The MLS Cup match officials topped off a season in which the refereeing community made many positive strides.
Referees were challenged to find the right mix of game flow, foul discrimination and misconduct while ensuring player safety.
Match officials were faced with decisions that could influence the outcome of the game and they responded admirably.
The intensity and commitment to win that was mentioned in “Week In Review 32” was evident in each of the four playoff games. Players battled to the last whistle as they attempted to gain an edge going into the second leg of the series. In each match, referees successfully matched the intensity level of the game for the entire 90 minutes. Match officials used their personality to manage the gray areas of the game while, in all but a few instances, correctly punished the 100 percent misconduct situations with a yellow card.
Thirty-two weeks and 225 league games later, the MLS season is complete and the top eight teams have been seeded for the playoffs. Over the last weekend, match officials had solid performances that allowed the teams to decide their fate while still ensuring the spirit of the Laws of the Game was observed.
Four of U.S. Soccer’s referees have provided insight into their pre-game rituals, mechanics and approach. Kevin Stott as well as U.S. Soccer full time referees Ricardo Salazar, Baldomero Toledo and Terry Vaughn all provide a synopsis of their approach to the “big game” and the post-season.
This “Week In Review” will examine two critical offside decisions from the same match (Dallas at San Jose) and show how concentration and utilization of the approach U.S. Soccer has been recommending to assistant referees (ARs) can play a significant role in ensuring correct game-deciding decisions are the topic of the day.
Statistics from Week 29 provide insight into the competitive nature of the hunt to be one of the final eight teams that qualify for the post season. Foul count continues to be well managed by officials, as only 21.43 fouls were whistled over seven games consistent with the season-to-date average.
This “Week In Review” will highlight a decision that does not happen too frequently, the pass to the goalkeeper also called the “pass back.” This past week contained two such decisions neither of which are clearly evident to the eye at game speed which may have been the cause of the referees misinterpreting the application of the Law.
This past week saw several referees step up to the pressure and correctly address the challenges presented. On the other hand, several referees failed to grasp the moment and, as a consequence, decisions did not pass the litmus test as they potentially impacted the outcome of various games.