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The article discusses soccer refereeing, focusing on methods and advice the author learned from her father, a referee for college and recreational games. Topics include when to give out yellow and red cards, recommendations on communicating and dealing with players on the field, and examples of referee calls from the 2014 soccer World Cup and other matches.

The article offers an analysis of the convergence in national team soccer results. It examines the convergence in the results of national soccer teams between 1950 and 2010. It explores the reasons finding convergence in national soccer team results is easier than finding convergence in gross domestic product (GDP). Information on the convergence hypothesis, a result of the neoclassical growth theory, is presented.

The article examines soccer officiating during the 2010 World Cup tournament. A series of mistaken judgments or missed calls by referees during the tournament is discussed. Several possible rules changes are considered, including the use of instant replay to determine if goals have been scored, and changing the rule on hand balls in the penalty area.

The article profiles English soccer referee Graham Poll. He became prominent following his performance in the game between Croatia and Australia at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. According to the article, he was perceived by people in the English football as arrogant. His retirement from refereeing international tournament finals made him realize the intense pressure referees like him was under.

The author comments on a study that modeled goal scoring by independent Poisson distributions, arriving at the conclusion that optimal strategies for two soccer teams are unchanged between a 3-1-0 and a 2-1-0 award system. The author discusses the methodology and key findings of the study. He offers his criticism toward the study.

The article discusses the effects of audience-less games in soccer in Europe as fans were prevented from watching live due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also cited are the study by sports statisticians on the impact of the situation to the prospects of winning by the home teams, the alleged bias of the referees in favor of home teams, and the possible reasons why home teams still perform better without bias officials.

Describes a study determining the basis for misjudgement by soccer linesmen when making offsides calls. Use of video technology to note the linesmen's errors; Distortion of the linesmen's perception due to their positioning; Suggestion for a more accurate perspective to make offsides calls.

Assesses the quality of soccer officiating by referees. Role of poor officiating in serious fouls and misconduct among players; Vision and thinking; Decision making and value judgment; Classification of referees.

The article focuses on the Premier League's adoption of the video assistant referee (VAR), a video replay technology to review on-field decisions. Topics covered include the effect of VAR on a game's spontaneity and rapid flow, the growing intolerance to the concept of uncertainty, and the similarities between the VAR debate and the debate over Brexit.

The author discusses the question of losses in soccer. He mentions the loss of the Italian soccer team Pro Piacenza 20-0, other games which produced very wide differences in the teams' scores, and the sentiment that soccer scores should not be so high because it means the defense isn't performing properly.

Argues for the use of recording and communications technology in referee decisions during World Cup soccer. Argues that unfair decisions are made due to limitations of the referee; Economic impact of the World Cup; Types of technology that should be considered for referees to use; Past blunders made by referees during games.

The article discusses the use of a video assistant review (VAR) system during the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia, and it examines several incidents of poor officiating in other FIFA World Cup matches from 1986 to 2010. Then-soccer star Diego Maradona's use of his arm to help score a goal for the Argentine team in 1986 is examined, along with West German player Jurgen Klinsmann's fabricated injury in a 1990 soccer match against Argentina.

The article profiles FIFA World Cup and A-League referee Ben Williams. The author offers background information of Williams including the influence of cricket player Steve Waugh in his career who inspired him to become better in what he do, his experience officiating the World Cup wherein he mentions that refereeing the World Cup is a dream which took 23 years in the making, and discusses how he deals with criticism during the game.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles published in the July 12, 2008 issue including "Serena Supreme," "Not a Pretty Picture" and "All the World Sees Red."

Reports on a soccer tournament between Canada and Jamaica to be held in Montreal, Quebec on September 4, 2006 and a return match at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica on October 8. Standings of the two competing teams; Appointment of Jamaica Soccer Referee's Association president Peter Prendergast as the first Caribbean referee to officiate in two World Cup finals; Comments from International Soccer Federation president Sepp Blatter on the 23-member panel that will officiate at the finals in Germany.

Announces the proposal of the UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, to introduce two referees during a game. Plans for strengthening the game's officiating; Response from soccer experts; Cost implications of the proposal.

The article looks at the 2014 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament taking place in Brazil. The author describes problems in the preparation for the tournament, including cost overruns and corruption, and cites related public protests in Brazil. Topics include concerns that tournament facilities would not be finished in time, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and criticisms of refereeing of World Cup games.

The article examines soccer officiating in Major League Soccer (MLS) relating to the practice known as diving, when a player feigns being fouled after physical contact with an opposing player. A fine placed by MLS on player Charlie Davis of D.C. United for an incident in which he was considered to have engaged in diving in a match is discussed. INSET: Yes, there have been first half highlights.

The article features Maria Rebello, the first Indian football female referee to officiate at a Santosh Trophy game in Delhi, India and reports on her possible inclusion to the Asian Football Federation.

An interview is presented with soccer player Thierry Henry. Henry discusses his decision to join the New York Red Bulls team of Major League Soccer. He describes his meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France after the country's national soccer team lost in the 2010 World Cup tournament. Henry says that instant replay should be used in soccer officiating.

The author discusses key issues that must be addressed as Australian football teams prepare for the season 5 of the A-League in 2009. He notes that the sport will still be dealing with the same old problems in the forthcoming domestic season. The issues include poor officiating or refereeing, poor conditions of pitches and stadiums, and declining attendance in football matches. He also cites the need for Football Federation Australia (FFA) Cup and an extra marquee for those that can afford it.

The article reviews the article "The Influence of Social Forces: Evidence from the Behavior of Football Referees," by Thomas J. Dohmen, in the July 2008 issue of "Economic Inquiry." The article reported on referee bias towards home teams using data from more than 3,500 soccer matches from the Bundesliga, Germany's soccer league.

This article responds to a commentary on a study that modeled soccer-goal scoring by independent Poisson distributions. The authors discuss the methodology and results of the study. They mention how the commentary introduced a simple mathematical model and argued that game theory suggests there should be more offense under the 3-1-0 system than under the 2-1-0 system.

The article focuses on Danny Johnson, the first exchange participant through Balls to Poverty. Johnson is also taking courses and learning about football through South Nottinghamshire College's Football Performance Programme. A high school drop out, he is now taking courses to qualify for a football coaching program.

Provides information on worst decisions of referees in several sports. Decision of referee Brian Anderson in the 1987 World Cup soccer semifinals between Australia and France; Fouls imposed by referees on long jumper Ian Campbell; Decision of the judges on the 1991 boxing match between Jeff Fenech and Azumah Nelson.

Reports on Cote D'Ivoire's protest against the results of various soccer competitions it participated in, alleging `scandalous refereeing'. Complaint by the Ivorian Football Federation; Performance in the Champions League.