2024 USL/NWSL/USOC/MLS Next Pro Referee Discussion [Rs]

So that goal for @thekccurrent vs @weareangelcity that VAR overturned the offside call on the field? Yea, I was skeptical when I first saw it and the model says it was actually offside by almost 1 foot. Not sure how that was overturned but 🤷 pic.twitter.com/H0GVAYdRC7

— SoccerPhotogrammetry, A Nice Gentleman & nerd (@OffsideModeling) March 31, 2024

 

This VAR check in the same game took a while as well.

Trying to figure out why this goal was disallowed by VAR for Angel City? If they’re trying to argue it’s a deflection and a “soccer” play on the ball by defender, I disagree. The defender clearly makes attempt to clear it and would be the start of a new play? pic.twitter.com/jP4m4ypuQT

— Stu Holden (@stuholden) March 30, 2024

 

This seems like a textbook case of non-deliberate play for the purposes of offside.

 

Try explaining to the color analyst who kept going on for the next 5 minutes how she couldn't understand how that was offside.

 

I'm still hoping someone explained to Efan Ekoku that a player can be in an offside position even if a defender is between him and the goal line if he's behind the goalkeeper.

 

What's interesting to me is that when I watch the clip of the second offside review in the Angel City/KC game, it's one of the better reviews I've seen at any level. It was a great spot on the offside offense, all other potential incidents were quickly cleared, and had super efficient communication on the complicated offside play -- not a word wasted. I think that review deserves a lot of praise overall.

But they didn't highlight the first offside review of the game, where the crew got a much simpler play totally wrong.

 

Almost a perfect replica of the LAFC situation. Same position on the field, same slide by defender, same dive mechanics by the attacker. I hope Jon Freemon sees this video to see how it’s done, by a USLC ref of all people.

Only issue was the weird point at the beginning, not sure what that was.

 

April 14, 2024 Philadelphia at Atlanta, the 2nd PHI goal tying the game at 2-2 (76th minute), the throw looked illegal to me. I didn't hear the announcers mention it, but it was pretty clear. Take a look at this screenshot.

 

Back of the heel only needs to barely touch the line. Looks like it is. And the AR has a better angle than the photo does.

 

What is illegal about it? Back of front foot is touching the line, the second foot it on the ground.

 

OK, I think I see space between the heel and the line. But the ref has a better view than mine.

 

That’s a crazy coincidence in an adult game yesterday I had three penalties and it ended 5-5 at the end of the game.

 

Many of them were doing USLC games before.

Did people really expect that the replacements were just gonna disappear forever after the lockout? Never to be heard from again?

 

Question was never if but rather when and where, at least for those names who were already working these games to some degree. Their relative absence for a few weeks was notable, but as we're discussing over in the MLS thread, perfectly explainable as well. For now, at least when it comes to the on-field assignments, there hasn't been any rumbling of any MLS trials as of yet. That doesn't mean they're not coming. Excepting Kelly and Stavridis, it took a few months in 2014. That said, PRO is *burning* through trial whistles these next few weeks (would incl. Da Silva from this past weekend unless he got hired and hasn't made the website yet), and they only get so many per year from my understanding.
FWIW, Lorenzo Hernandez made, for my money, the single best individual decision during the lockout when he turned down a DC penalty appeal for handball after which Miami immediately marched down the other way and scored. I'm no assessor, but by my eyeball test, I wouldn't be surprised if he came out of the lockout with the best numbers. Obviously I don't rate his personal ethics, but I do think he out-performed the presumed #1 they used on opening night.

 

I understand you do a fair job of tracking past and present assignments. Do you know what level Lorenzo Hernandez was featuring at last season and, maybe, the season prior? My question is related to if he's seeing improved assignments post-lockout vs. last season. If he was working regularly in USL1 and local MLSNP games but now he's doing USLC and traveling around the country, then he's probably improved his standing from his performance during the lockout.

 

🖤// With great sadness, PRO was informed that one of the first AVARs to work in NWSL, Joel McKell, passed away today, April 16.

Our thoughts are with Joel’s family at this extremely difficult time. pic.twitter.com/7VwrIezfxa

— PRO (@PROreferees) April 16, 2024

 

Last year he had 2 USL-C whistles in Birmingham and Las Vegas. Of his four MLSNP whistles, he only really traveled a significant distance for one (Galaxy II). Lots of North Texas, Houston, and Tulsa in his recent history. Going to New Mexico for a 4th last year would have been a decent hike, though. Mixed bag, but not a huge number of overall assignments, either. Seems like he's been doing a couple of USL-C whistles per year since 2020.

 

Clearly a card, right? What do you think? #RIFC pic.twitter.com/TW2OLcspLa

— Seth (@SethMan31) April 17, 2024

You're watching this one. You got any idea who's in the middle? Was that really a play on?