13 JAMCRO Melo Pereira
An emotional World Cup debut for Jamaica and Croatia, if in altogether different circumstances, in which the talented European team came out three-one victors.
Vítor Melo Pereira was a smart appointment for my money, this was the first major tournament match as well for the Portuguese referee. Not a 100% convincing performance from Melo Pereira, but he did enough to lead the game to a good conclusion.
Vítor Melo Pereira was a smart appointment for my money, this was the first major tournament match as well for the Portuguese referee. Not a 100% convincing performance from Melo Pereira, but he did enough to lead the game to a good conclusion.
Big Decisions
A harder game on a management than calls level, but with the game de facto decided Melo Pereira missed a clear penalty to Croatia - despite running away from goal (which often fools even referees at the top level), Davor Šuker was clearly tripped at 80'. The fact that nobody on the pitch even seemed to care, let alone the match context, mean that this is not a clear match error - but a mistake nonetheless.
Managing the Game
Melo Pereira was forced to use his cards a lot earlier than probably he expected to - Zvonimir Soldo had his name taken for an extremely blatant deliberate handling in the first five minutes, and deservedly so.
The conflict scene at 17' is surely quite remarkable - I would charge the Portuguese referee with failing in it on two counts:
The conflict scene at 17' is surely quite remarkable - I would charge the Portuguese referee with failing in it on two counts:
- he should really warn both participants of the contretemps, and having visibly called them over, had to insist that they came to him even when they didn't hear / ignored his initial gestures
- it is understandable that Melo Pereira wants to act quickly and decisively in order to ensure he doesn't lose control, but I think he gives an impression that is way too hectic, for instance you can see Davor Šuker go to him and tell the ref to calm down(!)
-> Abdulrahman Al-Zaid actually did something very similar in his game (PARBUL), but in my opinion the Saudi ref was much more successful; what Al-Zaid did felt appropriate, whereas Portuguese referee didn't at all radiate control (both over himself and the match). However, in the end it was a fairly trivial moment for the game as a whole.
-> Abdulrahman Al-Zaid actually did something very similar in his game (PARBUL), but in my opinion the Saudi ref was much more successful; what Al-Zaid did felt appropriate, whereas Portuguese referee didn't at all radiate control (both over himself and the match). However, in the end it was a fairly trivial moment for the game as a whole.
The game became more challenging at the start of the second half. Melo Pereira might have used a couple of opportunities in order to stamp his authority on the game - SPA at 53', tackle at 56' - but decided not to issue a caution for either offence.
He then came in with a yellow card which felt slightly harsh (59'), overlooked a late foul collision which drew blood (60'), and then missed an extremely agricultural studs-on-chest offence in jumping for a ball (62').
A deliberate charging foul some seconds later at 62' was enough to initiate a mass confrontation, and when the director cuts back from a replay the perpetrator of that deliberate foul, Dean Burton, is seen pushing an opponent in an aggressive manner.
That led to the highlight of this performance - Melo Pereira brilliantly, with very clear gestures, takes Burton to one side, and the actual caution procedure is excellent. It would be even better if the Portuguese ref didn't kind of escape the scene afterwards, but no matter, he sent the perfect signal here notwithstanding.
After a couple of minutes (deliberate foul by Šuker who was then waived back on at an inopportune moment) the game returned to calm, which the third Croatia goal ascertained, the Portuguese ref had succeeded with his actions at 62', very well-played there.
He then came in with a yellow card which felt slightly harsh (59'), overlooked a late foul collision which drew blood (60'), and then missed an extremely agricultural studs-on-chest offence in jumping for a ball (62').
A deliberate charging foul some seconds later at 62' was enough to initiate a mass confrontation, and when the director cuts back from a replay the perpetrator of that deliberate foul, Dean Burton, is seen pushing an opponent in an aggressive manner.
That led to the highlight of this performance - Melo Pereira brilliantly, with very clear gestures, takes Burton to one side, and the actual caution procedure is excellent. It would be even better if the Portuguese ref didn't kind of escape the scene afterwards, but no matter, he sent the perfect signal here notwithstanding.
After a couple of minutes (deliberate foul by Šuker who was then waived back on at an inopportune moment) the game returned to calm, which the third Croatia goal ascertained, the Portuguese ref had succeeded with his actions at 62', very well-played there.
Assistant Referees
Quite a busy evening for ARs Nicolae Grigorescu and Jacques Poudevigne, even if most of their calls (especially the Frenchman's) were not too challenging.
The most important flag of the evening was by Grigorescu at 12' - very tight, and I even have a sneaky feeling that Dean Burton was onside (look at the legs and the lines on the pitch). Romanian played a very good onside at 81', though lacked concentration at 4'.
The most important flag of the evening was by Grigorescu at 12' - very tight, and I even have a sneaky feeling that Dean Burton was onside (look at the legs and the lines on the pitch). Romanian played a very good onside at 81', though lacked concentration at 4'.
Balance
In general a good evening for Vítor Melo Pereira, he ensured that he won the evening with 62', but the man from Portugal did leave some doubts including missing a late penalty, hence the lower (6) mark. Second appointment should follow.
| Vítor Melo Pereira - 6 Nicolae Grigorescu - 7 Jacques Poudevigne - 7 Bernd Heynemann POR, ROU, FRA | Jamaica 1-3 Croatia Group Stage 14 June |
 Burton (62') - Aggressive Behaviour | Soldo (5') - SPA (Handling) Simić (59') - Tackle |
Comments
Post a Comment