Analysis errors that even an excellent referee can make
Szymon Marciniak managed Sporting-Arsenal in Alvalade. The Polish international received help from compatriot Tomasz Kwiatkowski (he served as VAR). Marciniak has had a remarkable career, being rightfully considered one of the best in the world. But in arbitration, not even this recognition is synonymous with infallibility. The game had several analysis errors, but it is fair to emphasize that they did not undermine justice in relation to the winner of the match.
Below is a technical analysis of the most relevant moves in the game:
3′ First yellow card of the match shown to Diomande, for a reason that the images did not clarify (perhaps protests with the assistant referee).
7′ One of the many interesting situations of the challenge: Arsenal’s first goal was well validated, because neither Bukayo Saka (first) nor Martinelli (later) were in an irregular position. If the ball had not gone in, it is almost certain that Sporting would have been penalized with a penalty kick, due to a very obvious grab/pull by St. Fits to Harveytz’s left arm.
21′ New excellent analysis from the assistant referee when validating the English team’s second, scored by Harvetz. Saka has never been in an illegal position.
32′ Well marked offside for Arsenal’s attack. However, Saka was taken down by Morita immediately before. Marciniak could have recovered from the initial infraction, signaling a free kick straight to the Londoners.
37′ Declan Rice shot dangerously at Franco Israel’s goal, culminating a cool move by Arsenal’s attack. Some Portuguese players “asked” to handle the ball and offside, but for no reason.
45+1′ Arsenal’s third goal scored by Gabriel Magalhães, following a corner kick. Here too, if the ball hadn’t gone in, Marciniak would surely have been called upon to score a penalty for Arsenal. It’s just that Diomande exaggerated the way he marked Harvetz, using his arms excessively (he hit his opponent twice in the face/head)
50′ Havertz’s right arm illegally controlled the ball, starting a dangerous move for his team. The infraction escaped the referee’s scrutiny.
52′ Raya wasted time again (he had done it before), and was justly warned
63′ Diomande aimed for the ball, but his right foot only connected with Odegaard’s left heel, bringing him down in his box. The penalty shot was well sanctioned. The center forward’s infraction prevented the opponent’s clear scoring chance. Due to the end of the so-called triple penalty, the Sporting defender should have received a second yellow card and subsequent red card. The match referee made a mistake there.
news-item-description ellipsis-2-line">Diomande’s foul in the area on Odegaard inside the penalty area
67′ A curled ball, after a shot by Gyokeres, was saved by Raya before crossing his goal line. The referee and technology decided correctly. Cool throw.
69′ Diomande must “review” the way he uses his hands and arms when marking opponents, under penalty of being penalized and, more seriously, penalizing his team. In this case, the Ivorian defender saw Havertz approaching, blocked him with his body and then stretched his right arm towards the opponent’s neck/face, hitting him. The player’s conscious and deliberate action falls within a situation of violent conduct. Penalty kick to be awarded and red card to be shown.
82′ At the time of Merino’s shot, Trossard (who made the successful reload) was in a legal position. Arsenal’s fifth goal was well validated.
90+3′ Trossard isolated himself, missing an opportunity in a promising area. The Belgian striker started from his own midfield, therefore from a legal position.
The Beautiful Game, Beautifully Botched: A Referee’s Review
Ah, the art of refereeing. It’s like a high-wire act, folks. One misstep, and you’re the villain of the piece. I mean, who needs enemies when you have a whistle and a whole stadium of angry football fans screaming at you? Today, we’re dissecting the performance of Szymon Marciniak, the Polish referee who took charge of the Sporting-Arsenal match. Now, I’m not one to criticize, but… oh wait, I am. And so are you, if you’re reading this.
Let’s dive into the juiciest bits, shall we?
Early Doors (3′)
The first yellow card of the match goes to Diomande. Why? Well, apparently, the images didn’t quite clarify the reason. Protest with the assistant referee, perhaps? Ah, the old "I’m-not-sure-what-I-did-but-I’ll-give-him-a-yellow-anyway" trick. Nice one, Ref.
Saka’s Got Skills (7′)
Arsenal’s first goal gets the all-clear, and rightly so. Saka and Martinelli, the dynamic duo, are in the clear. But, let’s take a moment to appreciate the subtle art of hair-pulling. St. Fits, you sneaky thing, you. Almost got away with it, but Ref Marciniak’s VAR sidekick, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, is on the ball.
More Where That Came From (21′)
Another great call from the assistant referee, and Marciniak agrees. Saka’s not offside, Harvetz scores, and the Gunners are on fire!
The Saka Slip-Up (32′)
A beautiful offside call, but Marciniak might’ve missed a free kick in the making. Morita takes down Saka, and the Ref could’ve blown for a foul. Ah, hindsight, thou art a wonderful thing!
A Spot of Controversy (45+1′)
Gabriel Magalhães scores, but what’s this? Diomande gets a bit handsy with Harvetz. A penalty, perhaps? Only if the ball hadn’t gone in, of course.
A Double Whammy (50′, 52′)
Havertz gets away with a sneaky handball, while Raya gets a warning for time-wasting. One of those "you-again?" moments for Raya, I imagine.
The Penalty and the Double Standard (63′)
Diomande brings down Odegaard in the box, and the penalty is awarded. However, our Polish referee misses the second yellow card (and subsequent red) for Diomande. It’s like a double penalty – a mistake within a mistake!
The Familiar Flailing (69′)
Diomande’s at it again! A " review" of his marking skills might be in order, as he’s getting a bit too comfortable with his elbows. Havertz gets a face-full of Ivorian defender, and we’ve got a textbook case of violent conduct.
The Final Verdict
Marciniak’s had a good game, despite the few cracks in his polishing. The decisions mostly went the right way, even if justice was slightly delayed. After all, as any referee will tell you, it’s not about being perfect – it’s about being consistent. In this case, consistently…mostly…fine.
The match ended with Arsenal on top, but the real winners are the fans, who got to witness a spirited display of " Well, that was a silly mistake!" caliber refereeing. Keep ’em coming, Szymon!
(If you liked this article, you might enjoy more referee-scorning, opinion-filled goodness. Stay tuned for more laughs and veteran wit!)
***Want to know more? Check out the original article
Not Even Excellent Referees are Infallible: A Game-Changing Analysis of Szymon Marciniak’s Performance in the Sporting-Arsenal Match
The highly-regarded Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, accompanied by compatriot and VAR expert Tomasz Kwiatkowski, oversaw the intense match between Sporting and Arsenal at the iconic Alvalade stadium. With an illustrious career that has earned him the reputation as one of the world’s top referees, Marciniak’s authority on the field is well-established. Even so, the match highlighted the imperfections that can occur in analyzing complex in-game situations. Thankfully, these discrepancies did not impact the outcome, as the rightful winner emerged victorious.
A Detailed Breakdown of the Most Critical Incidents:
7′ A pivotal moment in the match arose when Arsenal scored their first goal, which was correctly validated. An analysis of the play revealed that neither Bukayo Saka nor Martinelli were in offside positions. Furthermore, had the ball not resulted in a goal, Sporting would likely have been awarded a penalty kick, due to a blatant grab on Harveytz’s left arm by St. Fits.
32′ A well-executed offside call against Arsenal’s attack did not entirely rectify the situation. A closer examination showed that Saka was fouled by Morita prior to the offside infraction. In this scenario, Marciniak could have potentially corrected his initial ruling and awarded Arsenal a free kick.
45+1′ Arsenal’s third goal, courtesy of Gabriel Magalhães, came about following a corner kick. Again, if the goal had not been scored, Marciniak would have likely been required to award Arsenal a penalty kick. This decision was influenced by Diomande’s excessive use of his arms to mark Harvetz, twice making contact with the opponent’s face and head.
63′ A penalty kick awarded to Arsenal after Diomande’s infraction against Odegaard was a correct decision. However, a closer analysis suggests that the defender’s actions not only prevented a clear scoring chance but also warranted a second yellow card and subsequent red card, which was missed by the match referee.
69′ Diomande’s repeated use of his hands and arms to impede opponents was epitomized in this incident, where he deliberately used his right arm to block and then strike Havertz’s neck and face. This conscious action falls under the category of violent conduct, necessitating a penalty kick and a red card, both of which were overlooked by the referee.
