4 TRISWE Maidin

Historic day for Trinidad and Tobago - in their first ever World Cup match, they upset the odds and managed to draw with Sweden. This was World Cup football at it's brilliant best (and yet the football wasn't even that good) and the scenes at the end were genuinely quite stirring. There was another World Cup début on the pitch in Dortmund - for all three officials in Shamsul Maidin's AFC trio. Not a disastrous afternoon for referee from Singapore, but he under-punished two Serious Foul Play tackles (one of which did result in a sending off at least) and did not leave a fully convincing impression besides.

Maidin seemed to be a bit nervous, which manifested itself in his shy aura on the pitch. Though there wasn't much dissent in the game, the referee could not really act against what complains there were. Good caution at 74', but only a warning for the Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper who was time-wasting for the whole second half was a bit weak. He ought to have added on another minute at the end of the second half.

In terms of incidents, the game was remarkable for the number of potential Red Cards. Let's analyse them!


4' - Serious Foul Play?

The tackle by Trinidad and Tobago no.17 which Maidin correctly punished was probably reckless but the lunge by his teammate, no.5, seconds before was very dangerous - he only plays the ball by going mostly over the top of it and considering that Sweden no.10 only had one leg on the ground, the one that was hit with force at the shin, one can be relieved that a serious injury was not sustained here. Serious Foul Play.

Referee's call: No foul
Solution: Red Card (Serious Foul Play)

CRUCIAL MISTAKE 


14' - Serious Foul Play?

Having escaped two challenges, Sweden no.21 is sent crashing to the ground by late tackle having passed the ball to a teammate. Having played an advantage, the referee books Trinidad and Tobago no.3 for the tackle. The tackle was just late and reckless, no scope for SFP there.

Referee's call: Yellow Card 
Solution: Yellow Card (Reckless)


35' - Serious Foul Play?

Having successfully played the ball with a sliding tackle, Trinidad and Tobago no.3 is caught at the knee by Sweden no.10 who slid for the same ball. The situation seemed to go under everybody's radar - while very painful, I don't really see the scope to send off the Sweden player there. The tackle was reckless though.

Referee's call: No foul
Solution: Yellow Card (reckless)


41' - Serious Foul Play?

Impossible to say anything about the tackle by Trinidad and Tobago no.19 - perhaps the lack of replays did Maidin a favour. He awarded a freekick; no sanction.


46' - Serious Foul Play?

Already cautioned, Trinidad and Tobago no.3 jumps into his opponent with high force and a dangerous hitting point. Maidin correctly sent him off, but only with a second caution - this had to be a straight Red Card. On a practical level a triviality, certainly a formal mistake though.

Referee's call: (Second) Yellow Card
Solution: Red Card (Serious Foul Play)

CRUCIAL MISTAKE


59 - Violent Conduct?

Another situation which went under everybody's radar - with the ball at his feet, Sweden no.10 makes quite a few attempts to strike his opponent, and finally succeeds with quite a hard hit. I wouldn't even say a Red Card is out of the question there, but the lack of force of the elbow strike makes it more reckless in my eyes.

Referee's call: No Foul
Solution: Yellow Card (Reckless)


90' - Serious Foul Play?

Sweden no.11 makes a frustrated tackle on his opponent for which Maidin pulls out a yellow card. The tackle is from behind and partly even a scissors tackle, so a Red Card would be supportable in. my view. With some doubt in 2020 - yellow card was clearly the better choice fourteen years ago.

Referee's call: Yellow Card 
Solution: Yellow Card (Reckless) or Red Card (Serious Foul Play)


AR Prachya Permpanich made an important mistake at 30', besides that quite quiet afternoon for him and Eisa Ghoulom on the other line.

Shamsul Maidin - 7,3 Prachya Permpanich - 8,2 Eisa Ghoulom - 8,4 Óscar Ruiz Fernando Tamayo SIN, THA, UAE - COL, ECU	Trinidad and Tobago 0-0 Sweden Group Stage
A. John (15.) - Tackle Yorke (74.) - Delaying the Restart	Larsson (90.) - Tackle
A. John (46.) - Tackle