60 PARESP Batres
Spain were as close to being eliminated here, as at any point in their World Cup 2010 run - not least when at nil-nil, mid-way through the second half, Gerard Piqué foolishly conceded a penalty for holding back Óscar Cardozo, and the Paraguay striker stepped up to take it himself.
That set off minutes of madness - Cardozo missed, then Spain got a penalty, scored, had to take it again, missed, and then should have had another penalty themselves. What drama - and the game remained scoreless! David Villa won it for Spain eight minutes from the end, and the European champions had navigated a potential banana skin.
This Hispanic duel had a Central American referee - Carlos Batres from Guatemala was the man in charge. Batres had an indifferent group stage (ALGSVN - ITANZL), and his designation here was somewhat surprising and logical (CONCACAF) at the same time.
If confederational neutrality hadn't existed, I reckon that the appointed fourth official would have been in charge - FIFA wanted to keep Mexican referee Benito Archundia as a totally save option for the final, especially given the high probability on 30/June that it would be a Euro-South American duel. Batres got this one in his stead.
If confederational neutrality hadn't existed, I reckon that the appointed fourth official would have been in charge - FIFA wanted to keep Mexican referee Benito Archundia as a totally save option for the final, especially given the high probability on 30/June that it would be a Euro-South American duel. Batres got this one in his stead.
In a game memorable chiefly for that passage of play, Batres avoided scandalous mistakes, but should have given a red card when he showed yellow, and with the help of his assistant, another penalty. That aside, he reffed it pretty well, and his teammates were stellar.
Let's start by looking at the game's decisive moments.
Let's start by looking at the game's decisive moments.
Key Match Incidents
40' - Goal for Paraguay disallowed (AR2)
A simply excellent call by Carlos Pastrana! He brilliantly kept his eye not only on scoring-Hector Valdez, but also Óscar Cardozo - the latter's attempt to head the ball put him in an active offside position. In 2010 too, with rather scant help from his referee (not Batres fault! Just the way it was), Pastrana showed a real eagle eye to get this call right - well done (+ 0,2)!
FIFA assessed this decision as correct.
FIFA assessed this decision as correct.
(the next passage of the game is succinctly summarised in this video)
A really good call by Carlos Batres - Piqué clearly holds Cardozo under the ball, and the ref is right on the spot. Penalty, and a yellow card for the Spain defender. I find watching the caution procedure in 0.25 speed akin to poetry in motion: players try to confront him, but Batres doesn't care, he's got his man, and stares him the eyes the whole time. Eerily brilliant!
Should the penalty be retaken?
1) according to today's application of the LotG, yes. Iker Casillas had neither of his two feet on the line when Cardozo struck his penalty. However, given the rather weak nature of the kick / easy save, I think people generally were quite happy to accept this save as legal.
2) on the encroachment front, Batres could have ordered a retake according to the LotG (see this video). This was highlighted in the media because of the call some minutes later at the other end.
2) on the encroachment front, Batres could have ordered a retake according to the LotG (see this video). This was highlighted in the media because of the call some minutes later at the other end.
FIFA were quite explicit that for more minor encroachment offences, the referees should not order penalties to be retaken. Whether this constituted minor encroachment is a subjective call, but in my view, the right one.
59' - Penalty to Spain (+ YC for Antolín Alcaraz)
Another correct penalty call - David Villa is clearly tripped by Alcaraz, and Spain were given a spot kick less than two-and-a-half minutes after conceding one themselves!
Another correct penalty call - David Villa is clearly tripped by Alcaraz, and Spain were given a spot kick less than two-and-a-half minutes after conceding one themselves!
DOGSO?
Actually, I do see what Batres (subconsciously) thought here - Villa rather played for the penalty, than making a clear run towards scoring a goal, so I can understand why the referee's first thought was not "DOGSO".
However, given Villa's position and proximity to goal, in 1-on-1, there isn't much room for doubt here - Alcaraz should have been shown the red card, and Batres erred in not doing so.
CRUCIAL MISTAKE
61' - Penalty for Spain reordered
Xabi Alonso scored, but was made to take it again after his teammates encroached in the penalty area. While some journalists described this decision as "too harsh", one suspects that they forgot that the arc can't be stepped in other before penalties taken.
With that in mind, the encroachment here was of a much clearer nature than 57', and I share FIFA's view that Batres was correct to order a retake here.
Xabi Alonso scored, but was made to take it again after his teammates encroached in the penalty area. While some journalists described this decision as "too harsh", one suspects that they forgot that the arc can't be stepped in other before penalties taken.
With that in mind, the encroachment here was of a much clearer nature than 57', and I share FIFA's view that Batres was correct to order a retake here.
61' - Potential penalty to Spain
Xabi Alonso's second penalty was saved by goalkeeper Justo Villar (legally, feet on the line)! In the ensuing penalty area pinball, Villar takes down Cesc Fabregas in trying to reach for the ball - Spain should have been awarded another penalty!
Assistant referee Carlos Pastrana should have detected this foul - in the Honduran's defence, this must have been an extremely stressful moment for him. Probably, his mind was occupied with getting back to the corner flag from the penalty position; he blinked and missed it.
Of course controlling the penalty area is Batres' responsibility too, but this time I simply don't see the scope for Batres to see that (if not for having X-ray vision :)). Pastrana should have helped him out. FIFA determined this is a clear mistake, and said that Pastrana should have shown more "alertness".
Xabi Alonso's second penalty was saved by goalkeeper Justo Villar (legally, feet on the line)! In the ensuing penalty area pinball, Villar takes down Cesc Fabregas in trying to reach for the ball - Spain should have been awarded another penalty!
Assistant referee Carlos Pastrana should have detected this foul - in the Honduran's defence, this must have been an extremely stressful moment for him. Probably, his mind was occupied with getting back to the corner flag from the penalty position; he blinked and missed it.
Of course controlling the penalty area is Batres' responsibility too, but this time I simply don't see the scope for Batres to see that (if not for having X-ray vision :)). Pastrana should have helped him out. FIFA determined this is a clear mistake, and said that Pastrana should have shown more "alertness".
CRUCIAL MISTAKE
+91' - Potential second yellow card for Jonathan Santana
In my view Santana should definitely have walked for this kick to the face challenge on Sergio Ramos - even having been cautioned minutes earlier, a straight red card wouldn't have been out of the question.
However, the trend at this tournament was to assessed failed attempts to kick the ball (even with results like this) en bloc as careless. Batres did that too.
However, the trend at this tournament was to assessed failed attempts to kick the ball (even with results like this) en bloc as careless. Batres did that too.
Approach
Carlos Batres' decisions were very consistent in this match. His disciplinary control, besides the two penalty scenes, sanctioned four clear offences which deserved a booking. Punishing a clear tactical foul, a blatant dissenting action, expediently stopping a quick freekick and a stray reckless elbow (after ITANZL too) all sent very good signals to the players.
The biggest issue with this performance was the lack of presentation in it. In terms of either tactical fouls (10', 19', 28') - understandably so - and heavier (28', 32', 39', 44', 53') infractions, all Batres could really do was whistle the fouls themselves, not sending any tactical signals.
The biggest issue with this performance was the lack of presentation in it. In terms of either tactical fouls (10', 19', 28') - understandably so - and heavier (28', 32', 39', 44', 53') infractions, all Batres could really do was whistle the fouls themselves, not sending any tactical signals.
He did warn Édgar Barreto for an excessive holding at 32', but doing so caught him out positionally, and Leonel Leal had to increase his visual control to detect the next offence in the Spain attacking third. Perhaps, he had tired by the end, not blowing for clear fouls at 82', 89' - from the latter, Paraguay very nearly equalised.
I really liked his genuine hard man optic - there are lots of referees who play to that, but in reality it is rather a façade. The way Batres determinedly stared down players at 30' and 57' was actually quite remarkable; for better or worse, you simply don't see that anymore in elite football refereeing.
Assistants: Leonel Leal showed to be an excellent team member, helping Batres out on a number of occasions (32', 39', 76') - very good (+ 0,1). In terms of offsides, besides the brilliant call at 40', both the Costa Rican and Carlos Pastrana were pretty quiet.
Overall
Carlos Batres refereed this game well. On the highest level, he showed some deficiencies in managing the game, but his strong presence, consistent calls and awarding two correct penalties made this performance a satisfying one on the whole (8,3 level) - even if Alcaraz should have gone.
Had Spain lost after the two big mistakes, it might have been different. Carlos Pastrana missing a further penalty for Spain was one of them, but his offside call to correctly deny Paraguay a goal was real excellence - and made a huge difference to the result of the tie.
Had Spain lost after the two big mistakes, it might have been different. Carlos Pastrana missing a further penalty for Spain was one of them, but his offside call to correctly deny Paraguay a goal was real excellence - and made a huge difference to the result of the tie.
Carlos Batres' law-enforcer style is now the relic of years past, not least in his own confederation. On a couple of levels, this World Cup was the last where his style was welcome - especially having missed 2006, I am glad that this fair man got his chance this time in the knockout stages. In his biggest game, he did well.
| Carlos Batres - 7,9(3) Leonel Leal - 8,5 Carlos Pastrana - 7,9(6) Benito Archundia Héctor Vergara GUA, CRC, HON – MEX, CAN | Paraguay 0-1 Spain Quarterfinal 3 June |
 Cáceres (59') - SPA (Impeding) Alcaraz (59') - SPA (Tripping) Morel (71') - Delaying the Restart Santana (88') - Striking | Piqué (57') - SPA (Holding) Busquets (63') - Dissent |
Trios removed after the quarterfinal:
Al-Ghamdi, Maillet, Batres, Baldassi, Simon, Hester, Stark, Undiano, Benquerença
Trios retained, candidates for matches 61-64:
Ėrmatov, Nishimura, Damon, Archundia, Rodríguez, Pozo, Ruiz, De Bleeckere, Kassai, Webb
In my opinion, then and now, I think that Batres/Pastrana actually saw that "second penalty" but they just did not have the courage to call it in those circumstances.
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