Cards All Around

The best acknowledgment a referee likely can hope for from any fan base is to go unnoticed. Fans are, by definition, going to see every call against them as unfair, and they will see every overlooked slight against their team as obvious signs of bias. We’re no objective, impartial observers of the game. Referees at best to fans are invisible, and at worst are minions of the conspiring underworld. I start with these thoughts because I don’t pretend to be anything but a fan.

So instead of passing judgment and condemning the referee performances I’ve seen as a fan of the US Soccer program, I’ll begin with a question. Is there mounting evidence that certain referees are either grossly incompetent or have it out for the US Soccer program?

And here’s my stated bias when tackling this question: this past month, certain referees have made US Soccer teams look miserable.

Here is the evidence I see, in chronological order:

Vs. Guatemala in the Gold Cup (CONCACAF Referee)
My verdict: Gross incompetence and a bias towards Guatemala’s style of play
“Impartial” Evidence: Fouls called in favor of Guatemala 21-15, 4 Yellow Cards issued against the US Team and one player ejected despite the obvious exaggerations of contact (aka diving) led by a man who got his nickname based on his ability to flop, El Pescadito, “The Little Fish.” The result? The US squeaked out an ugly win, 1-0, against a team we’re obviously superior to in every aspect of the game. Had the referee instead carded Guatemalans for diving and called the fouls they were committing against the US Team even thought we didn’t dive, the justified lopsided result would have been the fair outcome.

Vs. Trinidad and Tobago in the Gold Cup (CONCACAF Referee)
My verdict: Jack Warner (T&T native and CONCACAF President) assigned morons to the game to keep his B Team (his A-Team refused to play because even though Warner makes millions from CONCACAF business, they were screwed in 2006 World Cup incentive pay) from being embarrassed.
"Impartial" Evidence: Repeatedly blown offsides calls that prevented the US from scoring 4 more goals than they did in their win. Again, fouls called in favor of the US opponent, 22-18.

Vs. Panama in the Gold Cup (CONCACAF Referee)
My verdict: Referee bias against the US resulted in Panamanians going ballistic, hacking US players, and showing an embarrassing amount of dissent as they ganged up to argue against any call against them.
“Impartial” Evidence: In spite of Panamanians repeatedly committing ugly fouls, the CONCACAF referee refused to expel any of them, even as they surrounded, bumped, and screamed at him each time a foul was called. Amazingly, US yet again was the loser in the Fouls Called statistic, 22-18, when Panama, after the game got away from them, was clearly out for blood.

Vs. South Korea in the U20 World Cup (CONCACAF Referee)
My verdict: A bitter CONCACAF referee that obviously hates the United States allowed South Korean players to bulldoze their US counterparts, but whistled and even carded the US for even the slightest touch.
“Impartial” Evidence: Fouls called in favor of South Korea. The Yellow Card issued to Robbie Rogers. Case closed.

Vs. Uruguay in the U20 Gold Cup (Notorious US hater Referee)
My verdict: Ravshan Irmatov, still angry at the US after they filed a complaint against him for a horrific referee performance in the 2003 U17 Championship, used this game to get even against the US.
“Impartial” Evidence: In perhaps the ugliest display yet, Uruguayan thugs were allowed to hack on Jozy Altidore, uncalled and uncarded, until Altidore had to be carried off the field. In spite of the blatant cheating, diving, and hacking of the Uruguayan players, US was yet again the loser in the Fouls Card statistic, this time by a closer margin of 30-27. Even more disgusting, the US was issued 5 Yellow Cards, when it was clear which team was violating the rules, both in letter and in spirit, of the game.

Partial evidence spun by a biased fan aside, if I didn’t have to endure another referee from CONCACAF, especially those who have been clearly bribed by the South Korean underworld, and above all those Uzbekistan bastards still bitter about who won the Cold War, I’d be a much happier fan. It’s a sign of the US Teams’ quality they’ve managed to grind out results in spite of the cards stacked against them by too many officials.