FIFA Studies Referee's Call in Slovenia-U.S. Match

Maurice Edu of the U.S. shoots at goal, which was later disallowed by referee Koman Coulibaly.

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN
WSJ

The fate of Malian referee Koman Coulibaly, who disallowed Team U.S.A.'s apparent third goal in Friday night's match against Slovenia, now rests in the hands of top FIFA officials.

Mr. Coulibaly's performance is undergoing a standard review that all referees are subject to immediately after each match. FIFA rules require referees to submit their own reports on matches, and then that report as well as taped footage of the match is subject to inspection. According to FIFA rules, the report must address all major incidents that occurred during the match as well as explanations for any cautions or ejections the referee doled out during the game. The game was Mr. Coulibaly's first as a head referee in the World Cup.

A FIFA spokesman said Saturday, "We do not comment on referee decisions."

For the U.S. the officiating controversy presents a complicated situation. U.S. Soccer officials must tread lightly in any criticism of FIFA because the U.S. is bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup and can't afford to make any enemies. Also, the U.S. team still has a crucial game to play against Algeria Wednesday. Soccer referees at the highest level are a fraternity, and might not take kindly to any team that singles out one of their own for abuse.

Judging from FIFA's past behavior, it is highly unlikely Mr. Coulibaly, if ruled to have made a major error, will be subject to any public form of discipline. Rather, FIFA usually deals with such matters by simply not assigning such a referee to any future matches, either as a head referee or line judge, or fourth official.

(More here.)