officials

[edaw33]

after hearing the comments kreis made after the game, i started looking around to see if i could find any other comments on the horrible officials. i came across a link to an article, i think on BS, about Guevara threatening to leave the lague if the officiating issue is not taken care of soon. I think it sucks for the league, but if the mvp is not satisifed nor is the all time leader in goals, the league better be acting quick.

Since we all know that we are very likely to see more lousy officiating, i am opeing a thread for stories of bad calls after each game. what have you seen this year/last Sat vs KC? POST IT HERE!

[SoccerPrime]

I understand how players and fans could be mad at refs.
But lets be clear, its not like these guys are making big money for what they do.
All the refs I know (and some do at least A-League level soccer) get very little in return for what they do. Most just love soccer and thats why they ref.
If MLS paid the refs more, like all markets, they would get better quality refs.

[montgjules]

At the risk of sounding like somebody who knows nothing who wants to sound like she knows something... I love Collina! He's the best!

[Brew_Dawg]

I don't make big money for what I do either, but if I do a lousy job I'm out!
Poor refereeing leads to the increase of hooliganism, player injury, and diminishes the credibility of the league.
This is relevant in all levels of soccer, from youth to professional organizations. How much the official gets paid is not pertinent.

[Brew_Dawg]

Yeah, they wouldn't even let him retire!!!

[SoccerPrime]

You misunderstand.
MLS has no choice. They pay very little to these refs. Thus they mostly suck.

If they suck and they fire them, there are no replacements to hire for the same little pay...
Thus the circle continues. 🙁

[SokkerNut]

I totally agree with what Jason said in his interview. He, like the others I'm sure, are just wanting an evenly called game. Good, bad or in different, these guys need to stay consistent. It is so blantly obivous watching the games that they favor one team and/or player over another. A game should never be decided on a refs call. It seems that there are a lot of games won and lost becasue they can't get the call right. If the officials are out there because they "love" the game, then they need to "respect" the game and improve the job they are doing.

I hope in the off-season the MLS powers take a good long look at the quality of the officials. Something needs to be done.

[Stucki]

Coach E this morning said that some of the best officials have had to retire from on field officiating due to FIFA age limits. He suggested that fitness tests would be a much better way to go than strict age limits.

I think this is a great point, espeically since MLS has so few quality refs.

[Rover]

Originally Posted by Stucki

Coach E this morning said that some of the best officials have had to retire from on field officiating due to FIFA age limits. He suggested that fitness tests would be a much better way to go than strict age limits.

I think this is a great point, espeically since MLS has so few quality refs.

Pierluigi Collina is the most visible example of this problem. The guy could still outrun most players but by FIFA rules he's too old.

Another problem is violence against or threatened against refs. Anders Frisk, another top class ref, had enough of it after his Champions League experience last season and retired early.

Any of us who have served as soccer officials can tell plenty of stories about both how difficult it is and how impossible it is to please everyone. That's part of the game, but I for one wish we'd pay these guys more and support them better so we could hold on to the good ones. Many very good officials never make it up to the pro level of the game because they don't want the hassles that come with it. Pays about the same and the negatives are simpler to deal with.

It's critical to remember that in soccer, more responsibility is put on one primary official than in any other multiple-player (22 on a field) game that I know. AR's can only do so much. The Center Refereee must rule the field. Otherwise, players will take the law in their own hands and the result of that is never good. And the only way to get the kind of officials who can handle that amount of responsibility is to bring them up through the ranks, pick the best, develop them, and pay them accordingly.

[Aerick]

Solution: Instant Replay?