2017 MLS Week 16 Referee Discussion

Is it interesting to anyone else that Robert Sibiga keeps getting centers? This past weekend a red card that doesn't look like a red card (I haven't seen a good replay). Two weeks ago he had a game where he kept reversing his decisions and looked anything but in a position of authority. And Ted Unkel has a 4th.

 

Didn't see the red card but yes the Atlanta @ Vancouver game was pretty horrible. That being said PRO isn't going to bench a referee for one bad performance. We've all had them. That is the old school MLS merry go round of referee assigning. Give people 1 or 2 shots and if they don't do well they are done forever. You can't develop anyone in any industry that way.

 

I thought the red card was justified, but also that his previous game was a howler for sure. The Unkel assignment was probably done a while ago (pre Orlando). I'm actually surprised Pro didn't change it to put him in the middle this week. Also, Penso is a good guy for that Orlando game. Interesting to see if its just another day in the park, or it will be an extra-strict day in the park. I bet Kreis will be on good behavior.

 

PRO giving Unkel a whistle would have suprised me. I mean you can only flip a waffle so many times right. Kind of like opinions.

 

Penso won't why away from making the unpopular call, that's for sure. Sent off two Orlando players in last year's home opener if I recall.

 

I'm pretty sure that during a game in LA (last season maybe) they had Don Garber or a PRO rep on at halftime. The question was asked - how come we don't see referees penalized or suspended like we do players? The answer was something like - the collective bargaining agreement calls for assignments to be made 4-5 weeks in advance so any punishment (not being assigned OR being assigned to a less "primetime" game) is not seem immediately.

Not sure about the validity of that statement or if anyone has better info, but that's what I recall hearing. Could be why we see a referee who had a tough game last week in a prime center again this week.

 

Indeed. Just because we can't see the assignments publicly doesn't mean the referees don't know their assignments 3-5 weeks out.

 

Robert Sibiga with a penalty call for NYCFC.

https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/m...c-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/details/video/107131

 

Oops.

 

Also it looks like in the 22nd minute NYCFC had a legitimate penalty that was not called, but I can't find a replay to show on here.

 

I am confused by Vancouver's equalizer against Dallas. The foul appeared to be for "dangerous play". I don't believe Barrios actually made contact. Yet the freekick was not indicated as indirect and the freekick resulted in a goal. Play in question is around the 72'

 

Good call from Chapman today.

 

I was watching some highlights and didn't recognize Marcos DeOliveira on the RSLvMIN game. Was this one of the trial games for the season? Anyone have a report on how he performed?

 

Haven't seen the play, but with the changes to Law 12, could it have been considered a careless challenge (contact not necessarily required) which is now a DFK? It seems to me that some of what used to be PIADM can fall within that construct, meaning I think we are likely to see fewer PIADM than we used to -- tough to measure given how rarely PIADM is ever called at high levels.

 

I was at Rio Tinto and caught most of the game - nothing controversial I can remember, the entire game was pretty sleepy (and the second half mostly took place in one half). Seemed just fine.

 

Onside if Villarreal touched it. Did he? Grajeda had to have thought so to give the goal.

 

Simon weighs in, and he covers the two plays Penalty Decisions in NYCFC vs Seattle that I mentioned.

 

Out of curiosity, would anyone actually give Gordon two yellows for his goal celebration (last clip in the video)?

 

Good lord no.

 

DeOliveira was one of the referees who worked during the referee strike three years ago. Honestly, he was probably the best of those officials, and he certainly was the most in-shape. After that he started doing MLS 4ths and a handful of middles. I bet he'll see five or six middles this year.

 

2 more, 3 more at most.

 

No. I'd be more curious to know how many referee's would have ignored the celebration altogether if he had already had a yellow.

I bet the number isn't as low as it should be.

 

For clarification, at the end of every(?) set of stairs between the sections in the stands at DSG Park there's a gate and steps down to field level.