CBC-Sports

Cut MLS refs some slack

May 15, 2009 04:58 PM | Posted by   John Molinaro  

Bashing the referees is a favourite hobby of soccer fans.

Chelsea supporters are still frothing at the mouth over Norway's Tom Henning Ovrebo horrible officiating performance during last week's Champions League semifinal second-leg against FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

Lately, Major League Soccer referees have come under fire for a series of questionable decisions, especially after Marvell Wynne was called for a late penalty decision that allowed DC United to earn a 3-3 with Toronto FC last weekend.

The standard of officiating has been a hot topic of discussion around the league, and is the focus of this week's Fan Footie Poll where we ask if you think MLS referees up to the job, or do you think the criticism levelled against them is unfair?

Allow me to weigh in.

In general, I think the performance of MLS refs leaves a lot to be desired. Since I started covering Toronto FC in 2007, I've seen a lot of questionable decisions made - both for and against Toronto - and it worries me that the league has essentially stuck its head in the stand and not properly addressed and dealt with this issue.

But I also think that a lot of the criticism of MLS refs is way over the top, and is usually espoused by fans, coaches or coaches looking for excuses.

Simply put, refs don't win or lose games, players do.

As I wrote in last week's blog in the aftermath of the Chelsea-Barcelona game, the mark of true greatness is the ability of a team to rise to the occasion, overcome adversity, and win games in spite (not despite) of poor officiating.

While some of the decisions made by MLS refs are disgraceful, I think the real disgrace is how coaches, players and fans carry on about the officiating.

Former Toronto FC coach John Carver was famous for calling out the refs in his post-match news conferences, and was so paranoid that he actually believed there was a conspiracy against his team.

It was a convenient excuse for Carver to trot out, because it allowed him to lay the blame elsewhere, and not at himself or his players.

What I wouldn't give to get through one game without having to hear more whining and complaining for fans and players alike.

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