World Cup soccer: Referee expert evaluates Argentina’s use in the World Cup final

Especially the Argentine players’ hard grips and provocative behavior raised the discussion. At the same time, they appointed a referee Slavko Vinčićin for the tough test of match management.

Referee expert Jan-Peter Aravirran according to Vinčić, he coped well with his difficult task. Vinčić gave the players room to struggle, but also showed that not everything is allowed.

As the match progressed, Argentina’s frustration began to show more and more clearly. The team couldn’t get their game going, and the players’ decisions became more reckless.

“When Argentina didn’t really get anywhere, the players started to get hurt and make stupider decisions,” Aravirta estimates.

In the match a total of five yellow cards were handed out, all of which went to Argentina players. However, Aravirta was saddened that Vinčić did not take the opportunity to give Aymeric Laportelle yellow card after crashing into it to Lionel Messi.

“Now some may be left to speculate whether the judge somehow influenced the outcome when the distribution of cards was so uneven,” Aravirta points out.

Enzo Fernandez had to leave the field after receiving a second warning in the 93rd minute. He received his first yellow card for protesting and his second for flagging Pau Cubarsín.

“Fernández’s protest was a stupid overreach and Taklaus was absurd. He had no reason to take it that far,” states Aravirta.

According to Aravirra, the reason behind the protest was Fernández’s disappointment with his own actions. He desperately tried to shift the blame onto the referee’s shoulders.

Also Leandro Paredes stretched the limits of what was allowed during the match. According to Aravirra, after he entered the field, Argentina’s grips became even more restless and provocative.

The situation escalated once and for all after the final whistle, when Paredes grabbed Eric Garcíaa throat and spat Gavin down. In the same chaos Nahuel Molinan was seen hitting Rodria as he ran to celebrate Spain’s victory.

According to Aravirta, Paredes’ action was worthy of a clear red card. However, after the final whistle, Aravirta would not have gone to deal cards, but left the case for the later disciplinary proceedings to be resolved.

“This is a significant match and emotions are running so hot that the referee should no longer use cards to add gasoline to the flames,” Aravirta reasons.

Aravirta believes that Fifa will take the case into consideration and impose some kind of punishment on Paredes. However, he does not know how to assess the severity of the punishment.

”Folarin Balogunin the incident shook my faith in this system, so I don’t dare to guess anything,” Aravirta laughs.

According to him, a similar provocative style of play is seen clearly less in, for example, UEFA matches, especially in the Champions League.

In the World Cup tournament, the line was more permissive, as referees had been instructed to avoid yellow cards and bad behavior was not dealt with sensitively.

“It easily leads to teams starting to use the permissive line to their advantage. The players quickly notice what kind of behavior is acceptable and how the opponent can be shaken,” says Aravirta.

According to Aravirta, such behavior can only be disciplined if the line of judges is decisive and consistent right from the start.