[MLS] Of the 26 goals scored last Saturday in the third week of MLS play, the two mostly hotly contested were those involving a goalkeeper gaffe and amano-a-mano handball. Did the refs get it right? UNSIGHTLY SEITZ. Jaime Moreno briefly tied the Union-D.C. United match when he picked the pocket of Phillygoalkeeper Chris Seitz, who […]
referees
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Stahl's red card and Olave's second penalty were justified
[MLS REF WATCH] Penalty kicks and ejections are usually the most contentious incidents of a competitive soccer match, and the first Ref Watch of 2010 takes alook at incidents from the first two weeks of play. STAHL’S SENDING-OFF. Philadelphia head coach PeterNowak traded barbs with Sounders midfielder Freddie Ljungberg after the Union lost its inaugural […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA says no Islamic head scarf
FIFA has ruled that Iran can’t participate in girls soccer in the new Youth Olympic Games because its rules prevent players wearing a hijab, the Islamic head scarf worn by girls and women toobserve Islamic dress code. Iran’s national Olympic committee had called on FIFA and the International Olympic Committee to review the head scarf […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
FIFA's Feeble Case Against Technology
By Paul Gardner The April 2010 edition of FIFA World magazine features a significant document in which president Sepp Blatter makes the official FIFA “argumentagainst technology.” And what a flimsy, ill thought-out argument it is, full of ambiguity, obfuscation, irrelevance, contradictions, exaggerations, and plain distortion. The ambiguitybegins with the heading “Playing By The Same Rules.” […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ferguson blasts officiating after Chelsea win
[ENGLAND] Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson blasted the non-call on substitute Didier Drogba‘s second goal in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford that moved the Blues into first place in the Premier League. Drogba appeared to be offside when Salomon Kalou passed him the ball for the second goal — and his 31st of the […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The world's best refs are from …
By Paul Gardner I can now answer a question that has been keeping you awake at night: Which country produces the best referees? At this moment, the answeris . .. Mexico. Followed by New Zealand. No doubt some of you will be surprised, even shocked, by this news. So, a word of explanation. The information […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ref blames drugs not drink
[OFF THE POST] An English referee whose Sunday league game was called off amid accusations that he was inebriated has denied that booze was the problem. “Ihadn’t been drinking,” referee Steve Hurrell told the Scarborough Evening News. “I’mcurrently on some strong pain-killing tablets which make me go dizzy and have fits — I can’t remember […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
When the red card doesn't work
[OFF THE POST] In a Brazilian lower division game between Genus and Moto Clube, Genus’ Robson refused to leave the field after gettingred-carded for a bad tackle — until riot police entered the field and pepper-sprayed him. Robson committed the foul with his team trailing, 3-0, and along with four teammates confrontedthe referee until riot […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chinese refs off to 'Rectification Education Camp'
In the aftermath of a widespread match-fixing scandal, referees who will officiate in next season’s men and women’s Chinese leagues have been sent away on a five-day“Anti-corruption Rectification Education Camp,” where they will receive lectures on anti-corruption, training in refereeing skills and take an exam. The referees will also beasked to confess to any wrongdoing […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
English refs too lenient? Stats say so
By Paul Gardner So no sooner do I tell you that coaches never say anything nasty about their own players — just 10 days ago — then up pops Bert van Marwijk, the coach ofthe Dutch national team, to seriously berate one of his players. The tackle that Nigel de Jong put on the American […]