19 Apr 2007(Thu)

April 17, 2007: Referees are usually in the news for the wrong reasons, answering the doorbell when controversy calls.

So let's give credit where it is due to the referees of the two matches I attended at the weekend.

First up was Omiya against Nagoya at Komaba, where the ref was Akio Okutani. I thought he had a fine match, allowing play to continue as often as possible and refusing to allow the trainers to come on to treat stricken players.

I use the word "stricken" very generously here, because, of course, most of the time the players are not hurt at all.

The Nagoya players were particularly annoying in this aspect, until Omiya scored in the 27th minute.

It is amazing, though, how quickly players will get up on their own once they know the ref is not going to stop the game.

Omiya fans may disagree with me about the performance of referee Okutani due to the late dismissal of their Brazilian central defender Leandro -- but again the ref was absolutely spot on.

Leandro had been booked in the first half for a late challenge on Toshiya Fujita, and received his second yellow card for delaying the game as Ardija clung on to their 1-0 lead. Omiya had been awarded a free kick deep in their own half, and Leandro shaped to take it before changing his mind and walking away to allow keeper Aratani to take over.

Leandro's actions really were insulting the intelligence of the match officals, so Okutani was quite right to show him his second yellow. Leandro will now be suspended, but who's fault is that? Not Okutani's, that's for sure.

And so to Sunday, Reysol against Reds at Kokuritsu. Or should that be Reds against Reysol, as the Urawa masses turned it into a home game for the champions.

On this occasion the ref was Hajime Matsuo, and his decision to caution Reysol's Brazilian striker Franca for a blatant dive should be applauded. Sorry "Yellow Monkeys" at the other end -- but Franca deserved everything he got in the shape of a yellow card.

Franca tried to get Tulio booked, and subsequently sent off, when tumbling in the Reds box under no contact whatsoever.

Shortly before that incident, Tulio had been shown the yellow card for dissent, furious that the referee had not taken action against, what he claimed, was a dangerous elbow from Koga in an aerial challenge.

Reysol were 2-0 down at the time, Franca was desperate and tried it on when Tulio raced back to defend.

Fortunately, referee Matsuo did not fall for it, even though the Reds fans behind the goal must have been nervous when he reached for his pocket, fearing a second yellow for Tulio.

ends