# 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677 "2010-06-10T17:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/761 "2010-06-18T16:12:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The Americans need to stop whining about the refs. It’s over. They should count themselves lucky to have drawn a match they should have lost and move on. What a joke. America had a goal disallowed on a completely imaginary foul. Literally imaginary. There was no American player you could point to and say well maybe, possible, somehow that was a foul. In fact, there were numerous Slovenian fouls on the play. In addition to that, Howard let a goal in that he stops 95% of the time. The US outplayed Slovenia, scored more goals, and undoubtedly should have won. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/762 "2010-06-18T16:12:50Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Is it even possible to get five points and not go through? Yes. A, B and C all beat D and draw among themselves. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/763 "2010-06-18T16:13:15Z")
I just came here to say, FUCKING BULLSHIT! Worst hosing we ever took since 1972 Olympic Basketball. What in the fuck was that ref looking at? ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/764 "2010-06-18T16:14:20Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > Just saw a repeat of the disallowed goal. There was at least 4 players holding US players in the penalty box. AMAZINGLY bad decision. Yep, he should have given a penalty if the ball hadn’t already been in the net. Offside(?) is a strange decision. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/765 "2010-06-18T16:15:20Z")
And you can all thank Sepp Blatter and FIFA for it. He (and hence they) routinely block any chance of video replays as it “spoils the spirit of the game”. See that crappy feeling you’ve got right now? That’s the spirit of the game, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/766 "2010-06-18T16:16:56Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Is it even possible to get five points and not go through? Sure - three teams could finish on 1 win + 2 draws = 5 points. Then it’s down to goal difference. Happened to Scotland in 1974, they were the team to lose out (to [Brazil & Yugoslavia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_FIFA_World_Cup#Group_2)). Bad luck USA, that was a great performance, deserved a win. What on earth was the ref thinking? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/767 "2010-06-18T16:17:26Z")
So if the US can beat Algeria by 2 goals they’re in regardless; with a 1-goal win they would need help. (Specific scenarios, all assuming a US victory over Algeria by 1: If Algeria somehow beats or draws with England today, the US is in regardless of how England/Slovenia plays out. If, as is likely, England beats Algeria, then it will come down to the England/Slovenia game - a win by either and the US is in; a draw and it will come down to a random draw between the US and Slovenia (and England if they only win by 1 today)) ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/768 "2010-06-18T16:17:57Z")
So Finley is set to miss the next game due to that yellow, correct? Is it possible for that card to be reviewed and reversed after the game, as far as it applies to a suspension? ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/769 "2010-06-18T16:19:30Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > And you can all thank Sepp Blatter and FIFA for it. > > He (and hence they) routinely block any chance of video replays as it “spoils the spirit of the game”. > > See that crappy feeling you’ve got right now? That’s the spirit of the game, apparently. A referee’s decision stands, a video-replay would only help if he were unsure about a situation and decided to review it. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/770 "2010-06-18T16:21:04Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > So Finley is set to miss the next game due to that yellow, correct? Is it possible for that card to be reviewed and reversed after the game, as far as it applies to a suspension? No, it cannot be reversed. He’s out. Because of a ball that clearly hit him in the face. My God, Thierry Henry all but catches the ball twice and there’s nothing, but a ball hits a guy in the face? Card him.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/771 "2010-06-18T16:21:48Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > And you can all thank Sepp Blatter and FIFA for it. > > He (and hence they) routinely block any chance of video replays as it “spoils the spirit of the game”. > > See that crappy feeling you’ve got right now? That’s the spirit of the game, apparently. I don’t think even video replays would have saved this one. The ref would only defer to the video ref if he was unsure about the decision, as it looked he made his mind up straight away and was convinced he was right so a video ref would have no chance to correct him. I look forward to hearing the contents of the ref’s match report, should be an impressive work of fiction. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/772 "2010-06-18T16:22:02Z")
> [@wintertime](#): > > A referee’s decision stands, a video-replay would only help if he were unsure about a situation and decided to review it. There are all sorts of possibilities. An off-field ref could be allowed to bring something to the ref’s attention. Teams could be allowed a certain number of disputes (like in tennis). Maybe in this instance the ref would have “sent it upstairs” anyway. There is no single way of utilising video replays. Blatter and FIFA reject all of them. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/773 "2010-06-18T16:24:36Z")
(come to think, my outline above isn’t quite right: goals scored is the first tiebreaker so it depends on how high-scoring the US/Algeria and England/Slovenia games would be, as well as the goal difference in US/Algeria). ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/774 "2010-06-18T16:25:45Z")
Despite any felt or true injustice, I don’t want to see the game later decided by committees, lawyers and the most connected nations. Shudder. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/775 "2010-06-18T16:27:19Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > There are all sorts of possibilities. An off-field ref could be allowed to bring something to the ref’s attention. Teams could be allowed a certain number of disputes (like in tennis). Maybe in this instance the ref would have “sent it upstairs” anyway. > > There is no single way of utilising video replays. Blatter and FIFA reject all of them. I agree that an off-field ref is at least worth some consideration and a trial run in a league or two to determine his value. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/776 "2010-06-18T16:30:51Z")
The USA were definitely robbed by a shitty refereeing decision today. There were 3 US players being fouled in the penalty area, and the stupid fucker calls offside or some bullshit. Still, I’m happy. This makes England’s job that tiny bit easier. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/777 "2010-06-18T16:38:43Z")
So, is there any way that both England and the US advance? Slovenia doesn’t deserve it after this, and not just for the preposterous referee decision. They played like goons the whole second half. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/778 "2010-06-18T16:41:07Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Its an absolute travesty that one of the better comebacks I’ve seen in the WC gets demolished due to sheer incompetence by a fucking referee. Its utter fucking bullshit. It’s always frustrating when the ref ends up affecting the result, but ranting won’t help. Refs, like the players, make mistakes. USA are still in a good position to qualify, they need to beat Algeria. Was a good match by all accounts, and the little I saw of it. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/779 "2010-06-18T16:42:13Z")
Sure, if England win out and the US beats Algeria, then it finishes Eng 7, US 5, Slo 4. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/780 "2010-06-18T16:43:27Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > So, is there any way that both England and the US advance? Slovenia doesn’t deserve it after this, and not just for the preposterous referee decision. They played like goons the whole second half. If England win their last two games, and you lot beat Algeria is the simplest way. I’m sure there are others. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=40)