Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com
In his rant about poor officiating in his team's loss last weekend to the Colorado Rapids, Portland Timbers coach John Spencer alluded to the fact that he'd likely be disciplined by Major League Soccer for his comments. He was right.
MLS commissioner Don Garber has suspended Spencer for one game and fined him $2,500 for his comments. Spencer was fined an additional $2,000 on top of the automatic $500 fine for being sent off at the end of the Rapids match.
"John Spencer's recent public criticism of MLS officials was not constructive and will not be tolerated," Garber said in a statement. "We recognize that referee's decisions can be debated, but public comments cannot impugn the credibility of the officials or the League. MLS requires that its players, coaches, and club leadership maintain proper respect for the officials at all times."
What do you think of the punishment?
Share your thoughts below.
so true
I am happy that the MLS suspended the whiny Biotch.
I’d like to see more response from MLS or USSF regarding the consistently INconsistent quality of the officiating that goes on in the league each week.
I’d like to see improvement. I’d like know how they are addressing this problem. For instance, if a ref misses or botches 2 calls/fouls in one game does he have to sit out the next game? What if he blows 5 calls over the course of several games? Is he forced to attend any classes to brush up on his skills?
What’s really frustrating is that bad calls, from blatant offsides to physical fouls that are dealt with inconsistently occur each week and we, the fans, players, and coaches do not hear of any admonitions or punitive action taken toward the referee committing the offense.
Why is this?
They aren’t any better. (USA v Algeria)
If you don’t care about their well being ok then. However threats and referee assaults do happen. People go to referees houses and their parents houses (Howard Webb) and threaten and intimidate their friends and relatives.
Is that right?
Congratulations! Out of 40 plus comments yours makes the least sense.
Yeah, I guess you’re right. He clearly was presenting a reasonable argument that higher ups will respond to. Now if he had been over the top and cheaply insulting to others as though he was trying to deflect blame for the loss away for himself, I might say that the response from Portland has been hypocritical. But clearly he wasn’t making excuses. Because they’d never do that.
The real question is whether Spencer will sit in the owner’s box with Merritt or with the TA.
I believe people complained because a certain manager was trying to blame something that is beyond the control of mortal beings.
Hilarious. I love how all the Portland kids scream bloody murder when other coaches complain after losing. Now that Spencer’s b*tching and moaning like a spoiled 5 year old girl, that sort of behavior is deemed tough and heroic.
Good point. I wish FIFA would allow international refs.
Did you post this from your smartyphone?
there’s a slippery slope, watch out!
He should have been suspended for that stuff that he said on the plane…he should take airline safety seriously
The ref is always right, even when he’s wrong.
We don’t want managers publicly criticizing the refs any more than we should allow refs to publicly criticizing the abilities of the club managers.
How would it be to have the refs give a press conference slamming Spencer for what a poor manager he is?
Oh so everyone has to be a robot? I guess Don doesn’t want personalities.
Because refs get death threats…that’s why.
THE TRUTH HURTS GARBER
Garber should be fined for continuing to let Abbey Okulaja out on the field.
Bad reffing undermines the league.
I love any MLS manager and player who makes legitimate complaints about the refs. USSF has got to work on this issue. Even if we had gotten the 2022 World Cup, I doubt we would have a ref good enough to be chosen to officiate at it.
+1
You been waiting since ’92 to break that one out…
Spencer’s comments don’t undermine the MLS. Fat, out of shape refs who have been suspended in the past for lack of fitness undermine the integrity of MLS.
It was also telling that they often sucked there, too.
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/10/18/129003381268959045.jpg
That’s all I have to say about that.
This is GREAT news as it will give John Spencer more time to make Alaska Airlines commercials.
It would be great if instead of fining players and coaches for their “rants” on refs, USSF or MLS actually does something about it and either gets better refs or trains them better.
Actually the USSF controls the refs and sends them out to MLS games.
John Spencer Fuse Explosion
In no way does criticizing that ref undermine the league. That ref was fat and not running. Spencer pointed out a valid fact. USSF should suspend that referee as well.
Really? Name one other league that wouldn’t have taken action if a coach acted like that.
They are appointed by FIFA
One of the major problems facing USSF with refs is getting a quality referee pool so that they’re not stuck with mediocre or downright bad referees. Talking about how bad the referees are won’t solve anything – it’ll only exacerbate the problem by turning off any potential new referees from the system, leaving us with the bad referees (now with low morale).
Watch out Spenser, the MLS refs drove John Carver completely i n s a n e.
+1
doesn’t US Soccer have a hand in the refs? Its telling when at the past WC, not one ref was from the US/MLS.
Garber knows. This was barely a slap on the wrist and only because the league can’t allow managers to openly criticize the refs. In comparison, S.A.Ferguson made tamer comments than Spencer’s after the Chelsea game and got suspended for five games.
I kind of disagree with Garber. The more the poor officiating is discussed, the more likely it is that changes could be made. Spencer’s comments, and Garber’s fines and suspension are throwing fuel on the fire, which could very well be constructive.
This league is a joke
John Spencer may have a point, but he deserves the fine. Criticizing the refs undermines the league.
Put that in your Haggis-hole, Garber! Spencer is shaping up to be a genuine local hero. Love this guy!
Keep telling them to shut their haggis trap Spencer!
it’s an authoritarian hierarchy. obey the powers or pay the price. not an entirely new concept.
I’ve never understood why Leagues are so uptight about people complaining about refs. Bottom line is a lot of them stink. Some are good, but there are people who underperform in every arena of life, why would officiating be any different?
That said. He should know better and it’s not a surprise at all.
Maybe The Don can use the money to get the fatass ref a Segway to get up and down the field.
Who’s up for chipping in to cover the cost.
Hey Garber, anyone with a pair of eyes and a clue has already impugned your officials.