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General Refereeing => 2026 FIFA World Cup => Legacy Appointment Boards => Match Discussion => Topic started by: NRUReferee on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:02

Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: NRUReferee on Mon 06 Jul 2026 00:34
Interesting stat pack

Last time they met in a World Cup

2-1 Norway win

Penalty given in the last 10 minutes of the game

By an a American Referee
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: yfc54 on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:23
Neymar should have been red carded.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: ARF on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:12
That’s a terrible decision for the penalty. Looks like a player jumping to head the ball. You can’t jump without using your arms!

I think Elfath’s goose is cooked for this tournament…

It’s a shame the officiating over the last two days, aside from Oliver, has been sub standard.
He's jumped with his arm leading into the opponent, his elbow connecting with the opponent's head. It's a penalty all day long.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Arbitre anglais on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:12
Can’t be bothered to write what I did last time, but just do not see what fifa see in this referee. Is clearly injured / unfit. Should’ve been done after ESP-URU but given the nicer last 16. Missed a blatant penalty and helped by VAR and gave the late one, but not the YC that had to go with it (if it’s judged an arm to the face). Penalty is then scored  by Neymar who should’ve already been sent off, having petulantly (as per usual) started the confrontation minutes earlier with a two-handed shove to a player. With plenty of other good referees in tournament must surely be the end.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Charlieboy on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:09
That’s a terrible decision for the penalty. Looks like a player jumping to head the ball. You can’t jump without using your arms!

I think Elfath’s goose is cooked for this tournament…

It’s a shame the officiating over the last two days, aside from Oliver, has been sub standard.
They will probably give him the final.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: olliebcafc on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:09
I thought he was fine to be honest other than the missed penalty at the start. Second penalty was supportable. I still don’t like the waving of the card from 30 yards away but it was generally a quiet game for him
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TheThingFromLewes on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:07
That’s a terrible decision for the penalty. Looks like a player jumping to head the ball. You can’t jump without using your arms!

I think Elfath’s goose is cooked for this tournament…

It’s a shame the officiating over the last two days, aside from Oliver, has been sub standard.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Affy_Moose on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:06
It’s a clumsy elbow but it’s entirely inconsistent with the light touch refereeing we’ve had all tournament
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Semi Retired on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:05
Must need to replace my glasses. Still can’t see a penalty in that one.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: ARF on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:05
Nice easy penalty decision.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: mac on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:03
To be honest, Elfath has had a quiet game and not had a lot to do but whenever he has he stepped in.

I imagine he’d be disappointed to not give the penalty live but that’s what VAR is for. It really wouldn’t surprise me if we see him in either the SF or F.

No, that’s what the referee is there to do. Now he’s found another pen and lost the plot a bit.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TheThingFromLewes on Sun 05 Jul 2026 23:01
Elfath has just strolled around the pitch most of the evening… almost Hackett like.


Just to add I’ve not seen an official in years in the top echelons of refereeing, more so in a FIFA World Cup tournament, labour around like he is completely knackered.

Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TA_Ref on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:58
To be honest, Elfath has had a quiet game and not had a lot to do but whenever he has he stepped in.

I imagine he’d be disappointed to not give the penalty live but that’s what VAR is for. It really wouldn’t surprise me if we see him in either the SF or F.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: HChip on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:49
At this stage I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a USA v Mexico final reffed by a USA officiating team.
Plus the entire Mexico squad denied entry visas - the US have some Puerto Ricans cosplay as the Mexican team instead.

Just because they’re in the final, can’t promise them entry into the country the final is being played in! They can’t even let a referee into the country they’ve been quite rightly cleared by everyone except the US to officiate in 😫

I’ve just seen a great tweet summing up FIFA & the US in this World Cup:

“FIFA:

1) can't possibly intervene when Iran are forced to move, a referee is denied a visa, or fans are barred from the USA

2) can absolutely intervene when a decision goes against the USA that Donald Trump doesn't like”
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: ARF on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:47
At this stage I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a USA v Mexico final reffed by a USA officiating team.
Plus the entire Mexico squad denied entry visas - the US have some Puerto Ricans cosplay as the Mexican team instead.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TA_Ref on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:43
Good to see the Norway substitutes not come on and celebrate the goal. Makes a nice change.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: HChip on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:38
And after all this, the North American trio are in talks to host the 2038 WC as well. Boy do I hope FIFA stamp their feet and look for other options….

USA have 2 host opportunities - one with Mexico and Canada, and the other with New Zealand and Fiji…
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: mac on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:22
At this stage I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a USA v Mexico final reffed by a USA officiating team.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: HChip on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:16
Referee - Tori Penso
AR - Brooke Mayo
AR - Kathryn Nesbitt
4 - Ismail Elfath
5 - Corey Parker
VAR - Joe Dickerson
AVAR - Armando Villarreal
SVAR - Kyle Atkins

Observer - Donald Trump

You heard it here first!
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: aaa on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:05
By the way this WC is going, he will probably get the final, because if anyone else gets it the US Government will complain!

Mr. Orange Man Baby will send in ICE to kick everyone out of the US if either his team or Officials were not involved in the final.  Plus, he will be holding the world cup hostage anyway!
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Joecphillips on Sun 05 Jul 2026 22:00
By the way this WC is going, he will probably get the final, because if anyone else gets it the US Government will complain!

I think after the recent suspension decision trump is in line to referee the final
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: ARF on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:58
By the way this WC is going, he will probably get the final, because if anyone else gets it the US Government will complain!
If it's going to be a US official, I think I'd rather have Tori Penso get it!
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: HChip on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:53
By the way this WC is going, he will probably get the final, because if anyone else gets it the US Government will complain!
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TA_Ref on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:43
Not seen the penalty incident but his lack of mobility moving across the pitch is extremely concerning…
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Scally Bob on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:33
Two nights running we’ve seen FIFA officials missing blatant penalty kicks that I’d expect any competent Level 5 referee to give. They’re either incompetent or so lacking in confidence that they’ve relied on VAR to bale them out. Simply not good enough.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: mac on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:24
He can hardly run!
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: mac on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:22
He didn’t see it cos he was in a position I’d expect if he was running left wings (young people, look this up :))

Really doesn’t give me confidence if a fifa ref can’t see that as a pen live, and just goes to show VAR as much as I hate it, is going nowhere, and to be fair it’s a difficult argument when something like that gets missed.
Title: Brazil 🇧🇷 v Norway 🇳🇴 - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TheThingFromLewes on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:14
Hopefully he will put that error behind him, and let’s hope it doesn’t escalate into the type of fiasco we had last night.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: TheThingFromLewes on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:14
Poor start by Elfath… clear penalty missed.
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: RCG on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:13
How was that not given live?
Title: Re: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: Vassago on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:13
That's a stonewall penalty for Brazil and Elfath has to be saved by VAR. Yikes.
Title: Brazil vs. Norway - Ismail Elfath (USA)
Post by: NRUReferee on Sun 05 Jul 2026 21:02
Some omens coming into this one. Brazil have never beaten one country in either competitive or friendly internationals - and that’s Norway.

And the last time they met each other at a World Cup - was France 98 - where the referee was from…

The USA (the quite excellent Essie Baharmast)