Iran vs Portugal Referee, again from South America

[Persian-Pride87]

You are wrong. Most of my life I have had Portuguese and Hispanic people around me and I have both witnessed them talk to each other in their own native tongue and understand one another completely. There is no point in arguing this with you.

End of the day, a Spanish speaking ref should not be used at a WC when one side is Spanish or Portuguese speaking.

This is not correct, although they can understand each other to some extent it's not like they can understand each other clearly (enough for the purpose of the game though).

Brazilian and Portuguese are like Afghans and Iranians. Brazilians understand the Portuguese well but other way around, especially if they talk in their dialect is not so easy.

For Spanish is even more difficult to understand Brazilians, although they can understand Portuguese fairly well if Portuguese talk slow and clear. Portuguese understand Spanish better as they watch Spanish shows/TV.

[KC McElroy]

End of the day, a Spanish speaking ref should not be used at a WC when one side is Spanish or Portuguese speaking.

If anything I say use a ref that speaks at least one, if not both, of the languages spoken. A ref who can communicate with players can be much clearer than one who can't communicate.

[Persian-Pride87]

I would agree if the ref for the Iran-Portugal game spoke both Persian and Portuguese.

Here, a Spanish speaking ref can communicate with one side (Portugal) by speaking a language (Spanish) that the other team (Iran) does not understand. This is not right and it is clearly in Portugal's favor.

If anything I say use a ref that speaks at least one, if not both, of the languages spoken. A ref who can communicate with players can be much clearer than one who can't communicate.

[KC McElroy]

I would agree if the ref for the Iran-Portugal game spoke both Persian and Portuguese.

Here, a Spanish speaking ref can communicate with one side (Portugal) by speaking a language (Spanish) that the other team (Iran) does not understand. This is not right and it is clearly in Portugal's favor.

I don't see what advantage it would give them unless you are suggesting the players and ref will be plotting throughput the match.

[OzzyOscy]

Every match is some complaint about the referee, and then during the match the referee is fine.

Stop it.

[Babak agha]

You are wrong. Most of my life I have had Portuguese and Hispanic people around me and I have both witnessed them talk to each other in their own native tongue and understand one another completely. There is no point in arguing this with you.
End of the day, a Spanish speaking ref should not be used at a WC when one side is Spanish or Portuguese speaking.

You're right in one thing: no point in arguing with someone like you.

I typed that while a Spanish person was sitting next to me and a verified it with her (and not for the first time) while we both work, on a daily basis for many years, with a lot of Portuguese and South Americans (including Brazilians).

But yeah you know better....

[Babak agha]

And by your logic, a French ref should not be appointed in a game with African teams most of them do speak French as a second language.

Btw why don't you include Italians to that mix? Cause Spanish people understand Italians more or less the same way they understand Brazilians.

But I guess you know better than Spanish people what they do or don't understand huh?

[OFFSIDE_1]

I would agree if the ref for the Iran-Portugal game spoke both Persian and Portuguese.

Here, a Spanish speaking ref can communicate with one side (Portugal) by speaking a language (Spanish) that the other team (Iran) does not understand. This is not right and it is clearly in Portugal's favor.

the similarity of the language should not be a concern. It's the preferential treatment that a Ronaldo would get, regardless of what language he speaks should be a concern. He will get the calls because of his star status regardless of what language the ref speaks

[Raptor]

The referee is picked from one of the confederations that is not represented by the nations that are playing in the game - unless both are from the same confederation (in which during the group stage this can only happen to teams from UEFA).

It means that if FIFA would have picked another referee it would have been someone from CAF (Africa), OFC (Oceania) or CONCACAF (North America). I'm pretty sure some of you guys would complain then too.

[beri486]

What I don't understand is why 95% of the VAR officials are from
EU countries. There is only one or 2 from the Americas and I have
yet to see any from Asia or Africa.

I think this was a backdoor way for FIFA to monitor Asian and African
refs and overrule them if they don't follow their "guidelines".

[AsOen5]

And by your logic, a French ref should not be appointed in a game with African teams most of them do speak French as a second language.
Btw why don't you include Italians to that mix? Cause Spanish people understand Italians more or less the same way they understand Brazilians.
But I guess you know better than Spanish people what they do or don't understand huh?

And also when a Refferee can understand multiple languages, it shouldn't disclude him from a wide range of matches which he would have been able to attend if he wouldnt learn a language?
Persian-Pride87's argument is bs. End of the story.

[KC McElroy]

What I don't understand is why 95% of the VAR officials are from
EU countries. There is only one or 2 from the Americas and I have
yet to see any from Asia or Africa.

I think this was a backdoor way for FIFA to monitor Asian and African
refs and overrule them if they don't follow their "guidelines".

Or perhaps because the Europeans are better at VAR.

[Leicester City]

Or perhaps because the Europeans are better at VAR.

Most VAR technology is developed in Asia though...

[KC McElroy]

Most VAR technology is developed in Asia though...

In which countries/leagues has it mostly been used?

[Ghermez Agha]

He loves Iran. He has been in Iran for the last 7 years. He is getting paid millions. He left Portugal on very bad terms with a lot of the administration and staff. He has tension with their star player, Ronaldo.

Believe me, he wants us to beat Portugal more than we want to

I don’t question CQs loyalty to Iran for a second but at the end of the day.....he is Portuguese. The same way we would still support TM if ppl we hated like MK or ghalemorghi was our coach CQ will still (rightfully so) support Portugal regardless of his fall outs with them.

I think he will find a win vs them bitter-sweet.....bitter in the fact that he would eliminate his country but sweet in the fact that it would be a nice F*** you to the FA and players he is on bad terms with. As a competitor this is what you live for and to add to it it’s the biggest match in his 7 years as TM coach so I think at the end of the day he will be happy with a win