Referees

Bizarre scenes: Mitrović PK disallowed after striker manages the impossible

The two surprise packages of the Premier League season met at St James' Park on Sunday with Newcastle United and Fulham both challenging for the European places.

Newcastle was looking to improve on scoreless draws against Leeds United and Arsenal, but they ran into Tim Ream and couldn't craft a clear opening in the first half. Then, against the run of play, Fulham earned a penalty with just over 20 minutes remaining in the match.

Man City's Guardiola and Akanji rage against ‘clear interference’ on United's controversial goal

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji said Marcus Rashford was clearly interfering with play in the lead-up to Manchester United's equalizer in their Premier League match on Saturday.

City defenders tracked Rashford's run from an offside position as he chased the ball for 30 yards before Bruno Fernandes stepped in at the last second to score.

The linesman raised his flag for offside but referee Stuart Attwell awarded the goal, allowing United to mount a comeback and win 2-1.

World Cup winner Lukas Podolski gets sent off in his own charity match

BERLIN - Germany's World Cup winner Lukas Podolski has long dazzled crowds with his power and speed but he left fans at a charity match on Sunday speechless when he was sent off for dissent.

The 37-year-old former Bayern Munich and Arsenal forward, who now plays for Poland's Górnik Zabrze, was given his marching orders after he brought down an opponent in the indoor arena at Gummersbach during a charity match under his auspices.

He got up and walked to the referee, speaking to him and then coming face-to-face as he kept addressing him.

Neymar receives RED CARD for DIVING — Kylian Mbappé saves PSG with 96th minute game-winning penalty

Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has many haters for one simple reason: he dives a lot. Those haters had their prayers answered on Wednesday during PSG’s 2-1 victory vs. Strasbourg when Neymar was red carded for diving.

OK, so technically it was a second yellow card, but either way the referee sent Neymar off for simulation.

His two yellow card offenses happened in less than two minutes during the second half. The first yellow card in the 61st minute was for him accidentally catching an opponent’s face with his hand. Then 85 seconds later Neymar did this.

Christian Pulisic robbed of penalty kick and goal in solid 80-minute cameo for Chelsea

Christian Pulisic was cooking for Chelsea on Tuesday after being given a rare start during the Blues’ 2-0 Premier League victory against Bournemouth. After several quality performances at the World Cup, Chelsea boss Graham Potter rewarded Pulisic with a start at his preferred left wing position.

Pulisic was involved in all the USA’s goals at the World Cup scoring one and assisting the other two.

He continued his fine form against Bournemouth and had two controversial moments in the first half go against him.

World Cup final referee exposes hypocritical French press by pulling out his phone and showing one photo

The World Cup final ended nearly a week ago but the drama around it continued as the match referee showed a photo on his phone during a news conference to respond to claims that Lionel Messi's extra-time goal should not have stood.

Argentina won the final in Lusail, Qatar, 4-2 on penalties after the match ended 3-3 following 120 minutes of action, with Messi scoring twice and Kylian Mbappe bagging a hat trick for France.

Dato del árbitro que pitará la final del Mundial ilusiona a los aficionados argentinos

La FIFA designó este jueves al árbitro que impartirá la ley en la final del Mundial entre Argentina y Francia. Se trata de Szymon Marciniak, silbante que ya le pitó a ambas selecciones durante el torneo y que se convertirá en el primer polaco en dirigir esta instancia.

Por si alguien busca tendencias, coincidencias y la quinta pata a los gatos, Marciniak ya dirigió a ambas selecciones durante el torneo, con victorias tanto para Argentina como para Francia. Sin embargo, hay un dato de su biografía que ilusiona más a los aficionados de La Albiceleste. 

World Cup semifinal ref assignments confirmed — every team feels cheated and wronged

After a controversial and emotionally charged quarterfinal round (who could've predicted that?), the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal referees have been announced before Tuesday and Wednesday's matches of Argentina vs. Croatia and France vs. Morocco, respectively.

World Cup semifinal referees

On Tuesday, the Argentina vs Croatia ref is Italian Daniele Orsato. You know he's legit because he took charge of Qatar's opener and Ecuador won it 2-0. He was also in charge of Argentina's victory over Mexico.  

Pepe complains about referee selection vs. Morocco and says the WC has been fixed for Argentina

With the pain of the elimination still burning inside, the veteran Portuguese defender Pepe made a bold claim, saying that the World Cup has been set to give Argentina the title. 

Minutes after the 0-1 defeat against Morocco, Pepe elaborated his conspiracy theory talking with Portuguese broadcaster RTP3. And a lot had to do with the referee selection for the game against the Atlas Lions, Facundo Tello, who is Argentine. 

Virgil van Dijk just landed himself a job as an NFL linebacker after hit sticking the hell out of Paredes

Virgil van Dijk might have to get a tear drop tattoo after he obliterated Argentina’s Leandro Paredes on Friday during the Netherlands 4-3 penalty defeat against the South American giants.

Friday’s quarterfinal was an intense and feisty affair as there were several skirmishes and shoving matches throughout the night.

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