What They're Saying
- by Soccer America , Feb 23, 2014
-- Professional Soccer Referees Association vice president Steven Taylor on the organization that represents MLS referees voting 64-1 to authorize its executive board to call a strike whenever it deems it to be appropriate in relation to two grievances it had filed with the National Labor Relations Board against PRO, the MLS-funded organization that manages refereeing at the professional level. (ESPN FC)
So, this is some labor union/management blah blah. Curiously, there is some concern over replacement refs:
"One MLS coach who asked not to be identified indicated he didn't think safety would be that much of an issue, but agreed that using replacement referees would be problematic."
"I think the gap between professional referees and what's next would have a [significant] effect on the game in a negative way," he said. "I think there would be more controversial calls on a game-by-game basis, and even a half-by-half basis, than there are now. Experience is a huge thing. "
I think asking coaches what they would like to see in a referee is back-assward. How about this: I would prefer to see coaches enable skillful play instead of all the pathetic, impotent long-ball we see in every single MLS match. Not that you asked, Mr. Unidentified MLS Coach, but, just sayin'.
Regardless, how about the league cracks down on all the WWE wrestling in the box, and allow the officials to implement the Laws of The Game? Hilario Grajeda, who centered the MLS Cup final and is considered one of the better MLS referees, denied Sapong a stonewall penalty and essentially enabled that wrestling match, presumably in the name of parity, ratings and "excitement". I call BS on your coaching AND officiating standards, Mr. Garber. Fix it!