Unofficial Referee Observer’s Report © Árbitro Internacional & The Third Team

4:3
(GHA) GHANA CHILE (CHI)
a.e.t.
Quarterfinals, 07 July 2013, 20:00 CET – Istanbul (TUR)

Match Officials Name ORI Mark1 Mark2 Difficulty3

Referee Nicola Rizzoli ITA 8.5 --- Challenging
Assistant Referee 1 Renato Faverani ITA 8.4 --- Challenging
Assistant Referee 2 Andrea Stefani ITA 8.3 --- Challenging
Fourth Official Viktor Kassai HUN 8.3 --- Normal
Blog Referee Observer Philipp S. GER

1
Final mark according to evaluation scale.
2
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).
3
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 Description of the Marks
fourth official)
9.0 – 10.0 Excellent.
8.5 – 8.9 Very good. Important decision(s) correctly taken.
8.3 – 8.4 Good. Expected level.
8.2 Satisfactory with small areas for improvement.
8.0 – 8.1 Satisfactory with important areas for improvement.
7.9 One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.3 or above.
7.8 One clear and important mistake, otherwise 8.0 – 8.2.
Below expectation, poor control, significant point(s) for
7.5 – 7.7
improvement.
Disappointing. Below expectation with one and clear important
7.0 – 7.4 mistake or a performance with two or more clear and important
mistakes.
6.0 – 6.9 Unacceptable.

Small description of the match (extra-ordinary incidents etc.):

The last quarterfinal of this tournament was played in Istanbul's Ali Sam Yen Arena, which
was quite empty as it was seen in most of the matches. So only 6632 spectators saw a
great, entertaining match with many goal scoring opportunities (41-19 attempts, 22-10 on
target). It came to a dramatic end with 3 goals in extra time, one in the very last minute
decided that, Ghana reached the semifinal.
For the refereeing team around CL final referee Nicola Rizzoli it was a challenging match,
due to the tension and high pace, however without many big decisions to take. A special
situation was given, because many players would be missing the semifinal when they got a
booking.
 Unofficial Referee Observer’s Report © Árbitro Internacional & The Third Team

Referee
Crucial Decisions (refer to penalty kicks, sending-off situations etc.)

Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the referee’s decision

No foul penalty to Ghana, the striker fell down too easy, YC for dive was possible,
48
but also OK not to show it.
YC for Assifuah for a kick against the goalkeeper without chance to play the ball.
A red card for violent seems more appropriate, but one can also support the
110
caution, because it could have been a late reaction to play the ball by Assifuah
and though only reckless.

Basic Observations (refer to the general application of the LotG, highlight the
referee’s tactical approach, personality, match control, management of the teams
and players, teamwork etc.).
Please deploy short but precise and detailed sentences!

Positive Points
His lenient style contributed to the pace of the match. However he was able to
1. detect the clear fouls and did not hesitate to stop the match more often when it
was required.
2. Very good control, achieved by 3.-5.
Good communication, he often explained his decisions to the players and also
3.
listened to them.
Good card management, very lenient in the first half, when he started with verbal
4. warnings instead of bookings, later on stricter, leading to seven cautions, which
were all correct and also tactically well chosen
5. Self-confident behavior and appearance.
6. Good use of the advantage rule.

Points for Improvement

His avoiding of yellow cards in the first half worked here, but it could lead to
1.
problems. Especially the situations in 17' und 22' were worth a booking.
2. Positioning was expected level, but could however be still improved
The teamwork was not perfect, besides a different direction from referee and
3. assistant at a throw-in (38', players followed AR, ref simply allowed it), the
assistants seemed to be stricter in foul detection.
 Unofficial Referee Observer’s Report © Árbitro Internacional & The Third Team

The referee’s character

Physical Aspects + Expected -

Fitness / Stamina X
Always close to play without inferfering with it X
Flexible diagonal movement X
Positioning at set pieces X
Efficient positioning, having a good angle of
X
vision to play
Close to the penalty area, if needed X

very very
Tactical Approach lenient medium strict
lenient strict
Description X

Yes So-so No
Consistency in the tactical approach / style X
The tactical approach suited to the require-
ments of the match / the match benefitted X
from the tactical approach of the referee
Ability to adapt the tactical approach if
X
needed

Further observations (peculiarities of the referee revealing his character)

Rizzoli showed why he is considered as one of the best referees in the world,
with a very good performance, which was near to the optimum. However, there
are some small points, he can work on.
Noticeable was his presence on the field, which made clear he is the most
experienced protagonist there without being arrogant.
He rarely used the spray.
 Unofficial Referee Observer’s Report © Árbitro Internacional & The Third Team

Assistant Referee 1

Please assess the first assistant referee’s performance.

Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the AR’s behaviour

Several onside/offside decisions during the match, all of them correctly solved.
1-120
Furthermore some foul decisions.

Assistant Referee 2
Please assess the second assistant referee’s performance.

Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the AR’s behaviour

He had a couple of wrong or at least doubtful decisions during the first 90
1-120 minutes. In the extra time he took two important onside decisions before the 2-3
and 3-3 correctly.

Fourth Official

Please assess the fourth official’s performance.

Minute and Description of the Scene / Assessment of the fourth official’s behaviour
full time He did not raise any attention, so he probably did his job in a normal way.