bennychico11
All-Conference
Most fans familiar with the game agree that the dives/phantom injuries needs to be addressed. It's a cultural thing in that some countries do it more than others. And the ref tries to call it the best he can. As you can see the ref this game didn't fall for some of the "injuries." But there's not much that can be done with guys who drag their a$$ getting up or leaving the field during a substitution. The ref does control the clock and will pause the game clock as he sees fit (which is why we have added time at the end of the game). But if the ref hasn't stopped the clock for a specific reason, Ghana has the right to milk it just as much as Nebraska's football offense can wait until the last possible second to snap the ball.The US should have gotten ten minutes added onto the end for all the bullsh#t that Ghana was pulling. Phantom injuries, strolls for substitutions, taking a minute to execute a throw in. I'm sorry but fans of the sport have to realize that this is working the system in absurd ways that have no peer in popular American sports. Milking the clock is a part of the game, but do it on the damn field, not when play has stopped. Add onto this that refs are allowed to disallow goals without telling anyone the call or being subject to official review, soccer has some deep, deep issues to hammer out before it contends with the likes of football in America.
Referring to refs disallowing goals without telling anyone the call...most refs will tell the players what he's calling. It's just the announcers/coaches/fans won't hear the call because, unlike football they don't have a mic system where he can relay it over to the entire audience. I actually like this because it allows the ref to control the game on the field. Because the game is about what's going on there...not what the fans are doing or think. The game has been around for a long time and I can understand its reluctance to accept technology into it by adding official review. The game is controlled by one single guy. It has been for years and I think it should still be.
disclaimer: I'm a former soccer referee
