Being Critical of International Officiating Can Only Benefit the U.S.

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: March 22, 2010

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The manager's post-game officiating complaint is probably the longest, most expected broken record in soccer, but one track is missing from the international compilation: an American soundbite. 

It doesn't matter if your team is the underdog or the favorite, if a penalty was erroneously given or missed entirely, there is one certainty in every game: the outcome could have been different if the referee would have been competent.

Of course, he never is.

But if a fan was to only watch the post game comments from the United States, then a manager's protestation towards poor officiating would come as a surprise. Rarely is there a report of someone taking umbrage with questionable calls (or lack thereof).

It's not as if they don't happen in a U.S. international match. United States Men's National Team games are a laundry list of questionable cards, dismissals, non-calls, inconsistent judgements, and injuries (see Nigel de Jong's tackle on Stuart Holden during the recent Netherland's friendly as the latest entry of tragic decisions by officials).

And yet, time and time again, when American players are fouled, injured, or dismissed, there is no fall-out from dismal officiating.

Granted, a United States international friendly post-game press conference isn't going to make the news, but the United States has a little clout, and this is a team, coaching staff, and federation that has been known for proving itself on the field, not in the media.

If the team were to make a concerted effort to demand excellence from the refs for the remaining friendlies as well as the group stage of the World Cup, then it might help the U.S.'s chances this summer.

At the very least, it would make waves and maybe a few headlines.

Sunil Gulati and Bob Bradley aren't known for rocking the boat in international waters, but what would happen if all of a sudden they appeared sullen and surly...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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