The Six-Pointer: Philly v. Boston (FSC Game of the Week 8/29) thread

Isn't there SOME way the US can get FIFA to reschedule these World Cup qualifiers so they don't interfere with the season of the premier women's pro soccer league in the world? It's ridiculous...

I hope you're kidding. Do you really think the world organization is going to capitulate to a league from one country? FIFA dates are publicized in advance (WPS didn't schedule on a FIFA date back in the spring), so WPS could schedule around them, like other leagues do. The US is not the center of the soccer (make that football) universe.

Of course, Boston will be missing Kelly Smith and Alex Scott, so maybe they will lose to New Jersey on Saturday--Sky Blue has a lot more at stake, anyway. And there are those who think Gold Pride will sit Boxx so she doesn't get another yellow card, which would make her ineligible for the finals. So who knows? Philly could still wind up in second, with the proper alignment of the stars. They seemed pretty optimistic last night.

I'm not positive that Boxx would be out for the final if she got a yellow card. The relevant rules page is here. The governing section seems to be the one near the top entitled "CARD SUSPENSIONS". Here it is, almost in full, with only non-pertinent stuff about fines removed:

Now, if by "WPS Season Game" they mean "WPS Regular Season Game" (i.e. excluding playoffs), then a suspension for accumulated yellow cards would not be served until next season. But if "WPS Season Game" means "WPS Regular Season Game or WPS Playoff Game", the suspension would indeed be served in the playoffs.

It's difficult to infer the intended meaning from the text, because there are conflicting signals. On one hand, sometimes they say "Season" and sometimes they say "Regular Season", which would tend to indicate that those two terms have different meanings. For example, "Season" might mean "regular season plus playoffs". But the different treatment of the two paragraphs (i.e. accumulated yellow cards in graph 1 vs red cards in graph 2) would seem to indicate that the handling of one is different than the handling of the other. I mean, why not just say that a suspension from either accumulated yellow cards or a direct red card will result in a player being suspended from the next regular season or playoff game? Why have two distinct descriptions of which kinds of games (e.g. regular season or playoffs) a player can be suspended from if they (a) accumulated too many yellow cards or (b) got a straight red card, if the respective punishments for "a" and "b" are exactly the same?

It's actually kind of weird how imprecise the language is. There was a similar issue with ambiguous language on the tie-breaker page. The league should have a lawyer (or just someone who can write with precision) look over and clarify things like this.

FCGoldPrideGM - whats the real story here?

One thing I will say is that, as long as there is a shadow of a doubt about the rules, Montoya is clinically insane if he lets Shannon Boxx come within 10 miles of the stadium on Saturday night. She should not start, she should not be on the bench, she should not be within the city limits. She should be sitting at home with the doors locked and the shades drawn until all four match officials have safely left town.

I understand about wanting to keep up the momentum, but that's a very abstract thing. I'd much rather lose to Philly and have Boxx for the final than the other way 'round.

Where's the ambiguity? Seems pretty clear that it's the next match, period, whether it's regular season or the playoffs.

I don't think it is quite so simple. For example, it would seem strange if, should Boxx get a yellow card, FCGP could quickly arrange an exhibition game next weekend for Boxx to serve her suspension. After all, she would be "otherwise available to play", as the rules require. I don't see anything excluding exhibition games in the quote you posted.

Or, since that seems pretty unrealistic, perhaps it makes sense to read the rules as a whole and see if any other sections shed any light. In fact, the section I quoted specifically talks about which kinds of games suspensions can be served in. For example, it says that suspensions incurred in an exhibition game can be served in other exhibition games. It also talks about when suspensions incurred in regular season games can be served, but (for the reasons I posted), I find that part unclear and ambiguous.

This seems like a pretty convoluted scenario laid out above and not very likely.

I think the more obvious interpretation is same as Star City posted (get 4 yellows, then miss the next match).

Boxx is listed as being one card away from suspension on the WPS website. I read the rules as clearly stating that the suspension will be the next game regardless of whether it is a playoff game.

Add my voice to the chorus of "don't play Boxx" to avoid even the possibility of suspension. This is Philly, they aren't exactly shy about mixing it up.

And given the quality of refereeing we've seen this year, she might get a yellow card just because a Philly player ran into her.

hahahaha. exactly.