Russia 2018: FIFA appoint Brazilian referee for Croatia vs Nigeria game

World’s football governing body FIFA have appointed 43-year old Brazilian, Sandro Meira Ricci as the centre referee for Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday.

Ricci will be officiating in his second FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia and will be at the cynosure of all eyes when former African champions Nigeria lock horns with the Croats in Kaliningrad, starting from 8pm Nigerian time on Saturday.

Ricci will be assisted by compatriots Emerson De Carvalho and Marcelo van Gasse who will be first and second assistant referees respectively in the Group D clash.

Ricci is famous for being the first ever referee to validate a goal by the means of the Goal-line technology in his debut match as centre referee in the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

The goal came during France’s game against Honduras in Porto Alegre on June 15, exactly four years on Friday, one day before Ricci’s appointment in Kaliningrad. His assistants for Saturday’s game have been with him since 2013 and were together in that historic game in Brazil.

Saturday will be the first time Nigeria will have a Brazilian in charge of their FIFA World Cup match although the Eagles’ opening game in Brazil in 2014 (a goalless draw against Iran) was officiated by a South American, from Ecuador.

Despite having South American referees officiate Nigeria’s games at each of their World Cup appearances, the Super Eagles have only won once whenever they are in charge – a 1-0 win over Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

In the same vein, Africa’s highly rated referee, Papa Bakary Gassama from the Gambia will be in charge of Peru’s Group C encounter against Denmark earlier on Saturday. Gassama officiated two of Nigeria’s games (at home to Algeria and away to Cameroon) during their qualification route to Russia.

https://www.aclsports.com/12704-2/

I just hope those idiots wont throw bananas at Nigerian players. Their racism is something else

FoolishBoy419:
I just hope those idiots wont throw bananas at Nigerian players. Their racism is something else

you mean the russians

Don't worry mikels wife is russian

robosky02:
you mean the russians

Don't worry mikels wife is russian

as if that matters. Anyways i heard that referees have the power to call off matches when there is too much racist chants (for this world cup)

O K

Revenge of Brazilian hair..

FoolishBoy419:


as if that matters. Anyways i heard that referees have the power to call off matches when there is too much racist chants (for this world cup)

it matters oh
Its their inlaw

Meanwhile the is one of fifa best

Anybody get hin number??.... I jus wan reason one mata like dat with am

if thanos can come back from a 4-1 infinity stone lead and defeat the avengers


i dont see why Argentina won't win the world cup


i would have supported Nigeria but i no mumu reach

Score

Nija 2

Croatia 1

Thank me later

Bossontop:

Anybody get hin number??.... I jus wan reason one mata like dat with am

+ 2348033445566
Make sure you call am oh

Someone should help me, I deposited via ATM into my bet naija account. When i logged in i didn't see the transaction I did

good. experience official is needed.

DivinelyBlessed:

+ 2348033445566
Make sure you call am oh

Chaii boss......na wa for u ooo as d guy na Brazilian coach na im u come dey give +234....... Number??...abi na naija him dey base??

Brazilian ke , we done loose

FoolishBoy419:
I just hope those idiots wont throw bananas at Nigerian players. Their racism is something else

up Ahmed up Moses up Mikel up super eagles

Bossontop:

Chaii boss......na wa for u ooo as d guy na Brazilian coach na im u come dey give +234....... Number??...abi na naija him dey base??

Na special number. The number dey redirect go Brazil.

NIGERIA GO LOSE

DivinelyBlessed:

Na special number. The number dey redirect go Brazil.

Driver stop!!!......u say wetin??

Why?

A Brazilian referee will cheat us so that the chances of Brazil winning the World Cup will be higher... At least eliminate the major threats startegy will work

robosky02:
Russia 2018: FIFA appoint Brazilian referee for Croatia vs Nigeria game

World’s football governing body FIFA have appointed 43-year old Brazilian, Sandro Meira Ricci as the centre referee for Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday.

Ricci will be officiating in his second FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia and will be at the cynosure of all eyes when former African champions Nigeria lock horns with the Croats in Kaliningrad, starting from 8pm Nigerian time on Saturday.

Ricci will be assisted by compatriots Emerson De Carvalho and Marcelo van Gasse who will be first and second assistant referees respectively in the Group D clash.

Ricci is famous for being the first ever referee to validate a goal by the means of the Goal-line technology in his debut match as centre referee in the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

The goal came during France’s game against Honduras in Porto Alegre on June 15, exactly four years on Friday, one day before Ricci’s appointment in Kaliningrad. His assistants for Saturday’s game have been with him since 2013 and were together in that historic game in Brazil.

Saturday will be the first time Nigeria will have a Brazilian in charge of their FIFA World Cup match although the Eagles’ opening game in Brazil in 2014 (a goalless draw against Iran) was officiated by a South American, from Ecuador.

Despite having South American referees officiate Nigeria’s games at each of their World Cup appearances, the Super Eagles have only won once whenever they are in charge – a 1-0 win over Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

In the same vein, Africa’s highly rated referee, Papa Bakary Gassama from the Gambia will be in charge of Peru’s Group C encounter against Denmark earlier on Saturday. Gassama officiated two of Nigeria’s games (at home to Algeria and away to Cameroon) during their qualification route to Russia.

https://www.aclsports.com/12704-2/

My worries is for the match to be free and fair

What if the referee is pan-South American?

A European ref would have been better.

Bossontop:

Driver stop!!!......u say wetin??

Braz

OfficialAwol:
What if the referee is pan-South American?

A European ref would have been better.

and you're playing a European nation...
hope you're thinking well?

Make that referee no forget say na we dey buy their brazilian hair oooooh

robosky02:
Russia 2018: FIFA appoint Brazilian referee for Croatia vs Nigeria game

World’s football governing body FIFA have appointed 43-year old Brazilian, Sandro Meira Ricci as the centre referee for Nigeria’s 2018 World Cup opener against Croatia on Saturday.

Ricci will be officiating in his second FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia and will be at the cynosure of all eyes when former African champions Nigeria lock horns with the Croats in Kaliningrad, starting from 8pm Nigerian time on Saturday.

Ricci will be assisted by compatriots Emerson De Carvalho and Marcelo van Gasse who will be first and second assistant referees respectively in the Group D clash.

Ricci is famous for being the first ever referee to validate a goal by the means of the Goal-line technology in his debut match as centre referee in the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

The goal came during France’s game against Honduras in Porto Alegre on June 15, exactly four years on Friday, one day before Ricci’s appointment in Kaliningrad. His assistants for Saturday’s game have been with him since 2013 and were together in that historic game in Brazil.

Saturday will be the first time Nigeria will have a Brazilian in charge of their FIFA World Cup match although the Eagles’ opening game in Brazil in 2014 (a goalless draw against Iran) was officiated by a South American, from Ecuador.

Despite having South American referees officiate Nigeria’s games at each of their World Cup appearances, the Super Eagles have only won once whenever they are in charge – a 1-0 win over Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

In the same vein, Africa’s highly rated referee, Papa Bakary Gassama from the Gambia will be in charge of Peru’s Group C encounter against Denmark earlier on Saturday. Gassama officiated two of Nigeria’s games (at home to Algeria and away to Cameroon) during their qualification route to Russia.

https://www.aclsports.com/12704-2/

phreakabit:
Not feeling this decision.
Brazil have a lot of Eastern Europeans dual citizens and descendants living in Brazil today.
Heck their past president Dilma Rousseff was part Bulgarian.
This isn't looking good!
Why not an Arab or Asian?
To be fair he looks very native American/hispanic, but who knows...

You are totally right. Brazil is the home to so many eastern Europeans. Atletico Madrid's Felipe Luis is a typical example of eastern European Brazilian.

Bossontop:

Anybody get hin number??.... I jus wan reason one mata like dat with am

+229481153049