Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com
David Beckham's latest comments about Major League Soccer referees will probably attract some attention from the league office. He knows that, and he doesn't seem to mind.
In the aftermath of the Los Angeles Galaxy's 0-0 draw with Toronto Wednesday night, a match in which Beckham received his fifth yellow card in six games and Juninho was sent off at the end of second-half stoppage time for a second yellow card, Beckham shared his feelings about the league's refereeing with reporters at BMO Field.
"To be honest over the last few games I think I’ve spoke too much about referees," Beckham said. "They’re becoming the stars of the MLS, and that’s obviously not what teams want and clubs want. You want the players to be playing out there. You want it to be fair. I just don’t think the consistency’s there. I think there’s bad calls, and we’ve had our majority of bad calls over the last few games, but it’s ruining games. It’s ruining our preparation for games. I’ll probably get in trouble, but it’s gone on too long. We want that consistency to be there, and we want to keep our players on the field."
What do you think of Beckham's comments? Do you think he should be disciplined? Do you agree with him?
Share your thoughts below.
The ironic part is I could almost guarantee there was some memo (for lack of better term) at the start of the season to the ref’s to start calling more fouls, and to stop letting these games get too physical. We all heard several quotes about the league wanting to ‘protect its stars now’.
The bottom line is we need better quality refs in this league.
No matter what level you play at their are going to be bad calls and as you can read they happen to every team, so really it does balance out. The players bring some of it on themselves with all of the flopping that goes on by every team, with the pace of play it is difficult to tell if it was real or not.
What would help the refs is if they went back and watched videos after the games and if a player took a dive issue cards or a suspension. I bet the players would stop diving. Just the same don’t be afraid to reverse a card if the ref got it wrong. Does it help that game no, but it could help overall..
As for the offside I didn’t see it, but as a fan I would much rather they let a guy go that might be a half step off and be wrong as opposed to calling guys off that aren’t.
You know that’s coming out of Harry Redknapp’s allowance
You clearly were watching a different game than most. What you saw was the fire players hitting the ground when anyone came near them, then rolling around for 30 seconds and then shockingly being fine before they have to step off the field.
As a Sounder fan I will say you have never listened to Arlo, because he is more than willing to say when the refs got it right even if it is against the Sounders.
Aren’t refs bad everywhere? I mean, the officiating in the World Cup was horrible.
How much worse are the MLS refs than the refs who work the better leagues in Europe and Latin America?
It’s funny that he is the one saying it, because he has benefited from the refs more than anyone else in the league. But I guess he one of the few who would garner any attention from saying it and one of the even fewer who doesn’t mind paying the forthcoming fine.
The $5,000 fine is really doing to ding his salary…
I don’t care for Beckham and how he has conducted himself in his time here – but he’s right on this. The refereeing here is entirely too lax and terribly inconsistent.
Everything about MLS has gotten better – the play on the field, the atmosphere in the stands, the presentation of the overall product, the youth development, etc, but the standard of refereeing continues to be poor.
agreed.. EPL.. hell the World Cup.. refs are a serious issue across the game world wide!
First thing Becks has said or done in his entire time in the MLS that I am in full agreement with.
Refs are terribly inconsistent. Some games they’ll show yellows for no reason, then other games – and being an FCD fan I see it too much – they allow rugby rules to rule the day. Example is this past weeekend’s Colorado match. How they didn’t end up with 8 or 9 men on the pitch is beyond me.
Becks is right. MLS refs blow.
It is ironic that he is saying it. But, if the Refs are being inconsistent, that is probably WHY he is doing sutpid tackles. Becks sees his players getting hacked and no call, so he retaliates. That is the number one reason inconsistent reffing is bad. If the ref calls eveything or nothing equally for both sides, at least the players know what they can and can’t do. But MLS refs flip-flop with their decisions and do too many make-up calls and get card happy once the game is out of control.
Becks knows his tackles are card worthy. I don’t think that is the point.
Not a Becks fan but I agree the refs are crap and ruining the league..but for diff reasons. They’ve allowed mls to become a hack league a NFL/soccer hybrid
Last night he wasnt much better. Well deserved yellow.
Once he stops taking guys out after the play, he can start complaining.
It is hard to watch all the no calls in the MLS. It reminds me of when I reffed 6 year old mob ball. I didn’t want to call every foul. But these guys are a little older and should know how to tackle. Just watched the Seattle Chicago game last night (as a neutral) and saw dozens of missed over aggressive fouls that would be a yellow in any other league, and were no calls.
Second worse thing is the announcers. The Sounders announcer was so partial, it made me want to vomit. He reminds me of the EPL fan commentators that used to be on FSC.
He’s arguing about bad officiating, but I don’t think a Galaxy player yet has gotten a card they didn’t deserve this year. If you want to have less players getting red cards, don’t be flying in studs high.
It’s good to see players amped and playing hard, but you can’t let the DeJong out of the bottle.
The Omar Bravo red card – was it a foul? Yes – it was a push from behind. Did it deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity? Yes. How is that a questionable red card?
Amen brother.
In fact, the refs threw the RSL game at the end by ignoring that blatant offsides “goal”. Soccer Karma Gods take note.
He’s right. When I switched channels to the RSL/Colorado match after the LA/TFC match ended they were showing highlights at halftime, which basically consisted of all the yellow and red cards that the ref handed out – no shots on goal, no saves, no action.
What the hell is going on – are the refs getting bonuses for each card they give out this season?
Wot the Haich!! That chap needs a yeallo fo tanglin ‘is shinny pads on my studs!! Tha’ll teach ‘im fo passin’ the boll befo’ I reach ‘im!!
Wait, MLS referees suck?
Beckham is right on. The league will probably fine him for these comments, but he is correct.
I didn’t see Beckham card but in general I agree the refs seem to affect the outcome of games way too often. If they pull so many yellows then I would prefer they also pull more yellows for diving.
Omar Bravo red card against Chicago is a perfect example – questionable penalty kick but certainly not a straight red to put SKC a man down and have him out the following game. Hurts the fans the most.
The best games are when you don’t notice the referee and there just are not that many of those any more.
If the ref’s were of a higher standard as Beckham is publicly calling for – the quality of play would go up and lot of the bone-headed and injury-inducing moves would be cut down.
People will still get hurt, and bad calls made, but come on, does anyone seriously claim MLS refs are ‘good.’
So yeah to raise standard of play on field, reffing has to improve either through importing better refs, better training and/or letting more deadwood go.
People love to rag on Beckham, but here he is doing the league and his fellow players a favor. Since he is not singling out individual refs, or individual incidents, it is harder to see MLS or USSF justification for Beckham daring to raise issue the that refs are not world-class.
While referees can always improve, is there any soccer league that compliments and thinks their refs are top notch? There is a difference between calls you do not like and calls that are hurting the game.
While there are errors made, the refs for this league could be much worse.
I don’t think it’s just about the cards, as I argued above, it’s about the flow of the game. A called tackle or a tackle not called is going to affect the game.
For every tackle that is deemed a foul in our league there are two that were ignored. I think that’s what he’s hinting at.
The refs do seem like they want attention. Maybe they have daddy issues? I also wouldn’t be surprised if MLS tells them to call a lot of PKs to increase scoring. I hate PKs. Most of the Pks called do not fit the definition.
Beckham would be leading the league in scoring if only he could be tricked into thinking the goal was a giant beach trash receptacle.
With any luck, this is the start of Beckham’s largest contribution to the league…
I thought it should have been straight red, too. Scissor tackle from behind.
If you want a physical league, you’re going to get inconsistencies due to speed of play. If you want to play through everything, don’t complain when you get hurt.
Agreed. The next frontier for MLS to get itself established is better refereeing. It’s terrible some of the calls they get called and some of the ones that get ignored.
MLS needs to pony up the cash to bring over consultants from European leagues to advise the staff we currently have.
MLS needs a flow to it now. They had the rough and tumble of the last 15 years, now it’s time to develop a “beautiful” game with teams becoming and bringing in more technical players.
Also, it would cut back on injuries, feigning, and problems when we play teams from abroad.
He’s right about the low quality of MLS officiating. However, he should have been sent off last week and deserved to be booked last night.
I honestly think Beckham needs to shut his mouth. He could have easily been sent off against DC and last night against Toronto. Of course the refs are gonna card you when you make stupid tackles! They’re only yellow because he’s David Beckham. If any other player in the league said this, I would be happy to agree, but Beckham is too much of a crybaby for me to care.
Beckham is correct.
And if Toledo keeps it up and becomes a star, he’ll have his own cologne soon too, a real stinker.
That’s kinda my thinking to, perhaps Becks should stop hacking anyone within a 5 yd radius, typically from behind. His point doesn’t change, but it is a bit comical that he is saying it, when all his cards seem to be very justified, and perhaps should have been reds.
Agreed. The situation needs to be seriously addressed. The only thing Becks forgot to mention was that it also hurts the fans. No one wants to see a game of 9 v 10, which we had two of last week.
I’m not sure what he is complaining about since all his cards were deserved even the one from yesterday. Now if he specifically said juninho’s second yellow then I would agree, but I am sure he is just thinking about himself having to sit a game now. That being said consistency would be real nice.
The thing is, will there be changes? Refereeing in MLS has been awful since Day 1. Players speak out and get fined. Yet nothing changes. Any time I have seen a game on TV and I see Baldemero Toledo, Jair Maruffo or Abbey Okulaja as the ref, I know the game is screwed.
The league has grown significantly since 1996. Why can’t the refereeing do the same?
Becks is right on. Machnick are you listening?!!!
I couldn’t agree with Becks more…I watch almost every match I can on the Direct Kick and I am a huge MLS supporter. the level of play over the last five years especially has increased by leaps and bounds as have the stadiums, the supporters…pretty much everything about the league has gone forward…except the officiating! I do think that down the line that will be a major deterrent from high level players coming to MLS. I know Ljunberg was a whiner but he had legit gripes, Blanco complained often about the officials and now Becks…look I know referees have a tough job and they have to make decisions quickly but my point is that MLS is becoming a good league with great rivalries and stadiums and a decent standard of play which has increased steadily…however the level and consistency of the officiating has not risen with everything else and now it is becoming a problem!
Says the guy who should have been red carded for his crunching tackle on Josh Wolff and got away with a yellow.
Yeah, the reffing has been inconsistent, but the players play a role in this too. A good number of the red cards so far this season have been deserved. People complain about the physicality of the league. The refs try cracking down on it, and there are complaints. The refs can’t win.
I agree with him…MLS reffing is awful across the board. The quality of play has risen, but reffing quality has stayed the same. Something needs to be done.
He has a point. I also think the Refs are to forgiving to “star” players. Last week Beckham should have been sent off with the tackle.
I think MLS should be in charge of the refs instead of USSF.
+1
I’ve been watching since 1996 and it’s always been a problem.
Then again, the EPL is also having issues with their refs.
I think it’s time to have to more than one ref in the field. The play is too quick for one man (or woman) to run around and make the right calls.
I’m not a huge Becks fan but I could not agree with him more. Often times folks post about how we need better players, we need to prevent young americans from leaving MLS to play in Europe, more teams need SSS…etc. However since I started following MLS in 2002 I’ve always said the one area that needs the most improvement is the referees. I’m glad Becks said something I hope he does get the attention of the league the issue really needs to be looked at. MLS has made some amazing improvements in the last few years now is the time to bring the referees up to par with the rest of the league.
I get what he is saying but to complain that your not getting any calls is crazy. His yellow against D.C. should have been a straight red and Barret’s tackle at the end of the Philly game where McInerney got a red for taken offense to it should have been a card.
Probably the wisest thing he’s said in 5 years. I’m glad he’s using his platform to stick up for himself and all MLS players. Let’s face it, when he speaks people listen.
I can’t agree with Beckham more, Toledo and crew are changing more games this year then I think in years past. The league is growing and getting better while the refs are not.
Another great pic….
🙂