2019 Week 9 MLS Referee Discussion

Definitely a good thing overall, although it makes me nervous vicariously.

I should have enough information to check on relative crew experience... I'll see what we can do.

 

Notes: MLS debut for Tom Felice and Thomas Snyder. 1st AVAR assignment for Felisha Mariscal. You'd think she and Nesbitt might do a few more of those in the pre-WC run, but who knows.

 

I was at the SKC-New England game tonight. VAR gets involved and recommends Toledo do an OFR on a potential handling in the area against SKC, and Toledo reverses his original no call and awards NE a penalty. The incident happened right across the field from me, but I was obviously a long way from the play. Toledo seemed to be in a perfect position and adamantly waved off penalty appeals in real time.

I may very well see this differently after seeing the replay back at the hotel (and full disclosure that I’m a SKC fan), but the OFR was surprising as well as the reversal.

 

Jalil Anibaba (#NERevs) is the 100th player, substitute, or substituted player sent off and shown the red card by Baldomero Toledo in a regular season #MLS match. #MLSRefStats #SKCvNE

— MLS Referee Stats (@MLSRefStats) April 28, 2019

 

Honestly, I thought it was a straight DOGSO-F red from where I was sitting. I didn’t see Toledo pull the second yellow first.

I knew it was a red no matter what since I was recording goals and cards on the card I use when I referee. Only when I looked at the match report did I realize it was a 2CT;

I’d be interested to learn how if a DOGSO was a consideration. It should have been. If Radford was good calling the Russell handling down for a review, this play deserved a review.

My friend and I both watched the Russell play. We agreed that it was really close to handling and that VAR should have never been used to overturn the original call. Once I explained the “clear and obvious” standard, my friend agreed that whatever was called on the field should have stood. Why professional referees can’t figure out what two guys who know soccer pretty well but aren’t exactly big experts (especially after a beer or two at the hotel bar) can figure out related to “clear and obvious”, I don’t know. It seems pretty clear to us.

 

Toledo got the DOGSO spot on. However his two PK calls were soft if not the wrong call. The amount of contact used in the arm pull was not enough to bring down the attacker, dive in my opinion. Then his VAR review of the handball was wrong. Arm in a natural position, ball to hand, no intent. We are not playing under the new stupid IAFB rule yet.

 

in watching the highlights video I thought he showed a yellow first. Of the various D's I'm not sure they'd all have necessarily been met since it was quite far from goal and his direction seemed to be going a bit towards the sideline.

I agree that both PK reviews seemed quite soft

 

Not a Ted Unkel fan. That Christian Roldan red card was just bad.

 

A. it was a reflex from him being pushed by,
B. A third person running up to him and an opponent and pushing him.
C. And oh, it was a complete dive and roll by the offended party.

Its like the whole scene lacked any common sense.

The yellow hardly seemed the appropriate call in that situation when there was a player creating a mass confrontation situation.

 

If we’re punishing apparently incidental hands to the face more harshly than running in as an aggressor and shoving an opponent and thereby escalating a confrontation, we’re discouraging the wrong behaviors.

The fact that Atuesta comes out with no punishment is the most embarrassing part of the whole thing.

 

He did get a yellow, but any pro team would gladly trade that.

 

I believe Kaye got the caution.

 

THANK YOU

 

Ted looked so pissed for blowing the call live.