46 ARGCRO Belqola
Argentina deservedly beat Croatia by a single goal to finish atop Group H, in a match played by two teams who were already confirmed to have advanced before a ball kicked.
After a first performance of promise (GERUSA), Said Belqola was rightly entrusted with a higher risk second match. Both teams might have already qualified, but this tie was actually very challenging tie for the Moroccan referee. Belqola was up to the task - his next assignment would be a big one indeed.
After a first performance of promise (GERUSA), Said Belqola was rightly entrusted with a higher risk second match. Both teams might have already qualified, but this tie was actually very challenging tie for the Moroccan referee. Belqola was up to the task - his next assignment would be a big one indeed.
Big Decisions
The most problematic decision of the afternoon, though it seems our contemporaries didn't share this view, is the one in the clip below.
The argument one can make in the Moroccan ref's favour is that Gabriel Batistuta exaggerated the effects of the offence, and wasn't going to reach the ball anyway.
Perhaps, one could even argue that freekick + no sanction would be the most correct choice? However, given that were a freekick to be given, the world would decide that the referee had "bottled" a second yellow card, I would say that we can understand how no foul was the final decision.
Perhaps, one could even argue that freekick + no sanction would be the most correct choice? However, given that were a freekick to be given, the world would decide that the referee had "bottled" a second yellow card, I would say that we can understand how no foul was the final decision.
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There were also a couple of interesting penalty appeals in within a couple of second half minutes of each other, at 52' and 56'.
Both are actually credible penalty appeals, however at the top level, there is absolutely no expectation for their giving (whatsoever). Correct go-on from the referee on both occasions.
Managing the Game
This game did offer the same challenge as say the thriller between Netherlands and Mexico the day before (NEDMEX) for the referee, but Said Belqola was tested rather close to the limit here, and came out the other side of it intact.
Neither team really knew how much they wanted to win, the match was part tetchy, part cagey, but it was remarkable for the number of tricky foul situations that Belqola had to adjudicate upon. He changed his tactic for doing so as the match progressed.
In the opening stages, Belqola operated a rigorous and consistent foul selection. His hope would have been that this alone would be enough to steer the players towards a normal, football-orientated game - but it wasn't.
The game carried on, dynamic and choppy, and gave the Moroccan referee a pretty huge job to assess all these incidents on a consistently decent level. Belqola realised it would be impossible to keep up such a uniform line, and adapted his approach.
He hence moved to a slightly more risky, energy-conserving match practice. One could actually note a pretty high number of situations which were solved suboptimally with either a whistle or play on (rather than list I'd encourage that you watched the highlights ;)).
Ultimately, Belqola kept clear mistakes from which the players would lose trust in his officiating to a minimum, which was quite impressive given how much they tested him, even if the game had petered out by the academic final stages.
Neither team really knew how much they wanted to win, the match was part tetchy, part cagey, but it was remarkable for the number of tricky foul situations that Belqola had to adjudicate upon. He changed his tactic for doing so as the match progressed.
In the opening stages, Belqola operated a rigorous and consistent foul selection. His hope would have been that this alone would be enough to steer the players towards a normal, football-orientated game - but it wasn't.
The game carried on, dynamic and choppy, and gave the Moroccan referee a pretty huge job to assess all these incidents on a consistently decent level. Belqola realised it would be impossible to keep up such a uniform line, and adapted his approach.
He hence moved to a slightly more risky, energy-conserving match practice. One could actually note a pretty high number of situations which were solved suboptimally with either a whistle or play on (rather than list I'd encourage that you watched the highlights ;)).
Ultimately, Belqola kept clear mistakes from which the players would lose trust in his officiating to a minimum, which was quite impressive given how much they tested him, even if the game had petered out by the academic final stages.
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Personally, I really liked his diligent approach to sanctions and would actually consider both of his group stage games as something of a masterclass in card selection. Three of the seven cautions were for holding, something which FIFA likely ordered their referees to clamp down on, given it features in Volker Roth's technical report resume.
While the procedure for the Ariel Ortega caution of this variety was not perfect (unless I missed an advantage gesture and shout in Ortega's direction?), I appreciated the decision itself. Giving cards in a consistent way, in the hope it will mean you won't have to give more, later, is always somewhat brave if you ask me, and I think it payed off for Belqola in this instance.
Why I appreciated the Moroccan ref's card selection so much is that he perfectly, in my view anyway, was able to straddle between a clear line and giving tactically valuable cards to calm the match down, make it football-orientated. 46' - just after halftime - was the best example of that in this game, carding Zvonimir Boban for a reckless challenge.
Personally, I really liked his diligent approach to sanctions and would actually consider both of his group stage games as something of a masterclass in card selection. Three of the seven cautions were for holding, something which FIFA likely ordered their referees to clamp down on, given it features in Volker Roth's technical report resume.
While the procedure for the Ariel Ortega caution of this variety was not perfect (unless I missed an advantage gesture and shout in Ortega's direction?), I appreciated the decision itself. Giving cards in a consistent way, in the hope it will mean you won't have to give more, later, is always somewhat brave if you ask me, and I think it payed off for Belqola in this instance.
Why I appreciated the Moroccan ref's card selection so much is that he perfectly, in my view anyway, was able to straddle between a clear line and giving tactically valuable cards to calm the match down, make it football-orientated. 46' - just after halftime - was the best example of that in this game, carding Zvonimir Boban for a reckless challenge.
Unlike Gamal Al-Ghandour, Said Belqola did not possess great soft skills in interacting with the players, and relied a lot on a supercilious manner, actually the manner of a typical Mahgreb referee. I keenly contend that it was impressive that an African referee earned enough respect from the participants of this Balkano-Sudamericana game to succeed, as fair or unfair as the reality of that is.
Assistant Referees
Quiet game for Aristidis Chris Soldatos from South Africa and Mohamed Mansri as ARs; good performances.
Balance
Said Belqola passed the test again for my money - this match was a very genuine test for him in terms of foul recognition, perhaps the hardest game so far in that respect, but with his diligent approach to taking decisions, he did a good job in a game which for much of it tested it's referee pretty close to the limit.
Given that FIFA couldn't appoint Belqola before the quarterfinal, the Moroccan referee put forward a very strong resume to be retained in the final group of officials to be considered for the last eight matches - he showed the X-Factor necessary for that in my view (further thoughts will be charted in due course!).
Given that FIFA couldn't appoint Belqola before the quarterfinal, the Moroccan referee put forward a very strong resume to be retained in the final group of officials to be considered for the last eight matches - he showed the X-Factor necessary for that in my view (further thoughts will be charted in due course!).
| Said Belqola - 7 Aristidis Chris Soldatos - 7 Mohamed Mansri - 7 Lim Kee Chong MAR, RSA, TUN | Argentina 1-0 Croatia Group Stage 26 June |
 Ortega (23') - Lack of Respect (Holding) Ayala (35') - Tackle Vivas (69') - SPA (Holding) | Bilić (21') - SPA (Holding) Soldo (43') - SPA (Impeding) Boban (46') - Challenge Jarni (59') - Dissent |
African refereeing had one of its best ever World Cup representation in 1998 with Ghandour and, especially Belqola. They both impressed me at the time and, rewatching these videos, I understand more why Belqola ended up in the final. It was indeed the best opportunity to have an African referee in the final.
ReplyDeleteIn the same way, I considered 2018 the perfect time for to choose an Asian referee (Faghani), but he only got the "small final".