Discipline reigned as much as any other theme over the weekend in MLS.
Referees league wide dished out five red cards during Saturday’s slate of matches, offering up plenty of fodder for U.S. Soccer Director of Referee Development Paul Tamberino, who spoke with MLSsoccer.com about the plays and the threshold needed to be sanctioned with red cards.
Tamberino said that the endangerment of the safety of a player and the use of excessive force are the two chief criteria that determine whether an ejection is warranted.
“Danger to the safety of a player is the telltale sign when it comes to a red card offense,” he said.
While few would argue the merits of the Stefani Miglioranzi, Joseph Niouky and Danny O'Rourke (two yellows) ejections, there were two decisions that prompted Tamberino’s analysis.
The first, a failed attempt by Kansas City’s Davy Arnaud to beat Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad to the ball on a potential goal scoring threat, may have been excessive punishment on video review.
WATCH: Davy Arnaud gets ejected against Houston
“Of the five we had this week, we saw a lot of discussion about the Davy Arnaud one,” Tamberino said. “For us we feel it’s a little bit harsh even though the studs were exposed. He does make contact with Pat Onstad’s arm. There really is no deliberate intention coming in there. It’s more of an unthoughtful challenge than malicious. The leg wasn’t locked and he didn’t lunge at him. We thought that was a bit harsh but the ref has a different view on the field. We have the luxury of the replay.”
New England’s Kheli Dube was also shown the door with a controversial call following an errant tackle on FC Dallas defender Ugo Ihemelu. Applying the aforementioned criteria to the red card shown to Dube, Tamberino said the ejection may have been a harsh one.
Watch: Kheli Dube gets ejected against FC Dallas
“The referee sees the studs exposed and feels there’s enough contact for a red card,” Tamberino said. “This isn’t excessive force, which is the other criteria we look at -- endangering the safety of a player and excessive force. We didn’t feel this was excessive force either. We felt this was a bit of a harsh red card as well.”
According to Tamberino, a sixth red card likely could have been issued during the Chivas USA-Chicago Fire match, in which the visitors’ Michael Lahoud tackled Chicago’s Justin Mapp.
“The Lahoud tackle on Justin Mapp which was very, very nasty challenge which endangered the safety of the player and was excessive force,” Tamberino said. “There was a lot of discussion but not a whole lot of debate. That was an unfortunate one that we didn’t give a red card on but thank goodness Justin Mapp is not seriously injured and I’m hoping he’ll be ready to go this week.”
Lastly, American soccer’s refereeing chief took time to clarify that although there have been nine more PKs called this year compared to last, it is not by design.
“We’ve never given a directive to our referees to call penalties or more penalties,” he said. “I just think that from my view, I see a lot more attacking soccer, and a lot more plays in the penalty area, and there’s going to be contact in the penalty area. There’s much more attacking soccer in MLS and the referees are having an opportunity to call more. So they’re making the decisions.”
