This Friday, as part of Matchday 2 of the 2025 Club World Cup, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) take on Botafogo (11th) at Rose Bowl Stadium (kick-off 3am CET, broadcast on DAZN). The referee for the match is Canadian Drew Fischer (44). He has experience in MLS (210 matches) and the CONCACAF Champions Cup (13 matches).
Yellow cards –
With Mr. Fischer at the whistle, we can expect yellow cards to be handed out rather infrequently during the match. Indeed, while the average in Ligue 1 per match is 3.53 (standard deviation 0.39), Friday’s referee has given an average of 3.23 yellows per match throughout his MSL career (Transfermarkt figures). That’s very low, and let’s hope it’s thanks to good dialogue rather than excessive leniency.
Direct red cards –
The man on the whistle on Friday was also less severe when it came to direct red cards. Fischer’s career total is 0.11 red cards per match, compared with the French average of 0.17 (standard deviation 0.07). If this is down to good match management, so much the better.
Second yellow cards –
Drew Fischer is not in the habit of sending off a player after his first yellow card in a match, as he has given the same player a second caution an average of 0.05 times per match. This is well above the French average of 0.09 (standard deviation 0.03). With few yellows and reds, this is quite logical. And there’s no question of being more severe after a first warning.
Penaltys –
Finally, when it comes to penalties, the man on the whistle on Friday is even lower than average, with 0.31 penalties whistled per match, compared with the Ligue 1 average of 0.34 (standard deviation 0.08).
