22 FRAKSA Brizio Carter
France defeated Saudi Arabia by a four-nothing scoreline to ensure progress past the group stage of their own World Cup; Carlos Alberto Parreira, victorious at the last World Cup, was sacked before completing his team's matches just four years later.
Act II of what came to be Red Thursday was, perhaps unsurprisingly, presided over by Arturo Brizio Carter. The referee from Mexico issued two red cards, one inside the first twenty minutes, the other to the host nation's star player, but unlike the man he followed on this day, showed to be a high class referee over the ninety minutes.
Big Decisions
The most important call for this game was the sending off inside twenty minutes of Mohammed al-Khilaiwi. Broadly judged as wrong at the time (as it would be now!), I want to put you in the mind of the Mexican referee as he took this decision.
As I see it, there are two types of Serious Foul Play offence, the first being the classic dangerous studs contact, second being tackle as an attack, almost a violent conduct if you will. Arturo Brizio Carter paid great attention to the second class (as well) in his games, as we learnt at World Cup 1994.
If you will, his logic was: red mist, equals red card. And while I would judge the actual contact made by al-Khilaiwi as (darker) reckless, it is hard to argue that this tackle wasn't a bit crazy (the French commentator's reaction shows that, I'd say), flying in, with zero regard for the opponent's safety.
This isn't my favourite call ever, especially as the referee turned a self-preservational blind eye to a much more dangerous tackle later on (81'), but in the end, I would say we should support Brizio Carter's ejection.
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As I see it, there are two types of Serious Foul Play offence, the first being the classic dangerous studs contact, second being tackle as an attack, almost a violent conduct if you will. Arturo Brizio Carter paid great attention to the second class (as well) in his games, as we learnt at World Cup 1994.
If you will, his logic was: red mist, equals red card. And while I would judge the actual contact made by al-Khilaiwi as (darker) reckless, it is hard to argue that this tackle wasn't a bit crazy (the French commentator's reaction shows that, I'd say), flying in, with zero regard for the opponent's safety.
This isn't my favourite call ever, especially as the referee turned a self-preservational blind eye to a much more dangerous tackle later on (81'), but in the end, I would say we should support Brizio Carter's ejection.
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If sending off al-Khilaiwi was most important for this specific game, then without doubt, the imperatively crucial call for the tournament as a whole, is the famous red card given to Zinedine Zidane! The France star stamped on Fuad Anwar in the mid-part of the second half, and would not return to the field before the quarterfinal from red card suspension.
Nowadays, Zidane's stamp would be assessed as (way?) too trifling for a red card, especially looking at the replays - the contact was minimal, after all! But the live sequence shows best how deliberate a stamp this was, any lack of impact was an accident on Zidane's part, at least.
Brizio Carter was quite right to send him off. The referee showed remarkable guts, perceiving the situation before instantly issuing the red card to Zidane. Sure, it would have been easier and less problematic just to ignore the whole scene - but that is the whole point, isn't it?
Nowadays, Zidane's stamp would be assessed as (way?) too trifling for a red card, especially looking at the replays - the contact was minimal, after all! But the live sequence shows best how deliberate a stamp this was, any lack of impact was an accident on Zidane's part, at least.
Brizio Carter was quite right to send him off. The referee showed remarkable guts, perceiving the situation before instantly issuing the red card to Zidane. Sure, it would have been easier and less problematic just to ignore the whole scene - but that is the whole point, isn't it?
Having the nerve to stand up for what is fair and right should count for something in football refereeing, especially when so many wouldn't. At least from me - deep respect to Arturo Brizio Carter for this decision.
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In addition to the two reds given, both cautions in the second half might well have been red too!
52' - for DOGSO. If you freeze the images on the frame where Sami al-Jaber is fouled, you will see a clear DOGSO-position. I think it is more complicated than that for two reasons:
a) a couple of seconds later, the situation doesn't look like a DOGSO at all; of course I would back a RC call myself, but the general public / FIFA would not appreciate an ejection from this sitaution, especially given the nature of the foul.
b) al-Jaber's movement is slightly weird, it seems he is quite desperate to get across the defender (no foul or anything), perhaps even more so in the immediacy than reaching the ball
-> regardless of the most technically correct solution (tricky scene anyway), yellow card is undoubtedly the more sensible call here
52' - for DOGSO. If you freeze the images on the frame where Sami al-Jaber is fouled, you will see a clear DOGSO-position. I think it is more complicated than that for two reasons:
a) a couple of seconds later, the situation doesn't look like a DOGSO at all; of course I would back a RC call myself, but the general public / FIFA would not appreciate an ejection from this sitaution, especially given the nature of the foul.
b) al-Jaber's movement is slightly weird, it seems he is quite desperate to get across the defender (no foul or anything), perhaps even more so in the immediacy than reaching the ball
-> regardless of the most technically correct solution (tricky scene anyway), yellow card is undoubtedly the more sensible call here
81' - for SFP. In short, this should be a red card, studs to the calf is very painful / dangerous, especially with a considerable (if not high) amount of force: and al-Jaber should have been sent off for it.
However, I empathise with Brizio Carter (and if I am allowed an analogy, I am distinctly reminded of a penalty appeal from ITAUSA at WC 2006 after the third red). Another hugely courageous call, especially for this situation (looks innocuous enough for many in 1998), would have been disastrous for the Mexican referee.
We actually saw this pragmatic side to Brizio Carter at World Cup 1994 in ignoring a clear DOGSO to save his skin. I genuinely wouldn't blame him too much for this one; if I thought FIFA would support him in giving it amid the wider picture of this performance, then it would be different.
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Otherwise, there were some interesting penalty / freekick appeals in this game!
18' - it does look a holding foul on the attacker, doesn't it; what followed some seconds later took the focus elsewhere
27' - included for potential DOGSO purposes; it does seem as though Laurent Blanc unfairly charges al-Jaber, but given he can go on, no foul is the correct call here
18' - it does look a holding foul on the attacker, doesn't it; what followed some seconds later took the focus elsewhere
27' - included for potential DOGSO purposes; it does seem as though Laurent Blanc unfairly charges al-Jaber, but given he can go on, no foul is the correct call here
40' - there is some impeding here so a penalty wouldn't even be too bad a call I think! Much more sensible to play on though
85' - correct play on, penalty would be a (big) mistake
85' - correct play on, penalty would be a (big) mistake
Managing the Game
Arturo Brizio Carter gave us a really good rendition of how sensible law-enforcer refereeing can positively contribute to the match with this performance.
Despite his strict style, Brizio Carter's friendly and positive radiation throughout the match presented himself as football's partner, who was genuinely enjoying himself on the field of play. Firm yet reasonable and relaxed, this was amongst the best leadership style of the competition so far (facial expressions especially).
I found his card choices okay. I am not really sure that 7' and 35' were more SPA than 10' and 14', with perhaps the key difference being the more visible cynicism in the two offences which he did caution for.
The game felt slightly chaotic at the moment al-Khilaiwi flew in for his red card tackle. With different refereeing - card at 10', clear warning at 12', card at 14', yellow after advantage at 15' - I ask open-endedly, perhaps it would have been different?
Despite his strict style, Brizio Carter's friendly and positive radiation throughout the match presented himself as football's partner, who was genuinely enjoying himself on the field of play. Firm yet reasonable and relaxed, this was amongst the best leadership style of the competition so far (facial expressions especially).
I found his card choices okay. I am not really sure that 7' and 35' were more SPA than 10' and 14', with perhaps the key difference being the more visible cynicism in the two offences which he did caution for.
The game felt slightly chaotic at the moment al-Khilaiwi flew in for his red card tackle. With different refereeing - card at 10', clear warning at 12', card at 14', yellow after advantage at 15' - I ask open-endedly, perhaps it would have been different?
Somewhat amusingly for a law-enforcer referee, it was his very sophisticated manner and presence which counted more in his favour over the ninety minutes than his (non-big) decisions in general.
Assistant Referees
Some interesting decisions for the Honduran member of this CONCACAF trio. Reynaldo Salinas incorrectly denied France promising attacks at 22' and 41' with offside flags, replays showed. Luis Torres Zúñiga's performance is harder to assess, given the lack of replays, wideshots on his side. All of the goals were correctly played onside.
Balance
FIFA supported Arturo Brizio Carter's two red cards (the second worthy of admiration), and especially with the soft skills he presented in this match, recommended himself for further high(er) tasks in this tournament as a top class referee. FIFA could depend on him for the biggest matches.
| Arturo Brizio Carter - 7 Reynaldo Salinas - 6 Luis Torres Zúñiga - 7 Alberto Tejada Noriega MEX, HON, CRC | France 4-0 Saudi Arabia Group Stage 18 June |
 Blanc (35') - SPA (Holding) Lizarazu (52') - SPA (Tackle) | al-Shahrani (7') - SPA (Challenge) al-Jaber (81') - Challenge |
 Zidane (70') - Violent Conduct | al-Khilaiwi (19') - Serious Foul Play |
Excellent Brizio Cárter, one of my favourite referees of all time.
ReplyDeleteBrizio was indeed an excellent referee, who never hesitated to make big decisions. However, he was one of those referees who were looking for every opportunity to send off someone (we all remember the wrong red card that ended his first World Cup in the USA).
ReplyDelete