zerolight

I’ve never felt the need to post about a World Cup match before, but last nights match was despicable. Not the players. Sure there were some dirty moments (Figo’s half head butt being one) but I’m talking about the referee, Valentin Ivanov. He encouraged things to get out of hand by giving out yellow cards like they were sweeties. FIFA President Sepp Blatter later suggested the referee should have been yellow-carded himself.

16 yellow cards. 4 red cards. Yes, you can do the math, 4 players sent off. Most unjustified. You could see there was no real malice between the teams merely by looking at the players who’d been sent off. They were sitting on the sidelines, Dutch and Portuguese, chatting to one another about the nutter that refereed the game.

Portugal went on to win, but they lose Deco from their next game. Deco being by far their most influential player, and top of his game at the moment. Sent off for time wasting it appears. He was grabbed by a Dutch player and thrown to the ground, yet he was the one sent off. Criminal. Costinha sent off. Ronaldo potentially injured. Sven must be overjoyed knowing the excellent Portugal are hamstrung before facing England in the Quarter Finals.