Welcome back to The Ref Report. This week we will be trying something a little different. This week MLS gave us rivalry week. I mentioned in an earlier report that we might learn a few things from who got what appointment this week, and I believe we did. So while I will cover the basics of each match, the general point will be assessing what each assignment says about how MLS and Peter Walton sees each ref.
Mark Geiger: New York Redbulls v DC United:
NY: 12 fouls. Cahill, Juninho, Espindola Yellow Cards
DC: 7 fouls.
Contentious Decisions: Goal line decision. Did the ball cross the line? Geiger didn't give it, Hamid claims it didn't cross the line, and an NBC anchor behind the goal (not on the goal line) claimed the ball did not get over the line from his perspective.
Overall Performance: Consistent quality performance we have come to expect from Geiger.
NY v DC is a matchup that can get heated. The match was on the big network NBC, not NBC Sports Network. Though it may not have been the most glamourous assignment in theory, being on the big network made it the marque job to get. I've said many times that if the US is to have a ref take charge in a FIFA World Cup Final during my lifetime, Geiger would be that man. It looks like MLS may agree.
Silviu Petrescu: Sporting Kansas City v Chicago Fire:
KC: 14 fouls. Sinovic, Rosell Yellow Cards
Chicago: 20 fouls. Paladini, Segares, Santos, Rolfe Yellow Cards
Contentious Decisions: None of major note.
Overall Performance: A more heated match than many would have predicted, Petrescu did a fair job. Nothing great, nothing horrible. Sometimes he felt weak, others strong. Overall it was average.
KC v Chicago is not the most heated rivalry for the players or the fans, and not anywhere close to the most wanted assignment. Interesting job to be given to the reigning ref of the year. Perhaps MLS doesn't rate him as highly as that award would suggest.
Baldomero Toledo: Montreal Impact v Toronto FC:
MTL: 13 fouls. Bernier, Iapichino Yellow Cards
TFC: 18 fouls. Hall, Eckersley Yellow Cards
Contentious Decisions: Delay on a clear penalty, Eckersley "foul" which led to yellow for dissent.
Overall Performance: Average to slightly below average. For a few years I have proclaimed Toledo as the best ref in MLS, but he seemed to lose control a few times and his delay on a clear penalty, waiting for a second foul in the box to give the penalty seemed odd and rather weak. The non foul that was called on Eckersley led to his reaction which forced a card from Toledo. Not his best job.
MTL v TFC is a good job to get. Good crowd, heated rivals, that will be getting hotter as each year passes. Toledo didn't do himself any favors with his performance, but getting this assignment shows MLS still believes in him.
Carlos Rivero: Philadelphia Union V New England Revolution:
Philly: 13 fouls. Okugo, Parke Yellow Cards
NE: 15 fouls. Soares, Shuttleworth Yellow Cards
Contentious Decisions: None of major note.
Overall Performance: Average. Rivero kept the action moving, made few mistakes, and didn't let anything get out of control.
Philly v NE is a moderately heated rivalry, but mainly a contest between two "who's that" clubs. Rivero is clearly rated since he got a job on the big rivalry week, but his position in a minor matchup shows that MLS sees him more for the future than a work horse all star for today.
Jorge Gonzalez: Columbus Crew V San Jose Earthquakes:
Columbus: 11 fouls.
SJ: 13 fouls. Bernandez Yellow Card
Contentious Decisions: None of major note, but in a hard fought clash, it was interesting that more fouls and more cards weren't given.
Overall Performance: Average. Not exactly a real rival match. Not exactly heated. Both teams played their typical styles, and SJ was tough as usual. Gonzalez didn't stand out in any bad ways, but he didn't stand out in a horrible way either.
Crew V SJ wasn't a real rival match and wasn't a conference clash. It was possibly the weakest match of rivalry week and wasn't a top job. Gonzalez isn't a top ref, and MLS seems to know it.
David Gantar: Real Salt Lake V Colorado Rapids:
RSL: 9 fouls. Watson-Siriboe Yellow Card
Colorado: 10 fouls. Harris, Thomas Yellow Cards
Contentious Decisions: None of major note, but there was some very rough play that could have been taken charge of better.
Overall Performance: Average to below average. While Gantar made no major mistakes, he didn't add the strength the match may have needed. When Harris kicked Palmer in the face it could have been more than a yellow. When Shuler hip checked Harris it could have also been a card. Player safety should be taken seriously.
RSL v Colorado is a good rivalry in many ways and it is a quality match to be given. MLS showed faith in Gantar with this selection, and while he did not let them down, he also didn't step up to the plate. It will be interesting to see what future selections he gets.
Kevin Stott: Seattle Sounders FC v Portland Timbers:
SS: 19 fouls. Alonso, Hurtado, Johnson Yellow Cards
Timbers: 18 fouls. Baptiste, Johnson Yellow Cards
Contentious Decisions: None of major note in a hard fought battle.
Overall Performance: Average. In a heated battle in front of a large crowd Stott was strong as usual and was not overwhelmed by the moment.
Seattle v Portland was one of the biggest matches of the week. I predicted in an earlier Report that Stott would get one of the bigger matches and was right. While Stott may not be the best ref in MLS, he is consistent and strong. MLS knows Stott can handle the big matches, and this bodes well for his future.
Jair Marrufo: FC Dallas V Houston Dynamo:
FCD: 9 fouls. Cooper Yellow Card
Houston: 15 fouls. Sarkodie Yellow Card
Contentious Decisions: Missed handball on the Cooper winner.
Overall Performance: Average. While Marrufo didn't shine or disgust, the error in the final moments reduced his overall performance.
The Texas Derby while being non conference is still a somewhat heated rivalry. Marrufo is a well respected ref and this assignment shows that. While he isn't the best of the best, he is top 10. The missed Cooper call will not distract MLS from his usual quality, it may add to the perception that he isn't a big time final kind of guy.
Ricardo Salazar: Los Angeles Galaxy V Chivas USA:
LA: 8 fouls. Franklin, Sarvas, Keane Yellow Cards
Chivas: 22 fouls. Iraheta Yellow Card, Velazquez Red Card
Contentious Decisions: The Velazquez red card, and lack of many more cards for Chivas based on the massive disparity in fouls.
Overall Performance: Average to slightly above average. The Velazquez yellow turned red was correct based on the reaction from the player. Overall it was a quality performance, though I never understand when a ref blows for foul after foul but doesn't back it up with the strength of a card.
The California Classico was the marque match of Sunday and Salazar was a worthy choice. Salazar is known for his consistency and level head and MLS surely sees him as a top official. I personally don't rate him as top 5, but I believe MLS does.
Overall it was a good week for MLS refs with few major errors, but few standout performances. I find it interesting that Chris Penso wasn't given a top clash since he is one of the strongest refs in the league. If he isn't given a top clash next week I will start to wonder if he is carrying an injury. The correct (in my opinion) call on the possible Redbulls goal and the Cooper handball will be talking points, but when you consider it is rivalry week with some of the most heated match-ups in the league, the overall performance of the men with the whistle was admirable.
I expect the refs we saw the past weekend will be given a break or given 4th official jobs this weekend which will make this weekends clashes interesting. Some refs rise when given the chance, others shrink. Who has a good match on the "off week" after the rivalry clashes could see their stock rise above the likes of Gonzalez, Rivero, and possibly Gantar when other big chance clashes come up.
Thank you for reading, and until next time, this was the Ref Report.
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