So here's the talking point from today... this was in stoppage time, 2-0 Seattle at the time: http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-08-18-sea-v-van/highlights?videoID=197029 Now, I think odds are 90/10 that Koffi is going to get a game or two suspension from the DC on this. This happened right in front of me and everybody in my section was sure Petrescu was going to the back pocket. There were a lot of boos when he went only with the caution. But let me say this... the caution seemed appropriate for how he called this game. I assumed Petrescu got assigned to this game for a reason... he's a guy who lets play get physical, doesn't use a ton of cards, and my guess is that the league wanted to let this game get decided between the lines 11 v 11. This game was as big a bloodbath as you will ever see for a two-caution match. Hurtado was mugging the daylights out of Mattocks the entire first half... at one point he fouled him hard, Mattocks popped up to yell at Hurtado, Petrescu separates them (let's be honest, few MLS players are going to challenge Petrescu due to his size and presence). Not 30 seconds later behind Petrescu's back Hurtado runs past Mattocks and elbows him in the ribs and drops him, 20 yards off the ball. I doubt the TV cameras caught it, but I did. The Seattle fans were booing Mattocks for acting, but it was a downright dirty play, a message right out of the old days of the NASL ("You think that other one was a foul, rookie? I'll show you a foul.") In spite of all this,I saw the point in Petrescu working this game and calling it like he did. My friend, a passionate Sounders fan and a knowledgeable former college player, was in agreement with about every one of Petrescu's calls. We were usually discussing them between the shouts for Petrescu's head, but we both could completely read how he was calling the game. He would give free kicks for touch fouls coming out of the back, but let the defenders get pretty physical and rarely gave attacking free kicks unless they were earned. At one point, the SAR gave Vancouver an attacking FK from 30 yards on a touch on the shoulder... just hung Petrescu out to dry. It was right in front of the AR, he flagged it immediately, and the SEA defenders just started ripping him a new one while Petrescu admirably flew in and shooed them away. But I told my friend that Petrescu was probably praying that VAN wouldn't score off the opportunity. Anyway, the video that I linked, I'm sure Koffi will get a few games, they've been suspending players all year for high studs, and this was pretty brutal. 90 seconds into stoppage, Petrescu may very well have just decided to get everybody off the field. Lastly, you folks in Seattle, my goodness have you got a good thing. 55,000 today at CenturyLink, what an atmosphere. I would encourage anybody to make a trip to Seattle for a game. Having seen games now in Columbus, Vancouver, and Seattle, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind which city has the best gameday atmosphere. From what I have seen on TV, Portland seems like the only city that comes close to this. What a blast my family and I had at this game. Fat City rules!
I thought the same thing. He let them play, and the card was more or less consistent with what to expect. The problem is that you could tell the players thought they could do what they wanted. I mean, Hoskings had to come across the field as JAR to help calm people down. That's not the sign of respect, if it is a simple caution. But the players were sort of running the show at that point.
I agree, the game was on the edge all afternoon. But something tells me that's exactly what everybody wanted.
Petrescu doesn't call fouls and he doesn't give red cards. I don't think he even carries a red card to his games. I can't believe MLS likes the way this guy referees, he basically has his own rules. It's not good for the game. Some of the missed DOGSOs and SFPs this season by Petrescu has been shocking. His games are entertaining as hell because there is a lot of flow, but it's not smart refereeing. I'm really not surprised why he didn't give a red there. Although it's a lot easier to give a red there then a yellow. It's just less work. No one would have complained for a red card there.
Koffi gives an insulting gesture during that whole thing as Petrescu has his back to him. That's probably worth a game by itself. And yes, the foul was red-worthy, but the DC has only been giving a single game for most SFP situations. So bet he sees two total at most.
I am not a fan of his style either. I assumed he must have been a defender in a past life because if the forward even breathes on the defender it is a foul coming out. But the defenders are allowed to get away with murder. I don't think it really helps the game. It certainly does lead to a lot of crazy things happening in his matches though. And I agree that everyone knew what they were going to get.
Yes, good analysis. Should have been red but I really give petrescu credit for preventing a fight by doing such a nice job of removing Koffi from the situation. Good management but still he still simply got the call wrong.
I agree. He did an excellent job of immediately recognizing that the situation was about to go south and jumped immediately to step in between. THAT part was well done. However, he clearly blew the color of the card. No doubt about it. On the other side, watching the game, he also should have had a yellow for Hurtado for PI much earlier in the game than he did. I said aloud three times "Next foul on Hurado is a yellow..." before it finally was. Speaking of Hurtado, I'd like to compare that Koffi foul to this foul from a game earlier in the year which got Hurtado sent off: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/06/16/replay-hurtado-sent I would argue that that was a marginal red, at best. If that's marginal red, then Koffi's is as easy as a red card gets. It's a far worse offense (with more apparent intent, I'd argue, although we can even leave that out). Now, I realize that these are two different referees in two different games, but this is where fans and players become frustrated. I understand that "being consistent" is not what fans and players think it is since no two fouls are actually the same, but I do think that they see two situations like those and become very frustrated that there aren't more stringent league-imposed standards by which to judge these things. That frustration makes it worse for all of us. I'm also beginning to wonder if some of the MLS officials are leaning on the DC a little. "Well, that was a marginal red. I'll give him a yellow and let the DC decide if he should be suspended." That might be crazy, but it seems to me that a lot of what appear to be clear red-card offenses this year are seeing yellow.
I think that might be a valid concern, but it also doesn't look good to the referee if they go with yellow and the DC then suspends the player for SFP. It shows the referee was incorrect in his judgment, and that isn't going to help any of them. I don't think that's what happened here. First of all, in the 1st half there was a ton of hard tackles and game disrepute that was handled exclusively with broadcast messages and verbal admonishment. You could see he was calling cheap stuff for the defense coming out and requiring blood to be drawn for an attacking free kick. In the 38th minute Hurtado gave Mattocks a slight push in front of the SAR (in front of the Seattle bench) with the ball in the air and the SAR flagged it. No call in either half got as much anger as that one. From the fans, from the players, from Sigi, everybody. And to be honest, it was a crap call. A foul? Generally speaking, yes. A foul in this game? Good lord no. Petrescu was a consummate professional. He called the foul, backed up his AR, tamed the upset Sounders players, etc. And I am absolutely positive that as he walked away from the spot of the foul to get in position for the ensuing free kick, he was simultaneously praying that Vancouver didn't score AND was thinking of the best way to maim his AR at halftime so the 4th could take his spot. His AR absolutely hung him out to dry, left him no choice. Why does this matter? I certainly have no proof, but if this was discussed in the locker room, it may have played a role in neither the SAR or the 4th suggesting red on Koffi's foul at the end. If I was Petrescu I would have had a very serious discussion with the SAR about his foul selection at halftime. But Petrescu was likely screened on Koffi's foul, whereas the 4th and SAR would have had clean views. They were the ones who would have had to talk him into red, but after that BS call in the 1st half, I would not have been surprised if they had been "advised" at halftime that foul selection needed to be consistent across the entire crew. And if I had been that AR and had been "corrected" at halftime, I probably would have been hesitant to tell Petrescu that Koffi should have gotten red after (a) being advised my foul selection was not consistent with the game and (b) Petrescu was on top of the play so quickly and appeared to "have it."
Most of you know I am not a fan of Petrescu, but I truly wonder what benefit it has to the league to have Petrescu officiating these more highly charged matches. It's like playing with matches over a gasoline can set on a keg of black powder. Yes, players know what to expect with Silvio, but it does not make it right. Moreover, it runs counter to what we as referees are trying to do. Namely to punish cynical play meant to thwart attacking soccer.