- Why was Balogun's red card considered fair?
- Balogun caused a clear hand penalty in the World Cup qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which was treated as a red card by the referee. Referee Patrick Ittrich emphasized that such fouls must be punished consistently in order to preserve the integrity of the game. The scene was clear: Balogun reached out to block the ball and hit it in the penalty area - a clear handball situation under current FIFA rules.
- Why was Messi's foul against Algeria not punished?
- In the 2022 World Cup game against Algeria, Lionel Messi caused a clear hand penalty in the penalty area, but it was not considered a red card. This different assessment has fueled the discussion about subjective referee decisions and raises questions about an implicit hierarchy on the pitch.
- What consequences does criticism have for referees?
- FIFA responded to the criticism and announced additional training for referees to improve consistency in the application of the rules. The review of the video assistant rules is also on the agenda in order to enable faster and clearer judgments in the future.
- How does this debate affect player careers?
- Unequal foul scoring can affect players' careers, especially when clear fouls are penalized differently. This can undermine trust in refereeing and, in the long term, reduce the acceptance of decisions by fans and players.
- Why does VAR technology remain controversial?
- VAR technology was intended to provide greater clarity, but in practice it remains unpredictable. Technical monitoring increases the pressure on referees, who have to resort to screens when in doubt. Even with VAR, human interpretation remains the deciding factor - and with it the possibility of wrong decisions.
- Are there historical precedents for similar debates?
- Yes, historical cases such as Diego Maradona's unpunished handball at the 1986 World Cup or the controversial non-whistle against Zidane at the 2006 World Cup show that the debate about subjective decisions is not a new phenomenon. These cases underline that FIFA is repeatedly confronted with accusations of arbitrariness.
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