What Happened With the USA-Slovenia Match? How a Referee Stole a Win From America

By Geoff James

American soccer fans were outraged by the final score of the USA-Slovenia match in the first round of the 2010 World Cup: a draw. There was good reason to be upset though; Malian referee Koman Coulibaly's whistle blew right before the third goal was scored, rendering it null.

So what was the call for? As star midfielder Landon Donovan said, no one is sure. Whether a problem with language barriers or a simple desire not to explain himself, Coulibaly had no answers for the team or coaches. It is a requirement that each referee submit a written report of the game. Coulibaly's failed to add clarity to the situation, and is not required by FIFA to fully explain any rulings.

And FIFA's policy is to stand behind the decisions of their referees, so it seems that no answer will come further than the cryptic "holding" description of the call on the World Cup Website. FIFA generally does not speak out against or publicly reprimand their referees, no matter how dire their crime. They simply shut them out, which is exactly what has happened to Coulibaly.

The Federation announced yesterday the referee lineup for the second round matches and Coulibaly was conspicuously absent from that list. Because the World Cup referee schedules are released round by round, it is unclear whether he will be removed for the whole competition or just this round. If he is to come back, it will surely be as a line judge or some other support position, and not as a referee.

To enter the next round the US must win their match against Algeria, or if both the US and England end their games in draws, the US must maintain their point lead against England. The goal in question was scored in the 86th minute by Maurice Edu, an astounding comeback in the second half (which began 2-0, Slovenia).

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