ConFed Cup Final: Holland and Brasil 3, Spain 0

The Confederations Cup is over. Brasil are crowned champions after a 3-0 victory over the reigning World Cup Champions, Spain. It was a victory that Brasil earned with grit, tenacity, and relentless tackles. While the end result may not have changed, the Dutch referee was complicit in Brasil’s win.

Brasil intimidated Spain, plain and simple, and the referee allowed it to happen. Bjorn Kuipers issued three cards: all of which going to Spain. Each card was rightfully issued to the Spanish players- including a straight red to Gerard Pique (insert sad Shakira photo here). Whether a professional foul or just a rough tackle, Spain was penalized for hacking down the yellow clad Brasilians; however, Brasil was never issued a card despite cutting down Spain’s players like they were trees in the rain forest.

The Dutch referee allowed this intimidation to continue by not issuing cards for the same offenses that Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Arbeloa were shown yellow for. Yes, penalties were called; free kicks were given. Spain was even awarded a PK that was shanked wide of the post.

But the timber kept falling dressed in red; the axe dressed in yellow without additional penance. Spain was back on their heels from the goal scored in the second minute goal scored by Fred (the fastest goal in Confed Cup history). Spain’s timing and confidence had been destroyed by rough tackles that should have seen yellow cards, and in at least one case, what should have been a straight red, yet Kuipers only gave the Brasilian squad a “stern talking to.”  The hometown squad was free to slide tackle in any form or fashion they desired. Spain was timid and scared to bring the ball forward with any confidence and swagger worthy of the World Cup champs all because of Brasil’s twelfth man: Bjorn Kuipers.

Referees are not supposed to influence the game in such a manner. “CALL IT BOTH WAYS!” is a mantra you can hear chanted in every sports league: NHL, NBA, MLB, MLS, BPL…you get the picture. If Kuipers pulled out his yellow card against the yellow clad club, Spain may have played differently. The end result may have been the same: Brasil winning the ConFed Cup for the third year in a row, but the game would most certainly have been different. Brasil would’ve been forced to back off a little giving Spain a little wiggle room to move the ball.

I don’t mean to take anything away from Brasil; they played brilliantly. The showed Spain ZERO respect and pressed the ball carrier for the whole 90 minutes of the match. It was a brilliant strategy that paid out in spades. Brasil outplayed the Spaniards, hands down (or feet down). Spain didn’t look like a team made up of World Cup champions; they looked like a team that should be relegated from most top tier leagues. Yet I feel the referee help keep Spain pushed back by not carding a single Brasilian player.  

With quiet cards, Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers allowed Brasil to run amok without fear of retribution; call it evenly, ref.