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Goalkeepers shown a blue card and sent to the sin-bin cannot be directly replaced until their period of temporary dismissal ends, under protocols still to be published by the game's lawmakers.
WASHINGTON: The World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday will be refereed by Slavko Vinčić of Slovenia, two years after he was in charge of a Champions League final. FIFA announced the pick late Thursday.
NEW YORK: A new refereeing protocol has added to the powder keg of public perception over fairness at the World Cup, a former FIFA referee said on Tuesday, with another refereeing controversy involving Argentina adding fuel to fan complaints. The holders’ passage to Wednesday’s semifinal against England has been accompanied by repeated complaints from opponents over refereeing decisions, amid social media speculation the tournament has favored Lionel Messi’s side. The saga came to a head on Saturday in Argentina’s quarter-final defeat of Switzerland, as Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow card for simulation, a VAR rule that Swiss coach Murat Yakin called “unacceptable.” Asked for comment on Monday, FIFA referred Reuters to a July 8 interview with refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina, who rejected claims of bias in Argentina’s lsat-16 win over Egypt. The protocol over mistaken identity is one of several incidents in which VAR is allowed to intervene under rules applied to the 2026-27 season and the World Cup, putting a largely untested protocol up for public debate. “I don’t think it should have been applied in the first place. It was too broad,” said Christina Unkel, British broadcaster ITV’s rules analyst for the World Cup and a former FIFA referee. “And where I’m struggling with it is we’re not just changing who gets the card, we’re changing the underlying decision from a free kick going this way to saying no, no, no, it’s actually a decision completely opposite way.
KANSAS CITY, Kansas, July 10 : Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez dismissed controversy over refereeing in the World Cup on Friday and said match officials had done an excellent job after Egypt criticised decisions in their dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 defeat by the South American side.
MIAMI, July 10 : If FIFA President Gianni Infantino imagined his embrace of technology might finally put an end to disputes over refereeing decisions, the World Cup would have disabused him of the notion.
July 9 : FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defended the officiating in Argentina's 3-2 victory over Egypt in the World Cup round of 16, dismissing allegations of bias and saying match officials operated with complete independence.
FLORIDA, USA: FIFA has defended the reputation of World Cup referee Raphael Claus in rare pushback on comments by US President Donald Trump, who questioned his integrity for sending off Folarin Balogun. Trump suggested on Monday at the White House, without elaborating, that the 46-year-old Brazilian was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” Claus red-carded Balogun against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week, setting off a furor that saw Trump intervene with FIFA to ensure the United States forward could play against Belgium late Monday. FIFA praised Claus, who is working at his second World Cup, in a statement published before the US 4-1 loss that sent Belgium to the quarterfinals. “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” FIFA said, calling Claus “one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member” of its team of World Cup match officials. FIFA made no similar statement in public support of Somali referee Omar Artan, who US authorities denied entry to the country last month ahead of the tournament. Like Artan, Claus has refereed the final of a top-tier competition in his home continent before being picked among the 52 referees by FIFA for this World Cup. Claus refereed Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage and worked the US’ 2-0 win over Bosnia in the round of 32.
MIAMI, July 6 : FIFA threw its full support behind Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after U.S. President Donald Trump questioned his integrity on Monday following the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun that sparked a controversy at the World Cup.
MIAMI, June 30 : FIFA's new anti-time-wasting rules at the World Cup have proved an overwhelming hit, Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina said on Tuesday.