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View Full Version : BBC Article - Excerpt about MLS Refereeing


Footballer
16 Jul 2007, 03:24 PM
The article is about how Beckham might adapt to the MLS and Danny Dichio and Terry Cooke offered comments that include:

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Beckham will spend more time delivering crosses than trying to get on the end of them - but the attitude of the MLS referees might have an impact on what sort of trajectory he puts on the ball.

Dichio, a tall, uncompromising target man used to battling with central defenders, has struggled to adjust to the refereeing in the league.

"The refereeing has been interesting," said the 32-year-old.

"Over here there is an impromptu whistle every time I go up with a defender. It is something I have to get used to because they are not lenient on the physical battle."

Cooke reckons the Hispanic referees in particular tend to penalise the physical aspects of the game.

"The majority of refs are OK, though it is becoming more difficult for them as the game speeds up." he said.

"A lot of the referees are Hispanic and they see the game a little bit differently than the American officials, who tend to let more things go."
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Full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6222526.stm

campton
17 Jul 2007, 10:14 AM
No disrespect to the MLS referees, but i think he's correct. Everything in our country is called so tight. The impromtu whistle that he speaks of annoys me when i watch an MLS game.

oldmanreferee
23 Jul 2007, 12:31 PM
interesting and I guess the whole MLS let them play is not working. I also think part of it is because the young BUCK from college dont understand to just leave it alone they want to KICK KICK KICK

macheath
24 Jul 2007, 02:09 PM
Well, one other way to look at this is that the Premier League, and English football in general, allows much more physical play than other top leagues. So it may not be MLS refs adjusting so much as it is English players adjusting from what they're allowed back home. Lots of players who move to England comment on how the game is much more physical there.