By Paul Gardner I regard the Red Bulls’ Hans Backe as a jewel — a coach who speaks his mind, who never minces his words, who doesn’t dodge questions, who has asense of humor. Such a combination — it reflects an honesty about his work — was bound to land Backe in trouble sooner or […]
referees
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Ronaldo's stitches: Is soccer paying attention?
By Paul Gardner Soccer in “mortal danger”? That’s what a recent headline said, quoting the words of UEFA president Michel Platini. Seems a bit strong, but overkill isjustified when a crisis threatens and no one is paying attention. Platini evidently feels strongly enough about this to dramatize his warning. As I do believe that soccer […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Why so few women referees?
By Randy Vogt In her Youth Soccer Insider column on Aug. 15, Sarah Weld laments the lack of women coaches and refs in youth soccer. It’s an oddity that I’ve noticed and am concerned about as well. The book I authored,”Preventive Officiating,” is the only soccer referee book that I know of that uses the […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
U.S. ref Mark Geiger shines at U-20 World Cup. (Plus treasonous thoughts on the diving witch hunt.)
By Paul Gardner Despite the USA’s failure to qualify for the U-20 World Cup there was an American presence at the tournament after all. A pretty important one, as ithappens. Referee Mark Geiger — well enough known in this country as an MLS referee — was given charge of three games: Brazil 3, Austria 0 […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A ref's recollection: Watching history unfold in Moscow
By Randy Vogt In the thousands of games I have officiated, none were more memorable than a series of games exactly 20 years ago in Moscow during August 1991 in theclosing days of the Soviet Union. I was invited to referee a top youth tournament called Liberty Cup Moscow the summer before and had a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer can learn from baseball's mistakes
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 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Copa America final ref had his hands full
[REF WATCH] The latest edition of Copa America, the South American championship that is the world’s oldest continental national team competition, came toconclusion last weekend when Uruguay beat Paraguay, 3-0. Randy Vogt looks at how final referee Salvio Fagundes and his crew reacted to severaltough calls … “Refereeing the Copa America final was bound to […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Player Dives. Is this the end of the world?
By Paul Gardner A few years back I tuned in to a San Jose Earthquakes telecast and was immediately impressed with the broadcaster. It quite quickly occurred tome that he was doing the program alone, no partner with whom to exchange giggly remarks. That was one positive factor, but there was also clarity of voice, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Original soccer rules goes for $1.4 million at auction
The original handwritten draft rules for soccer from 1858 and the only known surviving copy of the printed Rules, Regulations, & Laws of the Sheffield Foot-Ball Club, published in 1859, weresold at an auction for more than $1.4 million. Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest football club, sold them to an anonymous bidder. The club was […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil's PK: Why the retake?
[REF WATCH] That Brazil got a second chance from the penalty spot forced the Americans to pull off a heroic comeback to reach the semifinals. Was the retake,after Hope Solo saved the first attempt, warranted? First, we look at the foul. After Marta tapped the ball past Rachel Buehler, theAmerican defender and Marta went down. […]