Refereeing in MLS, Winning Hispanic Fans, and Speaking of Hispanics...

If you follow discussions on Bigsoccer, you may have read today that the problems with MLS referees have reached "critical mass". As with many things on Bigsoccer, don't believe the hype. In fact, if you do follow discussions on Bigsoccer you must be aware by now that 90% of posts are hysterical, bloated diatribes bemoaning [fill in the blank]. However, to say that there is a "probelm" with MLS referees is an understatement of the highest order. MLS referees are bad, moreso than many referees around the world. Indeed, refereeing is a problem in leagues all over the globe, but MLS referees are bad, and to miss that is to miss the point. Talk all you want about how bad refereeing is in other leagues, but it doesn't matter because I don't really care about other leagues, I care about MLS, and refereeing in MLS is bad. However, while the quality of refereeing in last night's fixtures was atrocious, fans, players, and coaches have overreacted. Amado Guevara, pulled a Livan Hernandez and talked of quitting the league after being sent off against D.C. United last night. He said this about the refereeing in MLS:

"'What can I say, that the referees are a disaster,' said Guevara. 'I can't say anything because the league fines you, which is a rule that I don't agree with, and since I don't agree with the rules and I'm not going to change the rules or the referees, I'm going to say it right now, publicly, that next year I don't want to be in this league.'"

Even normally mild-mannered Steve Nicol, coach of the New England Revolution, spouted off against the referee of last night's victory over Real Salt Lake 4-1:

"Early on, he referred to the foul that led to Kreis' free kick goal as 'awful,' and he later said, 'There was a bad call that led to their goal - just one of many.'"

However, to say that the "problem with MLS referees has reached critical mass" would be incorrect. All the red cards given out last night were deserved. Guevara was given a second yellow for barrelling into Ben Olsen, but he wouldn't have been sent off if he hadn't gone off on referee Terry Vaughn earlier in the match, earning his first yellow for dissent. Jaime Moreno deservedly received straight red after pushing down Eddie Gaven, denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Yes, replays showed that Gaven may have embellished and their legs may have tangled, but it doesn't deny the fact that there was contact and that Jaime was the last defender. Big Zach Thornton was justly sent off against the Kansas City Wizards for going off on the referee, twice! Maybe the refs were bad, but they do have the right to card for dissent.

Yes, refereeing is a problem, one that MLS needs to take a long look at. However, knee-jerk reactions like those displayed by fans, players, and coaches need to quit. Frustrations should be submitted to the league, not the press.

In other soccer news, Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy played another uneventful "super-classico" last night. The catch? It was in front of 80,00+ fans at the Rose Bowl. These fans, most of whom came to watch Chivas de Guadelajara face Mexican rival Club America, probably didn't leave the stadium singing the praises of MLS. This has made some fans wonder: "How come MLS always seems to lay an egg? Indeed, almost everytime MLS has the chance to impress new fans, the teams involved play like crap. Winning the Hispanic soccer fans has been MLS' stated goal since its inception, and Chivas USA was supposed to be a step forward in that regard, but Chivas' poor results on the field this season haven't been exactly drawing in the fans like the team was supposed to. I have no doubt that once Chivas begins to improve, their attendance will as well. However, that being said, MLS still has a long way to go to win Hispanic fans, but playing attractive soccer is probably the easiest (not to mention the cheapest) way of doing it.

Finally, speaking of Hispanic Americans, Texas has now become the fourth state with a non-white majority. America has been slow to adapt to these rapid changes, with protectionists on both the left and right decrying either the loss of American jobs (on the left) or the loss of our "way of life" (on the right). William Frey, a demographer quoted in the article gets it right though when he says:

"'Immigration is good for the United States ... it's important for us to keep our doors open, but we need to keep an eye on the people coming in,' Frey said. 'While initially it will be a state problem, eventually it will be a national issue, and education is the best way to deal with it.'

The last part's the most important, "...education is the best way to deal with it." Yes, finally, someone gets it!

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