If only we could convince a few MLS refs to do the same! This guy was awful. http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-dc&prov=reuters&type=lgns
i thought he did an excellent job in the WC, in both US-Portugal and SK-Italy. that being said i never really liked him much. he sucked it up in the ecuadorean serie a. and he was less than impartial in a few highly publicized instances.
who would you Pick from the MLS.... Also was he not the one also that had not refereed International matches in over 3 years
Statesman Well, he did ref in the World Cup last year so you must be thinking of somebody else... Prior to the World CUp he had not last June was his first international work since before 3 years before that AvidSinger Valenzuela.>>>>> Why him??? There are guys Like St Silva and Murrifo that have screwed up more
I think Ricardo is one of the best in the business. He calls MLS the way it needs to be called, which is why he is FIFA. Unfortunately calling the game properly in MLS gets you in trouble.
Maybe I've only caught him on bad days, but it seems every game of Valenzuela's that I see gets ridiculously out of control.
Moreno ? Coincidentally, I was watching the World Cup highlights video last night. Moreno absolutely botched the Totti "dive." At the very least, no call. (And I've seen softer PKs awarded.) To give a second yellow card in extra time to the best offensive player on the other team when he got pushed from behind in the box ... that's a horrible call, one of the alltime howlers given the situation. Either Moreno forgot that Totti already had a card, he's blind, or he was paid by the Koreans. The only three possibilities that I see. I don't care if Moreno got every other call correct -- and he didn't -- that call alone eliminates him from being "excellent."
Re: Moreno Sorry JohnR what push??? Totti was looking to pull that PK after a brilliant executed slide tackle that marginally touched him only AFTER the ball was knocked away. Totti came up waving his arms for the PK call. The entire directives coming down from FIFA was to put a stop on this nonsense and Moreno did as he was PRESSURED into doing by observing what it was they were demanding of him. If a referee sees what he sees on the FOP who are we to say different? Remember Esse and the PK against Brazil? He was villified until a single camera shot exonerated him. FIFA in their usual cowardly way were set to send Esse home until that picture reared up and bit them on the ass. Do you recall they held a news confrence about it? As a referee Moreno did nothing at the WC to cast him in an unfavourable light. Arm chair refereeing is certainly not an art form as it is a lot of hot air circulating from both ends. I know for a fact that Moreno up until that call was having a career defining game up until that unfortunate moment. I know because those assessing him told me so. THey all felt the call was too controversial given the context of the match and yet they also knew what had been directed by those giving the orders. The recent allegations against Moreno have no doubt solidified in the hearts and minds of those willing to believe in conspiracy theories that he was bought and paid for. No one but him and the god he belives in know for certain. If he is innocent or guilty he wil live it within himself as we all do. Lets say we agree to disagree and leave the ref bashing to the fans.
Ricardo Is a good official he was given high Marks on a few of the world Cup Quals when he was about to get them
I agree that Moreno did a good job in the S.Korea - Italy game. I thought it was the most exciting game of the cup - as much due to the atmosphere and watching a lesser team rise to the occasion on its home turf. I was actually rooting for Italy before the game (only because I picked them in my pool) but switched over to Korea because of their gutty effort. Italians will always be in denial about why they were beaten but they lost fair and square. If anyone deserves second guessing it is Trappatoni for pulling forwards in favor of defensive players much too early in the game.
Re: Re: Moreno Agreed. Byron Moreno except for the Totti call had a great world cup. He was in command and got the respect of players and this referee board moderator for how a referee should manage a match. We have a lot to learn from Mr. Moreno. I really detest all the wild acusations from people who have all ready forgotten the relevant facts.
I have not seen Ricardo Valenzuela referee this season. I have seen him in previous years including his work in international friendlies. Ricardo needs a lot of work and to gain from experience. The comments regarding his games getting out of control are valid for his work in both MLS and "A" friendlies over the past two seasons. He did a friendly in Mexico at Monterey between Mexico and a Euro team (IIRC) that was a travesty. He was overzeaous in his use of cards and also let some flagrant fouls go unpunished.