RateTheRef

The elephant in the room. Or Howard Webb and 'that' performance in the FIFA WC Final 2010.

Sorry @ Rustyref.

Yes, because an offside offence is only committed when Moore plays the ball or prevents an opponent from playing it.  The handling offence happens before this, therefore it can only be a penalty.

Is it a penalty or offside? The answer lacks coherence,

1. Howard Webb to leave PGMOL
2. Simon Hooper for the FA Cup Final
3. FIFA World Cup - The Officials for all of the quarters, semi and Final will be from the USA Soccer Federation.
“Great job… wonderful job… me and Gianni get along great… he’s a great person”
4. Ruebyn Ricardo to referee two premier league fixtures by May
5. Anthony Taylor to retire from FIFA

2026 FIFA World Cup - AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC and UEFA seminars.

The preselection process for the World Cup is in its final stages; candidates from each confederation will gather in their respective seminars before the final cut and the selection of the referees who will officiate at the 2026 World Cup.

It will start with CONCACAF and CONMEBOL in early January, both confederations will meet in Brazil. To folllow, AFC, CAF and OFC will have a meeting in Doha, Qatar, at the end of February. UEFA will be the last confederation to draw conclusions when the European referees will meet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the early days of March. Shortly after that date, a final announcement about the official list will be expected. 

UEFA
02/03/2026 - 06/03/2026
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Eskĺs – NOR
Kovács – ROU
Letexier – FRA
Makkelie – NED
Marciniak – POL
Mariani – ITA
Nyberg – SWE
Oliver – ENG
Peljto – BIH
Pinheiro – POR
Sánchez Martínez – ESP
Schärer – SUI
Taylor – ENG
Turpin – FRA
Vinčić – SVN
Zwayer – GER

https://law5-theref.blogspot.com/2025/12/2026-fifa-world-cup-afc-caf-concacaf.html

SG1 for us at the Lane on Saturday in the shape of Simon Hooper!

SG1 Simon Hooper at the English derby

Probably a bit early, but I’m sure it must be in UEFA and FIFA’s thoughts about who will go to the World Cup next summer

11 referees went from the continent to Qatar 2022

Kovacs
Makkelie
Marcinak
Lahoz
Oliver
Taylor
Orsato
Siebert
Turpin
Vincic
Frappart

The UEFA seminar in March saw

Peljto
Oliver
Taylor
Letexier
Turpin
Siebert
Zwayer
Guida
Mariani
Gozubuyuk
Makkelie
Eskas
Marcinak
Pinheiro
Kovacs
Kruzliak
Vincic
Gil Manzano
Sanchez Martinez
Scharer
Halil Meler
Nyberg

I can’t see both Taylor and Oliver going. It’ll be Oliver… who I think is vastly overrated and is not as good as Taylor.

If they replicate the same number..My list at the moment would be..

Definitely

Oliver
Letexier
Turpin
Mariani
Marcinak
Scharer
Vincic
Kovacs
Zwayer

Then two from…

Peljito
Nyberg
Eskas


With Eskas and Nyberg the favourites
It wouldn’t surprise me if Peljito went

Do you mean this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEPRtSLhVI
Sky sport behind the scenes look in Alicante