Question Number: 13173

Character, Attitude and Control 6/26/2006

RE: Adult

Andrew Richardson of Manchester, England U.K asks...

I am sure I won't be the only one to ask
for your thoughts on Valentin Ivanov's handling of the Holland v Portugal World Cup watch (A record 16 Yellow Cards & 4 Red).
I watched the game and although Mr Ivanov has been criticsed in some quarters for handing out too many cards most cards seemed to be justifiable under LOTG and the directives issued by FIFA/IFAB.

How does a referee maintain control of a
match where any spirit of fair play is completely absent?

Thanks a lot

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Good question. It is critical that the referee etablishes control of the game from the beginning to the end. Many times referees are afraid to call fouls and issue cards in that they will interfere with the game. Referees must get beyond this and have the COURAGE to call fouls and issue cards to control the game. Referees need to put out the small fires while they can before the fire becomes so large that it is out of control. Compared to my colleagues, I have little experience. I have been a referee for 10 years and have done lots of games at U23 and below. I will admit that I have lost control of many many games due to not calling enough early on in the match and not dealing with the little things such as dissent, swearing, holding, etc early on in the match. I will tell you that it is every referees NIGHTMARE to have an out of control game. At the FIFA level, referees do prepare for the match ahead of time. They do this by looking up future statistics of players, picking out potential players that opponents may go after and knowing what the match means for each team coming in. Doing this certainly helps referees prepare and know what to expect for their game. Really one can do no better than their best in anything in life including refereeing. I watched a game last weekend (u16 boys) where both teams were just playing dirty and the referee did his job. He issued cards and called fouls, but the foul play did not stop. This referee ended up halting the game. Was it his fault for losing control? That I cannot answer, but I know that the referee did his best and did what he felt necessary to maintain control. It is all a learning experience. I ran centers for U19 matches when I was 19-20 years old myself. Probably not the best thing to do, but I did learn from my mistakes. Tactics that I use when I sense I am losing control is a.) talk to the captains at half time and warn them that if their play continues serious consequences will result. 2.) staying exceptionally close to play to catch retalliations quick. 3.) Issue cards for dissent and players that continue to foul and 4.) If you have to...stop game, tell players to cool down while you talk to captain, give them a break, and resume game. Good luck and keep learning.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Andrew,
it is a rarified atmosphere these matches are played under and this match was volatile and explosive and a direct result of the player's choices! It is PURE speculation for me to offer a what if ? But here is my own thoughts on the matter, no disrespect and only admiration for the referee is intended.

When I watch a match I often record the fouls , names , reasons and add comments of my initial reactions. We lose perspective and form coloured opinions with video review so I try to get down my first impression as it often changes when I see the slow motion footage and get the full impact or lack of it from a decent camera angle.
The cynical tackles that the players do to STOP attacking play with no effort to play the ball are repeatedly cautioned . The majority of tackles were players LEAVING their feet in an uncontrolled manner

VAN BOMMEL the Dutch #18 tackle from behind with no POSSIBILITY of ever contacting the ball at the 2nd minute of the match looked to me the Referee was saying not that crap here boys. however with that CAUTION it stated the value of what a caution would be and many of the following CAUTIONS were much more RECKLESS /EXCESSIVE in nature yet by law cautions cannot be excessive ONLY reckless.

The referee tried to clamp down and call it tight early but there were no trivial stuff it was big time critical incidents bang, bang one after another, in my opinion he tried to use yellow plastic to say do not do what you are doing rather rather than direct red, too gentle on the pressure valve he needed a vise!

I must say I will be cheering for any team Portugal plays against because after watching that performance by them and the Dutch there was nothing FAIR I could see in the Fairplay is my game motto those in FIFA so earnestly preach.

Nothing I saw on that field will I lay blame at the feet of the officiating crew. Blatter is a pompous ninny and I fail to understand why he is in the position he is? Players make choices and the number of missed opportunities by the DUTCH to score are a result of THEM not converting opportunity. !

BOULAHROUZ #5 from the Dutch squad managed to take out Ronaldo with a horrible studs into the thigh tackle and received a caution for what in MY immediate reaction of opinion was goodbye to you sir red! The referee saw it as only reckless so in my opinion he was too lenient

I did find the MANICHE (Portugal goal score ) first half tackle on Van Bommel and PETIT second half tackle early on Van Bommel to be a bit of theatrics to the fall so the cautions felt uneasy and Van Bommel was in my mind diving or at least dog paddling for the calls.

COSTINHA #6 from Portugal was lucky to not have been tossed earlier in the half, his first cautioned tackle at the 1/2 hour mark was a mean looking but that tackle at the 40th minute was even worse and he was NOT sanctioned for it so his blatant deliberate handling just before the half garnered him a second yellow and this red card send off. Our #6 Portuguese midfielder reaffirms the myth that all deliberate handling is a caution according to our beloved announcers. I admittedly was surprised at the caution for USB when the handling occurred simply because I was not sure what attacking opportunity was truly affected? I was actually in agreement with the announcer (oh my god what an I saying!!! )that he should have likely gone earlier. His tackles were always out of control right from the get go!

It has been a disturbing trend this WC that I see some very nasty incidents occurring just after play is stopped or a shot taken. The offside call which negated the foot into the chest of the Dutch player in the Penalty area was worthy VC violent conduct and red as well!

BRONCKHORST trip of Deco appeared harsh but the FIGO head butt of Van Bommel could also be straight red.
BOULAHROUZ cracks Figo on the head with elbow did not look vicious but since he was responsible for getting Ronaldo out of the match taking a poke at Figo, Figo used that to get back at him for the earlier Ronaldo incident which may have been uppermost in the referee's mind as well, second yellow red card send off!

Deco's tackle of Heitinga after the dropball could easily been red and perhaps because the referee felt the Dutch should have given the ball back turned away from orangy card back to yellow . The dropball was the correct restart but a referee is NOT responsible for how it works out even if he thought the Dutch were going to return it! That really was the straw that turned this match into even an uglier mood!

Then the hold the ball by Deco, on the free kick for the Dutch was more a frustration of why was the deliberate handling on him awarded as opposed to delay the match. The Dutch player Cocu could also have been cautioned for the take down of throwing Deco to the ground

Tiago from Portugal may have appeared to have stepped in front of the Dutch player Van Bronckhorst to play ball but got bowled over by Van Bronckhorst who was just as frustrated as the rest of his teammates received a second yellow so 9 versus 9 we end the ordeal

When you review a match and wonder WHAT IF? It starts with responsibility. As officials we have a responsibility to apply the laws, be neutral, honest and fair. I think the referee in this match was all of those and more. What most people harp about is laying blame under the guise of constructive criticism or expressing an opinion of something that" in my opinion "they really do not understand.

This match started unravelling in ATTITUDE in MY opinion because the studs into Ronaldo that forced him from the game were not met with the red card only the yellow. Accepting decisions by the referee as a match condition is something players CAN choose to adapt for. The melee and scuffles that occurred in the later stages of the match were players intent on fighting for a berth in the WC FINALS by ANY means possible. Once the attitude has an excuse to run wild there are those who will follow its scent until the bitter end.

Speculation on man management and match management is bogus as these guys our supposed to be our best and brightest and those responsible for teaching them are either very bad or very good at what they do if you belive the crap that is printed or said, my own not withstanding.

You maintain control in a match by looking to the players and through asking, watching and listening decide how much of you and how much of them are on the same page? The application of the laws of the game and the need for a winner will be a struggle for any referee if one team thinks the one thing in their life that they might achieve is rapidly disappearing from a possible into a no chance that disappointment, frustration and willingness to step out of the normal constraints to solve it is what pressure and a lack of respect foster!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The difficulty he had was not going to the red early. Portugal lost a player to injury at cost of 2 yellow cards. A good exchange...

I watched with some friends in Austria and they were agast with the referee's leniency. Clamping the lid on things early has its merits and drawbacks. You saw the result of not doing it, my opinion...

Regards,