Koman Coulibaly, World Cup Ref, Makes Critical Call Against USA

Koman Coulibaly, refereeing his first World Cup match, called 'foul' on Maurice Edu in a critical moment of USA vs. Slovenia, which would have given the Americans a 3-2 lead.

Coulibaly, a Mali resident, has been refereeing since 1993. He has called several Africa Cup matches including the 2010 final, but never before a World Cup match until today.

Many analysts and fans around the world united in disbelief that the goal was called back. While the reason for the callback was unclear, most assumed the ruling was offsides.

SI senior writer Grant Wahl noted that the official FIFA ruling was not offsides, but a foul on Edu.

Said @chamberpost on Twitter: "Prediction: Referee Koman Coulibaly's first World Cup game will be his last."

Was it the right call? Judge for yourself by watching video of the goal and Koman Coulibaly's ruling here.

Comments

[Boris420]

08:34 AM on 06/19/2010

this proves its RIGGED everyone knows it counted so what if we get 3 goals in a row after bein down 2 and 3rd goal doesnt count when nothin shows it shouldnt count JUST cause the reff says so hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm they want this to be brought to attention so more people talkk about it and watch World Cup because its all about the AD DOLLARS

[mrjames1]

02:50 AM on 06/19/2010

This referee has some SERIOUS explaining to do. Why?

“In football(soccer) referee school, on day one they teach you that the WHISTLE is in your HAND for a reason, and NOT your MOUTH (like a basketball referee) . It is so that in the time it takes to raise up your hand to your mouth, you can THINK (usually this occurs if you allow them to play on because of an 'advantage'

In this case Mr Coulibaly raised the whistle and put it in his mouh before the play started. He was going to blow it no matter what. More than a bad call, it was premeditated.

I welcome his explanation for that action, and what the actual call was. Its undefendable, its that simple

[MayoGalway]

01:46 AM on 06/19/2010

I'll bet he doesn't work another WC game this year.

[JAHLION]

11:52 PM on 06/18/2010

The only thing left for the USA to dominate is soccer...eerr...football. Not sure these moon donkeys are gonna make that an easy task. Little did they know that greatness only come through adversity

[Leto II]

10:47 PM on 06/18/2010

Dear FIFA,

That was not a bad call in that critical moment.

Signed,

Jim Joyce

[freethinking moderate]

09:37 PM on 06/18/2010

If FIFA wants any credibility, this fraud will NEVER ref another World Cup game again in his life. He should even be banned from even attending a game as a spectator. Whether you support the US or not, a true fan of the game cannot support keeping such an incompetent, this call was not his only stupid blunder, ref ruining games by deciding the outcome on his own.

[ebatti]

09:22 PM on 06/18/2010

Tim Donaghy Should Have Been a World Cup Ref

http://bit.ly/b4b8cS

[Beatscape]

08:43 PM on 06/18/2010

Referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali made the worst call I have ever seen in World Cup history. The only penalties seen in the replay were three holding fouls in the box--all against Slovenia players.

Further, the FIFA policy that referees do not have to take a specific position on the play is preposterous. How can a game changing call be an arbitrary secret known only to the referee?!? This opaque policy goes against all common decency in a sport where the players are required to abide by a large pool of guidelines and regulations. Allowing referees to have this kind of power with no recourse for blatant violations is inexcusable. Everyone must abide by rules.

I urge FIFA to sack Koman Coulibaly from the ranks of FIFA referees. If he is not reprimanded, then you are inviting a scourge of corruption throughout the ranks of FIFA referees. If they can make arbitrary and blatantly incorrect calls with no recourse, then what is stopping them from taking bribes to fix games. This is a disgrace.

[Carolina Posse]

01:12 AM on 06/19/2010

oh stop. Worst call! Is this your first game?

[Olampean]

08:22 PM on 06/18/2010

There is a general misunderstanding by many soccer buffs as to what "referee discretion" means and how it applies.

Long story short, the so-referred to "discretion" can indeed refer to a referee's power (and responsibility) to determine whether or not a foul has been committed. It does not, however, give the referee "discretion" as to what a foul "is". The laws of the game absolutely define what is or is not an infraction, usually in fairly specific terms.

A referee is wrong to call a foul "just because things didn't look quite right." The referee ought to be able to name the infraction that led to the call.

I say that referee Koman Coulibaly needs to reveal just exactly what infraction took place and who perpetrated it, in "his opinion". There is no doubt that the referee's opinion is the deciding factor. He is the "decider". The result will not be changed.

But he owes the "spirit of the game" a clear description of what the foul was, or admit that he committed a mistaken application of the rules.

And, if the latter, he should enjoy the remainder of the tournament in the stands.

[BellaBena]

07:53 PM on 06/18/2010

I'm biased, but I'm still pretty sure that was a bad call.

[holyghostie]

07:47 PM on 06/18/2010

So let me get this straight he saw Edu foul...but missed the 3 Slovenians holding the Americans all around Edu?

The US got shafted in 06 by the officials against Germany too.

[Carolina Posse]

01:15 AM on 06/19/2010

Yes, true. But why did the US defense allow 2 goals in the first half? Historic comeback though. Love Donovan.

[holyghostie]

02:44 PM on 06/19/2010

It doesn't matter about the 2 goals. It matters that the referee missed three Slovenia's grabbing Americans in front of the net, yet he called a foul on Edu.

His blatantly horrible call of a yellow card for a non-exsistant hand ball, means the USA loses a key player for their game against Algeria.

I notice there is a website in Africa dedicated to outing this official as inept and or a cheater.

[jojowasaman]

07:32 PM on 06/18/2010

I must say that I'm tired of hearing that the US dug itself into a hole anyway. IT DOESN'T MATTER!! Even if the US had been up by 2 points or down by 100, it is still an unforgivable call. Yes, it is a great thing to make up a two point deficit, but that doesn't mean that afterwards it is completely acceptable to cheat a team out of any subsequent goals. It is also true that refs are human and make mistakes, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be held accountable for their mistakes. And the fact that this affected the outcome of the game dramatically and has the potential to keep a team from the second round makes it even worse. It is perfectly legitimate to question the calling in this, and other, games in the World Cup.

[jonmonbuckeye]

12:56 AM on 06/19/2010

The point is, HAD the US not allowed 2 goals by playing a pourous defense, this wouldn't be that big of deal.

[jitsusoji]

06:11 PM on 06/18/2010

This dude is as bad as that idiot who botched up the US-Italy game in the 2006 World Cup. The officiating has really been crappy at this World Cup. The poor Germans couldn't sneeze in the direction of the ref without worry about getting a yellow card.

[tqcobb]

05:20 PM on 06/18/2010

he could get a job on Ed Hocuhily's NFL crew

[jonmonbuckeye]

05:15 PM on 06/18/2010

I agree with Donovan. I think that he got caught up in the moment. Things happen. We all learn from mistakes. Let's face it. We shouldn't have been down 2-nil to begin with.