Considerations for motions of three judges
In the 2000 Sydney Olympic, Shinohara Shinichi (Japan) and David Douillet (France) went into the final match for Men's Judo in over 100Kg class. After one minute and a half from start of the final, Douillet tried to make Uchi-mata against Shinohara. Uchi-mata is one of Judo tricks. After Shinohara avoided the trick, he made Uchi-mata-sukashi, which is a counter trick against Uchi-mata. Douillet was fallen down on his back. However, referees gave Yuko for Douillet. Yuko is an effective point.
(By the way, the International Judo Federation (IJF) named Uchi-mata-sukeshi as the Uchi-mata-sukashi in this web. It was a mistake.)
Considerations for the misjudgment have been published.
Japanese
Consideration for the misjudgment in the Sydney Olympic Judo
English
Consideration for the misjudgment in the Sydney Olympic Judo
French
Considérations sur les erreurs d'abitrage
de Judo aux jeux Olympiques à Sydney.
I did not dwelt upon motions of the referee and the two judges. I did not unfortunately have enough evidences to mention them but I have enough now. I will try to publish considerations for them as follows.
As soon as both of Shinohara and Douillet fell down, the referee (A) indicated Yuko. The referee (A) seemed to see only which part of Shinohara's body would be contacted on Tatami. The situation was recorded in the video. He (A) would give Yuko for Douillet because he (A) did not know Uchi-mata-sukashi. At the same moment, a French coach beside the match appealed Yuko also. I think also the coach believed Douillet had gotten Yuko because also he did not know Uchi-mata-sukashi. Unfortunately, It seems quite right in their standard that Douillet should get Yuko in the situation. Uchi-mata-sukashi by Shinohara is not popular in the world. It shall bring a very important trouble in the future. I have already mentioned it.
Japanese
I will tell to all people in Judo countries why many Japanese get so angry.
English
I will tell to all people in Judo countries why many Japanese get so angry.
After one second and a half since the referee (A) had indicated Yuko, a corner judge (B) indicated Ippon. Ippon is same as a fall of wrestling and K.O. in boxing. Nobody knows whom he (B) did for. However, it seemed that he (B) did for Shinohara because he (B) had the closest position to both athletes. In the Kindai-Judo (November) which is one of Japanese Judo magazines, a referee in the Sydney Olympic, Ninomiya, said the judge (B) had indicated the Ippon for a Japanese. The information supports my opinion.
After the referee (A) saw the different indication by the corner judge (B), the referee (A) saw indication of the other judge (C). Because I cannot see the other corner judge (C) in the video, I don't know what he (C) indicated. If anyone sees indication by him (C) in video or a photograph, please let me know it. (In e-mail) However, he (C) indicated nothing from hearsay. It means that he (C) agreed with a judgment of the referee (A).
Namely, the final indications were as follows,
- The referee (A): Yuko for Douillet
- A corner judge (B): Ippon for Shinohara
- The other judge (C): supporting the indication by the referee (A)
According to the IJF Judo rule, the referee (A) and the two judges (B and C) should have a discussion at the situation.
A part of the article 7--Position and Function of Judges
"Any discussion is possible and necessary only if the referee or one of the judges has clearly seen something which has not been visible to the other two, and which could change the decision."
Though the judge (B) indicated Ippon for Shinohara, the referee (A) and the other corner judge (C) might misunderstand as follows,
- The referee (A): Yuko for Douillet
- A corner judge (B): Ippon for Douillet
- The other judge (C): supporting the indication by the referee (A)
Because only one judge (B) was against the referee (A), he (A) should not change his (A) judgment. The corner referee (B) with Ippon indication might misunderstand as follows,
- The referee (A): Yuko for Shinohara
- A corner judge (B): Ippon for Shinohara
- The other judge (C): supporting the indication by the referee (A)
Because the Ippon judge (B) might guess that the conflict of judgments should not be serious, he (B) followed decision of the referee (A) finally. After the referee (A) had indicated "Matte", the match was continued.... (The Matte is Mate in Japan. Though Matte is incorrect calling, Mate is original and correct. Though Matte in Japanese language means "I ask you to wait.", Mate means an order, "Wait." Their meanings are quite different. The Mate is pronounced as "Ma-Te" or "Matay". Of cource, the pronouciation is diffrent from a mate, an English word. However, Matte is written in the IJF rule. It is funny. The referee (A) indicates the Mate to stop the game temporally.)
It should be terrible misunderstanding. None of them (A, B and C) could see the necessity of discussion.
However, one mysterious mistake has been left. After the scoreboard had indicated Yuko for Douillet, only the judge (B) with indicating Ippon could see the scoreboard was incorrect. Because indication of the scoreboard was against his (B) judgment, only he (B) could know the terrible misunderstanding had occurred. He (B) should draw the referee's (A) attention for it but he (B) would do nothing.
A part of the article 7--Position and Function of Judges
Should a judge note that the scoreboard is incorrect he should draw the referee's attention to the mistake.
There were four mistakes for the judgment.
- The referee (A) could not see that Shinohara would make Uchi-mata-sukashi. He (A) should have seen possibility of counter tricks.
- When the referee (A) could see a great conflict of judgments, he (A) should have stopped the match to discuss with corner judges (B and C). However, he (A) would do nothing.
- When the corner judge (B) with indicating Ippon could see the great conflict of judgments, he (B) should have stopped the match to discuss with the referee (A) and the other judge (C). However, he (B) would do nothing.
- Though the corner judge (B) with indicating Ippon saw that the scoreboard was against his (B) judgment, he (B) would do nothing.
These considerations are just my story but I desire IJF should solve the conflict situation and publish what happened at the time.
Please send e-mails if you have any opinions and/or questions.
Japanese and English are available.
I may only read German and French with auto translator.
morry@d9.dion.ne.jp
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