RateTheRef

Oh dear..... that's all I can say really!

What has happened to Kassai?

For a time, he was one of the best referees in Europe but he's been in decline for so long now. It's quite unusual for a career to peak so early.

It's a bit sad.

I agree.  He hasn't been a top referee for many years now.  This decision is still staggering though.

Regarding the decision, it is an excellent example to up and coming officials that it doesn't matter how far behind the quick break you are, get yourself as wide as possible to give you that better angle for such a challenge.  He remained linear, therefore didn't give himself that opportunity.

I'm gutted for him.  He has been having a great season, including in Europe. He is still one of the best referees in Europe, as his merit marks so far this season have reflected before last night, but that was an absolute howler. To a degree I can understand it from his viewpoint, the Shakatar defender does kick out literally a second before Sterling goes to ground, and his mind has filled in the rest. It's when you see the side view that he did not have, that you can really see the defender is 2 feet away and even bmb with her girly driving could have driven a double decker bus through the gap. From the behind view that he had, that gap is not so easy to judge. He needed help from his AAR that didn't come, as kelxref has already pointed out, Tamás supported the decision, when they show the replay from just a bit towards the corner from Tamás, you can see him speaking over the comms and he points his baton towards the penalty spot, so he has let Viktor down there, imo. Thereagain his view looked to be partially obscured by the goalie who was outstretched on the floor by then.  I haven't seen any reply that shows the angle/view that György had or whether he was in a better position to help. I'm pretty sure György would have been yelling "nem büntetőrúgás" down the comms if he had a good view. György is one of the best ARs going and has always been the most reliable member of Viktor's team.

It would have been nice if Sterling had owned up at the time instead of apologising to the ref and opposition in his interview after.  He did not dive, it was not a deliberate act in going down but in my mind by not owning up at the time & saying ref I tripped up he never touched me, it then becomes an attempt to deceive the referee. He knew that should not have been a pen. Whether Viktor would have reversed the decision or not I don't know but the scope is there for him to change it before the ball is back in play.  Fair play to Pep for at least saying to the 4th official straight away that Sterling had tripped & I thought he was absolute class in his post match interview when discussing it. I'm not sure what the allowance is for a 4th official to step in and say to the ref, you've ballsed up there mate, reverse the decision and give a drop ball - certainly VAR would have given him that option.

He did at least get the other 3 penalty shouts spot on! Changed his accuracy rate on the big calls from 100% wrong to 75% correct/25% wrong! Like I say I am absolutely gutted for him, he's been superb this season so far and I was so desperate for him to carry on that form. I hope this doesn't knock his confidence too much. For me he is still one of the best and most reliable (more often than not) refs out there.

My final word on the matter - we all know about my absolute obsessive hatred of yellow. It is of no coincidence in bmb's mind that the very first time he has worn yellow this season he made his very first KMI error... Perhaps now Mr K will finally believe me that it is a vile and very evil colour and should never be worn! Domestically he has worn black in every game bar one, when he wore blue, in Saudi he wore orange in one game, red in the other, in Europe/International games he has worn black & maybe blue once as well - zero errors. All big calls correct including in one domestic game where there were a total of 12 huge calls - 2 red cards, a goal disallowed, a pen given, another pen shout correctly not given - they were mostly against my team as well, we lost and were reduced to 9 men but it was an absolute masterclass ref performance - he wore black! There is an analysis of that game here if anyone is interested: http://www.hungarianfootball.com/2018/07/26/ujpest-v-mtk-a-look-at-the-big-calls/! I've not quite forgiven him yet for sending off my main man Branko, correct decision or not, mind! Currently I am certainly not in the mood to be forgiving of the vile yellow shirt last night! Take my advice Mr K and burn it!!

Quote from: QuoCob on Thu 08 Nov 2018 09:22

Regarding the decision, it is an excellent example to up and coming officials that it doesn't matter how far behind the quick break you are, get yourself as wide as possible to give you that better angle for such a challenge.  He remained linear, therefore didn't give himself that opportunity.

But there was an assistant on the far side and an AAR in the penalty area who could have helped out! If AAR are to be used then they need to start DOING SOMETHING!!
It’s decisions like this that will get an untested, rushed VAR through who will ultimately make the decisions and all referees will be robotic or redundant!

You are confusing my comment by applying it to this incident, I am applying it to up and coming 'grassroots' officials as a learning message.

What kind of mark would Kassai get from the observer for making such a dreadful error?

7.9, assuming that was his only incorrect KMI in the game.

Quote from: dave26 on Wed 07 Nov 2018 22:56

I think Bmb will at the brandy and somewhat distraught or she will be giving Viktir the elbow lol

I'm on the palinká - it'll look a bit better after a few more of them! He's damn lucky he has such a cute smile!

Turkish ref in the Vidi game was kinda cute, albeit a bit young! Mr K needs to up his game - less yellow & more smiles or his top totty spot might also be in jeopardy!

Also recall Robbie Fowler telling a referee (Mr Elleray?) a penalty he'd awarded against Arsenal was wrong, but the official didn't change his mind.

It was the late Gerald Ashby who gave the penalty and, as you say, refused to change his mind in spite of Robbie Fowler's protests.  Fowler took, and missed, the subsequent spot kick, although Jason McAteer (IIRC) netted the rebound.