Not Going Away ...

Protests disrupt Fifa visit to Brazil World Cup venue

Protesters in Brazil have disrupted an official visit to a football stadium being built for next year's World Cup.

A group of some 50 people stormed the Arena Pantanal, in the western city of Cuiaba, as it was being inspected by the Secretary General of Fifa, Jerome Valcke.

They shouted slogans and held banners criticising the huge amounts spent in preparations for the World Cup.

The incident raises new concerns about security during the event.

"Go home!" and "World Cup for whom?" read some of the banners carried by protesters - most of them striking teachers and postal workers. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the BBC.

Kicking Back Comments: As I have opined in the recent past this issue is just not going away for FIFA. It will be very interesting to see how this continues to heat up and (IMHO) erupts in front of the world in July 2014.

Another winner!

The greatest trick Fifa ever pulled was to issue a Qatar weather warning

The 2022 World Cup is being built by slaves in a non-democracy, but that's not the issue for Sepp Blatter and co.

The indispensable English footballer whose metatarsal will snap four weeks before the 2022 World Cup is currently 12 years old, but Fifa is already worrying stagily about the temperature in which he will perform disappointingly. As for the 12-year-old Nepalese boy whose family are unwittingly saving for the chance to send him off in a few years to die laying the foundations of a stadio-mall, or the 12-year-old Qatari boy wondering not when his people voted for this, but whether they'll ever vote for anything at all … well, it would be much easier if people did not concern themselves with them. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of The Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: Another hard thinking article from Ms. Hyde. While I clearly get her message here, I don't know if I completely agree with her opinion about "non-democracies." I'll let you all be the judge in reading this most excellent article. 

And here they are ...

2014 US World Cup Roster by Position

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC)

You can see the full details here, courtesy of US Soccer.

Tick Tock

FIFA Decision on Qatar Dates Could Come in 2015

After all the talk about changing the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it will be another year or more before any decision is made.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter ordered "deep consultations" Friday about shifting the tournament from the scorching summer heat in the Gulf country, saying a decision on the highly divisive issue might be delayed until 2015.

Blatter also reiterated that the tournament will definitely stay in Qatar, and said he will travel to the desert nation to raise concerns over the treatment of migrant workers involved in building World Cup venues, transportation links and hotels.

"The 2022 World Cup will be played in Qatar — that's it," Blatter said. "We don't know if it's winter or summer. I do not know what will be the outcome." ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ABC.

Kicking Back Comments: To me "deep consultations" is similar to time wasting. FIFA themselves were crowing about "... anyone can change the (UEFA) schedule 9 years in the future ...", well we now have taken 2 years away from that and are down to 7. That is if we even get that long if the folks looking into the vote don't invalidate the whole thing.

No Qatar for you Sepp in that case I opine.

The move would seem an old political trick to let the heat blow over (every pun intended) and then have the discussion. It is similar to a conference committee, where issues of government are put to die a slow death. Next best thing is a study or task force.

What's that? FIFA Agrees to Set up Qatar World Cup Task Force?

I'm shocked.

Any bets?

FIFA Meets to Debate Winter 2022 World Cup

FIFA opened a two-day board meeting Thursday that will discuss whether to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from the traditional summer dates.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been pushing for a switch but will likely meet opposition from Europe and the United States. They want FIFA to consult widely before agreeing to a change from the usual June-July slot to avoid the extreme heat in the tiny desert nation.

Officials from Asian and African confederations also said Thursday they have not yet talked formally about Blatter's proposed switch.

"We haven't had that discussion in (Africa)," FIFA board member Hany Abo Rida of Egypt told The Associated Press. "We're waiting to hear the explanation from the FIFA executive."

Blatter has raised the possibility of starting the tournament in November, while UEFA President Michel Platini prefers January. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ABC.

Kicking Back Comments: Let the games (officially) begin. When FIFA comes back and says they are moving the tournament, the issue becomes legally ripe and we'll start to see the fallout.

FIFA remembers Ghanaian World Cup referee

FIFA remembers Ghanaian World Cup referee

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has expressed his sadness following the passing of Benjamin Dwomoh, who refereed at the FIFA World Cup in 1982.

Dwomoh's passing follows that of two other stars of the game - George Alhassan and Emmanuel Quarshie - in recent weeks. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ghanafa.org.

Kicking Back Comments: Credit where credit is due, these are very kind words from Sepp in honoring a clear patriot of The Game.

Don't assume that just because they are pro's they know ...

Exit Sandman: Yanks' Rivera Bids Goodbye to Bronx

Mariano Rivera said goodbye to Yankee Stadium with hugs, tears and cheers.

Baseball's most acclaimed relief pitcher made an emotional exit in his final appearance in the Yankees' home pinstripes, when captain Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte came to the mound to remove him with two outs in the ninth inning of a 4-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

"It's time to go," Jeter appeared to tell Rivera. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ABC.

Kicking Back Comments: I share this story not as a weepy goodbye to the NY hurler, whom I respect very much, but to point out that pro's don't know all the rules themselves. From the article:

"It was an extraordinary sight in a sport where a manager almost always goes to the mound to make a pitching change. Yankees manager Joe Girardi checked with the umpires to make certain Jeter, who is on the disabled list, could take part."

I have experienced this many times in my professional career as well. Pro's at times are clueless about the laws and their implementation.

Don't get me wrong, I applaud Girardi for asking, it was the smart thing to do. I also believe that even if not allowed, it would have been allowed that night ... but the point remains that you should not be fooled into thinking that a player or coach knows better because they are, or were a pro.

This extends to people that are older ... they are not necessarily wiser at all.

One of the very best pieces of advise I got from my dad when I became a youth referee was that when it comes to player safety and officiating a match, I was allowed to "talk back" (politely) to adults. Just because they are older, does not mean they know at all about what they are talking about.

How true this is ... most of the time.

I learned too that sometimes they are REALLY right ... and it can take years to discover it.

Giving up early?

Fifa have made 'a mess' of 2022 World Cup in Qatar, says Hugh Robertson

Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, has condemned Fifa for making "a mess" of handing the 2022 World Cup to Qatar but sees no option other than moving the tournament to the winter.

Fifa's executive committee is due to decide this week on the principle of moving the tournament, and is expected to agree that it should be switched from its usual time of June and July to earlier or later in the year due to the extreme heat during those months. Uefa's 54 member nations have already backed a move. ...

See the whole story here, from The Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: I have to say I am a bit surprised that UEFA, and now Robertson are giving in so easy. I expected a much bigger fight than this. Then again, knowing TV giants are going to go bananas after the vote is taken in the next few days to actually move the World Cup, they may just be playing "kissy-face" with FIFA until the real fun starts.

... and speaking of legends ...

Some of the very best referees in the world then, and best minds in The Game still today.

FIFA Turning Blind Eye to Modern Slavery?

Qatar World Cup 'slaves': Fifa's UK representative 'appalled and disturbed'

Vice-president Jim Boyce calls for immediate investigation into deaths of Nepalese construction workers revealed by Guardian

A representative on Fifa's ruling executive committee has said he is appalled and disturbed by the findings of a Guardian investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar before the 2022 World Cup and vowed to push for immediate action by football's governing body.

Northern Ireland's Jim Boyce, a Fifa vice-president, called for an immediate investigation into the deaths of dozens of Nepalese workers and the ill-treatment of thousands of others working in Qatar in an £85bn construction frenzy as the country prepares to host the tournament. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of The Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: While Mr. Boyce is appalled, something tells me that FIFA as a whole will not be, and let the exploitation continue unfettered so the stadia will be built in time for the Christmas World Cup of 2022.

FIFA croons about Fair Play. Well you know what ... it should include all aspects of football, including those who worked with their own hands to build the place we play.

Another Refereeing Legend

U.S. Soccer Centennial Referee Interview: Vincent Mauro

The international presence of U.S. Soccer’s referees only started to gain some traction in the mid- to late-1980s. Even then, the program’s impact was still very much in its infancy.

One referee who helped gain international attention during that decade and into the next was Italian-American Vincent Mauro. He moved into the officiating realm in 1975, and 15 years later he was best remembered for being a head official during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Coincidentally, the Pratola Serra, Italy, native earned the chance-of-a-lifetime moment back in his home country. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of US Soccer.

Kicking Back Comments: I have had the extraordinary pleasure to work with Vinnie on several occasions.  One most memorable was just before his departure to the 1990 World Cup, where I ran his line. It was a match I will never forget - ever.

One area that is at times overlooked is that in this era of refereeing (e.g. circa 1990) there were only FIFA referees, no FIFA ARs. Generally speaking, referees at that level only held a whistle, and were generally less practiced at running a line as they were used for their experience as referees.

Vinnie distinguished himself as one of the very best ARs at the tournament (IMHO) and was the mark of a clear demonstration that the US had some of the very best ARs in the world. A tradition I believe that started with him on the international stage.

A true legend in refereeing that US Soccer is lucky to have as a resource.

Entertaining - but without merit otherwise

So I caught Simon Borg's latest rant on MLS.com, see below.



I actually find him entertaining, which at the very end of the day may be the point.

What I find odd is that MLS (and he is an MLS employee) is espousing both supporting, and non-supporting messages of referees working the leagues in these clips. You would think that MLS would be supportive of the referees they choose to employ.

On what other major sport own web site (e.g. NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL) do you see an employee of the league tear at their referees?

Now, one may say that Borg is balanced in his analysis ... well ... his opinion ... as while he references the LOTG a few times, he clearly has never done any serious refereeing ... is opinion is tilted big time.

In the video above, 60% of his comments are negative about the referee when an opinion is there (15/25), 40% are positive comments (10/25). There is one incident at 8:45 that he could have made an informed opinion, in fact an actual determination in law, but chose not to skewer the AR for missing an offside (NE v. DC), which I found happy, yet inconsistent with his general approach, to bash referees most of the time.

Now again, I get the entertainment factor, but I would also hope to get some equal treatment with the players and coaches. If Simon wants to be bold, try a target that will fight back, not one that he knows will quietly ignore his rants.

Worth a look, yes, as he does well to capture some very good clips that can be used as fodder for training referees.

Worth a listen, absolutely not, unless of course you need a chuckle, which is about all its worth.

MLS to Fan(atics): We'll Pay You to Stop Cursing

M.L.S. Tries to Mute Fans’ Vulgar Chants

For decades, soccer officials in the United States simply wanted some fans in their stadiums. Now they have them, and some of those fans have brought an unexpected problem: a vulgar chant, in the vein of more notoriously rabid soccer fans in other countries.

Hardly clever, it is only three words — an insult directed at the opposing goalkeeper — but enough to give M.L.S. officials fits as they hear it spill over into live television broadcasts. The chant’s simplicity is what makes it appealing or appalling, depending on your perspective. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the NYT.

Kicking Back Comments: While I get it, I find the whole thing a bit silly. MLS is worried about its image on TV and with (parents of younger) fans, and is doing something (really clever) about it.

That said, it seems a bit Big Brother-ish to try to mute fans en masse. What about singular fans? What about coaches or players who "let slip" some inappropriate language?

It would not be the 1st time an on field microphone picked up an irate player or coach ... what about that when it gets out on TV?

It's funny, I took Jr. to the Brazil match the other night at Gillette and he was really amazed at the difference in atmosphere from that match to MLS. His comment was ... "... MLS is kind of boring ... ." I choose to use "sterile", but the point remains that MLS could be running the risk, in making The American Game more attractive to its base, but taking some of the fun out of it for the rest of us who are fans.

BTW, I don't think it is just soccer that has this "issue" ... has anyone gone to a college hockey game and been greeted to an opposing player getting a penalty. On their way to the box the crowd generally yells ...

Seeeeeeeeeeya A$$h0%& ........

Funny stuff that doesn't seem to cause a rip in the space-time continuum. I think we can get out of our bubble every once in a bit and take some good natured spirited language.

Just let 'em play ref ...

Update: 24-SEP PM: I've changed the video source as the first was removed, and updated the times accordingly in relation to the new video.

Well then ... where to begin.

For those who did not see the PRESEASON hockey game between Buffalo and Toronto, here it is.

Check out the whole clip as it is instructional on many levels.


Now, to understand why this one happened, you need to go back to that Sabre's 4th goal by Tropp (a goal scorer) and Toronto sending Devane (a goon) to send a message. It winds up with Tropp getting the crap beat out of him, and slamming his head on the ice and lying there stunned in a pool of his own blood.

So it is right about this time that MEGA GOON John Scott gets a nod from the Sabre's bench and lines up albeit for a second with Phil Kessel (a goal scorer) and all heck breaks loose at 1:05 (now 1:40) in the video.

Now everyone saw this coming as within 5 seconds, (2) Leafs and (3) officials (a referee and (2) linesmen) were right in there trying to IMMEDIATELY break up what happened to avoid any further issues.

As soon as it was clear to both referees however that a brawl was imminent, both referees backed up and hemmed in the fights, as their assistants were hard at work saving Mr. Scott, or maybe saving everyone else from Mr. Scott.

Look at 1:17 (now 1:50) of the video, both referees had the whole mess pinned in and were able to observe the whole thing ... including the Leafs David Clarkson jumping in from the bench.

Now the fracas continued for some time and carried over to the Leafs bench, with Tim Nowak (#77) expertly keeping Scott from anyone else. I have to say too that Scott, while a goon, has my respect as he is there to play a role and does it well. He also is not there to give the referee any crap as we can see at 3:43 (now 4:19) when he gives Tim a couple of pats on the back to say, I'm done, no problem here.

This is more respect than I am giving Kessel not only for the cowardly chops initially with Scott's back turned but also at 3:10 (now 3:45) when he makes his way back over and gives Scott a poke. I would have actually liked Nowak to let him go for a second to grab Kessel. Would have served him right. (Just for the record that is not a Bruins thing, just hate cheap play like that.)

So, if everyone knew this was coming, why let it even happen?

My answer is because they had to let them play.

There was no legitimate reason to send a player before the fight. There is no reason why both can't line up for the face-off, even if they knew it was coming. The officials very simply had to let them play, until the moment the trouble began.

This is a very difficult position when you can anticipate as a referee that something is coming, but you can't do anything about it, until it does.

To somehow contort the LOTG or fabricate an excuse to dismiss a player as much as it may save a significant issue, is not the right or correct thing to do for anyone, or the game. It's dishonest, and prejudicial.

By the way ... I know what I'm doing on November 15th and 16th when these guys meet again.

Here's a question for us ... how do THOSE referees come into THAT game?

Is that prejudicial or good management?

Upgrade Kudos

Well this is a special day indeed for Anthony Brossi, who has earned an upgrade to Grade 5, State referee 1st class.

There are many milestones in a referee that are noteworthy. A first match, upgrade to Grade 7, or becoming a State referee ... there are so many.

An upgrade to Grade 5 however is a big one in my opinion as it marks a significant commitment to the craft, and a significant investment US Soccer has placed in the referee.

Such an individual will now likely be looked at for a future position as a National referee, and in some cases inclusion into the professional ranks.

So please join me today in congratulating Tony for reaching thins milestone, and his bright future ahead.

'Communism United,' their colors will be pink and rainbow ...

Future News: MLS to put antagonistic expansion team in ‘city that hates soccer the most’

Following speculation that MLS is interested in expanding into the southeast United States, the league has announced plans to put a new club in "the city that hates soccer the most." Though the exact location of this new team has yet to be determined, the declaration is sure to court controversy. But the league sees it as an aggressive way to push its development and expansions in new territories.

"The league has grown leaps and bounds in a relatively short period," said MLS commissioner Don Garber. "We have a team in just about every major soccer friendly city in the country, so now it's time to go after some areas where the game isn't as popular. And to make something of a statement, we've decided to locate the U.S. city that hates soccer the most — probably somewhere in Alabama — and put a team there to let everyone know that our league is here and this sport isn't going anywhere." ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: Should have saved this one for April Fools Commish ... it was some funny stuff.

FIFA Actually Fears someone?

FIFA face IOC backlash over 2022 World Cup

The International Olympic Committee plan to hold discussions with FIFA in order to make sure the 2022 World Cup Finals in Qatar does not clash with the Winter Olympic Games that year.

On Thursday, UEFA's 54 member associations gave their backing to hold the 2022 Finals during the winter as to avoid the extreme heat of the State's summer. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ESPN.

Kicking Back Comments: Even with UEFA backing a winter World Cup, I still think FIFA is in some deep crap here. Sine there is significant commingling of IOC executives on the FIFA EXCOM, it seems clear FIFA wants to steer clear of interfering with the 2022 winter olympics.

So if it does get moved ... it looks like Christmas time.

Boy I hope Fox pulls out. NFL v. World Cup .... it's not even going to be close.

It's not just for referees

The Power of Mentorship

When I joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation staff, and more specifically the Programs team supporting Soccer for Success, I knew I walked into both a huge opportunity and a tremendous challenge. One of the main components of my job is training our Soccer for Success coaches. This season we will work with 1,500 coaches in 24 cities across the country. Through these coaches we hope to teach the game of soccer to approximately 18,000 youth. No small feat! ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of US Soccer Foundation.

Kicking Back Comments: Don't forget, just like referees and players, coaches too are learning their craft on any given Sunday.

Sick as a parrot (explicit photo warning)

Sick as a parrot: One Direction fans tweet premier ace death threats after crunching tackle that made Louis Tomlinson throw up

Footballer Gabriel Agbonlahor has felt the wrath of One Direction's fanatical fans.

The premier ace received death threats from irate One Direction fans after flying into a challenge with pop star Louis Tomlinson at Stiliyan Petrov's charity match.

The Aston Villa forward left the boyband member in a heap on the floor, with Tomlinson - who signed for Championship side Doncaster for charity last month - vomiting after the tackle. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Mail Online.

Kicking Back Comments: My angle here is not bashing Tomlinson, or his incredibly successful band, One Direction for what some have called crumpling on the pitch after a modest challenge. Tomlinson was there to take part in a charity match for Stiliyan Petrov and spent his time to bring a great draw to the match. Just listen to the fans on the video whenever he touches the ball.

That said, my angle is this ... what is a referee to do in such a case?

Tomlinson, while a footballer (he is signed to a 3rd division club, the Doncaster Rovers as a walk on to the development team) was clearly not prepared for the match, or if he was, for no serious action in the match. As the video shows Gabriel Agbonlahor essentially knocked Tomlinson over awkwardly, not in a foul or carless way, yet we see a player in a heap on the field.

I felt for the referee at that point. Here we have a friendly match, in fact a charity match, with teams that have mostly present and just past football stars, and a couple of celebrities that I would not call "regular" athletes. What is the referees role here? Protect the celebrities at all costs? Protect the football stars? Make it a good show for everyone? Enforce the LOTG and assure the match comports with tradition?

Yes. It is all of those things.

It is an impossible challenge that requires the balancing skills of a Wallenda.

While I can go into war stories about my most vidid experiences about friendlies between international and MLS team, or the most dangerous with Steve Nichol's Boston Bulldogs agains the "Brazil Legends" (many of the 1994 Brazil World Cup team), I will leave it at the following for each to ponder.

If you are asked to do a friendly ... or even "worse" a charity match, think very carefully about how you will comport yourself, the match, and work with the players and promoters to come to a mutually acceptable outcome.

Such matches are really fun as you rub elbows with people you likely never do, but they are the ultimate high wire act for a referee. Success can lead to better matches. Failure can lead to a quick fall.

Socceroos fire the first shot

FFA have requested FIFA provide compensation for the $43m spent on Australia's World Cup bid

Billionaire Frank Lowy has taken aim at the world’s most powerful sporting body, FIFA over Australia’s $43m World Cup bid embarrassment.

Lowy, the Football Federation Australia chairman, is still smarting from the embarrassment of Australia’s $43m bid earning just one vote when oil-rich Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup.

Yesterday he called on the sport’s governing body to pay compensation to Australia and other bidders after FIFA president’s stunning admission that it was "a mistake" to send the 2022 tournament to the
Arab state given the 50-degree summer days. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of Fox Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: The fact that the FFA is seeking compensation is not surprising ... a little early as EXCOM has not taken the vote yet to change the dates, so the issue is legally not ripe yet, but that is not the point Mr. Lowy is making. It is a warning shot.

Now what was surprising to me was FIFA's response to the proposed challenge. In their own words:

However, a FIFA spokeswoman has responded to the news by telling the FFA to forget about the compensation claim. 

"As part of the bidding documents all bidders, including the FA Australia, accepted that the format and dates of the staging of the Fifa World Cup and Fifa Confederations Cup, though initially expected to be in June/July, remains subject to the final decision of the Fifa Organising Committee," she said.

I'm really surprised FIFA is going to hang their hat on the "in principle" argument. Even if the contract did not state specific dates (which from previous reporting would not seem to be the case), such a shift fundamentally changes the nature of the tournament, and in essence is not the same product counties bid on.

I hope FIFA starts walking that one back as I expect it is a dead bang loser ... even in front of the notorious inept CAS, who I would imagine would hear the bulk of the issue on moving the World Cup.

By the way, the other day I commented on our representative on EXCOM, Sunil Gulati and how he was certainly well poised to serve our interests. Well, in fine fashion, he has been "stirring the pot" at FIFA over the date change, but like any other masterful politician, is crafting his arguments out of matter other than sour grapes (for the US losing bid).

If there is a revote, I have to imagine the US, and England, are the ones in best position to take the hosting duties. Hat tip to Mr. Gulati,