December 12 – 8:30 PM ET Columbus Crew SC vs. Seattle Sounders FC MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus TV: FOX, TSN Referee: Jair Marrufo Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Kathryn Nesbitt 4th Official: Alex Chilowicz VAR: Drew Fischer
Imagining a scenario where Marrufo, Chilowicz, and Fischer go down and Radford needs to step into the middle... that would be a fun one for the Seattle fans out there
As a Columbus article pointed out, Marrufo and Parker were officials on the 2015 MLS cup also in Columbus where the ball went out of play at the touch line but was not spotted, leading directly to the Timbers winning goal.
Just watched that. How do you get ANOTHER final appearance with such a ghastly error in 5 years? Why not give other referees a shot?
Because it was one mistake 5 years ago, they were the best or near the best at their position this season and others have had a chance since? If missing a ball slightly out of play 5 years ago is a capital offence,.. well, at some point you’d have no referees left. I mean, “ghastly?”
When you put it that way, you make a very valid point and I retract my statement. I've been (poorly) led to believe that making mistakes leading to game-winning goals like this from PRO is not a good look so that's what I was thinking.
It wasn’t popular at the time but since then one went to a World Cup and they might both go to the next
I like that he's actually calling fouls. Not a fan of allowing himself to be manhandled when issuing that first caution
Watching my annual MLS game ... Perhaps it’s just how he carries himself but in some instances Marrufo didn’t seem super at ease or comfortable out there. I also like the strict standard-ness of his directional signals, very crisp. Actual decisions have been good. Not all too much from a refereeing perspective.
Unfortunately, the scenario is impossible. Radford isn't in Columbus. He was sent to Atlanta (Hawkeye HQ) and would have only been used in a VAR (or AVAR?) role if needed. Also, being that he only does MLS VAR now, he likely hasn't passed fitness for on-field duty.
If Marrufo wasn’t so slow in the whistle, then that retaliation by Smith probably doesn’t happen. In my opinion, Smith is lucky that he wasn’t sent off for that.
I was just about to respond to this by saying that anyone who has ever seen an MLS playoff match or a Jair Marrufo match--nevermind a Jair Marrufo MLS playoff match--knows there was 0% that was ever going to be a red card. So I find it hard to say Smith was lucky. Maybe in a local amateur match. But not here. And that's the same reason (alongside the 3-0 score line) that what I felt was a pretty obvious DOGSO foul by Smith ended with a no-foul call.
This is incorrect, I believe. He has pictures on social media at MAPFRE from today. However you are right on the second part. No fitness test = nothing on-field.
Oh, I had heard otherwise when the assignment was finalized earlier this week. I think it's much better to have him in Columbus anyway so that's nice to hear!
I know Marrufo’s reputation, but that doesn’t mean that something like that should go unpunished. What Smith did was beyond reckless, and should not be tolerated. This attitude of “let’s keep all 22 players in the game” gives the players the idea that they can just about get away with murder with no real consequence.
I'm not too interested in debating the merits of the decision (though I do think, given all the factors in this particular scenario, yellow was the best decision). All I'm saying is that if we all know that's never getting a red in the playoffs and we all know Marrufo is never giving that as a red... Smith wasn't really lucky because the decision that everyone expected was given. Unless the "luck" portion has to do with it being the playoffs and/or Marrufo.
My gut instinct on the Smith play was DOGSO, but the more I think about it, the more I am in doubt due to having to sort of stretch the “distance to goal” consideration to make it work. Anyone have a video of it?
http://proreferees.com/2021/01/08/capelli-sport-announces-partnership-with-pro/ PRO will now be sponsored by Capelli Sport for apparel, haven’t seen any pictures of the kits.
I don’t think it’s anything. Please somebody correct me if this is wrong but I’m pretty sure PRO was literally formed as a partnership between USSF and MLS.
PRO has included CSA before though, and went out of their way to say they were working on officiating in North America or USA & Canada. Even their LinkedIn (probably not updated in awhile) includes that https://www.linkedin.com/company/professional-referee-organization I'm not saying this is something, but was just curious if there was a change
PRO doesn't have anything to do with the CPL, right? I wonder if that's what has prompted the change in language or at least de-emphasis on the Canadian part. Of course, given the original involvement of the CSA in the formation of PRO and the language about professional leagues in Canada, I guess I could also ask why PRO doesn't have anything to do with the CPL.