Consistent

Ref and ars

Personally, I think Mr. Kuipers is overrated in UEFA and FIFA circles. However, this time around, he demonstrated his strengths, letting the game flow and generally assessed correctly most situations and incidents. He was very consistent in implementing his idea, that every illegal blocking of a counter-attack should be penalised by an admonition to the culprit. I am very much in favour of clear consistency, but it is arguable some of the yellows were shown for minor fouls if at all. The second blemish is the way Piszczek's throw-ins are treated. I've already mentioned his blatant use of hand-after-hand throw-in along the Poland's first round game against Northern Ireland (referee: Hategan, Romania). But if the Romanian is a new-comer to the international-tournaments arena, then Kuipers, a veteran, who should be an examle, shouldn't let the "one-handed" throw-ins to be as "consistently" delivered as Piszczek is the regular throw-in expert on the right-hand of Poland's build-up (e.g. for the most blatant cases: 26', 29', 30', 77'). Third problem, in the 32' minute, there were two balls on the field after a throw-in. Instead of stopping the game, till one is cleared off the pitch and restarting with a dropped ball (or in that matter - asking for a re-take of the throw-in, as the two balls were probably the result of two eager ball-boys to service the player who took it), Kuipers waited for the second ball to be kicked out, and let the game go on. For me, Mr. Zeinstra is the best ar. among those I have been watching in the first stages of the tournament. His colleague on the opposite touchline, Mr. van Roekel made some decisions which I assessed as incorrect (e.g. 53', 89').