The referee of a soccer game is often the focus of play controversy, and the 2014 World Cup is no exception. The referee is the ultimate authority in every soccer match, and although there are linesmen to help him, in most cases, the referee will have the final word. However, do you know what penalties a referee actually gives, and how to express them in Chinese? You are going to find the answers in today’s World Cup special.
红牌
Red Card
“红(hóng)” means “red” and “牌(pái)” means “card,” therefore, “红牌(hóngpái)” means “red card.” If a soccer player severely infracts the rules in a match, the referee will raise a “红牌(hóngpái)” to force the player to leave the playing field. In another instance, if a player receives two “黄牌(huángpái)” in a match, he will be ejected from the game. This is the rule that states “two ‘黄牌(huángpái)’ equals one ‘红牌 (hóngpái)’.” During the match between Portugal and Germany in the 2014 World Cup, the Portugal defender Pepe was given a “红牌 (hóngpái)” for aiming a head-butt at Mueller after an altercation.
Hóngpái jìnzhǐ Pepe zài xià yì chǎng bǐsài shàngchǎng.
红牌 禁止 Pepe 在 下 一 场 比赛 上场。
The red card banned Pepe from playing in the next game.
黄牌
Yellow Card
“黄(huáng)” means yellow, and “黄牌(huángpái)” means “yellow card,” and it is given to a player by the referee as a warning when the player commits a serious infraction. During the opening game between Brazil and Croatia in the 2014 World Cup, Neymar “被亮黄牌(bèi liàng huángpái) was given a yellow card” at the half-hour mark.
Zhè chǎng bǐsài zhōng, Van Persie dì èr cì bèi liàng huángpái.
这 场 比赛 中，Van Persie 第 二 次 被 亮 黄牌。
Van Persie received his second yellow card during this match.
Unfair Call
“黑(hēi)” means “black,” and “哨(shào)” means “whistle,” together they make the word, “黑哨(hēishào),” which literally means “black whistle.” But, what does it really mean? In fact, “黑哨(hēishào)” means that the referees are corrupt. If a referee “吹黑哨(chuī hēishào)” in a game, it means that he is being unfair in his judgment. A referee is supposed to be transparent and objective in his manner and should serve as an unbiased judge during the match. However, in reality, we can often see unfair judgment calls on the part of the referee. During the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, the Japanese referee Nishimura Yuichi was considered to “吹黑哨(chuī hēishào)” This is due to the penalty awarded by him to Brazil when Brazil striker Fred appeared to be tugged inside the penalty area by Lovren. However the slow-motion playback showed that Fred wasn’t touched.
Qiúyuán men jítǐ bàsài, kàngyì cáipàn de hēishào.
球员 们 集体 罢赛， 抗议 裁判 的 黑哨。
The players refused to play to protest against the bias of the referees.
1. If Pepe “被亮红牌(bèi liàng hóngpái)” in the 2014 World Cup, which of the following statements is not true?
A. Pepe received a red card from the referee.
B. Pepe couldn’t continue the game because of his violations of the rules.
C. Pepe received unfair treatment.
2. If a referee is unfair in his judgments about a soccer players’ behavior, he is ____.
A. 亮红牌 (liàng hóngpái)
B. 吹黑哨 (chuī hēishào)
C .亮黄牌 (liàng huángpái)