FIFA Referee Who Disallowed US Goal Under Investigation
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A FIFA referee who disallowed a winning third goal by the U.S. national football team is under scrutiny.
The United States played an admirable game yesterday against Slovenia. Down 2-nil in the first half, the U.S. game back to tie the game. In the 85th minute the U.S. looked like for one moment it had won the game, however.
After a free kick from Landon Donovan, Maurice Edy scored a goal. But then immediately the referee disallowed it:
Mr. [Koman] Coulibaly's call, made in the 85th minute after the U.S. had recovered from a 2-0 deficit to draw even, remains a mystery. After Landon Donovan's free kick from the right side and Maurice Edu's deflection into the net for the apparent winning score, he refused to explain why he blew his whistle and disallowed the goal.
Slow-motion instant replays show Mr. Coulibaly starting to raise his hand and blow his whistle as Mr. Donovan approaches the ball. Mr. Coulibaly's eyes are focused on the center of the penalty area where U.S. players Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley are all in contact with Slovenian defenders. Mr. Dempsey is closest to Mr. Coulibaly and appears to try to shove his defender aside as he begins a run for the goal, though such a move is typical on free kicks that are sent into the penalty area.
This was then considered a bunch of bull with no seemingly explanation for the refer's call. As such, he is now being reviewed by FIFA but the effort is futile because
1) The call cannot be retroactively taken back and the U.S. assigned its rightful third goal.
2) The U.S. national team is loath to protest much since the U.S. soccer league is bidding to host the game in 2018 or 2022 and cannot afford to make enemies amongst FIFA. Referees are a close-knit brotherhood and any preceived attack against one may sour U.S. hopes for hosting the games.
3) The referee will not face any public criticism by FIFA. It is rare that the board disciplines any referees, even the very lousy, and whenever it does it does so without announcing it and just quietly stops assigning the referee.
This was Coulibaly's first World Cup match, and he screwed it up!
