Steven Goff of the Washington Post points out a big difference between soccer and baseball officiating, not in the application of rules, but in how theirenforcement — right or wrong — is explained.
Case in point: Umpire Jerry Meals‘ blown call in the 19th inning of the Atlanta Braves- PittsburghPirates game that dropped the resurgent Pirates one game behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in their Central Division race. Catcher Mike McKenryappeared to apply the tag on Atlanta’s Julio Lugo before Lugo touched home plate but Meals call Lugo safe with the winning run. The Pirates were so upset theyfiled a formal complaint with the commissioner’s office.
What was so unique about the case: Meals, a veteran of 14 years, explained the call and how upon further review he admitted hemight have gotten it wrong. You’d never get such feedback from a referee at a FIFA competition.