World Cup 2010: Some referees are a big disappointment

Opinion

We are witnessing a World Cup in which the teams’ performances improve from round to round. Initial fearful defensive tactics have given way to courageous offense actions especially from the teams of Netherlands, Germany, Ghana and Argentina.

In the same way, the performances of the referees have been improving. But that is every bit as in the case of the teams, a selection matter. There were as many wrong decisions as never before. A player touches a ball about 50 centimeters behind the goal line, but the referee decides to play on (as seen in the round of 16 between Germany and England).

Again, a player scores a goal despite being approximately two meters offside and referee and assistant decide, in a departure fom the norm and reality(they noticed the scene on the videoscreen) that the alleged goal counts (as seen in the round of 16 between Argentina and Mexico).

And there was the case of a player or striker handling the ball (handball) twice (!) - before scoring a goal without being whistled back (as seen in the preliminary round between Brazil and Ivory Coast). Only a few of many "mistakes."

Where are the reasons for these incredible mistakes?

The critics complain that many referees are overwhelmed, because they only referee games of a lower standard in their home countries. And of course, this is part of the problem.

The World Football Association (FIFA) states, that it is not only a World Cup for football teams but also for referees. And this is justified. Would there otherwise be a chance for referees like Viktor Kassai from Hungary and Rawshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan to referee a semi-final? Irmatov was in action at the opening-game as well as at many games afterwards without making a noteworthy mistake. Simultaneously referees like Alberto Undiano from Spain or Stéphane Lannoy from France make outrageous decisions.

Is there any solution? Not really. The only idea that could be promising is to form a pool of 80-100 men and women who referee all important matches worldwide. But in a time of financial crisis, this is a wish far from reality.