EXCLUSIVE: Keith Hackett on refereeing performances in the opening games of World Cup

The former head of PGMOL will be our refereeing expert throughout the World Cup, taking a close look at the performances of the men with the whistle.

Mexico v South Africa

"The opening game certainly set social media ablaze after Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced three red cards.

"South Africa's Yaya Sithole became the first player sent off in the tournament, and he left the referee with no other option than to correctly flash that first red card, after the foul he committed denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

"Later in the game, we witnessed Sithole’s teammate Themba Zwane becoming the second player to be shown a red, reducing his team to nine men.

"Post-match, we were informed that the dismissal was for Serious Foul Play, but frankly, I didn't see any malice in the challenge and, at most, the action was, in my opinion, reckless and deserving of a yellow card.

"In the closing minutes, Mexico's Cesar Montes was the third player to be sent off, the referee again adjudging that the foul had denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity."

USA v Paraguay

"The main talking point from this game centred around a yellow card incident that referee Danny Makkelie had issued to the USA’s Tim Ream.

"We saw a VAR intervention after a case of mistaken identity, and after a review, Ream's yellow card was quashed and issued to Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron.

"It was good to see a bit of common sense applied, and I fully supported the change. It was the correct call."

Qatar v Switzerland

"Switzerland opened the scoring, and I awaited VAR intervention as the player who scored appeared to be in an offside position.

"Nothing. No visible check and intervention from VAR. Surely this was an offside goal and should have been chalked off.

"FIFA eventually released a statement to explain the circumstances, but it didn't change my opinion as I believe this goal should have been disallowed."

Belgium v Egypt

"A basic error by referee Ramon Abatti Abel that really shouldn't happen at any level of the game.

"He awarded a free-kick but rather bizarrely allowed Belgium to advance the ball approximately 15 yards away from the position where it should've been taken.

"To add insult to injury for Egypt, Belgium scored, but a review of this goal by VAR should have seen it chalked off."

France v Senegal

"In my opinion, we witnessed the worst decision so far in the World Cup during this game.

"France’s Mbappe was fouled by the defender, and I was amazed that Alireza Faghani failed to point to the penalty spot.

"VAR correctly intervened, recognising a clear and obvious error by the referee, and after viewing the pitchside monitor, the official blurted out a rather confusing response.

"My initial thought was that he had overturned his decision, but no! He awarded a Corner kick!!!!

"Sorry, but he was absolutely wrong not to award France a penalty kick."

Argentina v Algeria

"The focus and debate were centred on Lionel Messi making his mark in this game with a hat trick.

"However, he should've received a red card for his unacceptable studs-showing horror tackle on his opponent. 

"We all want to see the big names on the world stage, but they have a duty of care towards their opponents, and Messi should be treated like all players in the tournament in a fair and equitable manner."

England v Croatia

"It's so pleasing to report that, as expected, top referee Clement Turpin delivered a quality performance in this game, and his decision-making was excellent.

"England fans held their breath when Harry Kane stood over the ball, ready to take a penalty kick, with his staggered run-up resulting in an easy save for the opposition goalkeeper.

"However, he earned a reprieve when the goalkeeper was correctly judged to have come off his goal line prematurely. There was also an encroachment into the penalty area by Josko Gvardiol.

"The law was correctly applied, and England fans sighed in relief.

"Kane made no mistake with his second attempt, of course, with England going on to win thanks to their forwards.

"Thomas Tuchel has some work ahead to make improvements to his leaky defence, and Harry Maguire was sorely missed in my opinion.

"Tuchel also made his disappointment clear when he and his team of coaches weren't able to see and link with the team to sing the National Anthem due to the banks of cameramen in front of them.

"FIFA, to their credit, quickly responded, and the position of players and cameramen will be changed for the next game."

Czech Republic v South Africa

"The Czech Republic opened the scoring in the 6th minute and held to that score line until the 83rd minute when a shot on goal saw the Czech defender holding his left arm out to make his body shape bigger.

"A penalty kick was correctly awarded by referee Tori Penso, who performed well."

Canada v Qatar

"Qatar’s Homam Ahmed was correctly sent off for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity after his foul on Tajon Buchanan in the 33rd minute.

"The referee initially pointed to the penalty spot and incorrectly showed a yellow card. It clearly should've been red at that point, because the offender didn't attempt to play the ball.

"Fortunately for the referee, we witnessed VAR correctly intervene with replays showing that the foul was deemed outside the penalty area, and therefore the referee correctly upgraded the yellow to red, and the restart was a free-kick to Canada just on the edge of the penalty area.

"Then we witnessed an awful incident when Qatar's Assim Omer Madibo and Ismael Kone both challenged for the ball, resulting in a lengthy stoppage and the Canadian being carried off on a stretcher.

"Madibo was originally shown a yellow card, but it was correctly upgraded to a red after a VAR intervention."

Some final thoughts

Drinks breaks: "A few games into this World Cup and an increasing number of fans, broadcasters and pundits are beginning to dislike the application of the three-minute enforced water break in each half of the game.

"In the majority of cases, when the break takes place, it impacts the flow of the game. It clearly promotes the opportunity for the coaches to use each break as a means of adjusting their tactical approaches, too, and I am sure this will be an ongoing debate.

Delaying throw-ins or goal kicks: "If the referee considers that a throw-in or goal kick is taking too long or being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will be initiated. 

"If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team, while a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick being awarded to the opponents.

Sharper substitutions: "To further streamline match flow, substituted players must leave the field of play within ten seconds of the substitution board being displayed or, where there is no substitution board, on the referee’s signal.

"Should the player fail to leave within this time, they must still exit the field, but the substitute will not be permitted to enter until the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart.

Injured players: "Where a player receives an on-field assessment for an injury, or their injury causes play to be stopped, the player will be required to leave the field of play and remain off it for one minute once play has restarted."