Referee Attacked, Killed During Soccer Game in Kenya

Nary hours after a high school football player charged at a referee in Texas, an elderly referee has been killed during a soccer game in Kenya. Mwalimu John Chang'aa aka Okwoyo succumbed to injuries sustained when a group of players and fans attacked the officials at half time in Kisii County.

According to local reports, retired teacher John Okwoyo was officiating a contest at Gesabakwa Green Stadium between teams Apire and Ichuni Youth when the crew encountered a play during which the ball wound up in the back of one of the team's goals. However, the assistant referee had raised his flag into the air prior to the goal to signal an infraction, and the crew ultimately cancelled the score and awarded a penalty to the defending team.

The report states that at halftime shortly thereafter, the offending team surrounded the referee before fans rushed off the sidelines to join in and a group attack occurred, resulting in the referee's death as he sought medical attention.

It was unclear if a fan or a player murdered the referee, but reports indicate that one fan who kicked the elderly referee in his chest was identified and arrested by local police.

News of the referee's death comes one just over one day after Texas high school football player Emmanuel Duron attacked TASO referee Fred Garcia during a playoff game. Hours later, the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District announced it had decided to remove the team from the postseason and noted "appropriate disciplinary action" would follow an investigation into the incident, while the local police department arrested Duron, who now faces at least one criminal charge.

The District wrote, "We extend a sincere apology to the referee and his family" while the Texas Association of Sports Officials wrote, "Unfortunately, this type of blind-sided assault on an official while working on the field is not new to Texas football.

In 2008, Euless Trinity HS player Eric Fieilo tackled an official during a game, but evaded criminal charges. Fieilo later became a police officer at Euless PD.

Video as follows:

Utah Soccer Referee Punched by Teenage Player Dies

Utah soccer referee Ricardo Portillo, punched into a coma by a player, died Saturday, according to police.

According to the investigation, last weekend, Portillo was officiating a La Liga Continental de Futbol soccer game when he issued a yellow card to a 17-year-old player for a foul. Because soccer officiating guidelines specify the referee shall be in close proximity to a player when issuing yellow or red cards, "the suspect was close to Portillo," according to Unified police spokesman Justin Hoyal.

After displaying the card, Portillo started to enter notes into his referee's book when the suspect allegedly "punched [Portillo] once in the face." Police claim the punch caused Portillo to become faint, vomit blood and, eventually, enter into a coma. Now, it seems, the player's punch to Portillo's temple may very well be the soccer official, husband and father's cause of death. An autopsy is planned to confirm the theory.

According to Hoyal, the player "immediately [struck] that referee in the face." Hoyal also stated Portillo's serious head injuries were "a result of that assault."

The teenage player, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, was arrested following the alleged aggravated assault. In the wake of the referee's death at the suspect's hands, authorities "will consider additional charges," which presumably may include murder and/or manslaughter. Though the suspect is presently being held at a juvenile detention facility, police indicated charges could rise to the adult level.

The player's team, which has not been identified, was playing its very first game in the league when the suspected aggravated assault occurred.

Ricardo's oldest daughter, Johana Portillo, spoke about her father's condition last week, stating that while she was not present at the fateful match, multiple witnesses and detectives working the case told her that the suspect player struck Ricardo in the side of the head: "When he was writing down his notes, [the player] just came out of nowhere and punched him."

According to the family, Ricardo Portillo previously suffered multiple assaults and batteries in La Liga, sustaining serious injury. According to daughter Johana, five years ago, a player upset with a call broke Ricardo's ribs while several years earlier, a player broke his leg. When the family urged Ricardo to quit, he declined, citing his tremendous passion for the sport. She stated that other referees who worked La Liga had been victimized as well.

In the wake of the violent battery, not only have the team and suspect player been kicked out of the league, La Liga Continental has hired off-duty police officers to provide security for future games which will continue to be played on weekends at a suburban Salt Lake City middle school.

Meanwhile, the Granite School District—whose Eisenhower Jr. High school La Liga uses for games—issued a formal warning to La Liga president Mario Vasquez stating that La Liga Continental is in danger of having its rental agreement revoked, citing not just the present assault, but also previous complaints that La Liga didn't clean up trash, violated the ban on drinking alcohol and brought and smoked tobacco products (cigarettes) on the school grounds in contravention of policy and the signed agreement.

News: Utah soccer referee punched by player dies, police say (FOX News) (5/5/13)
News: Utah soccer league hires off-duty police officers to monitor games after ref is assaulted (FOX, 5/4)
News: Family says ref in a coma after attack by teen has been assaulted before (FOX News) (5/3/13)

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

Soccer Red Card Fantasy League? 23 Games, 8 Ejections

So, you want a red card fantasy league (RCFL)? Here is an abbreviated sampling of what you might expect to find during one day in the UEFA Europa League's group stage.

With 23 games played on 11/22, officials ejected, dismissed and sent off eight players via the red card:
Referee Serge Gumienny ejected Udinese Calcio M Willians for dangerous challenge (second yellow -> red)
Referee Simon Lee Evans ejected Partizan F Aleksandar Mitrovic for fighting after team's foul (straight red)
Referee Laurent Duhamel ejected Maribor D Ales Mejac for dangerous challenge (second yellow -> red)
Referee Aleksei Kulbakov ejected Twente D Rasmus Bengtsson for dangerous foul (straight red card)
Referee Paolo Valeri ejected Basel M Cabral for second booking in four minutes (second yellow -> red)
Referee Bobby Madden ejected AEL M Luciano Bebe for dangerous foul (straight red card; dismissed)
Referee Carlos Gomez ejected Dnipro M Jaba Kankava for second booking in 3 minutes (2nd yellow -> red)
Referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan ejected Napoli D Salvatore Aronica for dangerous challenge (straight red card)

This is in addition to three ejections presented during eight games on November 21:
Referee Olegario Benquerenca ejected Zenit M Vladimir Bystrov for abuse of officials at full-time (straight red)
Referee Damir Skomina ejected Anderlecht D Bram Nuytinck for tackling last man [Pato] foul (straight red)
Referee Gianluca Rocchi ejected Real Madrid D Alvaro Arbeloa penalty area bkng (second yellow -> red)

Question: Is the sport of soccer prone to more ejections per games played than any other?
Answer: Yes, and it's not even close...

Statistical Ejection Comparison, by Sport and League
European football ejection ratio: Approx. 31% of red card or other dismissal to games played.
MLS American soccer ejection ratio: Approx. 27% of red card or other dismissal to games played.
MLB baseball ejection ratio: Approx. 8.2% of ejections to games played.
NHL hockey ejection ratio: Approx. 7.1% of game misconducts, etc. to games played.
NBA basketball ejection ratio: Approx. 6.8% of two technicals, flagrant 2 fouls, etc. to games played.
NFL football ejection ratio: Approx. 5.0% of USC/UR/PF ejection penalties, etc. to games played.

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

College Soccer Player Arrested After Battering Referee

Following his club's loss to UC Davis over the weekend, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos defender Peter McGlynn charged in and allegedly struck referee Reed Christy. McGlynn had previously been ejected from the contest after receiving a yellow, then red card in overtime. After the incident, McGlynn was restrained by campus security, handcuffed and detained by University of California police before being released on his own recognizance. Police are recommending charges be filed. Originally recruited from Ireland, McGlynn has subsequently been kicked off the UCSB soccer team.

California is one of 21 states with officiating assault and/or battery laws (19 criminal + 2 civil). The full list of states with enhanced penalties for this crime is: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. Visit naso.org for more information.

Under California Penal Code section 243.8, battery on a sports official may result in one year's imprisonment in the county jail and/or a $2,000 fine. This maximum penalty is twice as severe as "simple" battery.

News: UCSB Soccer Player Assaults Official After Loss

Ethics at the Olympics: When Immorality Means Expulsion

Created in 1999 by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Ethics Commission is a nine-member body whose purpose is to be "guardian of the ethical principles of the Olympic Movement," also known as the IOC's Code of Ethics, whose values include Dignity and Integrity and whose principles range from transparency to fair play, equity to accountability.

Ethical principles are a serious issue for the IOC, whose Olympic Games in the past have been marred by the male-competing-as-female Stella Walsh controversy in 1932 and 1936, the 1980s performance-enhancing drugs (steroids) scandal involving the East German team, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson's doping scandal in 1988 and the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan rivalry's "Whack Heard Around the World" leading up to the 1994 Games.

Athletes were—and still are—willing to discard virtue in favor of their zeal for superficial success, as evidenced by several instances of unethical behavior during the 2012 London Games. From badminton to boxing and athletics (track & field) to gymnastics, the 2012 Olympic Games is not without its fair share of depravity:

Olympic Soccer Ejection: Wilmar Roldan

Olympic referee Wilmar Roldan ejected Swiss MF Oliver Buff (2nd yellow-red) for flopping in the 78th minute of the Gabon-Switzerland contest Thursday. Dribbling the ball through the top of the penalty box, Buff split two Gabon defenders before tumbling to the ground in search of a penalty shot call. Instead, Roldan immediately issued the simulation-diving (flopping) yellow card, which, by virtue of the card being Buff's second, automatically resulted in a red and an Olympic soccer ejection. Replays indicate Buff was not fouled by either defender and went to the ground on his own, the call was correct. At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 1-1. The match ultimately ended in a draw, 1-1.

Wilmar Alexander Roldán Pérez is a 32-year-old Columbian football referee, associated domestically since 2003 and with FIFA since 2008. He officiated the Copa América tournament in 2011.

Wrap: Gabon at Switzerland, 7/26/12
Video: Swiss player Oliver Buff fakes a foul, is penalized and ejected

Missed Goal: Do Two Wrongs Make a Right?

Soccer refereeing has long relied on just three on-field officials—a referee and two assistants, one on each side line. In 2010, and in response to technology confirming a slew of missed calls at or near the goal line, the UEFA Executive Committee in 2010 approved a proposal to add two assistant referees to either goal line, effectively giving the sport two goal judges authorized to rule handballs, penalties and other issues of play involving the scoring of a goal.

Replays appear to indicate this ball, ruled no goal,
actually and fully crossed the goal line. (Video link)

Since the two-year trial was adopted following UEFA's proposal to FIFA, five on-field officials (one referee and four assistants) have become a welcome sight on European football pitches, with the fourth and fifth goal officials added to the 2012 UEFA EURO qualifying phase and final tournament.

Yet in opting for additional on-field officials at the expense of incorporating instant replay technology, the UEFA has maintained the status quo of the human element, a fate that significantly factored into play during Tuesday's England-Ukraine Group D match.

With England at a one goal advantage and the Ukraine needing a win to remain alive in UEFA EURO tournament play, the Ukraine found themselves with an opportunity to equalize in the 62nd minute. At 61:40, an attempted score appeared to fully cross the goal line before being kicked out by an English defenseman.

Identity Theft: Banned Bulgarian Soccer Referee Assumes False Name to Work

In 2011, soccer referee Luchezar Yonov and his assistants Petar Tarulov and Emil Mitev were suspended by the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) for failing to report their intent to officiate international matches in South America.

Yonov, serving his penalty for this bylaws violation, was reportedly so intent on continuing to work, he literally faked his way into the middle of this week's friendly between Werder Bremen and AZ Alkmaar.

Good Call: Fan Fined $320,000 for Assaulting Referee (Denmark)

When Ronni Noervig—or as the Danish media calls him, "the football idiot"—ran onto a soccer pitch on June 2, 2007, in an attempt to attack referee Herbert Fander after Fander issued Danish defender Christian Poulsen a red card for punching a Swedish player, he was immediately arrested and the match was abandoned with the score, 3-3.

Several days later, the UEFA awarded Sweden a 3-0 victory, effectively forfeiting the game due to lax security. Additionally, the UEFA banned the Danish Football Federation (DBU) for two international games, costing the DBU an estimated 2.2 million Danish crowns ($360,000) in revenue.

Deaf Soccer Player Issued Yellow Card for Ignoring Whistle

Every so often, there are sports stories that seemingly make no sense. This is one of them.

According to scotsman.com, Scottish Junior Cup player Philip John "P.J." Dolan was issued a yellow card by referee Gavin Duncan for playing significantly past the referee's whistle, going so far as to score a goal and begin celebrating despite the referee and AR's call of offside.

Dolan, who plays for Kilsyth, subsequently received a second yellow for diving, resulting in an automatic sendoff and two-game suspension.

When such an event happens in the United States—most notably in the NBA—the offender is assessed a penalty for showing up the official. The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard led the league last season with 18 technicals while second place Kobe Bryant picked up 16, many for showing up the referee. Just last night, Bryant received a delay-of-game warning for refusing to give the game ball to the nearest official.

Ajax vs. AZ: Referee Correct to Red Card Goalkeeper for Kicking Fan Who Attacked

An intoxicated 19-year-old spectator invaded the pitch during Wednesday's Dutch Cup Ajax vs. AZ Alkmaar soccer match, ultimately resulting in the contest's premature termination.

AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado kicks a pitch invader

Field intrusions at any level are no laughing matter. Hooligans in all sports have been known to wreak havoc after making it into the open field, especially when a player or referee just happens to be nearby when the playing area is being invaded.

So when this spectator—not to be confused with a fan, for fans do not commit such irresponsible and dangerous actions—encroached upon the playing field and attacked AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, the Costa Rican keeper justifiably fought back.

Yet Alvarado didn't stop after simply kicking his attacker to the ground. He continued wailing on the subject long after he became incapacitated.

The incident occurred during the contest's 35th minute, with Ajax leading 1-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA, and resulted in match referee Bas Nijhuis issuing a red card to Esteban.

Per FIFA Law 12—Fouls and Misconduct—violence of any nature is listed as a sending-off offense. Specifically, the Laws of the Game rules book states, "a player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences...violent conduct."

Furthermore, the law states a player "is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against...and other person."

Alvarado's extra activity—continuing to kick his attacker after his attacker had already been decked—represented conduct in excess of force appropriate and reasonable to protect himself and was correctly penalized by a send-off penalty.

The rules further specify that disciplinary sanctions, including a send-off, are to be used whenever a player "commits a cautionable or sending-off offence...[towards] any other person." This includes spectators who have invaded the pitch, which are known as "outside agents" under FIFA Law 3.

However, Alkmaar coach Gert Jan Verbeek might have saved his team by ordering them to leave the pitch after the 35th minute incident.

Referee Nijhuis was then forced to abandon the match, which means Dutch Cup officials and FIFA will now determine whether to resume, conclude or replay the match. Per Law 8, this match likely will be replayed.

Complicating matters, the Amsterdam ArenA is Ajax's home field, meaning a supporter of the home team evaded the home team's field security to attack a visiting player.

Because Verbeek and Alkmaar club director Toon Gerbrands had gone on the record saying, "The players didn't feel safe anymore." FIFA will encounter a complex situation in determining whether Alvarado will or will not be eligible when the match is replayed or resumed.

It is almost always the home team's responsibility to provide adequate security during events. The security staff must ensure the safety of both teams and other on-field personnel, while assuring absolutely no outside agents—streakers, attackers or otherwise—get within striking distance of any person they have been designated to protect.

Ajax security clearly failed to adequately protect the players—stewards should have arrived on scene far before Alvardo started excessively beating the outside agent—and as a result, officials will have to consider whether this match was abandoned because of Ajax's security failing, Alkmaar's voluntary withdrawal in protest or a combination of the two.

Because play could not continue after the outside agent's field intrusion and before Alkmaar's voluntary withdrawal from the pitch, Nijhuis' report to FIFA and Dutch football officials will play a huge role in determining who is at fault for the match's abandonment—specifically whether Nijhuis abandoned the match due to "infringement of the Laws" or due to "outside interference of any kind" (Law 5).

If officials determine the match was abandoned because of both an Ajax security lapse and Alkmaar's protest, they will have to consider what one event was most at fault for causing the game's vacation.

In the grand scheme of things, there are responses which are appropriate and proportional to the stimuli that produce such reactions and there are responses which are not.

In the end, Alvarado was correctly disciplined for his infringement of the Laws, clearly violating the "excessive force" component of Law 12 by kicking the outside agent while said agent was down and no longer an imminent threat.

Alvarado's reaction was over the line per FIFA Laws, an illegal offense punishable by no less than a send-off, which is exactly what happened March 8, 2011 when Dorchester Town's Ashley Vickers was ejected for tackling a Borat-inspired streaker to the ground.

As for the person who committed the field intrusion, he was arrested and should expect penalties, not the least of which will be a multi-year ban from Ajax facilities.

Related Post: Soccer Ejections: Bas Nijhuis

Soccer Ejections: Bas Nijhuis

Continuing the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League "Other Sports" coverage, we turn to Wednesday's Dutch Cup (soccer).

For a more in depth explanation of this play and call, click here.

Referee Bas Nijhuis sent off (ejected) AZ Alkamaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado for violent conduct in the 35th minute of the AZ Alkmaar-Ajax Dutch Cup match. A spectator had invaded the pitch and was running straight for Alvarado. Alvarado defended himself with a kick that knocked the 19-year-old field intruder to the ground. After the initial strike, however, Alvarado continued to kick the intruder until security stewards shooed him away. Per FIFA Law 12, Alvarado was ejected for violent conduct. Even though the violent conduct was brought on because of a spectator's intrusion (called "outside agents" in FIFA's Laws of the Game), Alvarado used "excessive force or brutality against" another person, an automatic send-off offense, even if the other person happens to be an outside agent.

This call is correct per 2011's UEFL Rule 6.b.ii.e., which governs ejections for Fighting; this call would be irrecusable (neither correct nor incorrect) per 2012's UEFL Rule 6-2-b-5. At the time of the ejection, Ajax was leading, 1-0. The match was abandoned as a result of AZ coach Gert Jan Verbeek protesting the red card and safety circumstances. KNVB recently rescinded the red card, but has not yet decided whether to replay, resume or forfeit the contest.

Wrap: (Match information unavailable because match was abandoned)
Video: Hooligan attacks goalie, keeper is sent off for violent conduct, match is abandoned
News: Ajax vs. AZ: Referee Correct to Red Card Goalkeeper for Kicking Fan Who Attacked

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