Last weekend both the Kansas City Wizards and FC Dallas returned home disappointed, having seen results slip out of their grasps in the dying moments of their matches.
But the way each team missed out on an important early season result has been the subject of debate in both markets, leaving some questions unanswered about critical calls in both matches.
MLSsoccer.com spoke to U.S. Soccer Director of Referee Development, Paul Tamberino, to get some answers, beginning with the decisive goal in Kansas City’s 1-0 loss to Seattle. The Sounders’ Michael Fucito snuck in behind the Wizards’ backline to score the stoppage-time winner on a throw-in from teammate Brad Evans, but the throw-in did not take place anywhere close to the point at which the ball went out of bounds.
WATCH: Fucito bags stoppage-time winner
“We feel that the Seattle player [Evans] got an unfair advantage on the throw-in,” Tamberino said. “We always give our players a little bit of leeway on the point of the throw, two or three yards. But in this case it’s a good 12 to 15 yards advantage, and it’s an unfair advantage.”
The former MLS referee says Evans did not appear to intentionally deceive head referee Jair Marrufo and the refereeing crew. He noted that the player continued his run toward the touch line and received a ball from the Qwest field ball person in a split second.
Although the play was a byproduct of home-field advantage and it took place within seconds, it still should have been addressed by the man in the middle.
“The referee needs to be aware of where that ball went out and especially at that time of the game in the attacking third,” Tamberino said. “The referee needs to take the lead there. The assistant referee knows that in the waning seconds of the game his focus needs to be on where that second to last defender is. So the onus comes on the referee.”
Tamberino praised the officiating crew for the FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls game. Working together, the officials made the right call on the last minute penalty kick awarded to the Red Bulls, which ultimately decided the match.
WATCH: Angel converts second PK chance
“It’s a great call by the assistant referee,” he said. “It’s a difficult call because it’s in the waning minutes of the game but the lines are part of the area they encompass (penalty area). It’s a gutsy call and the correct call.”
Tamberino says that the time taken by referee Alex Prus to signal the penalty kick in favor of the Red Bulls was warranted.
“I think the important thing everyone should know is that those types of situations need to be very, very clear,” he said. “The assistant referee is communicating with the referee to determine if it’s a foul and then to communicate about whether it occurred on the line. There’s a little bit of time when the referee and assistant referees need to communicate to make sure they get their decision right. They were communicating in that case.”
Lastly, Tamberino addressed the tackle by Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens on Toronto FC midfielder Sam Cronin. In addition to the penalty kick, many were clamoring for a red card. No card was shown by referee Ricardo Salazar.
WATCH: Pickens foul draws PK
“For this particular case, a yellow works here,” Tamberino said. “We didn’t want any more than a yellow card. We didn’t think it was excessive force. It was definitely reckless.”
FIFA is currently discussing whether referees should issue red cards in addition to penalty kicks for certain fouls inside the penalty area. That decision could come as early as May.
