LONDON - Joachim Löw’S 100th win in 150 games saw Germany into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup, but this match in Sochi will be remembered for video assisted refereeing failing to cover itself in glory. Again.
Colombian official Wilmar Roldan issued a justifiable yellow card to Cameroon’s Ernest Mabouka for raising his foot as he challenged Germany’s Emre Can for a ball five feet off the ground, just beyond the hour mark.
The VAR booth summoned him over to consider a more severe punishment and the referee promptly returned to dismiss Sebastien Siani. Pandemonium ensued before Mabouka received red and Siani was spared. Wrong twice. It was not a reckless or violent tackle.
The tournament has shown that this layer of officialdom is damaging the pace and energy of the football and adding complications that need not exist. Football is about its controversies and refereeing imperfections are part of that.
Mexico await Germany in the last four after Kerem Demirbay’s debut strike and a double from Timo Werner, with Vincent Aboubakar on target for Cameroon.