FIFA World Cup 2010- Uruguayan Referee told to pack his bags after howler in the England Germany game
Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda was the official in the Round of 16 games between England and Germany. He was axed from the World Cup and sent home, following his inability to allow Lampard’s legitimate goal.
England were trailing 2 goals to nil, when they sought to come back. A goal from Upson meant they were right back in the game. Moments later, Lampard’s strike from 15 yards out bounced of the underside of the pole, and landed almost two yards inside the German goal line. Neither the referee nor his assistant saw it pass the line, and the goal was disallowed. As a result of such a blunder, the referees as well as the two assistants have been sent packing back to their respective countries. Osvaldo Gimenez, sporting director of Club Atletico Penaro, is reported to have compiled the fumbles of Larrionda in a DVD, and sent to FIFA, prior to the World Cup.
This is not the first time this Uruguayan defender has been brought under fire. Apart from the biased decisions he made, that have been compiled in the DVD, he disallowed a simple goal from Adriano in 2004. It was a World Cup qualifying match, and the shot from Adriano had bounced from the bar and into the net. The referee simply waived play on. He has not spoken to the media since the game but has confessed to a Uruguayan television station that when he watched replays of Lampard's strike, he realised he had made an 'awful mistake'.
He dodged a planned media appearance, and was constantly plagued by phone calls by journalists and angry fans. He is not the only one though. Roberto Rosetti, the referee who allowed Carlos Tevez’s goal against Mexico, although it was a clear offside, was also sent home. Massimo Busacca was also sent home when he sent off South African Goal keeper against Uruguay.
Sending off of these referees as well as England’s exit from the World Cup, have increased the chances of Premier League referee Howard Webb to referee the final. It has been FIFA’s tradition that it closely watches the referees of the quarter finals, and chooses the one who stands out. Webb and his assistant would be hoping to referee any one of these matches, in order to stand a chance. Webb and co were next door neighbours to the Uruguayan referees, and felt for them. Webb claimed that he spoke to Jorge after the game, and believed that after watching the replay, he would’ve been extremely disappointed.
FIFA has been criticized by fans and experts alike, due to the failure of taking steps to stop such incidents. Such incidents have drastic effects on players, fans and coaches, and are not fair to them. That single blunder from the Uruguayan referee broke the heart of millions of English fans, put a sad end to the Golden Generation of England, and may have cost Fabio Cappello his pound 6 million a year job. Gerrard, Lampard and Terry may well bid farewell to participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, owing to their age.
FIFA has come under heavy fire, following the sheer amount and importance of referee blunders so far in the tournament. FIFA is set to change its rigid stance on the introduction of video technology to decide such matters, with President Sepp Blatter apologising to both England and Mexico. "I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising" said Blatter.
"I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes and it is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup, it would be nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA Board in July."
He added that FIFA is all set to reopen the debate on the topic, and hinted that some sort of change can be expected. FIFA would meet in July in a business meeting between International Boards.
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