26 BELMEX Dallas

 

Up two goals and a man in the infancy of the second half, Belgium were pulled back to a two-all draw which gave Mexico the upper hand in a very tight three-way Group E race to progress. 

Hugh Dallas was the referee – on a baking hot Bordeaux afternoon, the Scotsman got the two (well, three) big decisions spot on, and ensured the game passed through besides. 

Big Decisions

The first sanction Hugh Dallas issued at a major international tournament was a red card – Pável Pardo was ejected for a dangerous tackle. Correctly so, as German television focus displays. 

This was a really weird situation because no Belgium players seemed that infuriated by the (very bad) foul, nor were Mexico players visibly enraged at the sending off their teammate. Time kind of stopped, as Dallas took a moment to make his mind up, before giving Pardo his marching orders. 

However, Dallas was right on the spot to instantly award a Mexico a penalty – correctly so – for Gert Verheyen’s foul. He was less quick to issue the sanction, the correct one being the red card, Mexico were through on goal, even if probably everyone’s first thought (in 1998) was “DOGSO” for this kind of scene. 

The Scottish referee got his notebook out about twenty seconds after having blown for the penalty, and the Mexico players mobbed him as he did so. While Dallas solved the situation well, it would have been better if he’d have booked one of them.

The significance of Jorge Campos’ presence passed me by at first, goalkeeper protesting a penalty call, so what – until I realised, of course, he was the keeper at the other end! Definitely, Campos should have been told to go back with a yellow card. 

Dallas used a ‘loose’ red card to eject Pardo, so reaching for the notebook instead shows that he was not sure straight away that he should send off Verheyen. Were the Mexico players even ‘successful’ in their mobbing given the final decision? Who knows, but without doubt, the referee's decision(s) were bang on. 

Managing the Game

A searingly hot afternoon, and a chaotic end-to-end match, Hugh Dallas had a plan for what he was going to do in this tie – conserve his energy when reasonably possible. 

Probably not noticeable to many, Dallas really wanted to save himself, and ensure he always had sth in the tank, to keep a hand on proceedings in this encounter. This was evident in terms of gestures (body tension in giving cards), and his tactical approach to sanctions.  

Especially in the first half, his tactical choices were essentially freekick only (2’, 20’, 32’, +46’) or a yellow card, for the isolated situation at 39’. Actually, this self-aware tactic worked very well, and he didn’t cave to growing Mexico pressure after the red card either, building to a Cuauhtémoc Blanco dissent yellow after he blew for halftime. 

The second half showing was a little weaker - missed foul at 64’, fell for a dive at 67’, clear SPA ignored at 87’ – but actually, those are more minor details. I would also highlight his excellent soft skills in the warning prior to the penalty execution, really pleasant to see a referee so at ease in player conversation. 

Assistant Referees

Not the strongest performance from the men on the line this time – Mohamed Al-Musawi was wrong to flag at 18’, and at 31’ he ought to have been in a better position, even if we should support him in a very tight situation. 

Dallas’ British Isles compatriot Edward Foley did not perform that well either. He was correct to flag an important offside at 64’, but wrong to do so at 76’. Still, neither performance failed the test. 

Balance

Good performance by Hugh Dallas in which he got the big calls spot on, operated a self-aware approach, and displayed sophisticated soft skills – a sonorous second appointment should follow. 

Hugh Dallas - 7 Edward Foley - 6 Mohamed Al-Musawi - 6 Javier Castrilli SCO, IRL, OMA	Belgium 2-2 Mexico Group Stage 20 June
Vidovic (69') - SPA (Holding)	Ramírez (39') - SPA (Impeding) Blanco (c.1H) - Dissent
Verheyen (55') - DOGSO (Foul)	Pardo (28') - Serious Foul Play