Senegal eliminated from World Cup via fair play - fair decision?

[hadi123]

That must be so heart breaking. Same points, same goal difference, head-to-head would be useless as their match was a draw so Senegal were knocked out on the basis of having more yellow cards. Is this a fair way of being a tie-breaker?

Personally I think it is. TBH, it's not a great idea but I can't think of any possible alternatives - surely it's more fair than a flip of a coin so I would say it's the right decision but only due to lack of alternatives.

 

[MMHS]

At one point, some tie breakers has to be applied and disciplinary record isn't a bad criteria. However, Japan was disgraceful for last 15 minutes when Colombia scored and deserved couple of bookings to kill a game of soccer.

This incident just giving an indication of what we can expect in 2026 when there'll be 3 teams group and each team has only 2 games, and 2 out of 3 advances. With 2 games each, if it ends like 1-1 in all 3 games, it'll be fun - in fact, it's 2 out of 3 then KO where each 16 Group toppers take on a 2nd, means almost every group there will be some sort of tie, either for top spot or 2nd spot. Using FIFA ranking upon teams on same point & GD can be one way and that'll force teams to take friendlies more seriously, but for that ranking system has to be better.

I liked the idea of 40 teams, with 5 in each group - that makes 4 games at group stage and you have wider range to separate teams on same point. 6 teams of 8 group (for 48 teams WC), makes it too long 120 group games, then 16 KO games!!!! But, 40 teams with 5 each makes it 80 + 16 = 96 games, instead of that 48 teams & 80 games (48 + 32 KO Games including 3rd/4th play off) model. 3 team group means, in last round, 2 teams will be playing and 3rd team sitting out (Unlike 2 games at same time at present), which gives lot more chances to fix the game and some of the last round games will be even worse than FRA-DEN or POL-JPN.

I am 100% sure, that 2026 model won't stay for long - may be one more WC, then by 2034, it'll be changed again.

 

[srh]

That must be so heart breaking. Same points, same goal difference, head-to-head would be useless as their match was a draw so Senegal were knocked out on the basis of having more yellow cards. Is this a fair way of being a tie-breaker?

Personally I think it is. TBH, it's not a great idea but I can't think of any possible alternatives - surely it's more fair than a flip of a coin so I would say it's the right decision but only due to lack of alternatives.

I would have preferred sudden death match between Senegal and Japan. Whoever scored first win.

 

[MMHS]

I would have preferred sudden death match between Senegal and Japan. Whoever scored first win.

Also, they were playing in 2 stadiums quite close to Russian standard - Volgograd & Samara, just about 650KM apart via air.

However, it takes a bit to reach from stadium to airport, but it'll be unfair if one team waits at the venue and other flies in - who has to fly, to determine that, then we might use fair play. Or find a middle place where both can fly in - in this case, as I have checked - Saratov is just at middle, they do have a stadium, though not sure about the FIFA standard and an airport as well. However, there are 8 groups, so hosts must be ready with one more stadium (& City with security arrangements) in between for all 16 games in last round to apply this effectively - you never know which group ends like this dead lock and venues/schedules for the rest games are also fixed.

It's probably easier to use Fair Play, and every team knew that at the start. Senegal was robbed here to make sure that both Japan & Colombia makes it (And they were lucky that Poland already was out of contention), otherwise fair play is quite acceptable tie-breaker. If that penalty was given and Colombia yet won 2-1 thereafter, absolutely no regrets for Senegal. Irony is that, Japan made it because of a Penalty in 3rd minute (Genuine one, no issues), which made Colombia playing 91 minutes with 10 men.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Must be tough for the players as well as the fans,for the team to be eliminated in such a manner.However I think this is the right decision.

 

[MenInG]

And now another disgrace in play - Belgium and England! Trying to somehow not win and hope yellow cards gets them second.

A World Cup game - being made a mockery of.

 

[Markhor]

Simple answer is don't get booked.

It'll reduce the amount of cynical fouling that we see all too often.