34 FRARSA Ruiz
France's ultimate pantomime villain act was completed in their final game - they played poorly against weaker opponents and were eliminated without much of a fight, but they weren't quite bad enough to allow host nation South Africa a fairytale run to the knockout stage. If Katlego Mphela had hit the net, and not the post, early in the second half, it might have been very different.
Óscar Ruiz's first World Cup match was a host's affair, and as it happened so was his last. I'm not sure of the French equivalent of it doesn't rain, it pours but Yoann Gourcuff's first half dismissal for a stray elbow fell into such a category - Ruiz was on the spot and Gourcuff correctly had to go. If one had to describe the Colombian's performance in a word, one could do worse than good, but I would use experienced.
Let's start with the game's memorable incident, before looking back at some other really important calls the officials had to take.
Gourcuff wasn't to know that elbows were a strong focus of FIFA's recent debriefs (after previous games), but with that in mind his leading with the elbow foul was incredibly stupid. Actually, Gourcuff just got impatient after a bit of pinball in the air and obviously thought - "f*ck it, I'm reaching the ball no matter what here".
Key Match Incidents
25' - Red Card to Yoann GourcuffGourcuff wasn't to know that elbows were a strong focus of FIFA's recent debriefs (after previous games), but with that in mind his leading with the elbow foul was incredibly stupid. Actually, Gourcuff just got impatient after a bit of pinball in the air and obviously thought - "f*ck it, I'm reaching the ball no matter what here".
Leading with the elbow, excessive force -> red card. How do you think this incident would be assessed nowadays?
Ruiz's presentation was rather poor - whistle tone, issuing the card while Gourcuff wasn't looking. I liked that he took a small second to fully compute what happened (English way :)) before taking the very big call right. This call was not harsh, it was simply correct!
Other KMIs
Other KMIs
12' - Potential Penalty to France
Ball deflects from a short distance onto an arm in a natural position. Ruiz has a very good insight angle and correctly gestures to play on.
20' - Foul before 0-1 goal?
Ball deflects from a short distance onto an arm in a natural position. Ruiz has a very good insight angle and correctly gestures to play on.
20' - Foul before 0-1 goal?
Bongani Khumalo simply judges the flight of the ball better than William Gallas, who then tries to make a back for his opponent. It would have been a travesty if this goal was disallowed!
58' - Potential Penalty to South Africa (Violent Conduct)?
It does seem as though Diaby strikes his opponent in the face, fairly discreetly, to prevent him from reaching the ball. Hard to be sure but it does seem as though a penalty and at least a caution should have been issued here.
58' - Potential Penalty to South Africa (Violent Conduct)?
It does seem as though Diaby strikes his opponent in the face, fairly discreetly, to prevent him from reaching the ball. Hard to be sure but it does seem as though a penalty and at least a caution should have been issued here.
62' - Potential Penalty to South Africa (DOGSO)?
This is a clear penalty! Gaël Clichy carelessly trips Katlego Mphela who gets wrong side of the France defender and is decisively tripped as he tries to shoot a second later. This is also an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Imagine if this situation happened with Mphela ten rather than a couple of yards away from the goalkeeper - it would be (seen as) a very obvious infringement.
I guess there is some reason to back the referee there?
86' - Serious Foul Play by Steven Pienaar?
Ten years on, I genuinely don't think we really see fouls like this anymore? Pienaar's jump into Franck Ribèry's legs is lazy and very dangerous and principally I would like to see players who tackle in this manner be ejected.
I guess there is some reason to back the referee there?
86' - Serious Foul Play by Steven Pienaar?
Ten years on, I genuinely don't think we really see fouls like this anymore? Pienaar's jump into Franck Ribèry's legs is lazy and very dangerous and principally I would like to see players who tackle in this manner be ejected.
That being said, Ribèry has very little weight on the leg which Pienaar hits, and the result is a foul whose impacts are (by luck) simply careless. Pienaar should definitely have been booked though.
Approach
I really liked Ruiz's understated and undemonstrative approach and impression. His use of presence was very well-considered (33', +46'), mistakes in foul detection rare (45').
Cautioning Abou Diaby at 66' was the optimal moment to open the cards, after advantage - Ruiz turns around after the ball was kicked, suggesting the officials lost the Frenchman in the play following. Sanctioning Diaby's tactical push a few minutes later with a yellow was a very good choice, even if a bit reactive. Missed caution for simulation at 72'?
Really solid work by assistants Abraham González (38', 69') and Humberto Clavijo (51') in crucial situations, well done.
Balance
Really solid work by assistants Abraham González (38', 69') and Humberto Clavijo (51') in crucial situations, well done.
Balance
Colombian trio were unlucky not to receive a third appointment after two strong showings. Óscar Ruiz came into the tournament with a small injury which made FIFA more apprehensive about giving him more matches, and given the strong progress of South American nations in this era of confederational neutrality; Ruiz finished as the odd man out in future assignments.
A knockout stage inset would have been well-deserved, but in any case Óscar Ruiz must be proud of what he achieved in a career of remarkable durability and success. Pierluigi Collina and Byron Moreno were at his first World Cup, Viktor Kassai and Ravšan Ėrmatov were at his last!
A knockout stage inset would have been well-deserved, but in any case Óscar Ruiz must be proud of what he achieved in a career of remarkable durability and success. Pierluigi Collina and Byron Moreno were at his first World Cup, Viktor Kassai and Ravšan Ėrmatov were at his last!
| Óscar Ruiz - 8,3 Abraham González - 8,4 Humberto Clavijo - 8,4 Héctor Baldassi Ricardo Casas COL – ARG | France 1-2 South Africa Group Stage 22 June |
 Diaby (70') - SPA (Pushing) | |
 Gourcuff (25') - Violent Conduct (Striking) |
IMO, the RC would be rather wrong nowadays, because there is no clear hitting movement, and the arm is used as a tool, not as a weapon (indicator: the hand is open and not a fist).
ReplyDeleteI am also not sure, whether the RC was the expected decision in 2010. Maybe expected by FIFA as you mention, but probably not by the players and the audience.
Ruiz was a bit unfortunate indeed, his performances were solid. I found his disciplinary a bit lacking here, Diaby should have been cautioned way earlier and for me 62' should be penalty + RC, but it is a rather weird case where most would claim accident and such a (crucial) call would only bring him criticism.
ReplyDeleteRuiz was certainly one of the better World Cup referees in his three tournaments and leagues ahead of what his "successor" Roldán offered since then.