England’s manager Thomas Tuchel called the officiating ‘just not good enough’ in the fiery last-16 tie. Now Alireza Faghani gives his version of events

The Impossible Job: The Unbelievable World of Soccer Referees By William Ralston (WW Norton)* When I touted my idea of a book chronicling the woes of an amateur soccer ref a few years back, publishers...

Szymon Marciniak wanted to weep with pride after his masterclass in 2022. It included the longest ten seconds of his career, he tells William Ralston

Even the finest miss out on a place at the finals and for those who do get there, decisions can make or break a dream Ismail Elfath was taking his children to the park near his home in Texas when a message arrived. “Congratulations,” it read. Elfath hugged his wife. Fifa had selected him for his second World Cup. Relief and pride swept over him. “Going to a World Cup is the dream of every referee, but going to a second one means you have stayed consistent for eight years plus,” he said. For referees, the World Cup is the pinnacle. The tournament comes around only every four years, and only a tiny number make the cut. “First you have to be the best in your own country, and even then you might not be selected,” the former Swiss referee Urs Meier said. Continue reading...

The long read: New technology was supposed to make umpiring easy. It hasn’t worked out that way

Under Arnolds Field, tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been burning for years, spewing pollution over the area. Locals fear for their health – and despair that no one seems willing to help

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Under Arnolds Field, tonnes of illegally dumped waste have been burning for years, spewing pollution over the area. Locals fear for their health – and despair that no one seems willing to help