The Canadian disappointment is understandable. I wonder how many of the respondents to this have ever actually been a referee (beyond U12, anyway)? Have any of you ever had to balance letting the teams play while making instantaneous decisions and keeping the game within the rules?
There were some missed calls against both sides, and there will continue to be until soccer adds another referee on the field and divides responsibility, a la lacrosse. Pedersen did a good job under extreme pressure, which the Canadian coach idiotically ratcheted up before the game. He's a brilliant coach, but what an ill-considered statement...almost like he was making an excuse before the game was played.
So what if the time penalty is almost never called? It's a rule, and the Canadian team had been warned. Intentional stalling can bite both ways, especially when the opponent takes a late lead.
Both teams played brilliantly...it was a superb match on both sides. Team Canada needs to channel their emotions and go out and kick France up and down the field. Then get ready for the next rematch with the US.
The game was poorly referee'd. You could say there were hand balls in the box on both sides. Unexplainable and inconsistent refereeing was the problem. Yes, there were corners awarded to the US that were not called properly by the linesman. Yes, there was plysical play on both sides
In my opinion, it is just as simple as this:
The USA played very well. In particular, Rapinoe's strike was a beauty and the winning header was as spectacular as each of Sinclair's two headers.
Canada played very well as well. Although, Rapinoe's corner kick goal showed some lack of focus or lack of experience on the part of Canada. I thought it was a particularly poorly defended goal - novice to put it squarely.
Canada's mid-field was the best of the two teams that night.
Sinclair was the best player on the pitch. I mentioned the headers, but the way she turned the defender for the first goal strike was a classic.
Although overall the USA may be have been a stronger team on paper, on that night, in my opinion, Canada was the better team overall and deserved the win. Football (sorry, Soccer) tournament format does not allow a best of X number of game format.
It is unfortunate however, that the result was decided by more than the quality of play on the pitch. They may not recognize it now, but in the fullness of time, the players and football fans will look back on those medals and see the tarnish. I would rather remember wins based on Beckenbauer's backward over the head strike rather than Maradona's "hand of god" or a middle school "6 second holding" enfraction. Short sighted jubilation fades to a longer term reputation. In this tech age, the memory of that game along with the videos, emails, blogs as well as these comments will last for a long time.
A controversial referee is a poor referee. The fact that we know the referee's name is a testament to it. Her incompetence should be rewarded by relegating her to refereeing club matches in her home country of Norway.
I wish good luck to both the Canadian and US squads.
It was controversial and as a sports player it is very upsetting to have a bad call invoke a series of events that ultimately leads to the teams downfall. While I understand the players have to watch what they say, none of us really care if they win bronze... it will almost feel like a cursed medal. Even the referees behaviour was un-professional
Further more I feel bad for the American's, because they did work hard to get there and even without that call could have pulled it off. But like a lot of other people am left wondering if that one call is what made them the medal or the hard work? Not only that, but France is stuck with us for the bronze medal game. What are the odd's the ref's will be scared to make a call
Every corner kick that the U.S. was given was correct and so far no one (other then you) is contesting that. As for the throw ins, again no one other then you is contesting that they weren't fair. If you know anything about soccer you'd know that the head referee (Norwegian Christiana Peterson) doesn't determine who throws the ball in or who has possession off of a corner. Those decisions are handled by the sideline referee's (the one's with the flags)
I agree that Christiana Peterson made some controversial calls. The delay of game that was called on Canada's goaltender is a penalty you almost never see called. The U.S. argument was that the Canadian goaltender had already been warned at the half about taking too long holding the ball. On the play which resulted in the penalty being called, she did hold the ball for longer then the 6 seconds she is allowed, and according to the rule book, the referee is justified in making that call.
The difference in why the handball was called on Canada and not on the U.S. has already been made clear. The Canadian defender was in the wall and raised her arm away from her body before the ball struck her, where as the U.S. defender on the earlier play had her arm straight down and locked to her body.
I honestly think the reason why the referee was a little harsher when it came to enforcing the rules on Canada then onto the U.S. has a lot to do with the conduct of Team Canada and it's Coach before the match even started. Canada spent a few days before the match complaining about how the U.S. gets away with numerous "highly illegal tactics" inside the box and that the referee's are biased in their calls. If you were a referee and the Canadian coach was criticizing you for doing your job incorrectly, before you even had a chance to do it... how would you feel? She knows that as a referee, she can enact a little bit of revenge on Canada for their criticism of the officials and not be held accountable since she made sure to stay within the rules of the game.
I'm not saying that justifies Christiana Peterson's calls, but technically speaking she didn't do anything that would warrant her being suspended or fired as some people are calling for. Her defense will always be that she called the game within the rules, according to the rule book.. because technically.. she did.
Christiana Pedersen should certainly be reviewed. All referees should be accountable.
It's a shame that this ruined what was actually a great game. We'll never actually know who was better, because of the whining and bullying of US's Wombach on the field and the controversy after the game from Canada.
It's terrible that even if the US captures gold in the final, it'll be a tainted victory in the eyes of most who follow the sport, especially those who are not Canadian or American. Hopefully Japan wins and Pedersen is heavily reviewed by the IOC and FIFA. God forbid they let her officiate in the Gold Medal game.
US Japan is a ratings bonanza, because it has been hyped by TV. The ref knows it, studios knows it, there was no way authorities can allow Canada in the final, that would not draw ratings. Ref set it up for Canada to fail, clearly, have to be a blind homer not to see that, sports are tainted in general and this is no different... always expect big market teams to advance - money talks and US team benefited hugely.
@Boise Brett
I bet you any money that you have never seen such a bullsh*t call like that, EVER !! Before the ref makes a call and gives a free kick for such a "minor" offence, he/she should warn the player of the consequences. You don't just give a free kick, without any formal warning, especially for something like that during a semi final game. Thats just common football knowledge !!!
Great job Canada !!!
From Austria !!!
Joel W
The ball was deflected into the Canadian defenders elbow. That should have been an incidental, not a penalty kick.
too bad that an amazing game will always be remembered for a bad call. im canadian and it wouldve been an easier pill to swallow if the game was settled by the players and not by a really dodgy call that I HAVE NEVER seen called in all the games I have personally played in and watched.
there were calls that have gone both canada and american's way and thats what sucks, there was no consistency. they shouldve chosen a more competent referee for the semi-finals.
One of the most spectacular and unexpected football matches ,was Canada's near defeat of Americas team ,yesterday at the Olympic games.
However every time Canada scored a goal the Norwegian referee awarded a corner or a penalty right in front of the Canadian goalposts.whenever the ball was kicked out ,the referee ensured that America would throw it in.
She might just as well have worn an American jersey.
Norway should be awarded an American jersey because she earned it for her bias.I have never been more disgusted thanby this Norwegian referee's performance.
Can she be banned from International refereeing?
These refs make a lot of money and should not be allowed to ever ref a pro game again. Here's her American Jersey!
Absolutely. Until FIFA does an inquiry into the match, she should not do another game. Lets' not forget about the US hand ball in the 1st half
i say have men refereeing this games, having a woman refereeing women games i don't know what the olympics or FIFA are trying to achieve here
Boise, if you think this is bad you should have seen the epic crying from the Welsh after their captain got himself sent off in the Rugby World Cup for damn nearly breaking an opponent's neck.
Sports fans from all countries are totally blind to the wrong doings of their own players and always think the referees are biased against them.
Definitely NOT. While the citizens of the USA are in dire financial straights, when they do make a shrewd investment there should be no comebacks whatsoever. Money well spent.
Pedersen should just be given a US jersey. The women's US soccer team has not been playing well lately (world's cup) and her assistance should be rewarded. The US can't be blamed for accepting the victory but they really shouldn't be gloating under the circumstances.
That game shouldn't have even gone into extra time. That was absolutely unfair and terrible.
Canada will take it's sweep of hockey Golds over the US in the last Olympics and in Salt Lake any day. Canada deserved the win yesterday, it was handed to the US.
Oh no, another bitter Canadian! Somebody call the WAAAHMBULANCE!!!
But in all honesty, how about the calls that went Canada's way? How many times did Alex Morgan completely eat grass in the box and not get the call? Quite a few times. Did you see that blonde Canuck completely scissor down Abby Wambach in the box? I did, the ref did, and no call was made. And that Tancredi girl? She wasn't out there playing soccer, she was out there playing rugby. 7 tackles, 5 of which were card worthy and yet she merely got a yellow. From what I saw, it seemed the ref tried to help out Canada. Now quit b*tching about an overall, unbiased ref and look at the fact that Canada blew 3 different leads in one half and couldn't score against a 3 person defense after scoring thrice on a 4 person defense.
God bless Christiana Pedersen!!! What a great call. What a great presence of mind. :-P
@Boise
Boise, as in I-d-a-h-o-?
Enough said.
Ah, the old Norwegian/United States Conspiracy Alliance strikes again. They will rule us all one day.
absolutely.
