July 2 – World Cup referee chief Pierluigi Collina has told Germany their complaints over officiating at the tournament are invalid. 

Collina has explained why Jonathan Tah’s extra-time header against Paraguay was chalked off and why nobody should be surprised.  

Tah’s headed goal on Monday was ruled out after a video review, with Waldemar Anton judged to have pushed goalkeeper Orlando Gill to the ground. The contact was minimal. The criticism was loud. Germany lost the shootout and went home. 

Collina isn’t backing down, and his reasoning is clear enough. 

“Although keeping a position is not a foul per se, when an attacking player is not interested in the ball and deliberately moves, even marginally, with the clear intention of obstructing opponents’ movement and prevents him from defending, then referees, and VAR when needed, should carefully analyse the incident and intervene,” Collina said. 

He was firmer still on goalkeepers. When the whole aim of the move is to stop a keeper defending his goal, officials will act. And, crucially, coaches and players were told all this before a ball was kicked. “It should come as no surprise that referees will punish these fouls,” he said. 

Whether the Anton contact truly earned it is a separate argument and a fair one. 

There’s a bigger picture, too. Collina says the time-wasting crackdown is working: five-second limits on goal kicks and throw-ins, players are marched off for a minute after an injury. He called the measures effective and universally welcomed. 

The game wanted more football and fewer stoppages. It’s getting it.