2014 MLS Referee Assignments and Discussion [Rs]

Easy red. That was a head shot. 4th O had the entire sequence.

 

I thought Stoica at a real tough day..... The second yellow card which led to the red on Amarikwa was probably warranted. I couldn't see if he made contact but it was certainly reckless. Unfortunately, the first yellow card was for simulation.... when Amarikwa was pretty much cleaned out in the box.

I also felt he bated Barnes into a YC. I was sitting right at midfield when he was taking a throw in (~38') and Stoica made a big fuss about exactly 2 feet by screaming at Barnes right as he had picked up the ball. Similarly, in the 45', the second Barnes picked up the ball, Stoica was motioning to hurry up. Barnes said something and out comes the YC.

I felt he was inconsistent with the YCs, time wasting on one team was not cautioned for the other and there was alot of dissent which seemed to build to a crescendo by the end of the game. I haven't seen a replay yet of the last red card so i can't speak to that, but overall this is the worst performance I have personally seen this year.

 

Again, from being at the game, what really set him off (other than the YC for simulation) was a no call at midfield. He tried to go through two defenders and beat one and was tripped up pretty obviously by the other. Unfortunately, Stoica didn't have the greatest angle on that play and may not have seen it. AR1 was looking right at it and gave nothing. Amarikwa spent the better part of the next injury stoppage talking to AR1.

I think a foul call on that play would have settled him down significantly.

 

He was reaching for the card as soon as the foul occurred. If Toledo said something, it wasn't until all the Fire players surrounded Stoica.... Whatever happened to the fines for crowding the referee?

I honestly think it was for DT.

 

How was that not a DOGSO? I would flunk my assessment right there. Just wow.

 

Yeah, I don't know how they messed that up. I would imagine that might be highlighted this week.

 

That was bizzarre in Columbus. By the rulebook, that has to be a red. That said, Johnson looks like hes playing for the red. Im not sure the foul denied the goalscoring opportunity, as much as the decision by the player to take the foul over continuing the play. So while it was absolutely the wrong call to give a yellow instead of red, I cant say I'm upset as a fan that Johnson's decision to fall wasn't rewarded.

 

Well, this is a text book example of making yourself bigger by raising your arm. I too am impressed that Stocia did the wait and see. I thought he handled it really well.

 

My goodness he really overthought the situation. Ugly mechanics and terrible thought process.

 

I kind of agree with this. EJ did fall pretty easily. Although when you're running at speed it doesn't take much to knock you down. Seems like a guy with a big paycheck and no goals would probably be trying to score as hard as possible.

 

I totally agree, and I think in this situation his escalation got to the point that he had to be dealt with before someone got hurt. Maybe things could have been handled differently with him earlier, but by this point in the game, he really had to go--esp. after that lunging foul. Had he stayed, the next one would not have "just missed"

 

A shade offside or no? I can't really tell because of the angle. Thought he was on when I watched it live, but the replay raises some questions. I feel like this is one of those where if Farrell had played a hard trap, the flag probably would've gone up. (Disclaimer: Yes, I am a Revs fan. I've got no problem with this goal, just wanted to see what you guys think.)

 

The ball's already off his teammate's foot in this screenshot. I think he was even enough to be called onside. Especially since the benefit of the doubt is supposed to go to the attackers.

 

I just got back from the game and didn't see it live. Watching it live, @MassachusettsRef's take seems fair. A 'soft' red, but that's what you risk with a challenge like that.