Referee calls put Iran in difficult position

Persianfootball.com – CUIABA, Iran have still plenty to cheer about after the narrow loss to Argentina, considering the performance on international class, although they find themselves in a difficult position to advance from the group.

That Team Melli did not get at least a point out of the game came due to a moment of brilliance by the else well covered Lionel Messi, lack of precision in the finishing touch, a great Romero in Argentina’s goal and, most disturbingly, a horrendous false cass by referee Mazic.

The Serbian refused a clear penalty kick to Iran in second half, when Ashkan Dejagah was brought down in the box, a circumstance which could have easily been proved by modern technology, something the old men in FIFA around Sepp Blatter refuse to grant the referees for support.

Iran boss Carlos Queiroz was furious about the referee in the post match interviews, a circumstance well censored by FIFA.com in their summary of the Portuguese’s comments on the match.

While points against Argentina certainly were never planned, two blatant wrong calls in the Bosnia – Nigeria game now slimmed Iran’s chances of reaching the knockout stage dramatically.

Due to Nigeria’s 1-0 win, the Nigerian’s will certainly qualify from the group with a draw against Argentina on Wednesday, while the same result will see the South Americans topping the group.

One does not need to be a footballing expert to predict the result of that game correctly.

While Iran will have a stiff task of beating Bosnia & Herzegovina on Wednesday anyhow, it is still very bitter that both a correct goal by Edin Dzeko had been disallowed for an alledged offside and Nigeria’s goal was preceded by a foul on Spahic.

Again, a short look at a video replay by the referee would have corrected these critical false calls and dramatically changed the situation in group F.

Of course this have not been the first such situations in a World Cup overshadowed by many poor refereeing decisions. And as usual, they are mostly going against the underdogs.