Unofficial Referee Observers Report

rbitro Internacional & The Third Team

(KOR) KOREA REP.

0:1

NIGERIA (NGA)

Group B, 27 June 2013, 17:00 CET Istanbul (TUR) Match Officials Referee Assistant Referee 1 Assistant Referee 2 Fourth Official Blog Referee Observer
1 2 3

Name Peter OLeary Jan Hendrik Hintz Ravinesh Kumar Nicola Rizzoli Nik Askitopoulos

ORI NZL NZL FIJ ITA ENG

Mark1 8.2 8.3 8.3 8.3

Mark2 ---------

Difficulty3 Normal Normal Normal Normal

Final mark according to evaluation scale. Mark if the final mark had not been influenced by a crucial mistake (only in case of a crucial mistake, to be held empty if no crucial mistake occurred). Difficulty has to be integrated into the final mark. Levels of difficulty are: normal, challenging and very challenging. 4 Blog-Referee Observer =Inofficial referee observer appointed by the blog administrator.

Evaluation scale
(for referee, ARs and fourth official)

Description of the Marks Excellent. Very good. Important decision(s) correctly taken. Good. Expected level. Satisfactory with small areas for improvement. Satisfactory with important areas for improvement. One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.3 or above. One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.0 8.2. Below expectation, poor control, significant point(s) for improvement. Disappointing. Below expectation with one and clear important mistake or a performance with two or more clear and important mistakes. Unacceptable.

9.0 10.0 8.5 8.9 8.3 8.4 8.2 8.0 8.1 7.9 7.8 7.5 7.7 7.0 7.4 6.0 6.9

Small description of the match (extra-ordinary incidents etc.): Nigeria won this game 1-0, but in truth the score could have been much higher. The match was not challenging for the referee overall, as Nigeria exerted their dominance from the start (they did not concede a freekick until into the second half), dominating possession of the ball, and goal-scoring opportunities. However, given the pattern of the game, there was always a chance that the Koreans side impetuosity would perhaps boil over, as their frustrations grew and their foulcount did in response. In the second half, the game cooled down a little, largely due to a tactical change by the Korean side, who played more on the front foot meaning Nigeria had to work harder off the ball. OLearys overall control was not in question, though the report does look at where possible improvements could be made.

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Referee
Crucial Decisions (refer to penalty kicks, sending-off situations etc.) [extended] There were no crucial decisions to be made by OLeary in the game, though one could discuss his approach to disciplinary action in what was an overall normal challenge for the official. Some of these incidents are described below. Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the referees decision R4 with a late challenge on W11 just to the left of the penalty area. Referee deals with pushing and shoving in the box, making it clear to R19 in particular that he is 7 watching him at the set piece. 11 R7 pulling W3 shirt, correctly whistled by OLeary. Even this early, there are signals that this is going to be a Korean tactic (persistent fouling) in the game. Referee shows excellent positioning and fitness great pace was required to catch up with swift Nigeria counter-attack, and OLeary enters the box just as W9 gets his shot off. Soft freekick award on the edge of the penalty area for another foul on W3, this time by R11, perhaps OLeary is now expecting the foul to occur, as Nigeria are not being allowed to keep easy possession of the ball so far. R11 catches W8 in the face when challenging for the ball. Not a full elbow contact but potentially a missed caution here nonetheless. R7 loses control of the ball and in stretching out for the loose ball nearly catches W8 with high studs, but the latters skill evades the challenge. No word here (or even a potential caution) by OLeary. R9 pulls W4 to the ground during a promising attack in the attacking third. A caution is advised here. W9 purposefully impedes R1 on the goal-line but the referee awards a corner. It is not clear whether he doesnt get an angle on this, but in this instance his AR2 should assist him, having clear sight of the incident. R8 commits a late reckless lunge on W7 on the half way line. Mandatory caution shown by OLeary. May have taken the player to the side to have a word also, as this challenge risked a red card given the speed and studs showing. Caution shown to R11 for a trip on W9 just to the left side of the penalty area slightly soft caution given previous non-yellow incidents. 2nd half: W2 catches R9 accidentally in the face, and though not a foul, perhaps the injury could have been spotted earlier by the referee. Deals with his injury

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43 46

Unofficial Referee Observers Report

rbitro Internacional & The Third Team

immediately upon identifying it however, which is good to see. 48 63 76 W3 first Nigerian foul of the game remarkably - committed for a pull of the shirt on R2 deep in the defenders own half. Handball given against W9 slightly harsh as appears to hit him high, and certainly unintentional. Good awareness shown by the referee as he blows for a W11 high foot with an indirect freekick signalled correctly. W12 catches R8 in the face with a clumsy challenge with the arm, a common theme in the game it is advisable that the referee must at least have a word with the player in these kind of situations.

85

Basic Observations (refer to the general application of the LotG, highlight the referees tactical approach, personality, match control, management of the teams and players, teamwork etc.). Please deploy short but precise and detailed sentences! Positive Points Fitness and positioning, showed good endurance and for the most part, predicted 1. the next phase of play well. 2. Good clear arm signals and body language in general. Application of law acknowledging the difference between penal and technical 3. offences, particularly for one or two penalty claims by the Korean side. 4. Good personality and way with players in general. Points for Improvement Player management and isolating players where the nature of the foul requires, 1. which in turn assists with control. Teamwork could be slightly improved as both assistants seemed unsure of their 2. remit, especially in terms of assistance with fouls and misconduct. Ensuring that the referee is not too far ahead of play and sweeps up behind 3. accordingly. Disciplinary action there was opportunity for at least 3 other cautions in the 4. game, and at times the management of the cautions was not in line with the nature of the game.

Unofficial Referee Observers Report The referees character Physical Aspects Fitness / Stamina Always close to play without inferfering with it Flexible diagonal movement Positioning at set pieces Efficient positioning, having a good angle of vision to play Close to the penalty area, if needed Tactical Approach Description very lenient lenient X Yes Consistency in the tactical approach / style The tactical approach suited to the requirements of the match / the match benefitted from the tactical approach of the referee Ability to adapt the tactical approach if needed X medium X + X

rbitro Internacional & The Third Team

Expected

X X

strict

very strict

So-so X X

No

Further observations (peculiarities of the referee revealing his character) A theme of the game of persistent infringement against a well-drilled Nigerian side emerged and it is the observers view that this could have been handled with greater authority overall. There was a 15 min period in the game where OLeary whistled for a greater frequency of fouls than would normally be expected, yet at the same time, his player communication and overall management was never fully assertive or conducive to the games needs. There were times (as above) where a quiet word was needed (e.g. R7, R11) in order that the Korean side understood that the tactical fouling was being recognized. OLeary should seek to capitalize on his big physique, making his presence on the field in no doubt. Though a caution was administered for R8 at the end of the period described, this was perhaps due to a minor loss of control in the preceding 10 minutes especially where there might have been 2 cautions shown in this period thus preventing the softer caution on 40 mins. OLeary kept a consistent line in foul detection overall, but it was notable that towards the end of a tetchy first half, he was blowing for softer fouls on the Nigerian team. The referees fitness is commendable, and his overall positioning on a left

Unofficial Referee Observers Report

rbitro Internacional & The Third Team

diagonal of good standard. However, there were times when he was in the way of the line of approach (particularly the Nigerian side), and more focus on sweeping the play should be fostered. At times too, the swift counter-attack caught him unawares as he tried to predict the next phase too readily, and often was found too far ahead of play.

Assistant Referee 1
Please assess the first assistant referees performance. Hintz had a quiet, unchallenging game, being rarely tested. Aside from the one crossed flag, he was able to assist the referee when required and was alert at all times. Perhaps could have been slightly trimmer, showing greater fitness levels. Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the ARs behaviour The first offside of the game awarded so late in the game, against W11 a great 51 call, as replays show he was just ever so slightly beyond the 2 nd last defender. 67 An unfortunate crossed flag as he failed to see flick off the Nigerian player, but quickly flags in the correct manner after OLeary signals.

Assistant Referee 2
Please assess the second assistant referees performance. Kumar had an unchallenging game, but was alert and aware where required and sought to assist the referee where possible. Kumar could however have assisted the referee at a corner where he had sight of a foul on the goal-keeper. Offsides were very few, but all called correctly. Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the ARs behaviour W9 purposefully impedes R1 on the goal-line but the referee awards a corner, presumably being unsighted. Kumar should seek to assist the referee here as he 32 has a clear sight of the incident. 85 86 Good non-offside judgement here as R9 just comes back in before the ball is played to his feet. Correct offside call as R9 just strays beyond the second last defender.

Unofficial Referee Observers Report

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Fourth Official
Please assess the fourth officials performance. Rizzoli was largely untested on the side of the pitch. He did perform his duties well where required and substitutes were controlled well and with little fluster. If we are being pedantic, the subs were never conducted directly at the half-way line, and instead either just to the right or just to the left of the line. Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the fourth officials behaviour Nigerian substitution at least 3 yards to the left of the half way line. Slightly 58 messy.