Universidad Católica 1 - 2 River Plate
Copa Libertadores 2008 group stage · 2008-03-12 Referee: Sálvio Spínola Fagundes Filho

A matter of style

European or SouthAmerican?

Some people say that there´s an European style of refereeing, and another South American style, because we don´t see exactly the same kind of football here and there. In S.A., referees tend to be more severe in order to protect skilful players and players tend to break the rules more frequently. Fagundes likes to referee with an "European" style, but this can turn out to be a bit permissive. And it certainly was during the 1st half of this match.

Change

At 52´, Fagundes showed the second yellow of that 2nd half. No cards during first 44 minutes (1st half), 2 cards during first 7 minutes (2nd half). Fagundes changed during the rest and became more severe, but this wasn´t good at all, because, how does he explain that the same action could deserve nothing in the 1st half but a yellow in the 2nd? Fagundes calls weren´t bad, but we wasn´t coherent. His booking was not bad, but he should have started from the beginning.

Penalty?

There were some doubtful actions inside both areas, and Catolica players demanded a penalty when the 1st half was about to end. The action wasn´t clear but it could have been a penalty. However, TV didn´t repeat it properly.

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