Upgrade Kudos

As we have done here in the past, I would like to congratulate Corey Samuelson, who has recently been upgraded to Grade 7 (Referee 1st Class).

Well done!

Bribe ... what bribe? That's a "private agreement".

Qatar's World Cup Spending Spree

Qatar's winning bid to hold the 2022 World Cup was marked by a spending spree that included investments in the home countries of several executives who were responsible for choosing the host nation, according to internal documents from the emirate's bidding committee.

The spending sheds light on how FIFA regulations—outlined in the two-page rules of conduct for World Cup host-nation bidding—left the door open for hopefuls to open wallets to exert indirect influence on international soccer's small circle of decision-makers.

Qatar also paid soccer-world luminaries—hailing from France, Spain, Argentina and elsewhere—who publicly endorsed its bid, according to Qatar bid committee documents and emails reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Some were paid more than a million dollars in connection with the endorsements, said a person familiar with the situation. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the WSJ.

To Tweet or not to Tweet ... that was the question

Photo courtesy of BBC

For anyone who has been keeping up with the FA Cup and Liverpool's loss to Mann-U on Sunday the 9th, you may have been treated both to some of the decisions Howard Webb made, but also the Twitter fallout by Liverpool winger Ryan Babel (@RyanBabel).

I am not here to debate Webb's decisions that allowed a penalty in the 1' to have Man-U go up 1 - 0, or the later send off. Both are in the video clip below. You can all judge for yourself.

Man United 1-0 Liverpool | The FA Cup 3rd Round - 09/01/11

Uploaded by fatv. - Discover the latest sports and extreme videos.

Instead, I am more interested Mr. Babel's actions on Twitter to edit a picture of Mr. Webb in a Man-U kit (see the picture here) and with the comments shown above. These are detailed in an excellent article from the BBC, Twitter ye not? Also, I am interested in the FA's response in sanctioning Mr. Babel with "improper conduct."

Now, Twitter is an incredible medium to communicate info quickly, 140 characters at a time. If you are reading this you likely already know that, and I hope you follow Kicking Back on Twitter (@kicking_back). My question is should players really be sanctioned for being openly critical in such media?

Please note my use of words, specifically the word critical. My stance is much different when public comments get personal, provocative, or threatening. There is no place for these types of comments at all, regardless of who they are cast at, and equally so when cast at an official. I also have no love for parents slinging criticism to younger referees. They are not ready to understand how to process that rubbish at such a young age. This leads to legions of referees resigning their badge after a year or two and must be stopped.

I have a very different opinion regarding critical comments, parody, and the like, which I believe are absolutely essential speech, even if done in a mean spirited way in the detailed situation. Without this speech, a critical component of discourse is unavailable. Honestly, can you image a match without any critical comments? What fun is that! I mean really ... has anyone logged into Big Soccer lately and looked around? There is an incredible about of information exchange there. While not always "glowing" for some, the opinions shared are largely tremendously insightful and can certainly lead to a good takeaway from those willing to read and understand.

I will got out on a limb here too and support Mr. Babel in his comments. Not because I believe he was correct, but rather because I support his right to do so as necessary discourse in a society. Keep in mind that I am an advocate for the 1st Amendment, and this speech would fall under this amendment, but also understand that this does not extend outside the US. For free speech principles on the internet in the US see Reno v. ACLU (51 U.S. 844) where SCOTUS struck down the CDA.

That said, I believe the FA is asking for trouble in this regard. To begin to sanction players for their comments in any media is a slippery slope. Again, personal, provocative, or threatening is another matter and should be dealt with fully by the FA. These comments however were clearly not that. An opinion was expressed, accompanied by a very clever picture showing the same displeasure. I somehow think that Mr. Webb's first reaction was hardly fear or anger. I'd be willing to bet that his first reaction was a snicker and a smile. Why does the FA need to turn into the "Twitter Police" over this?

While I appreciate the FA riding in on its white horse to save Mr. Webb from the wounding words slung by Mr. Babel, somehow I believe the referee from the 2010 World Cup final is up to that particular challenge.

Are you ready for some futsal?

For any who are unfamiliar, futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller playing surface and mainly played indoors. Its name is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón (colloquially fútbol sala), which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football". During the sport's second world championships held in Madrid in 1985, the name fútbol de salón was used. Since then, all other names have been officially and internationally changed to futsal. (From Wikipedia)


If you are looking to take in a match ... now is the time to act!

On January 14th through the 17th 2011the Northeast Regional Futsal Championships are being held in Massachusetts. This is the only US Soccer sanctioned futsal tournament in New England and will have teams of all ages and even include FIFA fustal referee Jason Krnac who will be officiating.

So if you have some time, stop on out as the competition will be tremendous and the winner heads to the National Futsal Championships in February 2011.

Take a look here for full details. See you out there!

Winter in 2022? Looks like we will be there soon.

FIFA plays God with winter World Cup talk

PARIS — FIFA talk of possibly switching the summer World Cup of 2022 to winter is scandalous on so many levels that it's hard to know where to begin.

For starters, what arrogance. The World Cup takes a full month. Add to that pre-tournament training camps (essential for teams to gel) plus warm-up matches (equally essential) and at least one week of post-tournament recuperation for the players (they earn it, no?) and you're talking six to seven weeks.

So what about the rest of Planet Soccer? Would it simply be expected to stop and twiddle its thumbs while FIFA holds its party in Qatar, the Gulf emirate that roasts in summer? ...

See the full story here, courtesy of USA Today.

Upgrade Kudos

Like the first birth of the New Year, we have our first upgrade of 2011.

Please join me in congratulating Dusan Basta for the achievement of attaining Grade 7 (Referee 1st Class).

Well done!!

What Say You?

With regard to the taking of the penalty kick (not the horrible dive) in the clip below, which is the correct answer?

Use the poll at right to vote. Answer 01-FEB-2011.



A. Caution Purple #5
B. Caution Purple #11
C. Caution Orange GK (#21)
D. A and B
E. A, B and C
F. None of the above

Special thanks to C.W. Rice for pointing us to the clip.

One flew from the cuckoo's nest

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A top German lawyer has resigned from FIFA's ethics commission in protest at the world football body's apparent failure to tackle alleged corruption in its ranks.

Guenter Hirsch wrote in a letter to ethics commission president Claudio Sulser that FIFA appeared unwilling to deal with growing problems. The 67-year-old former president of Germany's highest appeals court said FIFA showed "no real interest" in trying to clean up the organization.

"The events of the past few weeks have raised and strengthened the impression that responsible persons in FIFA have no real interest in playing an active role in resolving, punishing and avoiding violations against ethic regulations of FIFA," Hirsch wrote in the letter, according to the German DPA news agency on Sunday. ...

See the full story here, courtesy of USA Today.

Kicking Back comments:

Mr. Hirsch is not just another pol who is resigning in fear of being discovered in some wrongdoing. He is the real deal and the former president of the highest court in the country of Germany. Frankly neither are some of these other folks that comprise the committee. Take the USA representative Burton K. Haimes, a Yale grad with a LL.B. and LL.M. and currently a partner at Orrick. How about Robert Torres, Chief Justice of the Unified Courts of Guam. If some of these folks are leaving, it should give FIFA great pause, as it would seem one of the few places that the organization has people of such pedigree. Notably the chair of the ethics committee, Claudio Sulser, apparently has no such creditably as a professional beyond his tremendous career as a striker. FIFA must believe that a former striker is better equipped to handle ethics matters than a man who has served at or on a country's highest court.


My question is, who is next? 

Please, no pope jokes

Oh no Hugh Don't

THE SFA has told three staff sacked over the Pope email row that they can return to their jobs - but there was no reprieve for refs' chief Hugh Dallas.

The trio successfully appealed against a controversial decision to axe them.

They were among five employees - including Dallas - given the boot in November for allegedly forwarding a photograph linking the Pope to child abuse on the same day the church leader visited Scotland.

Now the three backroom staff have been told they can go back to work later this month. ...

See the full story here, courtesy of the Scottish Sun.

Kristine Lilly Hangs 'em Up

Quiet star Lilly exceeded them all

Girls often come in predictable groupings -- in literature, pop culture and even in real life. There's the "pretty" one, the "outgoing" one, the "smart" one, the "motherly" one. And then there's the other one, the quiet girl who rounds out the social circle.

Often the quiet one ends up with the biggest role. ...

See the full story here, courtesy of SI.com.

"Chucky B" Bustin' Some Phat Beats

FIFA holds RAP meeting in New York

NEW YORK -- Fernando Tresaco, FIFA's Head of Refereeing, met Tuesday with CONCACAF officials to review referee development activities for 2010 and examine plans for the new year. The annual meeting, which focuses on the Referee Assistance Program (RAP), took place at the Confederation's headquarters in New York City. ...

See the full article here from CONCACAF.

Kicking Back comments:
So if you still don't believe that refereeing (or football in general) is big business, just take a look at the picture from the article. Sure are a lot of suits in a awfully nice setting ...

Who are we?

L.E. Eisenmenger tweeted this morning about the series of articles recently posted entitled "Player agent Mike Wheeler explains third-party ownership in MLS", on Examiner.com. Excellent interview and gives a very nice overview of some of the business side of what goes on in the game. This is a must read for anyone really interested at the high levels of the game, a business/law junkie, or both, like me.

It got my head clicking a little bit ... but first, a disclaimer:

First, please re-read the Legal Stuff page and note that what I am sharing is a personal opinion, not legal or tax advise. In no way should anything I am about to write ... you are about to read ... should be considered advise in any way, just an opinion.

With tax season right around the corner, and LE's article above, it reminded me what status a referee takes in the financial and taxation world.

First, believe me, individual referee and leagues can get into BIG trouble with the IRS for failing to pay the appropriate amount of taxes on their wages. Look at this article "IRS CALLS FOUL ON COACHES AND REFEREES AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS", where a Connecticut youth soccer league is facing $334,441 in fines and back taxes for failing to file employment taxes for two tax years.

An individual referee could fall into a couple of broad categories as far as the IRS is concerned. One is an employee of an organization. While this is rare, it does happen at times. For example MLS has 2 or 3 referees on their payroll at last word. Here, MLS takes on various responsibilities to the IRS. Precise terms are based on whatever employment agreement MLS has with these folks.

Alternatively, a referee may be an independent contractor. For example when I worked in WUSA I was under an independent contractor agreement where I had the responsibility to report my earnings to the IRS and pay the appropriate taxes.

As a slight spin on this, when I was very active, I set up and ran my own refereeing business and reported my earnings on a Schedule C to the IRS. While it was never work, it was a real business and I ran it as such to keep tabs on what was going on and make sure I stayed clear on any IRS issues.

As a side note, it was good training for the future too.

Now, making the determination if you are an employee or an independent contractor may not always be clear. You may actually be one or the other even absent an express agreement. There are some resources out there to help make that determination. One from the IRS is here.

US Soccer has some very useful information on its web site as well regarding this topic. ARE REFEREES INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, is a good article that goes through many of these factors detailed by the IRS and while seemingly aimed at the leagues that utilize referees, it is instructive for referees as well.

Also INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, is a good perspective for the leagues to assure maintenance of independent contractor status of their referees.

Long story short, while for most, if not all of us, refereeing is not a job, but it is a source of income. Also (like it or not) some of that income may be taxable, or at least reported. Take some time in this off season, and consider your options and obligations.

I guess it's not a rumor ...

JAFO previously posted that Paul Tamberino was taking a position with MLS. Well based on some news reports, it looks like it is true.

From BigAppleSoccer.com:

December 27, 2010
WELCOME ABOARD
Ex-ref Tamberino joins MLS

Former soccer referees don't retire from the sport. They become administrators.

Major League Soccer Monday announced that Paul Tamberino has joined the league’s competition department as a director.

Tamberino will serve as the primary liaison to all U.S. Soccer and Canadian Soccer Association officiating committees and assist in the planning and implementation of strategies to enhance quality of play in MLS. ...

See the whole release here. I was not able to find anything on MLS.com, and still waiting to see who is going to direct officials for US Soccer.

I promise this time ...

Sepp Blatter proposes Fifa anti-corruption committee

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he wants to set up an anti-corruption committee to police world football's governing body.

The move comes after allegations of corruption dogged Fifa throughout the bidding process and voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Blatter said: "This committee will strengthen our credibility and give us a new image in terms of transparency.

"I will take care of it personally, to ensure there is no corruption at Fifa." ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the BBC.

Kicking Back's comments:

All I can say is that I hope he is serious, and this committee has some teeth. It is my opinion the international game can not handle another scandal on the scale that we just saw for the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

A Call to Arms

Earlier in the week I caught this NYT article: Roberts Urges Obama and Senate to Fill Judicial Posts. An interesting read to be sure.

It made me think about the plight we are in as referees and the vacancies the referee program has available. I echo Chief Justice Roberts thoughts that a full strength refereeing core will operate more efficiently.

Fortunately in our case referees do not require Senate conformation, but they do need to get trained.

To that end, I challenge you all in 2011 to bring a new referee into the fold. Make it a New Years resolution.

For those of us in Massachusetts, take a look here at the available course for youth referees, for those outside these state boarders, go to your local association and see what they have.

As we all know, we need all the help we can get, and if every registered referee works to bring just one along with them, we can fill the spots we need to match the growing game, and fill those thousands of spots left by referees who have left THE game after only a year or two.

So please, in this year of change, bring a friend, we could use the help.

Kicking Back's Thoughts for 2011

So as I sit here "penning" this on New Years Day, I reflect with mixed emotion on 2010, and with great anticipation for 2011.

I do not share all of ESPN's views on the disappointments of 2010 in the US Soccer world. I do share some however, particularly what happened to the 2022 World Cup. While I understand that a significant portion of this was FIFA's doing and the corruption, or at least disguised bid process that I have written about, I also believe that Mr. Guliti and his team, are not blameless in the episode.

To be sure there were high points in 2010. The US performance in South Africa while not all we hoped it would be, was not without great merit. It certainly kept reminding the World that while we are not that elite international team, we certainly belong on the stage.

Back at home there were ups and downs too. We lost a friend of THE game in Rich Filippetti, and saw a local boy turned international sensation Tom Supple retire in 2010.

On the other side of the ledger, we saw great progress in local referees and the advancement and recognition of many. Far too many to single out here. Further, the MSRC is clearly stepping things up, both with their expanded Academy Program, and the level of professionalism they expect from their advanced referees. Both are excellent steps in the right direction.

On balance I will look back on 2010 with some nostalgia for a variety of reasons. One of the largest of all is that it was the beginning of my way back to a game I love so much, and get the opportunity to share some of that here with you all on Kicking Back.

I am predicting that 2011 will be a time for change ... that itself is not very prophetic to be sure. However after some of the shakeups in FIFA, US Soccer, and MLS, I believe 2011 will be a very interesting year, especially for US referees.

Thanks for reading Kicking Back and making it a success in 2010. Let's see what we can do in 2011.

Lies!! Damn Lies!!! Part Deux.

Product is property of Power Balance

In an earlier post I spoke about this Power Balance product and how they got caught scamming folks at $60 a pop.

Well, as I said the product is available much cheaper from outlets like Amazon.com.

Just for kicks I got curious how the live demo's (as seen in the earlier post) actually work. As luck would have it I found this really funny post on Amazon with one person's experience and what he did to thwart the scammers.

151 of 166 people found the following review helpful:

 Sales rep... Busted! *READ IT*, September 22, 2010

By 

jtvt "Justin"

This review is from: Power Balance Silicone Wristband Bracelet --(Color:black; Size: L) (Misc.)

Allow me to relay an experience I had with a sales rep at the local fair recently, which may be illuminating. 

I was wandering through the sales tent with my girlfriend, and paused in front of a booth with stacks of these wristbands, official PB sales material, and photos of star athletes with PB bling on their wrists. 

"Have you heard of the PB wristband?" Salesman (as of then) asked. 

"No, what is it?" 

"It's embedded with a positively charged hologram that reacts with certain frequencies in the Earth to improve balance, strength and flexibility". ...


See the full review here, courtesy of Amazon. It is funny!

ESPN's Take on 2010 for US Soccer

Biggest disappointments in U.S. soccer

No one will be happier to see the back of 2010 than U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati. First, there was the U.S. national team's second-round loss to Ghana at the World Cup. Then there was Juergen Klinsmann turning down Gulati's offer to manage the U.S. side. Finally, Qatar won the right to host the 2022 World Cup over a U.S. bid headed by Gulati.

That's not to say this past year was devoid of highs for U.S. soccer. Heck, Landon Donovan's stoppage-time winner against Algeria, which propelled the U.S. into the second round in South Africa, will sustain supporters through the bitterest winter night all by itself. (For more on the U.S.'s best moments of the year, click here.) ...

See the full article here, courtesy of ESPN.

Lies!! Damn Lies!!!

I just caught this and as it was tangentially soccer related I posted it for all.

For anyone who has seen the add for "Power Balance" or heard their claims that "Power Balance wristbands improved your strength, balance and flexibility."

I hate to break it to you ... it was all a lie.

After all how does one expect the "... harness(ing) naturally occurring frequencies and program them into a mylar hologram," to work any way? No really, watch the ad above.

Well someone caught up with these snake oil sales folks as the following "corrective advertisement" can be found on their Australian site.

It states basically ... we lied, we made it up, we got caught, and we'll give you a refund.

Nice.

Fortunately no one in the soccer world seemed to pick up on this scam and endorse it ... or did they?

Check out here. You will get a couple pictures of Becks and the kids from US Weekly and People Magazine from the offending company's site.

Who says sports isn't big business? At $59.95 a pop (or $5 on Amazon.com), and Becks as an informal spokesman, who could go wrong?

Interesting Spin on Climate Change

Photo (c) by Flickr user scpgt. Used under a Creative Commons 2.0 licence.

Climate changes in sport

There is much talk about the weather these days, as it is – as usual – behaving out of the ordinary. There are two ways to approach extreme weather. One is climate initiatives, and the other is to adapt to the weather conditions. In national and international sports, there is increasing talk about the latter. ...

See the complete article here at Playthegame.org.