Post-match: Los Angeles FC - San Jose Earthquakes (Wednesday, 8/21) postgame thread [R]

I agree with Almeyda. By now he must've noticed that important decisions going against quakes is an alarming tradition and he probably wants to change that, but if everyone stays quiet and takes it as business as usual nothing's going to change. Throwing a fit might not change it either but at least it will shine the light on the issue.

The quality of the refs is indeed baffling in MLS but if it was just about the quality why would there be so much bias for/against teams. The bad calls would be evenly split for most teams.

 

From IFAB (these interpretations have been in effect for at least 1 year):

• when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body
• Explanation:
  ...
  • it is natural for a player to put their arm between their body and the ground for support when falling
  • having the hand/arm above shoulder height is rarely a ‘natural’ position and a player is ‘taking a risk’ by having the hand/arm in that position, including when sliding
  • if the ball comes off the player’s body, or off another player (of either team) who is close by, onto the hand/arm it is often impossible to avoid contact with the ball

From Stott’s viewpoint, the defender’s arm may have looked like it was close enough to the body to not have made himself bigger. Obviously he was too close to Vako’s foot to avoid contact.

 

At the very least, Stott needs to look at the replay. The failure to consult the visual evidence was inherently erroneous.

And upon video review, it looked to me to be a deliberate sweeping motion with the fallen defender's arm to thwart Vako's lateral movement with the ball around him.

Not that any of this would have changed the outcome, but Matias was correct to be incensed.

 

Did you guys see this tweet from the Quakes? I assume they were trying to set up a rivalry hashtag to compete with CLBvCIN’s tag #HellisReal. But at this point, it is pretty clear that LAFC is not really a rivalry, it’s more like a semi-annual beatdown.

Respond with a name for this rivalry & we'll respond with our thoughts.

While you brainstorm, here's where you can watch tonight's match. @Heineken_US | #RivalryWeek https://t.co/cAVdd8ihoQ

— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) August 21, 2019

 

Stott would only have looked at the replay if the VAR told him to do so.
Now, if Stott was told to look at it and said, no it was OK from my angle, then we could blame Stott alone.

And no, Matias was obviously not correct to be incensed, because he got sent off. This is soccer, that situation was nuanced, and things like this happen.

 

It seems to me there is a difference between "falling" and "sliding". Sliding is an intentional, risky action which puts your entire body, including your arms, in an "unnatural position" in terms of playing a soccer game. You don't slide and place your arms to brace your slide. You actually try to keep your arms from touching the ground to create a smoother slide. A slide is an intentional action to put the body on the ground, which implies that one's arms will be closer to kicked balls.

 

Disagree entirely.

1. The play involved a handball in the box. Stott needs to look at the replay whether he was told to do so or not.

2. I don't care which ref is to blame, or if the VAR rules, are to blame. It was an injustice not to review the video evidence of a handball thwarting a scoring opportunity in the penalty area.

3. It is untrue that someone charged with or punished for an offense is necessarily guilty, so the mere fact Matias was sent off does not make him incorrect to have been incensed before he was sent off.

4. ". . . that situation was nuanced." See Nos. 1 and 2 above.

5. Yes, "This is soccer . . . and things like this happen." BECAUSE THE OFFICIATING IS CRAP, AND POSSIBLY CORRUPT.

 

I will add that the refs should have reviewed the Vega trip on Vela in the box, as well.

 

Whether it's luck or play, regression has been going on since the Columbus home match.

 

Except the defender didn't "fall". He did a slide tackle the purpose of which was to block Vako's path. He succeeded, but by use of his arm. So that rule is inapplicable. Even if it were, he was arguably extended "laterally" away from the body.

Vako should have fallen, because the defender completely missed the ball and got it with his arm. Then it would have been a clear penalty for tripping.

 

Stott would have carded him for embellishment and then we would have seen Pelada really freak out

 

Seriously, he got ejected, what is not clear about that? It does not matter what you know or what I know, it only matters that the official on the field felt his actions warranted an ejection and he got one.

At the time of the game the center ref is judge and jury, it might suck and not be justified but unless you have some information that there is some sort of conspiracy to get MA thrown out then you are just arguing to hear yourself speak. BTW, I have not seen MA say he did not deserve to be tossed, just that he over reacted afterwards.

 

Sometimes I wish Vako would fall to the ground. The amount of hacking he gets is crazy but he NEVER goes down.

 

This I agree with.

Does the VAR work only one way in that VAR ref must notify the center ref that they need to talk or can the center ref ask the VAR what they think of a specific play?

 

It's an admirable quality and I'm not really advocating for him to take a dive. But such a dive would have put the referree under pressure to award a PK.

 

I'm very clear that Matias Almeyda was ejected. I'm unclear why it was supposedly justified, especially inasmuch as he was complaining about official error (as you've already admitted).

It does suck if the ejection was unjustified. That's been my point, and you have not refuted it.

I understand that the center referee is an autocrat and has certain prerogatives associated with his position, including being arbitrary. I also have prerogatives as an internet commentator, including proverbially ripping the ref a new one, even if it's just to hear myself argue, and even if I'm the only one making the argument.

 

Not just in that instance. The guy almost never falls and I seen him tip and bend and get spun and he just keeps on dribbling, he is like a robot in that sense. With all the pressure he gets in and around the box he could rack up free kicks all day. I suspect if teams knew he would fall they might not be so rough with him.

 

Sort of. There has been definite individual regression, but this was the first time that I saw the whole team.

 

Unimas broadcast (in Spanish) of the PK the Quakes thought should have been called and the Almeyda ejection afterwards:





An LAFC fan posted on Instagram, with video from a different angle, at:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dHLps...ss-5uuAkLU0hIGKFFDplhqFaVVOx-g12L8CO1xl80BQgY

He wrote:

hollywoodmurphy
I was walking to the club to get food, as the half was almost over. I stood with a group of fans, in an area which I have access to with my club seats, and booed. No racial slurs said, obscene gesture give, nor objects thrown. The coach caught all of us booing him out of the corner of his eye and proceeded to engage me and the other fans, asking us to come down to meet him. Btw, the person in the video the loudest saying "Adios Matias, Adios Matias," is not me (not that that person did anything wrong). I thought he was joking and just laughed. I didn't say anything to him as he walked by. I assumed Matias was leaving, when he walked through the door, that's why I took a view steps down the steps to see what was happening as he was shoving the security guard. Other fans were still standing in the steps area as well, as this is not a restricted area with our seats. It gives us access to the club, which we are also not restricted too. He then proceeded to get into a shoving match with the security guard, and then I was shocked that he turned to come at me up the stairs toward me and the other fans. He proceeded to threaten me (which I assume he picked me, because I was the closest). Again, I and the other fans standing there was in a FAN area. You can see security approaches and asked me and the fans behind me to back away, at which time we all retreat. I did nothing wrong but was eventually ejected (which I believe is extreme and without cause.) My behavior along with other fans there, was normal fan behavior that is apart of the experience. I didn't not ask the coach to come into the stand, nor do anything extreme to cause it. Security should of taken action early to remove him, as his behavior kept escalating, which was becoming dangerous. Also, they should not have escorted him out through a fan area, but through the players tunnel- as is protocol.

 

Ugh. This written testimony sounds very damaging to Almeyda. But then when you watch the video, it doesn’t match what he he has written. I don’t see Almeyda shoving anyone in this instagram video.

Either way, I’m glad this fan was ejected, if he really was.

 

BTW, the twitter announcers said that the translator and the GK coach got ejected along with Almeyda. Was that true?

This whole thing is a bit scary, as Almeyda’s refusal to leave the field and verbal insults to the referee and any fans could certainly be grounds for multiple game suspension plus a big fine similar to Petke’s $25,000 fine. If he actually made threats as in see you in the tunnel, that could lead the league to press for dismissal.

 

Unsworn self-exculpatory statement from an LAFC fan is "testimony"?

 

The translator did leave the field at the direction of Matias Almeyda, but if he was ejected I find it hard to believe it was because he was threatening or verbally insulting officials. He appeared pretty meek throughout the video Ned posted.

I also don't envision the league pressing for Matias' dismissal, though they might fine and/or suspend him.

 

As with everything in business follow the money. Is Almeyda more valuable in the league or out of the league? If any action is taken I think it would be that LAFC has to provide a more secure environment for the coaches, players, and fans. It's crazy that they tried to parade the ejected coach past a bunch of rowdy fans.

 

Sorry for incorrect use of the word, i am not a lawyer. Obviously.

I don’t think LAFC is the only club with this issue. Don’t the players walk thru the VIP fan area in Toronto? And that’s why there was that big scuffle in that area 1-2 years ago.