Can we talk about FIFA women’s world cups Refferees Date - 15.08.2023 -

THIS WAS AN OBVIOUS CORNER!! Comments: My thoughts as a ref and assessor (not at this level).....I thought the referee fell apart at the end of the game on this one - this was just a typical example of not trusting your AR. Now, yes, there are plenty of times when a ref further away will have a better angle and needs to make a decision (and especially at local level, the AR will allow the ref the first chance, even when it's right in front - something most players and spectators don't understand), but this wasn't that time. ESPECIALLY when the ref was...I'm guessing, still 40 yards away. There were a few other problems, so it just seemed to me that she fell apart as the pressure suddenly increased (and fatigue is certainly a factor there). Another time, Sweden had a FK in the middle of the field, and they tried taking it from the wrong spot. Ref told them to move it back, fair enough, but the kicker just tossed the ball back up to the same point, even further in front and a few yards across. Ref blew the whistle plenty of times and glared at her, and in the end let her take the kick from wherever she wanted. Confusing, but just lead me more to think she crumpled under pressure. Not to mention, apparently kicking somebody in the head wasn't a card (I didn't see the stomp others have mentioned). Though, it looks to me that the refs have been told to keep the cards in their pocket even moreso than usual. Now, yes, referees usually receive specific instructions - and that can cause all sorts of problems when refs are told to ref in a different way to what they're used to (we've seen the same problems at earlier men's World Cups)