No suspensions.... yet

[dyslexic nam]

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-spor...tml?cid=BMD_SD

Interesting outcome

[dyslexic nam]

In my opinion, this is about the best we could hope for - after the initial screw job, of course. FIFA announced they were going to investigate, and to be honest, the statements we made at the end of the game (whether said in the heat of the moment or not, whether accurate or not) are the type of comments that generally result in sanctions against players.

This (delayed) outcome will at least ensure we are at full strength for the bronze medal match. I wouldn't be surprised to see a game ban come down after the match, otherwise FIFA would be admitting that something actually was fishy (...even though they dropped the ref from both subsequent games...) but at least this doesn't add insult to injury.

Hopefully the girls can focus and take out their frustration in the bronze medal match.

[elmateo]

There is an underlying tacit recognition by FIFA that if they made the decision they want to make before the bronze medal match there would have been a ****-storm in the press; and would not be treated like royalty when they come for the World Cup Canadians paid for. I think CSA should take this as a sign that they do not need to be push-overs. Obviously be 'respectful' but don't just take the crap because FIFA delayed the decision a few days.

[Joe Keeper]

Personally, I think that players should have the right to criticize referees after games. This gag rule is present in nearly all sports. It is such BS. How does any league office or governing body have the right to suppress players so brutally? It is a violation of freedom of speech. It is only done to protect marketing rights, and image etc...

When I saw that fifa, in all of their fascist wisdom, was actually now thinking about taking this travesty one step further and punishing our poor players, I was livid. Talk about rubbing salt into open wounds.... Not only can fifa and the olympic organizing committee not recognize the incompetence/corruption of the norwegian referee, now they have to kick us while we are down and subject the team to this farcical inquiry... They should be investigating the ref pederson and abbey wambitch, not our girls.

fifa's enforcement of the no criticism rule only serves to protect and ensure future incompetent refing in the future.

[The Ref]

^ Brilliant, love it. Specially the Wambitch nickname.

[alberta white]

Agree with all of the above. Especially Joe's comment about Post match Comments.

Sadly Cinsy comment about the Ref have decide the winner befor ethe game start will get her a ban. the Length of that ban will be interesting however.
If its fairly short; say, 2 games its implies that FIFA realise that using an inexperienced ref was a goof-up, but She's geting banned on a disrepute charge. ergo, don't call the ref a cheat, without legally binding evidence.

If she's hit with significantly more than that then FIFA is been VERY pissy and flexing the old, "shut up or else well give you serious grief" muscle.

Think it will be the former to be Honest, as Elmato noted, they want 2015 to go off smoothly. Imagine how they will sell Canada 2015 if Sinclair takes her ball home due to a draconian censor.

[Canada1]

Unfortunately after watching the vid of Tancredi stopming on the Americans head, she will be disciplined by FIFA after the Olympics.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Holy conspiracy Batman! I'm watching the BBC replay of Canada/France when the commentator touches upon the fact that earlier in the tournament our favourite Norwegian referee allowed 12 Cameroon players on the field at the start of the second half vs New Zealand (Group E, July 31) As an aside, the Canada/France commentator got the story slightly mixed up but I have posted the correct version.

So, I goes back to see this transgression and yes there were 12 and a Cameroon player was honest enough to get off the field after not too long even though our favourite ref didn't seemingly notice. Apparently that is one of the last things a ref is supposed to check before blowing the whistle. None of the above surprises me.

What did take me aback was the BBC commentator's quote "I think all I can say with a certain degree of security now is that our referee from Norway tonight Christina Pedersen, such as the way of FIFA who are in charge of this, will not be the final match referee now having made that mistake even though it doesn't seem that consequential in the scheme of things, FIFA will have spotted that and it's a black mark against her name"

He was right, FIFA didn't give her a final but I guess a screwup like that is good enough for FIFA to reward you with a semifinal. God bless Septic Bladder!

New Zealand/Cameroon You'll need the magic elixir to remove the location restriction if you want to see this. Really don't need to see the video however, the quote is verbatim.

[Lord Bob]

Unfortunately after watching the vid of Tancredi stopming on the Americans head, she will be disciplined by FIFA after the Olympics.

It would be something if they punished Canadian players for speaking against the referee, then punished a Canadian player for something that was ignored by the referee (thus showing they think the ref can't be trusted).

[Joe MacCarthy]

The ref had already proven she wasn't competent, should never have been given the semi-final. I'd rather have had the American Seitz in there.