After a night's sleep I feel a bit more objective about last night's game. I still feel very angry about the incompetence of the referee but for the moment, until there is more evidence, I will back off about accusations of corruption. As has been pointed out, some of his decisions did favour Croatia and he didn't make any attempt to protect Marcelo.
Here's the thing though: people are saying that penalties like that are given all the time. Well tournament football is all about consistency from the referees, so I will expect to see a penalty given at the very first corner in the Mexico v Cameroon game this afternoon. Every time a corner takes place in any level of professional football you will see jostling and physical contact far worse than we saw Dejan Lovren commit on Fred, but to my knowledge, penalties are hardly ever given. I think I am right in saying that the only one given under these circumstances in the Premier League last season was for Jose Fonte grabbing Mertesacker at the Emirates.
If the referee last night was merely incompetent, then he should be sent home to Japan. If he represents the standard expected of all officials at this World Cup then I despair. If he is part of a conspiracy to make sure Brazil win the tournament in return for the vast fortunes FIFA and its sponsors will make, not that I actually think that is the case, then heads need to roll.