Major League Soccer teams have had a history of struggling to gain road points in the CONCACAF Champions League and nothing changed on Tuesday night as the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC both lost group matches.
The Crew fell in heartbreaking fashion, giving up a stoppage-time game winner in a 1-0 loss to Santos Laguna. In Panama, TFC could not overcome the surrendering of an early goal or a questionable Nick LaBrocca red card in a 1-0 loss to Arabe Unido.
The Columbus loss came in controversial fashion, as an apparent goal from Andy Iro was waved off because Emilio Renteria, who assisted on the would-be goal, came onto the field with a plain un-numbered jersey (after being told it was okay by match officials).
The Toronto loss wasn't much easier to watch, with a reserve-laden TFC squad struggling to cope with a lack of offense and a terrible referee (who issued two red cards).
MLS clubs will return to Champions League action tonight, with Real Salt Lake seeking to be the first MLS team to win a Champions League match in Mexico when it takes on Cruz Azul. The Seattle Sounders will look to score their first win of the group stage when they play host to Monterrey.
Here are highlights from both matches:
ARABE UNIDO 1, TORONTO FC 0
SANTOS LAGUNA 1, COLUMBUS CREW 0
What did you think of last night's matches? Think the Crew deserved a point? Amazed at the incompetent officiating in CONCACAF? Is Arabe Unido your new most-hated team?
Share your thoughts below.
Only the player that got beat put his hand up… Everyone else hung their heads…. Need to rematch or do you have red, white, and green in your lenses… Way to funny.
Is summer break almost over for these kids?
by difference i mean i don’t see such calls in fmf and mls games.
Something tells me we have a Ljungberg fan here.
I am going Saturday, if he doesn’t pull a “flop, whine and not get back on D” at least 4 times, I am booing him.
As a “latino”…i think that theory of bias is actually pretty well founded, i have watched most of these games and i can see a clear difference from MLS and FMF games (i follow both leagues, although less FMF now that Indios got sent down)
Well you couldn’t be more wrong. Chance Fry, Gary Heale ( San Diego ), Bernie James, Neil Megson, etc were from NASL.
Hattrup was NOT.
Dom Kinnear was on that team too of course.
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/51/54/30/equipment_reg_26032010_en.pdf
6.2 A number must appear on the back (centred) and the front (not necessarily
centred) of any shirt and on the front o f any shorts used as Playing Equipment.
This art. 6 par. 2 shall not apply to the numbering on the front of any shirt used
as Playing Equipment during Matches of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Some one is angry? Again you obviously don’t understand football, as he can’t come on the field without an ok from both the ref and fourth official. Don’t know how else to get it through to you. Be as bitter as you want, but that was a officiating problem.
And by the way the yellow was for lack of info on the shirt, not for coming on the field, so that proves my point. Sigh
Then, maybe they should call it back for offsides. I didn’t see in the highlights the assistant rise his flag, or the center ref indicate it’s offsides.
The problem isn’t corrupt refereeing, it’s just bad refereeing.
Aha! Those cagey jackals at FIFA edited their regs!!! The old 7.1 is the new 6.2!!
You’re reading the reg incorrectly. 11.3(a) says that players may be identified by name.
11.3(b) says that the name on the shirt must be their own name.
Ergo, LAG could elect not to have names on their shirts, but if they do, Landon DONOVAN can’t have “BUDDLE” on his back.
Furthermore, FIFA equipment reg 6.2 says:
“No kit item worn by an outfield player (shirt, shorts and socks) may contain more than four colours. This provision also applies to the colours used for letters and numbers (player’s name, number, etc.). Furthermore, one colour must be clearly predominant on the shirt, shorts and socks. In the case of striped or chequered shirts, one of the colours must be predominant on the other kit items.”
That’s a limitation on colors used on a kit. It doesn’t say you have to have numbers or names, or else Mexico’s kit would be in violation since it lacks names.
7.1 says that the number must be on the back of the shirt, but even this isn’t really important. The equipment regs are more for dealing with clubs and federations PRIOR to the competition, not for dealing with blood replacement shirts. The card is ridiculous. The player was allowed back onto the field of play.
This just proves the point of how terrible CONCACAF refs are. Those penalties would have been called in 30% of MLS matches (yes, I like to pull statistics out of no where)
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but in my opinion you are wrong. MLS referees are substantially better than these matches (at least in the Columbus match).
The level of CONCACAF refs in sub-par, only a handful of Mexican refs are quality.
What nic said.
Also, as others have posted…why even discuss the fourth official and what he did or did not do when the play shows he was offside! And quite frankly, it could have ended 3-0 if Santos were awarded PKs…
Bad example of a game to pick if putting on your tin hat and trying to prove that the black helicopters are out to get us.
How about the elbow Renteria got in the face that was right in front of the ref. Which lead to the blood on his face and also him coming off the field. Surely that was a foul. I dont think its a conspiracy i just think that the refs are bad at their jobs.
Agree 100 percent with you on this.
I agree. Mistakes happen all the time but being honest the USNT has such a bad luck that funny things always happen. And its just hard to believe is all mere coincidence.
Although it is also true that when things favor the US no one says anything and some people end up twisting it. Unluckily we are located in what can arguably be the worst confederation.
Some of the refereeing was bad, no doubt. But overall it is worse in MLS, imo. (Hence no USA referees called up for WC.) Also, the Labrocca red card was justified, imo.
These type of posts frustrate me, as they merely feed into this irrational conspiracy theories held by many Americans that the “latins” or Concacaf are out to get us…US and MLS are victims, etc. Bad refereeing and/or bad calls happen in every game and every league. These ignorant conspiracy theories are just that…ignorant.
The keeper wasn’t the problem; he actually made a couple of good stops.
Is the winner of this tournament going to the club world cup?
Most of the players on that team were the APSL or A-League Sounders, and not the NASL team. I
think only Hattrup was from the NASL team. Yep, I do remember Hahnemann was there.
11-0. No excuses there.
but still that “may” refers to surnames and abbreviations not names.
b.The player’s name on the shirt shall correspond with the name on the
players’ list.
if you still have doubts check fifa equipment regulations 6.2 . There it clearly states players must have numbers. You can look at it on another of my posts below.
There’s a big difference between “may” and “must.” The Mexican national team often plays with no names on the back of the jerseys at all, as do several other teams. Here’s an example from the US/Mexico WC qualifier in Feb. 2009:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B1JtfOpd85I/SZPamXSQGPI/AAAAAAAAJPA/YQUQbZz-uuc/s400/0+rafael+marquez+mexico+red+card.jpg
I don’t really care. Its history now. I’m just sharing some info that many( including me) might have been unaware of.
Dude calm down… That is what I think.
I guess you are cool with the fact that Andy Iro was offsides
What exactly did the 4th official do?
“The forth officials job is to inspect gear before a player can return on the field. If he didn’t that’s on him and the ref for not doing it. You don’t just run onto a field with out an ok.”
…or you might get a yellow card.
Listen you idiot. What exactly would stop a player from just running onto the field? I have absolutely no idea what happened off camera. The 4th official isn’t responsible for holding onto the player before the player enters the field. I can tell you what I can see apparently you want to tell me what you think happened. There is nothing confirming any interaction between the player and the 4th official. I see the Columbus Crew staff treating the injury no 4th official is present in that clip.
From he Fifa Equipment Regulations
6.2 A number must appear on the back (centred) and the front (not necessarily
centred) of any shirt and on the front o f any shorts used as Playing Equipment.
This art. 6 par. 2 shall not apply to the numbering on the front of any shirt used
as Playing Equipment during Matches of the FIFA Club World Cup.
As I stated before, I think the 4th ref is at fault and the goal should have counted. But I also can’t understand how the Crew didn’t have the replacement shirt available right away.
Thanks for the sarcasm pointer. Another helpful thing to do is to check who people are replying to before you pop off.
I though I was watching a Crew game, but it quickly turned into something resembling a Man U game. (disallow anything by the opponent and play until Man U scores 🙂
11.3 Player Names
a. Players may be identified by means of their surname or an abbreviation
or nickname on their shirts. The size of the lettering must comply with
the requirements in the FIFA Equipment Regulations.
b. The player’s name on the shirt shall correspond with the name on the
players’ list.
Since the shirt was blank there is no “name on the shirt shall correspond with the name on the
players’ list”
I think 4th official was at fault for letting him in.
Try Italian referees. They’re known for being unbiased. Each has a price tag, and they only listen to money.
Haha you are thick… The forth officials job is to inspect gear before a player can return on the field. If he didn’t that’s on him and the ref for not doing it. You don’t just run onto a field with out an ok. It was a mistake, but like I said many mistakes happened in this game
And by the way did you not see the forth officle give an ok? I don’t think anyone did cause it was off camera. Either way it’s a mistake on the officiating crew.
Have you had other hallucinations other than while watching CONCACAF video clips. Where in this clip is there any indication that the fourth official gave an ok before a player entered the field?
Andy Iro was offside on the play. It is a pretty clear on the replay. Look at 1:17 to about 1:19. The Mexican players have their hands up and they are looking at the assistant referee who is out of the picture.
It looks like the yellow card was for a separate infraction.
Have you ever played outside of pick-up or youth? When gear is changed and or inspected (due to blood) the forth official gives an ok before you get on the field… Love the hate though.
Again this was just one bad call after and before bad calls on both sides….
You are crazy hit all ball then the leg. The TFC players leg dragged on the ground, went in one legged, and even if studs were showing, it was not a penalty. I think the ref in that game was horrendously one sided…. As for the Columbus game, just a bad call, but both sides had to deal with them.
if they want a truly fair game, the best thing they can do is bring in South American or European refs. That’s the only way you *might* eliminate all the bias.
“(after being told it was okay by match officials).”
Am supposed to just assume that? I see nothing in the clip above that shows that. I see a player giving the thumbs up to an area that could be the 4th official or could be the Columbus bench. The ref on the field looks to not be making any kind of motion indicating the player can reenter the field.
Columbus should petition FIFA about that absurd disallowed goal. CCL is getting difficult to watch. It’s to the point now where I expect refs to be openly biased against MLS teams–at least, when playing in Central America.
Umm, they meet up and play in New York. Duh! You need to think more before you seriously dissect my “Not that it would ever happen” comment.
MLS/USSF needs to get their own officiating in order before they make demands of others. If Kennedy or Petrescu were officiating, these matches would have been even uglier.
+1000000000
It will all be worth it because the folks back in Seattle would be really excited about CCL/MLS matches broadcast live at 2AM to 4AM.
Yah because that 8 hour time change midweek game for the Seattle vs Scunthorpe would be really exciting.
“Ok Sigi your teams is going to fly from Seattle to London then take a train to Sunny Scunny and play a game while your team is still jet lagged. Then you are going to head back to Seattle and while your team is still jet lagged you are going to play an MLS game two days later. Next week you and the lads will get to go to Cardiff. Isn’t B1879’s dream grand?”
Where is it in the rules? Can you quote the exact rule? And why is it often allowed like in the Carling Cup and EPL examples I listed above?
Regardless of whether you are a referee or not, you have to agree that the Columbus goal being disallowed was terrible. I’m beginning to think the CONCACAF official qualifications are being able to stand for 90+ minutes with bonus points for making calls based on messages sent to the metal plate in their head from a base on the moon.
What happened last night to Columbus is no complaint to referees in general. This is their career to know the laws of soccer. The laws of soccer were NOT upheld in this game.
FYI,satirized for your pleasure.
In the TFC game a TFC player came flying in on an Arabe Unido player and ended up knocking him out of the game. It was a nasty studs up tackle that could have and might have broken the Arabe Unido’s players ankle (he was immediately subbbed out). The TFC player received no card for the assault. Of course the conspiracy theorists conventionally don’t notice that play.
If you are wondering heavy sarcasm is intended above.