Because Mark Clattenburg stopped and the other refs where not on the prospective list yet. Oliver and Taylor have now become Elite referees at Uefa, but that’s too late for the World Cup.
Because the English referees re not up to the standard required. Michael Oliver is our best referee and will eventually make it, Anthony Taylor is a joke. He is not up to standard for the Premiership and his only involvement in International football is to be the idiot standing at the side of the goal doing absolutely nothing.
The Premier League is probably the most competitive League in the World and referees, relatively, make few errors. It is sad when none will be at the Workd Cup, especially when you look at Countries who have representatives there. Not sure refs in Bahrain will have officiated in games like the Manchester Derby
Every country has it’s derbies. Mazic is from Serbia and I can assure you the Belgrade is quite intense. Don’t know football in Bahrein, but there might be such games as well, plus Asia also has a Champions League. I think Premier League as a very high standard, but these refs do have quite a lot of international experience and a ref like Irmatov has got some important WC games as well.
Antony Taylor is on the Elite List seen him referee Champions League games
Now they have scrapped the age they have to pack in. Martin Atkinson could have gone trouble is there is less from UEFA countries (10) and more from places never heard of.
Hi Ian, Anthony is on the Elite list since January, but in the group lower you also get CL games. Now he is Elite he will probably be shortlisted for the Euro Tournament in 2020.
Jan ter Harmsel – you have good insight. Having watched the first weekend of games, Faghani from Iran acquitted himself well in Germany v Mexico. Marciniak – only so-so in Argentina v Iceland. England’s referee cohort is in transition right now – several of the more experienced have retired, and the younger ones aren’t quite ready yet. I watched a lot of Premiership matches this past season, and found the officiating to be unusually uneven in quality – unusual for English soccer – but true nonetheless. There is still a prejudice by the “established” soccer nations against referees from lesser confederations. I would only say – I am a retired referee of 35 years – and have watched world cup soccer since 1966. The best referee I ever observed (over 3 world cups) was Jamal al-Sharif of Syria. IMHO he should have had the final in 1994. My point though, is that Syria is not exactly known for it football prowess – yet al-Sharif always earned high marks.
I didn’t follow football by then (not born yet), so don’t know this Syrian referee. Will have a look at him and try to find more info on him. Usually the bigger countries have more refs, but other ones are can really be good. Love the Iranian referee during his three games. Asian referee for the final this time?
Who knows which one will be for final game?
In my book, Alireza Faghani, the fastest Iranian referee so far, who was the referee of Germany vs. Mexico has great chance to blow the whistle.
I guess Sandro Ricci is the right man to take charge of the grand final at Luzhniki Stadium on 15 July. With the last two WC finals having been assigned to European refs, it’s time for someone outside UEFA to have the honor to officiate the most coveted football match in the entire world. Ricci has been outstanding in all duels he’s refereed thus far and we do not know when Brazil will crash out of the WC this early in the future, so this huge opportunity has to be seized. Plus, Ricci has been one of the most reliable FIFA refs for quite a long time now and he’s participating in his last WC, while Faghani, who’s been doing very well too, still has another chance at Qatar 2022. I really hope the Committee takes the adequate decision awarding Ricci such a well-deserved WC final.
For me Faghani is one of the best and I would not wait 4 years. You can make one mistake then and you’ll loose your chances right away despite being (one of) the best in this tournament.
24 Comments
Kadafe swaray
Why no English referees in 2018 world cup?
Jan ter Harmsel
Because Mark Clattenburg stopped and the other refs where not on the prospective list yet. Oliver and Taylor have now become Elite referees at Uefa, but that’s too late for the World Cup.
paul Adams
Because the English referees re not up to the standard required. Michael Oliver is our best referee and will eventually make it, Anthony Taylor is a joke. He is not up to standard for the Premiership and his only involvement in International football is to be the idiot standing at the side of the goal doing absolutely nothing.
Tony B
The Premier League is probably the most competitive League in the World and referees, relatively, make few errors. It is sad when none will be at the Workd Cup, especially when you look at Countries who have representatives there. Not sure refs in Bahrain will have officiated in games like the Manchester Derby
Jan ter Harmsel
Every country has it’s derbies. Mazic is from Serbia and I can assure you the Belgrade is quite intense. Don’t know football in Bahrein, but there might be such games as well, plus Asia also has a Champions League. I think Premier League as a very high standard, but these refs do have quite a lot of international experience and a ref like Irmatov has got some important WC games as well.
Ian O'Callaghan
Antony Taylor is on the Elite List seen him referee Champions League games
Now they have scrapped the age they have to pack in. Martin Atkinson could have gone trouble is there is less from UEFA countries (10) and more from places never heard of.
Jan ter Harmsel
Hi Ian, Anthony is on the Elite list since January, but in the group lower you also get CL games. Now he is Elite he will probably be shortlisted for the Euro Tournament in 2020.
Ian O'Callaghan
There is a few names missing from UEFA more fro south america
Jan ter Harmsel
Don’t see South-American football a lot, so don’t know all their refs.
Michael
Hey buddy…! I am surprised no referee from U.K. Are you kidding me. Is Fifa administration crazy? I cant believe on my eves.
Sulaiman Isyaku Dbt
Good Fifa
jack wilsher
just Alireza Faghani!
navid
agree
Bradley Buchner
Jan ter Harmsel – you have good insight. Having watched the first weekend of games, Faghani from Iran acquitted himself well in Germany v Mexico. Marciniak – only so-so in Argentina v Iceland. England’s referee cohort is in transition right now – several of the more experienced have retired, and the younger ones aren’t quite ready yet. I watched a lot of Premiership matches this past season, and found the officiating to be unusually uneven in quality – unusual for English soccer – but true nonetheless. There is still a prejudice by the “established” soccer nations against referees from lesser confederations. I would only say – I am a retired referee of 35 years – and have watched world cup soccer since 1966. The best referee I ever observed (over 3 world cups) was Jamal al-Sharif of Syria. IMHO he should have had the final in 1994. My point though, is that Syria is not exactly known for it football prowess – yet al-Sharif always earned high marks.
Jan ter Harmsel
I didn’t follow football by then (not born yet), so don’t know this Syrian referee. Will have a look at him and try to find more info on him. Usually the bigger countries have more refs, but other ones are can really be good. Love the Iranian referee during his three games. Asian referee for the final this time?
MoReza
Who knows which one will be for final game?
In my book, Alireza Faghani, the fastest Iranian referee so far, who was the referee of Germany vs. Mexico has great chance to blow the whistle.
Rossy
Is there a female referee in this FIFA World Cup Russia 2018?
Jan ter Harmsel
No femal referees. Only in a recent youth tournament in India.
Rezza_monfaredi
Alireza faghani is really deserves refereeng in the final.
How can we Stop the criticism??
Jan ter Harmsel
He is doing a great job!
Andy M.
I guess Sandro Ricci is the right man to take charge of the grand final at Luzhniki Stadium on 15 July. With the last two WC finals having been assigned to European refs, it’s time for someone outside UEFA to have the honor to officiate the most coveted football match in the entire world. Ricci has been outstanding in all duels he’s refereed thus far and we do not know when Brazil will crash out of the WC this early in the future, so this huge opportunity has to be seized. Plus, Ricci has been one of the most reliable FIFA refs for quite a long time now and he’s participating in his last WC, while Faghani, who’s been doing very well too, still has another chance at Qatar 2022. I really hope the Committee takes the adequate decision awarding Ricci such a well-deserved WC final.
Jan ter Harmsel
For me Faghani is one of the best and I would not wait 4 years. You can make one mistake then and you’ll loose your chances right away despite being (one of) the best in this tournament.
Did not see much of Ricci due to holidays.
We’ll all know by Friday.
Nova
Faghani is best
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