Germany u21 1 - 2 Czech Republic u21
Euro 2011 u21 qualifiers · 2009-09-08 Referee: Stuart Attwell

New star or...

Attwell

As his bio has some great and bad moments, some decisions in this match were also good and bad. First about his good moments. All key decision in this match were right. A penalty for both teams and a red for an German player in penalty situation, all correct. Even Germans protest because of the penalty and red , Germany player pulled a Czech shirt in a goal chance.
Maybe not every referee would have shown red in that position, but Stuart showed with that decision bravery and resolve. His body language is also good, and his fitness is great.
But he is also young and unexperienced, and players feel that. He alliowed very physical play, but sometimes he didn't see some obvious fouls.
Stuart made some beginner's mistakes, like when he turned his back to a player who took a free-kick immediately. In added time he let play go on for more then four minutes, and he missed one foul at the edge of the box. And when German players tried to take the ball in the box, Attwell ended a match. The Germans were angry about that situation and all German players surround Attwell and protested more then three minutes. Attwell didn't show any caution, and he had to. If he had had more experience, he would have allowed that action to the end or he had ended the match before that situation.
From my experience I know that it is sometimes hard to be an authority to young players, and in this match Attwell had the same problem. Maybe he had to show more yellow for protesting but at the end he showed potential, but he has to work on some details.

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