FIFA World Cup: Referee spoils US fightback

Landon Donovan impressed in the US team. Photo / Brett Phibbs

"They [the officials] stole a goal from us," American playmaker Landon Donovan said. "It was a good finish and a good goal. It was the guy's [referee Koman Coulibaly's] first World Cup and maybe he got caught up a bit."

The Americans came back strongly from 2-0 down to Slovenia and had a Maurice Edu goal disallowed five minutes from time. It would have meant a 3-2 win to the Americans but most were left scratching their heads over why the goal was ruled out.

The problem is that modern football has turned the penalty area into a wrestling ring. Edu committed no foul as he scored. However, just about every other player in the penalty area was holding, grabbing, pulling or pushing as the US free kick sailed into the 18-yard box.

Referee Coulibaly saw one of several fouls. Unluckily for the US, he saw the only one committed by an American. Carlos Bocanegra had his arms around Slovenia substitute Jejc Pecnik and was preventing him from jumping for the ball. Coulibaly was ideally placed to see the foul he called.

Referees are under orders from Fifa to clamp down on fouls in the penalty area, but it's proving virtually impossible. Most referees are unwilling to penalise the defending team, preferring to reject goals rather than give them.

Cynical professional players tumble and dive in the penalty area, trying to trick the ref into giving a penalty. Only television replays reveal the full intent of their actions.

Fifa has rejected the use of video technology, preferring to try to maintain the spontaneous nature of the sport and, in the process, inherently reject many other sports which have seamlessly incorporated replays.

But at least this was a dramatic match in a World Cup criticised for producing too many tepid encounters. That charge, however, couldn't be levelled at these two teams. It was a game that had almost everything. There were goals, controversy, good football and missed chances. There were heroes and anti-heroes but it wasn't always clear which side was which even though both tried to claim the moral high ground.

It was spiteful at times and there was a cynicism about Slovenia's approach that has blighted Eastern European football for some time.

The game needed a strong referee and, sadly, didn't get one. Coulibaly failed to gain control throughout. Slovenia's goals were indisputable. Valter Birsa blasted a long-range shot past Tim Howard as early as the 13th minute and Zlatan Ljubijankic added a second. America responded strongly with goals to the excellent Donovan and Michael Bradley to set up an exciting finish.

The result keeps both sides in the hunt but Slovenia meet England in their final pool game while the US have the easier task of playing Algeria. One thing they will want to do is start better than they have in their two games to date.