05/31/22 Atlanta United vs New England Revolution Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Rubiel Vazquez AR1: Cory Richardson AR2: Eduardo Jeff 4TH: Sergii Demianchuk VAR: Younes Marrakchi AVAR: Tom Supple Columbus Crew vs Colorado Rapids Lower.com Field (7:30PM ET) REF: Tori Penso AR1: Adam Garner AR2: Nicholas Balcer 4TH: Joshua Encarnacion VAR: Jair Marrufo AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert D.C. United vs CF Montréal Audi Field (7:30PM ET) REF: Alex Chilowicz AR1: Adam Wienckowski AR2: Matthew Nelson 4TH: Sergii Boiko VAR: David Barrie AVAR: Joshua Patlak Inter Miami CF vs New York Red Bulls DRV PNK Stadium (7:30PM ET) REF: Pierre-Luc Lauziere AR1: Kyle Atkins AR2: Kevin Klinger 4TH: Elvis Osmanovic VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero AVAR: Jozef Batko New York City FC vs FC Cincinnati Yankee Stadium (7:30PM ET) REF: Armando Villarreal AR1: Corey Parker AR2: Diego Blas 4TH: Thomas Snyder VAR: Victor Rivas AVAR: Jeff Muschik Philadelphia Union vs Charlotte FC Subaru Park (7:30PM ET) REF: Ted Unkel AR1: Lyes Arfa AR2: Chris Elliott 4TH: Marcos DeOliveira VAR: Sorin Stoica AVAR: Craig Lowry Toronto FC vs Chicago Fire BMO Field (7:30PM ET) REF: Nima Saghafi AR1: Brian Poeschel AR2: Gianni Facchini 4TH: Michael Venne VAR: Alejandro Mariscal AVAR: Fabio Tovar Austin FC vs Minnesota United Q2 Stadium (8:30PM ET) REF: Fotis Bazakos AR1: Ian McKay AR2: Chantal Boudreau 4TH: Jose Da Silva VAR: Edvin Jurisevic AVAR: TJ Zablocki Sporting Kansas City vs FC Dallas Children’s Mercy Park (8:30PM ET) REF: Guido Gonzales Jr AR1: Andrew Bigelow AR2: Peter Balciunas 4TH: Elton Garcia VAR: Daniel Radford AVAR: Jennifer Garner Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy America First Field (9:30PM ET) REF: Ismir Pekmic AR1: Jeremy Hanson AR2: Kevin Lock 4TH: Matthew Corrigan VAR: Allen Chapman AVAR: Gjovalin Bori Seattle Sounders vs San Jose Earthquakes Lumen Field (10:30PM ET) REF: Ramy Touchan AR1: Cameron Blanchard AR2: Jeffrey Greeson 4TH: Brandon Stevis VAR: Malik Badawi AVAR: Jeff Muschik Vancouver Whitecaps vs Houston Dynamo BC Place (10:30PM ET) REF: Mark Allatin AR1: Logan Brown AR2: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt 4TH: Alain Ruch VAR: Kevin Stott AVAR: Tom Supple
Two good no calls, one in the favor of each team, in CLB-COL. In the first half a shoulder charge on a Rapids attacker that would have been a clear red but on replay shows that it was a fair challenge, in the second a ball deflected off the side of a sliding Rapids defender and rolled up into his arm that was in a natural position in the box, also not called. (Also a Rapids goal taken off in the first half for a very close offside that was called correctly by the near side AR)
Well, it wasn't much contact but when you're in the air it doesn't take much. The Cincy defender was pushed in the back and that prevented him from challenging for the ball. The foul wasn't dramatic (the fall certainly was but that is unfortunately part of the game) but the effect was significant.
Follow-Up: Nick Cushing does not agree: Nick Cushing speaking now following the #NYCFC lossCushing on the ref: “Nobody can tell me that it’s not a goal. The referee’s performance was embarrassing. All I ask is for the referee to understand the game of football. It was a disaster, and we were on the wrong end of it.”— Hudson River Blue (@hudsonriverblue) June 1, 2023
He REALLY does not agree: Cushing: “If we play this game with a better referee 100 times, we win it 100 times.” Cushing also pointed out that Villarreal was the ref for MLS Cup 2021 and made a reference to the non-foul called on Maxime Chanot during Portland’s equalizer.— Hudson River Blue (@hudsonriverblue) June 1, 2023
At a very basic and obvious level, if that ball doesn't go into the back of the net, no one says a word. There's a clear push the back and it was to the defender who was heading the ball. Of course, the ball did go in the back of the net. That fact, combined with the necessary VAR procedures around a delayed whistle, bring infinite more attention to the play. And I don't think anything is helped by the fact that Apple basically had/showed two replays from the same basic angle, which was poor for demonstrating any impact. To really see the force in the push and the separation between the two players, you need a camera from the goal line or something more aerial. Overall, while I think the call is potentially soft in regards to the force, it seems more than reasonable and maybe even expected. Again, it's two hands into the back of the guy heading the ball and then he heads it poorly. It's 100% a foul at midfield. I think one of the issues here is actually VAR. If the foul is not given, it's probably not sent down as clear and obvious (particularly given that one in Toronto earlier in the year that was sent down and rejected). And we know that softer penalties aren't awarded most of the time. So I think there's just his expectation that close foul decisions like this will be left to VAR and/or only called on-field if clear and obvious. Which is, of course, not how it is supposed to work. But also maybe not an unreasonable expectation from coaches given how VAR can be used more generally on penalties and red cards.
Well that’s a much better angle to make an assessment on, at least. Think opinions are going to differ, though!
With the caveat that this was a hand-picked angle by the aggrieved team and also that this angle isn’t available to the referee crew or the VARs, that does look a bit soft for me. The arms don’t really extend to push off the defender’s back. Not a clear and obvious mistake, but leaning no foul here.
Agreed but there is also the question of impact. If the defender has a free header there without any contact from behind, he's clearing that ball outside the penalty area. Instead, he heads it straight to an opponent who can score a goal. Now, is that enough to say the contact is a foul? Reasonable people are going to differ... as are partisans from this match.
I think we've got a decent shot at a "retroactive red card" so to speak from the DisCo for Lewis O'Brien (DC) for his 84th minute foul versus Montréal.
I can see the future! https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/dc-united-midfielder-lewis-o-brien-suspended-for-serious-foul-play
One of the worst initial on field decisions in a long time in MLS compounded by an even worse non-VAR intervention. One of those where you have to ask everyone involved "WTF are you looking at?"
I'd also just say one of the clearest examples of everyone missing the forest for the trees. From what I know, at least four different officials were giving input on or analyzing the exact point of contact. Rather than, well, looking at the totality of the situation and realizing the "tackle" just screamed red card. Given how much instruction focuses on these details, though, it shouldn't come as surprising when referees allow their decisions to hinge entirely on them.
Not sure where the thread for the weekend games is, but Diego Chara VERY lucky not to be sent off for a 2CT in the 24th minute of Seattle-Portland. Catches Nico Lodeiro late with studs showing to the back of the calf.