11/05/24
June 13, 2016
Brazil Knocked Out of Copa Centenario by Handball Goal: Brazil was eliminated in the Copa America Centenario in the group stage Sunday night in a 1-0 defeat by Peru. The only goal was a blatant handball that somehow the refs missed, despite halting play for 3 minutes and 23 seconds while they talked to each other. Peru's victory is the first over Brazil in 31 years. Replay showed Raul Ruidiaz swung an arm to bat the ball into the goal. The result means the U.S. will play Ecuador in the quarterfinals.
Deadspin has video. How can the refs delay that long to make a call? Either they saw a handball or they didn't.
posted by rcade at 12:53 AM on June 13, 2016
That was badly mismanaged by the referee. He should've come to the sideline, talked to his assistant referee and perhaps the fourth official, and had all of the players stand back while they discussed it. He kept letting the players barge in, and it just fell apart. As it happens, it is clear that they were not sure if there was a handball, and as such, they made the right call in allowing the goal.
posted by bender at 08:16 AM on June 13, 2016
I think Fox has generally done a pretty poor job with this tournament (the contrast to the Euros on ESPN is pretty stark, to my mind), but one thing that has kind of grown on me (even though its genesis is clearly in American football) is having the officiating commentator jump in to explain calls. Some of it is obviously super basic and just trying to find something for the guy to speak about, but in some cases there are some interesting insights/explanations. During the handball debacle last night, I thought he did a good job explaining what the ref should have done -- not on the call itself (although he opined on that as well) -- but in regards to controlling the players (basically said he should have gone to the sideline to confer with his assistant and told the players that anyone who crosses the line to get in his face is getting a card and then enforced that).
posted by holden at 09:03 AM on June 13, 2016
I can't believe Brazil is out. Fortunes turn quickly in the group stage when only two teams advance.
posted by rcade at 11:50 AM on June 13, 2016
It was terrible how many times the ref motioned for the players to get away from him only to have two of them yelling in his face. He was unable to take control of them which turned a bad situation worse.
posted by Ricardo at 12:16 PM on June 13, 2016
I'm amazed the ref didn't whip out multiple cards, especially for the two captains. But Bender is spot on, scoring a bunch against Haiti was nothing, and clearly Dunga has work to do to get anywhere in Russia. Assuming he does better at the Olympics and keeps his job.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:26 PM on June 13, 2016
Holden, don't make me cry about Fox Sports' handling of the CAC now that it has the upcoming World Cup.
As for the brouhaha, it happens far too often. I realize referees do not want to be the "focus" by issuing multiple cards (which potentially affects the match through second-yellow red cards then or later), but they need to take charge. The same needs to occur on fouls when multiple opponents run in and call for a yellow (which itself is supposed to be a yellow for unsportsmanlike conduct). It looks bad for the referee and the game.
posted by jjzucal at 01:30 AM on June 14, 2016
Peru?! Sure, that goal should not have counted, but when Brazil scores 0 goals combined against Ecuador and Peru, I'm struggling to find sympathy for them.