World of Football Refereeing

Referee Observation Report

MATCH FACTS
Group C, Matchday 3
18 June 2012 – 20:45 CET • Stadion Miejski • Poznán

ITALY 2-0 IRELAND

GOALS
1-0 Antonio CASSANO (ITA, 35’)
1-1 Mario BALOTELLI (ITA, 90’)

YELLOW CARDS
Federico BALZARETTI (ITA, 28’), Keith ANDREWS (IRL, 37’), John O’SHEA (IRL, 39’), Daniele
DE ROSSI (ITA, 71’), Gianluigi BUFFON (ITA, 73’), Sean ST LEDGER (IRL, 84’)

SENDING OFFS
Keith ANDREWS (IRL, 89’) – 2YC

MATCH OFFICIALS
Function Full Name Origin Final Mark
Referee Cüneyt Çakır TUR 72,9
Assistant Referee 1 Bahattin Duran TUR 66,2
Assistant Referee 2 Tarik Ongun TUR 80,4
Additional Assistant Referee 1 Hüseyin Göçek TUR 88,0
Additional Assistant Referee 2 Bülent Yıldırım TUR 73,0
Fourth Official Viktor Shvetsov UKR 70,0
Reserve Assistant Referee Oleksandr Voytyuk UKR 75,0
UEFA Delegate Adonis Procopiou CYP
UEFA Referee Observer Jozef Marko SVK
Blog Referee Observer(s) Pascal J SUI

Remarks concerning the final marks

The final marks that have been awarded by the Blog Referee Observer(s) for every official are
aimed at expressing a general assessment on the respective official’s performance.
They comply with certain and different evaluation scales that are exposed and explained in the
Referee Observation Checklist (a separate document).

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The Referee
I. MATCH
 Background
Final matchday in group C. Italy needed a win to stay in the tournament while Ireland
were already eliminated. It was an intense but fair match with only a couple of difficult
situations to solve for the referees

 Parameter Mark 1: Degree of Difficulty and Importance

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 70

II. CONTROL
 Comment
The referee did not have major problems to control the match. There were however
increasing protests towards the end of the game. This was mainly caused by Çakır’s fussy
approach. He booked three players for protesting which should not have been necessary
in this match.

 Exemplary situations that strengthen the general impression

Minute Situation and Assessment
Good and quick reaction to prevent an upcoming conflict between De Rossi
37
and Andrews
Inefficient situation management. Çakır awards a free-kick to Italy. He then
books St Ledger for protesting. He measures the distance of the wall with his
back to the Italian players who move the ball a little. Çakır now insists that the
position of the ball has to be moved to the original position a metre towards (!)
84 the Irish goal, then again measures the distance to the wall, before the free-
kick can be executed. There is pushing and shoving in the wall. Çakır does
not intervene again.
The referee’s behavior in this instance is not suited to de-escalate the
situation, it is even counterproductive.

 Parameter Mark 2: Control

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 74

III. DECISIONS
 Application of the Laws of the Game – Comment (advice: always refer to aspects
like card management, infringement detection, the application of the advantage
rule, holding in the penalty area after set pieces, simulation and lay extra ordinary
high emphasis on match influencing or even decisive decisions)
There were no match influencing mistakes by Çakır, however a number of smaller
inconsistencies. Foul detection was decent at best. There were many soft free-kicks which
led to some problems to control the match. Most of the bookings were reasonable. The
advantage rule was applied well on some occasions, but seemed to be forgotten in
others.

 Important Decisions ((non)given cards should be mentioned, other important

decisions in the opinion of the observer)
Minute Situation and Assessment
28 YC for Balzaretti after a tactical holding offence; correct

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 Italy are demanding a penalty after Di Natale’s shot is blocked by the chest an
31 the arm of St Ledger. There is however no movement of the arm towards the
ball and the arm is in a natural position close to the body. Good decision.
34 Good use of the advantage rule leads to a chance for Italy.
37 YC for Andrews for a foul on Pirlo; ok
YC for O’Shea for hitting Balzaretti with his arm in an aerial duel. Correct
39
decision, consistent with UEFA guidelines.
44 Obvious advantage situation for Ireland missed
60 Good advantage situation leads to a chance for Ireland
O’Shea holds back Balzaretti. According to Çakır’s previous line this should
probably have been a (second) yellow card for the irish defender (Balzaretti
62
was booked for a similar incident earlier), but the referee does not even opt
for a verbal warning; borderline decision.
De Rossi fouls Andrews without touching the ball; the referee incorrectly
64
awards a corner kick to Ireland instead of a free-kick.
68 Promising free-kick for Italy correctly awarded
71 YC De Rossi for a tactical foul; correct
73 YC Buffon for protesting
78 Very soft free-kick as Walters goes down leads to Ireland’s best chance
84 YC St Ledger for protesting
Çakır misses a potential penalty for Italy as O’Shea touches the ball with his
arm raised above his head. However Balotelli keeps possession of the ball,
85 which leads to a chence for Italy. No major complaints by Italian players after
this scene, which was hard to evaluate from the referee’s position. No
influence on the outcome of the match anyway.
Andrews is booked for protesting and consequently sent off for a second
89 bookable offence. The decision to book the player is reasonable, but it is also
the result of a wrong foul call by AR1 Duran.

 Parameter Mark 3: Decisions

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 77

IV. STYLE
 Physical and Technical Aspects
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Always close to the play, follows play at all times, and
X
does not interfere with play
Flexible Diagonal System X
Able to anticipate the action X
Enters the penalty area when necessary X
Appropiate, efficient and economic Positioning also at
X
set pieces
Physical Condition in general X
Adequate behaviour in dealing with injuries (awareness
of serious injuries, possible advantages applied, X
card-timing etc.)
Comment
Positioning was at an expected level; good fitness. Injuries were not always dealt with adequately.
Minute Situation and Assessment
Balzaretti shows the referee that he is bleeding after the foul by O’Shea. Çakır
39
nonetheless fails to send him off the field for treatment.

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  Parameter Mark 4.1: Physical and Technical Aspects
AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 70

 Tactical Approach
Expected
Criteria + level
-
The referee has a certain tactical approach, which is
moving in the measures the Laws of the Game define, X
which is understood and consistent
The referee’s tactical approach is active, he is able to
X
predict situations and to avoid conflicts by that
Personality and authority on the pitch X
Adequate communication X
Shows determination and courage in his decisions and
has also tools to gain authority (adequate and clear X
gestures, using his whistle as kind of language)
Shows respect X
Comment
The referee kept the authority on the field and made his decisions clear. Nonetheless, his
unnecessarily pedantic approach was not well accepted by the players. This led to some
problems late in the game which probably could have been avoided if the referee had opted to let
the game flow more often. It was a fair match after all.

 Parameter Mark 4.2: Tactical Approach

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 65

 Summary of both sections (if necessary, give the minutes)

Positive Points 1. Good authority on the field
2. Good fitness

Points for improvement 1. Tactical approach too pedantic

2. Perceived lack of concentration in some situations

 Comment on the cooperation within the referee team

Good and efficient cooperation within the team, especially in quickly awarding the goal
scored by Cassano (35’).

 Parameter Mark 4: Style (factorized (50%) sum of both partial sections)

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 67,5

FACTORIZED SUM (FINAL MARK) – REFEREE

Parameter Percentage Mark
MATCH DIFFICULTY / IMPORTANCE 10 % 70
CONTROL 20 % 74

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 DECISIONS 40 % 77
STYLE 30 % 67,5
Final mark 72,9

Assistant Referee 1
I. MATCH
 Comment
Some offside situations to solve

 Parameter Mark 1: Degree of Difficulty (only aspects concerning the AR1)

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 75

II. DECISIONS
 Application of the Laws of the Game – Comment
Too many wrong offside calls. Additionally, a wrong foul call led to the sending off of
Andrews

 Overview
Expected
Criteria + level
-
(Non-)Offside detection (evaluated independently (!)
X
from the difficulty of the (non-)offside situations)
Quality of other decisions with regard to the
X
application of the Laws of the Game

 Important Decisions (of course heavy attention to be paid on (non-)offside

decisions)
Minute Situation and Assessment
31 Offside call against Balzaretti; clear mistake
67 Offside call against Dunne; correct
80 Offisde call against Keane; not easy to see, but wrong
81 Offside call against Keane (not replayed)
86 Offside call against Walters (not replayed)

 Parameter Mark 2: Decisions

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 62

III. STYLE
 Physical and Technical Aspects
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Physical Condition X
Positioning and movement X
Adequate alertness, mental awareness and
concentration (e.g. decisions on situations happening X
in his area of vicinity)
Holds and moves his flag in accordance with the
X
Laws of the Game

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  Parameter Mark 3: Style
AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 70

FACTORIZED SUM (FINAL MARK) – AR1

Parameter Percentage Mark
MATCH DIFFICULTY 20 % 75
DECISIONS 60 % 62
STYLE 20 % 70
Final mark 66,2

Assistant Referee 2
I. MATCH
 Comment
Only a few challenges

 Parameter Mark 1: Degree of Difficulty (only aspects concerning the AR2)

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 70,0

II. DECISIONS
 Application of the Laws of the Game – Comment
No notable mistakes

 Overview
Expected
Criteria + level
-
(Non-)Offside detection (evaluated independently (!)
X
from the difficulty of the (non-)offside situations)
Quality of other decisions with regard to the
X
application of the Laws of the Game

 Important Decisions (of course heavy attention to be paid on (non-)offside

decisions)
Minute Situation and Assessment
12 Offside decision against McGeady; probably correct (no replay)
20 Offside decision (no replay)
41 Correct offside call against Keane; obvious situation
Offside decision against Di Natale; closer than it appeared at first sight; good
63
decision
76 Offisde call against Motta; correct and easy to see

 Parameter Mark 2: Decisions

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 84

III. STYLE
 Physical and Technical Aspects
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Physical Condition X

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 Positioning and movement X
Adequate alertness, mental awareness and
concentration (e.g. decisions on situations happening X
in his area of vicinity)
Holds and moves his flag in accordance with the
X
Laws of the Game

 Parameter Mark 3: Style

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 80

FACTORIZED SUM (FINAL MARK) – AR2

Parameter Percentage Mark
MATCH DIFFICULTY 20 % 70
DECISIONS 60 % 84
STYLE 20 % 80
Final mark 80,4

Additional Assistant Referee 1

I. MATCH
 Comment
One important decision to take

 Parameter Mark 1: Degree of Difficulty (only aspects concerning the AAR1)

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 85

II. DECISIONS
 Application of the Laws of the Game, Involvement – Comment
Helped to correctly award Italy’s first goal.

 Overview
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Important decisions in the penalty area (e.g. fouls like
X
holding after set pieces, goal-decisions etc.)
Quality of other decisions with regard to the
X
application of the Laws of the Game

 Important Decisions
Minute Situation and Assessment
Assists the referee in recognizing that Cassano’s header is cleared behind the
35
line; goal is correctly awarded

 Parameter Mark 2: Decisions

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 90

III. STYLE
 Physical and Technical Aspects
Criteria + Expected -

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 level
Positioning and movement X
Active involvement, adequate alertness, mental
awareness and concentration (e.g. decisions on X
situations happening in his area of vicinity)

 Parameter Mark 3: Style

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 85

FACTORIZED SUM (FINAL MARK) – AAR1

Parameter Percentage Mark
MATCH DIFFICULTY 20 % 85
DECISIONS 60 % 90
STYLE 20 % 85
Final mark 88,0

Additional Assistant Referee 2

I. MATCH
 Comment
Not often challenged

 Parameter Mark 1: Degree of Difficulty (only aspects concerning the AAR2)

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 65

II. DECISIONS
 Application of the Laws of the Game, Involvement – Comment
Slightly doubtful evaluation of some situations in his vicinity.

 Overview
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Important decisions in the penalty area (e.g. fouls like
X
holding after set pieces, goal-decisions etc.)
Quality of other decisions with regard to the
X
application of the Laws of the Game

 Parameter Mark 2: Decisions

AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 75

III. STYLE
 Physical and Technical Aspects
Expected
Criteria + level
-
Positioning and movement X
Active involvement, adequate alertness, mental
awareness and concentration (e.g. decisions on X
Xsituations happening in his area of vicinity)

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  Parameter Mark 3: Style
AWARDED MARK FOR THIS PARAMETER 75

FACTORIZED SUM (FINAL MARK) – AAR2

Parameter Percentage Mark
MATCH DIFFICULTY 20 % 65
DECISIONS 60 % 75
STYLE 20 % 75
Final mark 73,0

Fourth Official
 Comment
Did not intervene quickly as Trapattoni once walked to the touchline to confront AR1

 Final mark
FINAL MARK 70,0

Reserve Assistant Referee

 Comment
Not involved

 Final mark
FINAL MARK 75

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