Call Analysis: 2012 MLS Championship Game

Following the Los Angeles Galaxy's 3-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo during Saturday's MLS Cup at the Home Depot Center, several Dynamo players questioned calls made by referee Silviu Petrescu during the match. The following includes several player and coach comments and subsequent video replay analysis of the respective plays' Qualities of Correctness.

48th Minute Offside Call: Robbie Keane Goal Negated
QOC: Correct Call / Video: David Beckham's free kick deflects to Keane, who is correctly ruled offside.
Analysis: Tommy Meyer attempts to deflect a free kick to Keane, who is offside at the time of last contact.

60th Minute Out-of-Bounds: Corner Kick to Galaxy
Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall: "It's a clear header by the other team. It's frustrating because it's close to the linesman and the referee both miss it."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: N/A
Analysis: Header attempts on descending drives wherein the offensive player jumps to a height greater than that of his opponent often provides a difficult opportunity to rule final contact. In this situation, offensive player Gonzalez's attempt was ruled to have deflected off his defender before bounding wide of the goal post. The ball's trajectory suggests this call was correct; lack of conclusive evidence suggests this call was not incorrect.

63rd Minute Foul: Second Keane Goal Called Back
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Omar Gonzalez is ruled to have fouled his opponent on a header.
Analysis: Though Gonzalez's arms may have been pinned or clamped between his opponent's bicep and forearm, if Gonzalez was ruled to have held his opponent and this was the primary action employed.

65th Minute Handball: Penalty Kick Awarded to LA after Illegal Use of Hands in Goal Area
Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark: "It definitely wasn't voluntary."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Clark blocks Mike Magee's attempt by handling the ball
Analysis: Though the Laws state the corresponding infraction as requiring the player to "handle the ball deliberately," the official is instructed to consider, amongst other criteria, whether the ball has moved towards the hand/arm or the hand/arm towards the ball. Replays indicate Clark's arm appeared to move into the path of the shot attempt, rather than the ball moving toward an established position of his hand and arm.

93rd Minute Penalty: PK as GK Hall Holds And/Or Recklessly Trips Keane to Earn Yellow Card
HOU Manager Dominic Kinnear: "I do think that Tally Hall touched the ball before Robbie Keane went down."
HOU GK Tally Hall: "I did touch it before. I know there was contact, but the referee can't see everything...If I hadn't touched it, I think it would have been a fair shout for a penalty, but because I got something on it, I think I'm probably OK there."
QOC: Correct Call / Video: Complete sequence of Keane's stoppage time goal to ice the contest
Analysis: Law 12 specifies referees shall judge play, if a trip is to be ruled, in relation to 3 levels of severity.
1) No Booking for Careless conduct—which includes lack of attention or acting without precaution.
2) Yellow Card for Reckless conduct—a player acts with complete disregard to the danger to his opponent.
3) Red Card for Excessive force—far exceeding necessary use of force; in danger of injuring an opponent.
If holding is to be ruled (and in addition to a direct free or penalty kick), no booking is required unless:
1) Yellow Card for Unsporting behavior—clearly prevents opponent from gaining possession or advantage.
2) Red Card for "DOGSO"—Denying an Obvious GoalScoring Opportunity by holding an opponent.
Referee Petrescu may also have been correct to issue a red card for DOGSO in this situation; however, because the violator was a goalkeeper, the DOGSO and excessive standards are elevated.

Wrap: Houston Dynamo vs. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS Cup), 12/1/12

MLS Soccer Playoff Ejections: Mark Geiger (3)

FIFA & MLS Referee Mark Geiger ejected Seattle Sounders M Osvaldo Alonso for dissent in the 95th minute of the second leg of the LA Galaxy-Seattle Sounders FC match. After time had expired in the contest, with the Galaxy knocking the Sounders out of the MLS playoffs on an aggregate 4-2 victory, Alonso was ruled to have verbally abused the officiating crew, resulting in a yellow card for dissent and, because this was his second yellow, an automatic red and send-off penalty. In the 73rd minute, Alonso received his first yellow card after fouling Galaxy midfielder Vitor Gomes Pereira "Juninho" Junior. Replays indicate Alonso appeared to pull down Juninho, grabbing Juninho's jersey and impeding his attempt to skirt around Alonso's position, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the contest was over. The Sounders won Leg 2, 2-1, though the Galaxy advanced to the MLS Cup with a 4-2 aggregate win.

Wrap: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders FC (Western Conference Championship Leg 2), 11/18/12
Video: After final whistle, Alonso has choice words for Geiger and is formally dismissed
Video: Alonso received his first yellow card for an earlier foul in minute No. 73

MLS Soccer Playoff Ejections: Mark Geiger (1, 2)

FIFA/MLS Referee Mark Geiger ejected DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid for a deliberate foul (preventing a clear opportunity to score; red card) and New York Red Bulls midfielder Rafael Marquez for an off the ball foul (second yellow card) in the second half of the Red Bulls-United 2nd Leg. In the 69th minute, Hamid slid and made contact with opponent Kenny Cooper, who drew a foul in the penalty area. DC United's Lionard Pajoy was shown a yellow card for dissent after arguing on Hamid's behalf. After substitute Joe Willis replaced Hamid as DC keeper, Cooper's penalty shot attempt entered the goal as Geiger waved off the try because of offensive encroachment by New York's Thierry Henry & Tim Cahill, who had run into the penalty area prior to Cooper kicking the ball, an infraction by rule as described by play-by-play broadcaster Arlo White: "Oh, what drama at Red Bull Arena! He is a stickler for the rules, Mark Geiger, when it comes to encroachment at the edge of the penalty area." Cooper's second penalty shot attempt was saved and blocked by Willis.

Six minutes later, Marquez slid into and tackled opponent Chris Pontius, who had released the ball on a pass several seconds earlier. After receiving a yellow card for a foul away from the ball, Marquez was sent off on the second booking, a converted red. At the time of both ejections, the contest was tied, 0-0 (Aggregate 1-1). DC United ultimately won the contest, 1-0 (Aggregate 2-1).

Wrap: DC United vs. New York Red Bulls, Leg 2, MLS Playoffs, 11/8/12
Video: Match summary of Leg 2

MLS Playoffs Ejection: Jair Marrufo

Referee Jair Marrufo ejected D.C. United right back Andy Najar for throwing a ball at an official following his receipt of a yellow card for a bookable foul (dissent; yellow-red/sent off). In the 71st minute, Najar was issued a yellow card after being whistled and cautioned for his push foul of Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere; During the issuance of the yellow, Najar threw the soccer ball at Marrufo, resulting in a double-yellow => red for dissent and obligatory send off. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 1-1. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.

Wrap: DC United vs. New York Red Bulls, MLS Playoffs, 11/3/12
Video: Unhappy with booking after pushing/tripping opponent in open, Najar throws ball at ref & is sent off

MLB News: Proposed Labor Deal Includes Expanded Instant Replay

When MLB first introduced instant replay in 2008, the release was limited to potential home run boundary calls. Now, in possibly the first ever revision to the original replay release, MLB has indicated a desire to expand instant replay to the following situations and calls:

• Fair/Foul (Supported by 36 percent of UEFL'ers)*
• Catch/No Catch (Supported by 30 percent of UEFL'ers)*
• Expansion to include all spectator interference calls (Supported by 68 percent of UEFL'ers)

*According to the UEFL's August poll regarding the subject.

Click here to read an article detailing a more comprehensive look at the proposed deal as it relates to instant replay.

What does expanded replay mean for MLB in 2012? What does it mean for the UEFL and ejections? 

Consider these case plays which have no correct answer: 

IR 1: With one out and one on, B1 hits a line drive to F8 who dives for the attempted catch. U2 rules "no catch," as he believes the ball was trapped. R1, upon seeing U2's "safe" mechanic, rounds second base and arrives at third base safely while B1 hustles into first. Meanwhile, F8, believing he caught the ball and unaware of U2's call, throws the ball to F3 who tags first base (after B1 already overran it). Believing they have just completed an inning-ending double play, the defensive team leaves the field as R1 makes a mad dash for the now-uncovered plate. Instant replay indicates the ball was clearly caught. What happens to R1?

IR 2: With one out and two on, B1 hits a line drive to F7 who dives for the attempted catch. U3 rules "catch," as he believes the ball was caught. R1, unaware of (and unable to see) U3's mechanic and believing the ball was not caught, advances to and rounds second base. R2, upon seeing U3's "out" mechanic, returns to second base where he runs right by R1, who has already rounded the second base bag. U2 immediately declares R1 out for passing R2, while R2 runs toward third base and B1 takes second base. F7 throws to F5, who steps on the bag before R2's arrival. F5 never tags R2's person. Instant replay indicates the ball was clearly trapped. What happens to our runners?

The umpires still must ratify this proposal for it to take hold in 2012, but according to our August poll, these three issues (fair/foul, catch/trap, fan int.) are the three issues that have been most supported as expansion candidates.

News: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/982463-mlb-wants-to-expand-instant-replay-a-comprehensive-look-at-the-proposed-deal

Soccer Ejections: Ricardo Salazar (1)

Continuing the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League "Other Sports" coverage, we turn to a controversial soccer ejection.

Referee Ricardo Salazar ejected New York Bulls striker Thierry Henry for Excess Contact during the Bulls-Timbers game. After scoring his 8th goal of season, Henry and Timbers midfielder Adam Moffat appeared to engage in a physical dispute. Replays indicate Henry's left hand briefly contacted Moffat's head; Salazar ejected Henry after conferring with Assistant Referee Peter Manikowski. This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e., which governs ejections for Excess Contact.* At the time of the red card & ejection, the contest was tied, 3-3. The contest eventually ended in a draw, 3-3.

This is Ricardo Salazar's third ejection of the season.
*This call is correct under UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e.

Wrap: PTLN-RBNY Wrap 06/20/11

Video (1): Henry receives Red Card