Prepare for more bad refereeing in South Africa?

Prepare for more bad refereeing in South Africa?

The one thorn in the sides of many All Whites fans in the pre-tournament phase were "costly" refereeing decisions. Grella at the "G", and then this morning's theatrics being the major sticking points.

Should we be preparing for worse to come in South Africa?

I know a lot of people have been saying "if that challenge had been at the World Cup", and "the refereeing standard will be higher at the World Cup", but will it make any difference to lowly-ranked underdogs NZ?

There is a theory that referees don't want to be the one that officiates an upset. That somehow their integrity may be tainted if they are involved in a match where a rank outsider nabs a result as it calls into question whether the match was fixed, etc.

Will this be an issue in South Africa?

I thought refereeing B&M'ing was a rugby-only activity LOL

Stupid refereeing decisions are always going to happen. They happen in Capital 1, they happen in World Cups.

Is this suggested theory correct that lower ranked sides (especially rank outsiders like the AWs) are more likely to have the bad calls made against them?

I hate blaming the refs for results...

Picture the scene. It's 1:1 New Zealand-Italy. If Italy lose they're out of the cup. In the dying seconds the Italians knock one in - it's a borderline call for offside. Are you prepared to be the ref who allows the offside call and puts Italy out of the Cup?

It would be an honour.

I have to say Ive been impressed with the refereeing so far. Some very good calls have been made, especially with handballs and simulation, which a lot of refs seem to be too scared of pulling up these days

disco_mart2010-06-15 19:53:43

Think refereeing is quality this year, no stupidly bad calls so far. If only games were up to referees quality <dream on...>

After all this, we concede an offside goal against Slovakia. Typical...

^^ Very much so

i thought was a lot of stupid decisions in this game against both teams

Yeah out of all the great refereeing there has been...we just HAD to get the worst. Typical.

Watch the replay - the referee's assistant wasn't even up with the play. No wonder the wrong call was made.

What was awesome was that the AWs didn't just lie over and mull over the decision.

You can't say "we would have won because it would have been 1-0" because a correct decision would have completely changed the rest of the game. So happy that the AWs just got on with the job (though I was pretty worried for long periods).

Stuff Winston!

Elliott got trod on about 4 times on the same ankle by the same player. It seemed like he was targeted which was weird - credit to him for not complaining and getting on with the game though

Meh, I'll be telling my great grand kids in 60 years that we shouldve won as their goal was offside.

did you see him stand above him and point his finger at him telling him off, the slovak looked sh*t scared

It was Ryan Nelsen. He has the captains armband on.... Jeff Vader2010-06-16 20:36:30

didnt see the armband, my bad

Nelsen