50 BRACHI Batta
Chile were unlucky to concede two goals after half-an-hour, circa which Brazil ran away with their all-South American match in the second round of the World Cup, winning an entertaining tie four-one.
A potentially delicate match to officiate, a task which was bestowed on the 'home' referee, Frenchman Marc Batta. With his characteristic respect-arousing manner, Batta did a good job, and kept the officiating far from the world's headlines.
Big Decisions
Two major decisions for the referee on this evening (the two goals Chile complained about were clearly onside), clip montage below.
+47' - correct penalty for Brazil, the goalkeeper unfairly impedes the progress of the attacker, I think the slightly delayed whistle was perfect, any more would have been too big of a gamble; DOGSO?
Well, given the more draconian last-man-ness of the rule's interpretation in the 1990s, those of a Chile persuasion might have felt fortunate to only see the yellow card, which remains the most sensible call I'd say.
54' - on the premise that Chile did not come back, sensible decision not to issue a second yellow card, and they didn't. In principle, that is a caution though, not least because he opened the cards on holding offence (after advantage).
Managing the Game
Marc Batta from Western Europe adapted well to this South American clash, and succeeded in delivering a potentially high risk encounter.
There is one huge asset which was Marc Batta's key attribute guiding his games to successful conclusions - his manner. Despite not being the tallest referee at the tournament, the Frenchman gave a very secure and confident impression throughout; the players quite visibly trusted this man to handle their matches (see 28').
However, the referee started with a very lenient approach to assessing tackles and challenges, nobody really seemed to care very much, but three rather clear cautions were ignored in the first twenty minutes (2', 15', 19'). At least in my opinion, he risked quite a lot with such a tactic.
However, the referee started with a very lenient approach to assessing tackles and challenges, nobody really seemed to care very much, but three rather clear cautions were ignored in the first twenty minutes (2', 15', 19'). At least in my opinion, he risked quite a lot with such a tactic.
Only in one incident in the first half did it seem possible the match might 'catch fire', +49'. Batta didn't instantly reach for the yellow card after Leonardo's challenge, and Chile players mobbed the referee who eventually did book the Brazil player. At least one Chile should have joined him having crowded Batta!
In the second half, with the game lost and won, Batta changed to a more pedantic approach, which worked well. The end had the potential to get a bit messy, but the French referee managed to navigate those minutes just okay.
Given that he ignored clear attacking freekicks (89', +91'), one which was seconds before, it was a bit cheap to flash a tactically valuable caution at Cafu, not consistent with his previous line. Cards can add up, of course!
However, that is really peanuts in the end - Batta delivered the game, pretty impressively to be fair; it was Brazil - Chile in the knockout stage after all!
Given that he ignored clear attacking freekicks (89', +91'), one which was seconds before, it was a bit cheap to flash a tactically valuable caution at Cafu, not consistent with his previous line. Cards can add up, of course!
However, that is really peanuts in the end - Batta delivered the game, pretty impressively to be fair; it was Brazil - Chile in the knockout stage after all!
Assistant Referees
As aforementioned, the first and fourth Brazil goals which were the subject of complaint were clearly onside - the latter well seen by Jacques Poudevigne, but the first not by Owen Powell, but indeed Batta himself.
An odd tournament directive that from freekicks, when the referee signalled them across, the ARs were to patrol the goalline and referees monitor the offside. Would be interested if anyone knows more than I!
There was one slightly amusing scene between Batta and Powell at 31', the Jamaican was right and the referee eventually got the hint, but in general a good performance by him and a busier Poudevigne who had the near side.
An odd tournament directive that from freekicks, when the referee signalled them across, the ARs were to patrol the goalline and referees monitor the offside. Would be interested if anyone knows more than I!
There was one slightly amusing scene between Batta and Powell at 31', the Jamaican was right and the referee eventually got the hint, but in general a good performance by him and a busier Poudevigne who had the near side.
Balance
Good performance by Marc Batta - he and his team got the big calls right, the approach selected by the Frenchman served the game well. After two high profile matches, the progression of his nation's team ended his World Cup after the second.
| Marc Batta - 7 Jacques Poudevigne - 7 Owen Powell - 7 Pirom Un-Prasert FRA, FRA, JAM | Brazil 4-1 Chile Round of Sixteen 27 June |
 Leonardo (+50') - Challenge Cafu (+91') - Challenge | Fuentes (36') - SPA (Holding) Tapia (+47') - SPA (Challenge) |
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