Controversial soccer ref says he is still learning the job

Instant replay ...

Impressive....

A japanese admitting he is still learning?

That was the best the Japanese Soccer Ass. had to send to a world cup? Well it explains the quality of the team also, I guess...

“In official matches, the referee’s call is final, but at a pre-season camp, referees are learning too,” he added. “I’ve been enlightened.”

I find this humility very refreshing, and often feel sorry for refs who are regularly scorned and rarely shown any gratitude.

I've had to referee games a few times in my life (out of a sense of obligation), and not enjoyed the experience. Going to the dentist and have teeth pulled would be somewhat less unpleasant.

it's just a soccer game! move on! ...

“My feeling was that it wasn’t an intentional handball,

What a moron there is no grey area, any handball is not accepted.

A referee who says that he's still "learning" (whatever that means) in the preseason (of the J-League to boot) had absolutely no business officiating at a World Cup.

I don't blame him, I blame those who put this man in a World Cup match.

Singling out this ref is ridiculous and cruel. Every football association on Earth is full of incompetent refs. The only good ones are left are in the Premier League, but even then some of the worst decisions ever are made. Look at the Serie A and Buundesliga where the average match has something like 20-40 fouls per match - absolutely disgraceful. The PL is more physical but still are going at around 10-20 fouls per match.

20-30 years ago, you'd be lucky to see 10 fouls per match. Modern football is becoming more and more a little girl's sport. People seem to forget that football is a contact sport..

That part about Congolese fans attacking a Chinese restaurant after Mr Nishimura's poor performance was mildly amusing. How igorant can you get?! Seriously though, it makes you wonder how the guy is still doing the job after so many controversial decisions. Surely he should be suspended or even demoted until his record improves.

Maybe he should try a career change. Like that other FIFA clown ref from the Italy South Korea game who later became a drug smuggler.

Find another job dude, your incompetency is too transparent. It wasn't an intentional hand ball? Give me a break...

why in the world doesnt football use video referals, its worked well with many other sports. having an extra pair of slowmo eyes takes the guess work out of some decisions.

I remember during the World Cup when people criticized this man others came on and said it was just "J-bashing", but now that it's the Japan team pointing out his poor refereeing and him admitting he is "still learning" (and if he's STILL learning what on earth is he doing in the biggest tournament of the sport??). The guy has no business doing what he does.

@USNinJapan

"A referee who says that he's still "learning" (whatever that means) in the preseason (of the J-League to boot) had absolutely no business officiating at a World Cup."

Really? So you want somebody who says they have learned everything there is to learn ? Good luck finding one such referee.

Hide Suzuki

Really? So you want somebody who says they have learned everything there is to learn ? Good luck finding one such referee.

No football referee is going to be perfect, as officiating is one of the very human aspects of the game, but there is a level of competence and ability to aptly and correctly apply the rules during matches. At the levels of competition that Nishimura has been officiating and for the number of years of experience that he has doing it, his needing more "enlightening" is simply not a valid excuse. He's not cut out for officiating international matches, let alone the World Cup.

That part about Congolese fans attacking a Chinese restaurant after Mr Nishimura's poor performance was mildly amusing.

stupid is as stupid does.