Grey personality, great refereeing

Referee and Assistants

Mr. Velasco Carballo is of those referees lacking in charisma but not failing in foul detection, advantage and deep understanding of the game and the players psyche. His fitness let him be close enough to any given situation, while his understanding enabled him to avoid getting in the way of the ball or the players involved in the situation. For those who know Ben-Haim's reckless behaviour, there was a gasp of relief, as after many a dirty foul through his career, at last he was caught red-handed and sent off, though reducing Israel to ten men meant the death call for their efforts to stay in the match. The assistant referees, Mr. Alonso Fernandez (who raised the flag correctly, to disallow the Benayoun goal) and the vastly experienced Yuste Jimenez, were superb.