, that same attitude served them very well today against a Paraguay team that wanted to do just about anything as long as it wasn’t actually play soccer and a referee that often enabled that behavior.

[Hieronymus]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

Sometimes you might wish that France would get more riled up then they do. They are so good that getting a bit lackadaisical is about the only way they lose. However, that same attitude served them very well today against a Paraguay team that wanted to do just about anything as long as it wasn’t actually play soccer and a referee that often enabled that behavior.

[newguy]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

and a referee that often enabled that behavior.

that's the same ref who declined to call a penalty in Scotland-Morocco.

[newguy]

a shoutout to Kylian Mbappe for his conduct today.  after being fouled hard repeatedly during the game and taunted towards the end, his response was simply to smile during the last few minutes. 

now that's what i call a role model.

and a referee that often enabled that behavior.

that's the same ref who declined to call a penalty in Scotland-Morocco.

[BostonCard]

Two good matches on tap today.  Good luck to the fans of “El Tri”, and Brazil/Norway will be a good one.

BC

[BostonCard]

Two good matches on tap today.  Good luck to the fans of “El Tri”, and Brazil/Norway will be a good one.

BC

[DC 86]

FIFA has overturned the ridiculous Balogun red card suspension, he will play tomorrow vs Belgium.

[DC 86]

FIFA has overturned the ridiculous Balogun red card suspension, he will play tomorrow vs Belgium.

[Hieronymus]

FIFA has overturned the ridiculous Balogun red card suspension, he will play tomorrow vs Belgium.

On the one hand I am shocked - this doesn’t happen. But like I said the original 1 game suspension was a big tell that FIFA didn’t endorse the red card. SFP with a direct red is essentially always 2+ games.

As I understand it, FIFA determined the slo mo review violated VAR protocol though that is guidance and not a hard rule. Slo mo should (not must) only be used for factual determinations like point of contact and not to determine things like force of contact. This case is text book why - the force of the contact looks way worse slowed down vs. at live speed.

Of course the official FIFA statement says none of that:
“By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”

Article 27 just simply says FIFA can suspend a suspension BTW. So it explains nothing.

But this is almost unprecedented - Ronaldo getting his suspension reduced at the start of this World Cup is the only kinda relevant precedent I can think of.

[Hieronymus]

FIFA has overturned the ridiculous Balogun red card suspension, he will play tomorrow vs Belgium.

On the one hand I am shocked - this doesn’t happen. But like I said the original 1 game suspension was a big tell that FIFA didn’t endorse the red card. SFP with a direct red is essentially always 2+ games.

As I understand it, FIFA determined the slo mo review violated VAR protocol though that is guidance and not a hard rule. Slo mo should (not must) only be used for factual determinations like point of contact and not to determine things like force of contact. This case is text book why - the force of the contact looks way worse slowed down vs. at live speed.

Of course the official FIFA statement says none of that:
“By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”

Article 27 just simply says FIFA can suspend a suspension BTW. So it explains nothing.

But this is almost unprecedented - Ronaldo getting his suspension reduced at the start of this World Cup is the only kinda relevant precedent I can think of.

[dabigv13]

Glad Balogun will play. Not happy about FIFA's general calvinball approach though; if Balogun played for Switzerland or Colombia, I doubt the suspension gets overturned.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social after the news had broken.

Infantino got a phone call.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7423410...4d39c667c1

Ok, now we have a reporter saying the same

Exclusive: The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card.

https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/2073823947682980076?s=20

[dabigv13]

Glad Balogun will play. Not happy about FIFA's general calvinball approach though; if Balogun played for Switzerland or Colombia, I doubt the suspension gets overturned.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social after the news had broken.

Infantino got a phone call.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7423410...4d39c667c1

Ok, now we have a reporter saying the same

Exclusive: The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card.

https://x.com/JacobsBen/status/2073823947682980076?s=20

[newguy]

glad Balogun can play.  but in my opinion......FIFA should not give in to interference by politicians.

[newguy]

glad Balogun can play.  but in my opinion......FIFA should not give in to interference by politicians.

[PVTree]

Mixed emotions. 

Of course, I'm happy that Balogun can play as he's a key piece for team USA. On the other hand, I don't agree that FIFA seems to be influenced by outside forces in making this decision.

[PVTree]

Mixed emotions. 

Of course, I'm happy that Balogun can play as he's a key piece for team USA. On the other hand, I don't agree that FIFA seems to be influenced by outside forces in making this decision.

[dabigv13]

Don't worry, the 1 cm offsides decisions and the "snickometer" are all still totally above board folks

[dabigv13]

Don't worry, the 1 cm offsides decisions and the "snickometer" are all still totally above board folks

[BostonCard]

Sounds similar to the Christiano Ronaldo situation, where two of the three games he was suspended for were deferred for a one year probation period. 

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/4...rd-ireland

I guess the difference is that the red card against Ronaldo was not controversial.  Still, it seems like there is one set of rules for certain players and another for other players.

Not sure what the complaints about the offside and ball sensor are; as long as there is a desire to remove the subjective aspect of some calls, whether it is line calls in Grand Slam Tennis events, ball/strike calls in MLB, or offsides calls in soccer, there will be a clamor for technological solutions or video review .  Personally, I think the subjectivity that comes with human referees/umpires is what makes the game real, but the fact that multiple professional sports are moving in this direction means that people want the machines to be making decisions or assisting decisions.

Will say that yesterday’s match between France and Paraguay, and the match going on right now, with Brazil and Norway, video review overturned a penalty non-call that clearly should have been a penalty in both cases.

BC

---

LOL, seen on twitter:

On the one hand, the red card was a terrible call.  On the other hand, reversing an unappealable call is terrible for FIFA’s credibility.

On the third hand, FIFA never had any credibility, so whatever.

BC

[BostonCard]

Sounds similar to the Christiano Ronaldo situation, where two of the three games he was suspended for were deferred for a one year probation period. 

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/4...rd-ireland

I guess the difference is that the red card against Ronaldo was not controversial.  Still, it seems like there is one set of rules for certain players and another for other players.

Not sure what the complaints about the offside and ball sensor are; as long as there is a desire to remove the subjective aspect of some calls, whether it is line calls in Grand Slam Tennis events, ball/strike calls in MLB, or offsides calls in soccer, there will be a clamor for technological solutions or video review .  Personally, I think the subjectivity that comes with human referees/umpires is what makes the game real, but the fact that multiple professional sports are moving in this direction means that people want the machines to be making decisions or assisting decisions.

Will say that yesterday’s match between France and Paraguay, and the match going on right now, with Brazil and Norway, video review overturned a penalty non-call that clearly should have been a penalty in both cases.

BC

---

LOL, seen on twitter:

On the one hand, the red card was a terrible call.  On the other hand, reversing an unappealable call is terrible for FIFA’s credibility.

On the third hand, FIFA never had any credibility, so whatever.

BC

[dabigv13]

Refs have changed the way they call games in favor of allowing play to continue, because they expect the VAR to clean up.

Video review is not going anywhere. But is football meant to be decided by some IT guy in an office deciding wear to draw a line? And then they show you a nice little graphic 10 minutes later. I don't trust it. Not sure why anyone would when FIFA is producing it.

Here's a tweet that resonated with me-

So they confirmed the touch on the ball and offside with the sensor in the ball, imperceptible to the eye.

This is the beauty of football. I love it. It's what I come here for.

https://x.com/RyanRosenblatt/status/2072...62262?s=20

[dabigv13]

Refs have changed the way they call games in favor of allowing play to continue, because they expect the VAR to clean up.

Video review is not going anywhere. But is football meant to be decided by some IT guy in an office deciding wear to draw a line? And then they show you a nice little graphic 10 minutes later. I don't trust it. Not sure why anyone would when FIFA is producing it.

Here's a tweet that resonated with me-

So they confirmed the touch on the ball and offside with the sensor in the ball, imperceptible to the eye.

This is the beauty of football. I love it. It's what I come here for.

https://x.com/RyanRosenblatt/status/2072...62262?s=20

[BostonCard]

I get the sentiment, and to some extent you are preaching to the choir (I would prefer less technology in sports) but the Croatian player later admitted that he felt the ball.  All it would take is a rule change that says that the ball needs to be noticeably deflected, but as long as the rule is that the ball needs to be touched by the offensive player, to determine the offsides, then as long as a technology exists it will be used.

As for the VAR, the positive of refs giving the benefit of the doubt to continuing play is that it cuts down on the incentive to dive, especially in the penalty area.

BC

[BostonCard]

I get the sentiment, and to some extent you are preaching to the choir (I would prefer less technology in sports) but the Croatian player later admitted that he felt the ball.  All it would take is a rule change that says that the ball needs to be noticeably deflected, but as long as the rule is that the ball needs to be touched by the offensive player, to determine the offsides, then as long as a technology exists it will be used.

As for the VAR, the positive of refs giving the benefit of the doubt to continuing play is that it cuts down on the incentive to dive, especially in the penalty area.

BC

[PVTree]

Haaland is a beast. Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1. They await the winner of Mexico and England.

[PVTree]

Haaland is a beast. Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1. They await the winner of Mexico and England.

[BostonCard]

Haaland is a beast. Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1. They await the winner of Mexico and England.

Yup, but also credit to the Norwegian goaltender, who blocked a penalty, saved a very weird ball coming down at a steep angle, and continually frustrated the Brazilians until conceding a late, meaningless penalty.

BC

[BostonCard]

Haaland is a beast. Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1. They await the winner of Mexico and England.

Yup, but also credit to the Norwegian goaltender, who blocked a penalty, saved a very weird ball coming down at a steep angle, and continually frustrated the Brazilians until conceding a late, meaningless penalty.

BC

[dabigv13]

I'm really excited about this Mexico-England game. The Azteca will be rocking.

Haaland is so good. Love to see big number 9 who can smash from distance like his second goal.

[dabigv13]

I'm really excited about this Mexico-England game. The Azteca will be rocking.

Haaland is so good. Love to see big number 9 who can smash from distance like his second goal.