Just a minor clarification, MLS/USSF created PRO basically to operate as a staffing agency. So PRO is essentially MLS. The referees have a union and that is the major obstacle to better officiating right now.
MLS Week 28 - 2019
- Thread starter LionNYC
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Haha I asked one of the players this question at a City Send Off and he replied that they have a lot of stuff to work through, so I don't know how much of a priority it is.
MLSPU has nothing to do with the dealings between MLS and the referees’ union.
What exactly are the clear steps that MLS could take to improve the quality of refereeing? We have somewhere in the archives, an article about the substantial training and review sessions that PRO runs. So maybe they don't work. Are there other programs that do work that anyone knows of? Is there some other way to make improvements? Should they hire more foreign born refs trained elsewhere? AFAICT the ones they have are just as despised by fans as the domestic ones. There's an awful lot of "make better" complaints but nobody ever says how. I think people just like to pretend it's easy. I've also never seen an actual study demonstrating that our refs are worse. I don't find eye-test or "anyone can tell" arguments persuasive.
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I think people would be a lot happier if there were visible consequences, at all, for refs screwing up. I mean, after the Red Bull game the guy lied blatantly about his call and nothing came of it; meanwhile players and coaches get fined and suspended for even mentioning if a ref messes something up. The impunity is grating, and speaks, I think, to a total lack of pressure / desire to improve.
At minimum, MLS should hire some guys from other leagues every once in a while to introduce some new blood and hopefully put a little pressure on tenured refs to step it up.
Well, this is the problem right? Improving the standards of the officials in this country is likely to be a long term fix. It's not like there are a bunch of highly qualified officials who are not getting a chance. It takes a long time to develop an official who is world class - that person has to be reffing games for years. It's a very tough job.
Still, the time to lay out a plan was a few years ago - they need to get on it.
I generally agree with you on this, but I think
sundance brings up part of it.For me, the in-game "live" refereeing is always going to be incredibly difficult to get right. It's going to be something that we will always complain about, no matter if we had the best refs in the world.
Where I think there is tons of room to improve, is the consistency around VAR and how things are called. I mentioned in another thread, the lack of consistency in regards to hands to the head and neck area, and there are many others in terms of what actually goes to review, etc.
I've gone on the record as being a fan of VAR. And I generally still am. But the way it is used in this league is atrocious.
I remembered hearing during the broadcast for the Gold Cup this summer that CONCACAF was working with "TARP" for officials. (Full Article here) Quote below;
"The Concacaf Referee Committee approved the list of participants, who were reviewed and selected by the Concacaf Referee Technical Advisory Team, across regional group of refereeing experts. This team includes members of the Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP). TARP referees are part of the development strategy of the Confederation to provide an opportunity of working with elite officials in order to prepare them for future competitions. Game assignments will be published in the Media Center prior to each match."
One thing I don't fully get from the Gold Cup was that referees were brought in from Qatar who had previously reffed the Asian Cup earlier in the year. While it is presumably good for the Qatari refs to get more experience, it reduced games for Concacaf refs. I know PRO isn't directly related to Concacaf, but it would be interesting if we sent some up and coming refs abroad (England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, etc.) to get time with referees in the bigger leagues and then come back here. Maybe PRO can look into something like that to enhance and better our referees. Bringing up-and-coming refs to the MLS will just further their bad biases if they were to work under current MLS refs, so that's why I think we should send them abroad.
Link to another article that delves a little further into the TARP program for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Did anybody see Jozy's charge on Abubakar? How does he get away with that?
It's so unsportsmanlike it's not even funny. He could have seriously injured Abubakar. Didn't go for the ball, didn't even look for it. Seemed like clear malice to me.
It's so unsportsmanlike it's not even funny. He could have seriously injured Abubakar. Didn't go for the ball, didn't even look for it. Seemed like clear malice to me.
They could theoretically put pressure on MLS to increase refereeing standards, no?
This. I think I read/heard that a player strike wasn't out of the question. I'm sure travel accommodations is a big talking point. They should make ref accountability one too. It's not easy, of course, to instantly make refs better. but as others have said, a plan needs to be put in place to improve the refs. VAR seems to have just given many refs an excuse to stop trying. I'll never say a ref's job is easy. It's not. the pressure of making a call in live play and to do so impartially is extremely difficult. I've tried to ref an intramural game before with no prior experience/training and man... it wasn't easy. So, I have respect for refs who get the job done. But I think they can improve through simulated training. However, I think the biggest issue that everyone can agree on, is there needs to be consistency. How they can improve on that, I really have no idea.
Also think MLS should adopt the EPL's VAR practice of accepting the call of the VAR. Wastes less time and avoids longer stoppages in play. Also, VAR review and reason for review should be put on the big screen too. Goal line tech would be nice too... but that's another discussion entirely.
Jozy’s an absolute beast physically until he magically transforms into a feather once he gets into the opponent’s penalty area.
