North America (CONCACAF) - Road to WC 1998

 

North America (CONCACAF)
Rodrigo Badilla   Peter Prendergast   Benito Archundia   Antonio Marrufo   Arturo Brizio Carter   Ramesh Ramdhan   Arturo Angeles   Esfandiar Baharmast	CRC (1957) JAM (1963) MEX (1966) MEX (1956) MEX (1956) TRI (1960)  USA (1953) USA (1954)

Clear winners in the two big nations, Jack Warner beginning to flex his political power and a farcical corruption scandal which denies Central America their man. 

Arturo Brizio Carter would return

Let's start with the two most significant nations, in the north of this region. Arturo Angeles was one of two referees who FIFA rejected after their first group match in 1994, and Iranian-American Esfandiar Baharmast got his chance and represented the United States in 1998. 

More than David Socha, Vincent Mauro and indeed Angeles, Baharmast was finally a referee from this politically very significant nation who had FIFA's trust for higher risk matches. 

Mexican refereeing at the World Cup deserves a chapter of its own, but there is no doubt that Arturo Brizio Carter's story could well have ended in 1994 - he famously failed in the impossibly challenging Nigeria - Italy game, and but for Roberto Baggio's late equaliser, might have been totally out for 1998.  

Mexican referees have been a consistent presence in the latter stages of the World Cup since 1970 - Peruvian-born Arturo Yamasaki was allowed to change nationality having represented his home country in 1966; he handled the famous West Germany - Italy semifinal in his 'home' country. 

Remember, Yamasaki was a naturalised Mexican. João Havelange would never have been elected FIFA President in May/1974, if not for the influence of a man called Guillermo Cañedo from Mexico. Havelange repaid him with refereeing appointments at the World Cup. 

Alfonso González Archundía ran the line to Jack Taylor in the 1974 final, Mario Rubio Vázquez handled Argentina - Brazil in 1982, and Antonio Márquez Ramírez got a semifinal in his home World Cup in 1986, after Mexico controversially lost to West Germany in the round previous. In Rubio Vázquez's case at least, the results were not that satisfying. 

Another naturalised Mexican, Edgardo Codesal, had his Uruguayan father (WC 1966 ref) in the committee behind him, but his appointment to the final was one made on merit in my humble opinion, even if it remains perhaps the controversial football match and refereeing performance of all time. 

By the time of Brizio Carter, Mexican refereeing was genuinely - not synthetically - at the top. In 1994, refereeing director Paolo Casarin considered him the best referee amongst the twenty-four strong squad in the United States. 

For 1998, FIFA wanted this high-class strict man back (it was hardly an argument against him with the instructions for this tournament) - ahead of Antonio Marrufo and Atlanta 1996-attendee Benito Archundia (his father was Taylor's 1974 linesman) who would have to wait until 2006 for his chance, behind law-enforcer Felipe Ramos Rizo. 

The selection of only three referees and none for the Central region is testament to Rodrigo Badilla being pencilled in there, but ultimately having been removed. The Costa Rican who showed excellence-in-leniency at the previous World Cup (and would have deserved the final), was being prepared for 1998 too.

He handled games in both the CONMEBOL and AFC region on the road to France, but it was events in the latter tie that proved his downfall. Badilla received a phone call promising a "$50 000 bribe" if he rigged the Japan - UAE match he was in charge of, in favour of the Emiratis. 

Assuming it to be a hoax, Badilla put the phone down (game finished 1-1). At a local referees association meeting, Badilla explained the situation to his Costa Rican colleagues - despite having not reported it to FIFA. This got back to the world governing body, Badilla was publicly admonished, and was out from World Cup 1998. A real shame!


Jack Warner had successfully lobbied for his compatriot Douglas James to run the line at World Cup 1994, but for 1998 he became more ambitious. Ramesh Ramdhan was the man in focus, and having earned his stripes at the necessary U-tournaments, and decisively probably Confed Cup 1997, made the cut. 

If Badilla had been confirmed, Warner might have been able to get a fifth man on the final list, Peter Prendergast. The Jamaican referee would have to wait for the next cycle, and Warner had to settle for one referee and two assistants from his Caribbean region this time. 

Referees:

Arturo Brizio Carter (MEX)

Ramesh Ramdhan (TRI)
Esfandiar Baharmast (USA)

Assistant Referees:

Luis Torres Zúñiga (CRC)

Reynaldo Salinas (HON)
Owen Powell (JAM)
Mere Gonzalez (TRI)