2 Balls + 1 Goal == Big Trouble

Special thanks to Erich and Angelo for this one!

Goal? No Goal? Something else?

Comment away!!

Golf, Soccer, and Headbutting

Turkish golf president sorry for 'headbutting' journalist on first tee

The president of the Turkish Golf Federation has apologised for his part in a brawl involving journalists which threatened to overshadow the Turkish Airlines World Golf final.

Ahmet Agaoglu was accused of headbutting a journalist during the incident amid chaotic scenes on the first tee before Tiger Woods's opening match with Charl Schwartzel in Antalya on Tuesday. ...

See the whole article here, from the Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: Check out the analogy Agaoglu made about crowing the 1st tee box. It would seem fairly clear where his allegiance lies, and where he believes most people will understand with his example.

A Nichol for your thoughts?

Now I've done it.

I have put myself right between a rock and a hard place with this entry. To refresh our recollection, take a look at Should We Punish the Innocent? which details allowing referees in the EPL to administer (what I called) "speculative cautions" if they think (feel?) a player is cheating.

While I did not like the idea generally, I was offered a good discussion by an Anon commentator, and even doubled back on myself with regard to offside decisions, in thinking that "when in doubt, keep the flag down."

Now here we have Jim Boyce, VP in FIFA who took over for the still warm seat of Jack Warner when he was launched from the position, looking for video review post-match of diving incidents. His suggestion honestly is not unreasonable in this day and age, and is used in other contexts in many places today.

See "FIFA VP call diving a 'cancer'" for the complete article.

Critical incidents after a match are reviewed in some leagues, some disciplinary committees review on field incidents to stiffen, or loosen a suspension at times. All of this seems reasonable to me, what about diving?

Well, I am less clear on this one, and here's why. Besides characterizing diving as a 'cancer', which to me acts to trivialize the disease (I personally like plague much better), it puts some guy in a glass booth right in the path of altering the outcome of a match by making a decision that should be left for the referee.

Not on the surface this sounds like hubris, and I don't deny that is a factor. However, lets play out a common scenario and see where it goes.

• Player had ball and carries it to opponents penalty area.
• Defender challenges the player with the ball and contact is made which is not a foul.
• Player with the ball simulates a foul.
• Referee awards a penalty (incorrectly).
• Team of fouled player converts penalty to win the match.

Pretty common right?

Now give the review is POST-match, does the result of the match stand? Why not only take action on the individual player, but also the team by not counting the goal? But wait, if there was no goal, how would the rest of the match gone? Was the converted PK the goal that broke the defending team?

I hate video review honestly. I do. I think it starts to sap the life out of any game that uses it to alter action on the playing surface. To me the most egregious is the NFL who is just one step away from doing something like American Idol, where they show the TV audience the play, and for .99 everyone votes on it during a commercial break. Popular vote gets the call.

MLB with balls hitting foul poles and the like I think is the best use as the distances are so far, and motion so slight, that this makes good sense to me.

I do agree with the use of video after the fact for suspensions and violent conduct after a match. In these cases the referee has made a decision and it is the length of time or fine that is changing, not the decision itself generally.

So for me, doing something like this after the fact just opens the box for tinkering with on pitch incidents that can have massive adverse effects to results. I would think we want to minimize the outside interference and "let them play", not wind up with 10's of people reviewing every inch of film only to have to wait a week for a decision on something that was done in an instant inside the field.

Take particular look at the video clip as well, Steve Nichol makes a great point of what a managers role is in such diving incidents. For those who have never had the pleasure of working with Steve in a referee-manager situation, it demonstrates what a class act he truly is.

Be Nice or Be Gone

I apologize for the delay in my writings folks, it has been a crazy holiday week. Family time, soccer, and to cap it off on Columbus Day, the Jamestown Classic, a small but tons of fun road race in Jamestown RI I was a part of.

During the weekend however I had a life lesson reenforced to me that has relevance inside the pitch. It is as the title states "Be Nice or Be Gone." Another way to state this would be to maintain your decorum at all times when representing yourself as a referee.

While the particular situation I faced is not relevant, or for that matter even worth mentioning, the take away was.

Failure to act professional can have far reaching consequences. As much as one may want to dress down a player or a coach ... maybe even a spectator, don't do it. It may be justified. Heck it may be needed for everyones sake, just deal with it above board (i.e. as the LOTG proscribe) and move on. To do otherwise invites trouble for you.

Here is a real example that I faced when my lack of decorum got me in some long lasting trouble.

I was refereeing a college match in CT. Good match, good teams, nice campus and facilities. One team was down a goal and pressing on the opponent in the last 10 minutes or so. Throughout the match the coach who was down a goal was chiding me about use of advantage and how I was not doing enough to let the play flow. I came to find out later, it was his particular "hot button" in general.

Well I had had about enough, and already working hard on the match, and keeping him in it, as sending a coach off in college is a one way ticket to not coming back to that school generally, there was a particular play that was the beginning of the end of my time at that school.

From the back, the team down a goal received a ball to their lone striker from a quick counter, who then was faced with (4) defenders to beat before being able to get to goal. No one else around, no reasonable chance to move the ball (35) yards for a reasonable scoring chance. She was fouled by the closest defender resulting in a free kick to the striker for the foul. Simple, right? Wrong.

Result ... a screaming coach for use of advantage.

Well, I had just about enough at this point and was going to give that coach a piece of my mind, and said in a raised voice "(the player) did not have a chance to make it through there to have a reasonable chance on goal."

The pitch went silent as it was immediately taken as a slight to the player and not a rebuttal to the coaches poor conduct. I actually heard a mom in the stands say "... oh my ..." in response to my comments.

The coach went silent knowing he had finally baited me to the point he wanted, and the match concluded with that team down a goal. We however were far from done.

In a week or so I received an email from the assigner of the league stating the coach and the whole team were insulted by my comments and I needed to apologize. It was a bit of an inflated claim I am sure, but the coach wanted his due, and to be honest the comment was intended for the coach, and not to disrespect a player.

I apologized genuinely to the player, and offered one to the coach as well because it was the right thing to do. The coach was wrong in his analysis of the play, I know that, and he may too. It was still important for me to apologize for losing my cool to demonstrate that I am a professional. It was wrong to lose it and not deal with the situation in a civil manner.

It did continue to cost me as I was not invited back to that school again for a match for either the men or women.

A big deal? Not really as I do college for fun, and I have seen my "days in the sun" with MLS and WUSA.

It does serve as a constant reminder however that being professional means being civil, even being nice, when you may not want to be. You may be 100% right about something, but to react inappropriately can cost more than the brief satisfaction you get from acting outside yourself.

Let's Start Here

So you want to be an NFL referee? As the replacement officials showed, it's not easy

When those newly appreciated NFL officials return in force across the land today to save football, among them will be a high school principal, a retired firefighter, a retired dentist, an inventor, a dairy farm owner, more than a dozen lawyers and financial advisers, insurance executives and assorted captains of industry.

Faces obscured beneath their caps, homogenized in jailhouse stripes, forgive them if they need a quarter or two to adjust to newfound celebrity buzz. Reserve a drop of sympathy, too, if they lag trying to keep up with an NFL game, played at lurching speeds by bison-sized men. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of NJ.com.

Kicking Back Comments: Take a look in particular at the 2nd half of this article and how it closes. It makes me wonder, is it about the game, or the man.

Can just someone who is very knowledgable about a game be a referee, or is it something more?

All Done ...

NFL refs approve eight-year deal, scramble for Sunday return

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- NFL referees voted and approved a new eight-year deal with the league on Saturday. Now they all can get back to the business of calling games.

Referees approved the contract by a 112-5 vote, officially ending a lockout that led to a rising chorus of complaints from players, coaches, fans and politicians. The next stop for the refs who gathered in Irving, Texas, was the airport, where most were to hop on planes taking them straight to their Sunday game sites. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of SI.

Kicking Back Comments: So many angles on this story. Amount of money in the agreement; use of D3 referees as D1 and D2 guys would not go; how the D3 guys did; use of the word "replacement" with regard to the substitute referees .... on and on.

We'll start on Monday. =)

Elite referees meet in Zurich

Elite referees meet in Zurich

Potential referees for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ are meeting for the first time in Zurich this week, with 52 people hailing from 46 different countries taking part in an initial referee workshop being held from 24-28 September. Having undergone medical tests over the past few days, the 52 candidates were officially welcomed by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on Monday morning.

"I would like to congratulate you for being selected for this trip to the World Cup at Brazil 2014," said Blatter. "The preparations ahead of the tournament are incredibly important. You will form my team, which will be the 33rd team at the World Cup and one of the most important." ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of FIFA.

Kicking Back Comments: Big kudos to FIFA here. Getting these folks together early and often will lead to very homogenized refereeing at the 2014 World Cup, which is what everyone is after. 

It's about time ...

Let's face it, I spend a lot of time pointing out, and at times just bashing, FIFA and their failings. While it makes good fodder, it is also somewhat one sided, as FIFA does some really good things in the name of The Game as well. Following is a good example:

FIFA sets ball rolling on grassroots mission

BANGALORE: FIFA's mission to reach the innards of India's football-frenzied populace got a fillip on Monday at the launch of its one-of-a-kind Futuro III Instructors' Course in Bangalore, aimed at promoting the sport among children at the grassroots in South Asia.

The six-day seminar, which ends on Saturday, features 18 participants — 12 of whom have been nominated from Afghanistan, Bangladesh,Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka — and will be trained by FIFA instructor Vincent Subramaniam from Singapore and AFC instructor Chan Hiu Ming from Hong Kong. ...

See the whole story here, from The Times of India.

SQUEALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL !!!!

NFL’s regular refs return tonight

NEW YORK — So long, replacement refs. The NFL’s regular crews will be back on the field starting Thursday night.

After two days of marathon negotiations — and mounting frustration among coaches, players and fans — the NFL and the referees’ union announced at midnight Thursday that a tentative agreement had been reached to end a lockout that began in June. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of the Boston Herald.

Kicking Back Comments: I am (obviously) not at all surprised. Much, much more on this soon.

Have We Reached the Squeal Point? (NE v. BAL)

Back on September 7th, I penned "No Agreement ... No Referees." In my comments to the cited Washington Post article, I mentioned a squeal point where the NFL union caves to the Referee Union. After Sunday's New England v. Baltimore game, and Monday's Sea Hawks v. Green Bay game, I wonder if we are there.

Now regarding the New England game, some may come right out and say that I am a New England-ite and have a baked in bias. Well, they would be part right as I do cheer for the team, however I am largely ruined when it comes to most sports as I am far to into the refereeing to be anything other than objective. On a level this is actually really pathetic as I generally watch referees, and not the actual game itself. A noted exception is Little Ms. Saturday morning "magnet ball" sessions.

Now, Bill Belichick is reportedly going to be fined $50,000 for his Sunday night incident where he grabbed a referee (please note I am not using the adjective "replacement" as they are referees), in an apparent attempt to dispute weather the winning field goal actually passed through the uprights, or over them.

I frankly support the fine as grabbing an official is off limits, period. Even if, and I do believe this part, it is done to try to get the attention of the referee. I think there is a lesson in there as well for referees in general, and that is how to deal with end of match confrontations.

Take a look at Belichick defends his contact with replacement referee, from SI, note that "replacement" word again. The first thing that struck me was the picture of a growling Belichick, and a cowering referee. It smacked of "just get me out of here" instead of "let's talk about it."

In the article, Belichick hit the nail on the head had this quote:

"I've coached in this league a long time and never been penalized, never had any incidents with officials or anything like that," he said. "I have never meant any disrespect or in any way tried to abuse or be disrespectful to the officials and the job that they do. I was just trying to get an explanation for, obviously, an important call.

"That's the No. 1 thing between coaches and officials. It's always at the forefront. It's just communication of what's going on, what's happening."

Communication. That's what he states (and I believe) he was after.

Imagine, just imagine, if that referee when Bill tugged on his arm, turned, waited for Bill, and walked side by side with him to allow Bill to ask his questions, or plea his case for the time from the field to the tunnel. What do we think the result would have been?

I opine much better for all. Bill would not be receiving a fine, and the referee would have earned some additional respect from Bill, and the coaches in general.

Both men knew that the call would not change, but Bill wanted to vent, and likely even genuinely ask what was happening. I think that is good, and high level referees employ this technique often to great effect.

It should have happened here, and as it is not, it smacks of "amateurish" behavior for some current NFL referees.

Honestly it is not dissimilar with College soccer and amateur and pro level play, where in my experience a referee who does mostly college matches I find sometimes very "thin skinned" when it comes to a player or coach giving them rubbish. It is the environment they were brought up in and are used to. Keep in mind many of these referees are D3 football referees ... in a college program. Their heads have to be swimming.

Point being here, talk to players, talk to coaches, hear them out, let them vent (not abuse you ... think Brandon Spikes on Twiitter), and things will go better for all.

After all, everyone want to be heard when they have something to say. It's just human nature. 

Have We Reached the Squeal Point? (GB v. SEA)

Back on September 7th, I penned "No Agreement ... No Referees." In my comments to the cited Washington Post article, I mentioned a squeal point where the NFL union caves to the Referee Union. After Sunday's New England v. Baltimore game, and Monday's Sea Hawks v. Green Bay game, I wonder if we are there.

In the days ahead I will write about the NE game and how I believe that a lack of communication between the referee and coaching staff of both teams continues to dig a hole for the guys in stripes, and for the games themselves. Although I'll say tongue in cheek, if the NFL was looking for an additional revenue stream they may have found it via fines for offenses to referees.

Today is a discussion about the ending of the GB v. SEA game on Monday night, and the mess that followed.

A good "blow by blow" of the single incident that may be that "squeal point" is detailed in "So about those replacement officials …" (there's that replacement word again), and the video is here, at CBS Rapid Reports.

Take a look at the video before reading on ... I'll wait. It's below for as long as the NFL allows it on YouTube.

My first reaction was an audible groan, and let me assure you it was not from the call itself, or the need for a review, it was for watching (2) referees a few feet apart failing to talk to each other before giving a signal, and each going the other way.

That one hurts.

This was a game changer at the hands of the referee, it was the squeal point. The referees could have made everyone say ... Hey, we're here, deal with it, and we are going to make the calls. Instead they seemed to say ... Hey, we're here, and we are not at all on the same page.

Again, this is not about the call itself. I don't care, and am not so knowledgable about the rules of football that I can figure it out anyway. It just looked horrible.

Both go touchdown, both go interception, both call a timeout for the review (the worst of all evils as it shows a lack of conviction), they just needed to BOTH GO ONE WAY. They were right there, they should have looked, heck even talked, before raising their arms in the air.

It's tough being a pro referee, I know that first hand. The pressures are tremendous, and things happen fast, fast, fast. Jobs are on the line with split second decisions. Referees (in general) in these positions, need to communicate, and get it right, all going the right way.

A tall order to be sure, but that's what separates pro referees from the rest.

This one incident showed clearly that the current NFL referees are not pro referees. This is true more than any other set of incidents so far this season. Can they eventually get there? Some certainly will. Will they be allowed the time to do so? I don't think so. I think Monday nights incident was the beginning of the end of the current set of referees.

We have officially hit the squeal point.

Resistance is Futile

FIFA corruption probe 'being resisted'

The man appointed to investigate corruption at FIFA has said the organisation has "skeletons in the cupboard" and that he has encountered resistance to his work.

Mark Pieth was brought in to chair FIFA's Independent Governance Committee (IGC) by Sepp Blatter, the president of world football's governing body. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ESPN.

Kicking Back Comments: So while "Jenny from the block" wows folks at FIFA (yawn), Sepp and company remain hard at work resisting the ethics probe he set up.

It's all for show guys, we know this, right?!?

So, in fine Borg-esque fashion, Sepp is reminding his ethics appointee that 'resistance is futile' and there will be no cleanup of FIFA ... at least when Sepp is there.

Again ... yawn ... as this is no surprise to me.

Step 1 ... get rid of Sepp.

The rest will fall into place.

Friendly Match huh?

FIFA extends Luisao's two-month ban to all competitions

FIFA has announced that it has extended the two-month ban incurred by Benfica defender Luisao to cover all competitions.

The 31-year-old was already suspended from domestic games until Nov. 14 after attacking a referee in a preseason friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer. ...

See the whole story here, from Yahoo Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: I've said it before, and I'll say it again, friendly matches are not friendly, they are dangerous to referees. This incident is another good example.

Here is a true story for you. In the mid/late 1990's I was on the cusp of being a National Referee for US Soccer. I was already participating, and refereeing D3 and A-League games on a regular basis, and 4th and JAR in MLS locally.

I was asked to referee a friendly between our local A-Leage team, the Boston Bulldogs (formally Worcester Wildfire). Before taking the match I asked who the other team was, and was told it was a group of "Brazillian All Stars." Digging just a bot deeper raised no other concern for me as I was assured, and I believe not deceptively so, it was a local group of former pro's just playing friendlies.

Well, you can imagine my surprise when a significant number of players starting that day were from the 1990 Brazilian World Cup Team including, Dunga, Branco, and Bebeto.

A friendly huh.

Coaching and playing for Boston was Liverpool legend, Steve Nichol. Can you see where I'm going?

Now for sure, Steve knew it was a friendly, and even before the match we joked and laughed with each other expecting a "friendly" match. It was clear however that when the temperature got turned up a bit, he would have none of it and correctly demanded equal protection for his players.

Friendly or not, I had to send one of his players for a tackle from behind in front of the Brazilian bench, and had to caution several players from Brazil for similar tackles, and antics.

It was not friendly, and could have easily got WAY out of hand, because like it or not, athletes (current or former) compete when you mix them together. It's almost chemical.

There is no clearer example than the O-40 "beer league" I play in on Thursday night. Guys really knock the crap out of each other. Cycling (as I write this) is similar too actually. While less contact is made on the bike, it is just as intense at times.

If this match was not in control, it would have damaged my career I am afraid to say. There comes a point when even town line scrimmages for a referee can be problematic if they go sour.

Always remember, referees are the "red shirts" of FIFA and US Soccer. We are, sadly, expendable.

So, when you go out to referee. Every time you go out to referee, be ready for anything. Even former World Cup stars coming out to play.

Ichiban!!

FIFA'S Goal-Line Technology On Schedule in Japan

GENEVA (AP) -Officials from two FIFA-approved goal-line technology systems arrived in Japan on a Club World Cup inspection visit on Tuesday, hours after English football witnessed yet another disputed incident.

Everton was denied what appeared a clear goal against Newcastle in a Premier League match on Monday, as a referee's assistant did not spot that the ball had crossed the line. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of NBC Sports.

Kicking Back Comments: Geez. I am just back from Japan and would have stopped by had I known.

Timing on these installations are interesting, and it makes me wonder if just more than a full year of testing will really be enough to ready the technology for "prime time", that is to say, the World Cup.

While goal-line issues are embarrassing to FIFA in a sense, a failure of GLT at the World Cup would be a huge blow to The Game overall I believe.

I remain very, very interested in the trials.

I do still think this is hilarious how this is being portrait in the media, as a referee failing, not as the speed of play these days. Even more hilarious however will be the blame on the referee when the GLT Technology itself fails. That on is coming too folks.

Take a look below for a brief GLT overview.

Programming Note

I will be out of pocket for the next few days so I will not be able to write regularly. I invite you to read the archives at right.

Thanks for reading, and we'll be back at it in a few days.

Finally, just to reflect for a second on yesterday's post ... do we really want an MLS match to look like this?

Sadly Gillette Stadium may soon unless things get better.

Front Page of the WSJ, and "Below the Fold"

To Show Their Support, Soccer Fans in the U.S. Need to Master 'Tifo'

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Members of the 1906 Ultras, a fan club for the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team, had a lot at stake as they trooped into Buck Shaw stadium here for a game earlier this season.

The concern wasn't so much their team's prospects against rival Real Salt Lake. The big test was their own performance in the stands. ...

See the whole story here, from the WSJ.

Kicking Back Comments: Here are the article on the front Page of the WSJ:

Mideast Turmoil Spreads,

Fed Acts to Fix Jobs Market,

President Holds Lead in Three Key States, and

U.S. Soccer Fans Attempt 'Tifo'

Which story does not belong?

I am a little surprised frankly the WSJ went there. It's not even a good article.

Why is this on A1? I have to believe there are a few other things going on that should make A1.

Now I get this is a WSJ "A-Head", and the library of WSJ A-Heads can be found here. It was just widely out of place, and had almost no point to me.

I dunno, I'm not saying everything has to be serious all the time, but this article to me was particularly vapid. This includes the reference to ultras-tifo.net, which is running ads from holliganart.com.

Maybe its me. Is this the A-Head to run?

Really?? I'm Shocked!!

Clubs demand more World Cup cash

The European Club Association president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has opened talks with Sepp Blatter after calling for more of FIFA's World Cup money to go to clubs.

A total of 575 clubs are receiving payments from UEFA for releasing their players for Euro 2012, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Juventus all due to receive more than ¬2 million. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of ESPN.

Kicking Back Comments: Best line of the article is the quote from the European Club Association president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. It states in full:

"Sepp Blatter told me that he recognizes the clubs as the roots of football," Rummenigge said. "You know the roots always need water, and the water has to come from FIFA."

More like blood from a stone.

A Freaking Armadillo?

Armadillo to be 2014 FIFA World Cup mascot

Rio de Janeiro: A rare species of armadillo is set to be the official mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

World football’s governing body FIFA registered a patent for the mascot on the European Union’s trademark website OHIM Tuesday, just days after the design was shown on Brazilian TV show Fantastico, reports Xinhua. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of FirstPost.

Kicking Back Comments: What a horrible choice for a mascot! There could have been so many more creative picks. I think they make it worse by allowing the name of the horrible choice to be picked via internet poll. Surely nothing can go wrong there.

Other than the animal being able to roll itself into a quasi-spherical shape, where is the tie in?

I am a way bigger fan of Jaunito or Tip and Tap from the 1970 and 1974 World Cups respectively. Even Pique was pretty good, but would likely never pass today's PC standards.

I think it was the US who took it off the rails with Striker, the World Cup pup, after that it has been all animals, all the time. See a history here of the World Cup mascots.

I wait with anticipation what the World decides the armadillo's name to be.

Any guesses? Post them below.

"Law 18" Strikes Again

Time To Gift Them Common Sense As The ‘Football Laws’ Continue To Fail Them

Referees, you either loathe or hate them. Their very presence on the football pitch fills you with rage, safe in the knowledge that they’re just moments away from a complete lapse in judgement or inexplicably getting in the way of a sweeping counter-attack.

I will confess to having launched a few foul-mouthed tirades in their direction, remarking about how they should have gone to Specsavers or joining in when the crowd refer to them as Wayne Kerr (whoever he is). Perhaps we are too quick to criticise those men in black, especially when their job is made impossible by the playacting antics of a select few. It’s always been my belief that referees are hampered rather than helped by Fifa’s governing directive, constantly trying to justify their mistakes with the phrase, ‘the letter of the law states…’ ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of footballfancast.com.

Kicking Back Comments: The conclusion of this article is interesting and I think paints the picture of what people want out of referees. It states in full:

"I personally believe the game would benefit from placing the trust in referees to use their own knowledge and experience to make decisions. If the Fifa handbook allowed enough flexibility to be used as guidelines rather than strict commandments then perhaps officials could go one week without suffering ridicule from the stands or in the press. It’s certainly a better solution than having two wand carrying statues at each end of the pitch."

Now the interesting part is that referees have full authority to do as the author of this piece suggests, with a couple of notable caveats.

It is interesting though as it remains clear this is "what the people want", and frankly, what the very best referees do innately.

Where is Gellette Stadium?!?

FIFA 13 stadium list

The list has been leaked, but here are the stadiums that you will be able to have matches in FIFA 13.

See the whole list here, from The Examiner.

Kicking Back Comments: While Gillette is certainly no Old Trafford, I think it rates. After all, a couple of World Cups, and a ton of international friendlies. What would it take for EA to render it??