2024 MLS Playoffs Best of Three, Games 2 & 3 Referee Discussion

Point of order: It should officially be reported neither as AL, or (as Villarreal erroneously said in his VAR announcement) as VC. Spitting/biting is its own send-off category in the Laws of the Game, abbreviated SB.

 

Frei makes a save in the shoot-out, but disallowed after review the kick is retaken for goalkeeper encroachment.

 

So wait they saw this spitting incident on VAR and didn’t call it spitting?

 

Villarreal announced the “spitting” offense, but at the end of the announcement he also said “Violent Conduct”, which is what I was referring to.

 

I would imagine that the appropriate offense will be in the official match report. I would imagine a VAR announcement doesn’t count as an “official” documentation.

Olsen chasing Villarreal off the field dissenting. Hopefully that ends up as a send off in the match report as well.

 

Wtf was Herrera complaining about either? That was a nailed-on yellow card. Absolutely brain dead.

Wish Armando had thrown the coach and carded a couple dissenting players as well, absolutely classless.

 

⚽️// Referee abuse and assault is unacceptable. #PRO | #LeadingTheWay pic.twitter.com/PRPiaHeN5r

— PRO (@PROreferees) November 4, 2024

 

watched the replay and from that it’s clear he spit at him. Good use of VAR and correct decision

 

Or to just not even bother reading the replies since we know what the the responses will be-crazily anti-referee.

 

From Reddit: "CONCACAF After Dark allows that, MLS After Dark might let you away with it, but in the daylight savings era?"

 

Point well taken since I stay far away from the Twitters and most everything else on social media.

 

I'm sorry, Hector Herrera spit at the *referee* to get sent off in a must-win home playoff game?

Inexcusable behavior. Absolutely shocking from the Houston Dynamo's star. pic.twitter.com/9uzyQRK5Id

— Joseph Lowery (@joeclowery) November 4, 2024

I assume a lengthy suspension.
This is assault against a referee.

 

follow-up

Gracias HH pic.twitter.com/TeNIgdkOLr

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) November 7, 2024

https://www.houstondynamofc.com/new...ce-roster-decisions-following-the-2024-season

(excerpt)
Houston declined 2025 contract options for the following six players:

• MF Ján Greguš

• MF Héctor Herrera

• MF Júnior Moreno

• DF Brad Smith

• FW Ousmane Sylla

• GK Xavier Valdez

...

 

Game 3 Assignments

11/08/2024

Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps
BMO Stadium (10:30PM ET)
REF: Joe Dickerson
AR1: Jeremy Kieso
AR2: Kali Smith
4TH: Armando Villarreal
VAR: Chris Penso
AVAR: TJ Zablocki

11/09/2024

FC Cincinnati vs New York City FC
TQL Stadium (4PM ET)
REF: Drew Fischer
AR1: Logan Brown
AR2: Micheal Barwegen
4TH: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Tom Supple

Orlando City vs Charlotte FC
Inter&Co Stadium (6PM ET)
REF: Ismir Pekmic
AR1: Nick Uranga
AR2: Jeffrey Greeson
4TH: Sergii Boiko
VAR: Ismail Elfath
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson

Inter Miami vs Atlanta United
Chase Stadium (8PM ET)
REF: Lukasz Szpala
AR1: Corey Rockwell
AR2: Andrew Bigelow
4TH: Tori Penso
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert

 

If you're looking at the magnitude of these game 3s, I don't think there's a lot of doubt that Szpala got the biggest assignment. He's been on some kind of trajectory the last 3-4 years.

From a personal standpoint, tonight should be a fun sports night with my alma mater's basketball team playing at 7 CT followed by LAFC-Vancouver. The end of the basketball game should roll almost perfectly into the kickoff time for the playoff game.

 

I assume whatever suspension is imposed should vary over into whatever league he signs with next? Can’t imagine any MLS team picks him up

also, two additional games (three in total) seems pretty light for this.

 

No it doesn't carry over unless it's so egregious that FIFA gets involved (i.e. Suarez's ban for biting at the 2014 World Cup).

 

FWIW, Cuautehmoc Blanco is still suspended from the US Open Cup after all these years cuz he hasn't been playing in the USA. So I imagine Herrera's suspension (assuming he's suspended) would only be served if he played in an MLS or USSF competition.

 

Dod they nix the injury rule where a player must leave the field for the playoffs?

 

Really surprised VAR didn’t intervene in the 46th minute. That’s a penalty.