That was a pure direct red IMHO. He could have broke both of Martino's legs. Then you have Waldo coming on saying,"That's gonna happen." Then Rob Stone talks about how Martino "needs to get rid of the ball quicker." Freaking Ty saves face and says something like "people could suggest a red card there." Anyway you look at it that was a thuggish tackle that deserved a red and has no place in the sport.
There's your answer. I think the refs decided to let this one go, even though it probably deserved a red, since they messed up big-time last week.
that should not matter at all... that was a horrible tackle and a red card was deserved, he should have been shown the exit out of the 'big razor' no questions asked. i was amazed that they only showed him a yellow card, that was bs but then again, half of the games officiating was bs...
The yellow could have been given for the tackle with the first leg; add in the second follow through leg and I think we have ourselves a red card.
I thought it was a disgustingly reckless even malicious tackle, and Franchino should've gotten a direct red. The only explanation is the JMM fiasco. Sadly, that makes the league look even weaker, since there is absolutely no consistency in the officiating. By the way, what did Tyrone Marshall get for his tackle on Paule in the first game?
Harsh tackles MUST be punished by direct red or we're risking Stoichkov like situations in the future.
because we like brutish play Wanderer also raises a good point about Waldo, Rob, and Ty attempting to justify stupidly brutal play. There's too much acceptance, sometimes even borderline glorification, in and around MLS of overly-physical play. We have a higher tolerance of thuggishness than many soccer cultures and it undermines the quality of play at all levels.
Re: because we like brutish play I would say a US WCQ with a Latin American side or official is much chippier than a typical MLS game. One thing about Franchino's tackle is that it was out of character with the game he was playing. The announcers were all over how long he holds the ball. But late in the 2nd half, Martino shouldn't have to play with more haste and a two goal lead than at the start. But it's true that he and Beasely both have to learn to jump over the dangerous tackles that are going to come their way. I think Wynalda had to learn that trick, too, as does any good offensive player. So I see what they were saying, but I also think that regardless of what Martino will need to do to protect himself, the refs have an obligation, too, and Franchino should have seen red.
Fair point about WC qualifiers. I'd just add that the problem is even broader - most Concacaf qualifiers, not just those involving the US, are going to feature awful to mediocre officiating and result in brutish play. But there's a difference in how officials in the best Latin American leagues handle this sort of play. One of the reasons that Concacaf officiating is so bad is that - aside from Carlos Batres of Guatemala - there just aren't that many good Concacaf officials outside Mexico. If you watch officiating in the MFL, it's generally quite good and the refs don't tolerate Franchinoism. But there's only so many of them to go around in Concacaf qualifiers. And the US doesn't help the cause with the likes of Kevin Terry and Ricardo Valuenzuela. Every MLS official should be forced to watch games worked by Brazil's Carlos Eugenio Simon. He punishes harsh fouls early and unhesitatingly. Not surprisingly, his games almost always flow freely but without much chippiness. Today, he worked the Sao Paulo x Vasco game and sent Vasco's Wellington Monteiro off in the 34th minute with a second yellow for a violent tackle. Most MLS refs seem too scared, or maybe just too indifferent, to lay down the law early and firmly like that.
The refs are given a position of power, and its their responsibility to protect the players. At the same time, they shouldn't send off players unjustifiably, which is basically what happened to JMM last week. Cynical fouling should be punished, and I agree that the reffing tends to suck in MLS.
Re: because we like brutish play I agree. The announcers ALMOST blamed Andrulis for the play 'cause Martino was still on the field, as if it was Andrulis' or Martino's fault for the tackle!!!!! Pathetic. What, they should take Martino off the field at the 70' minute mark every game to escape injury? I've never heard anything so stupid. Franchino should have been shown the red and then we wouldn't have had to put up with that crap for a couple of games anyway. I thought Martino showed amazing grace as well by not getting too perturbed about it and just getting up and playing.