For some time now I have been hammering on about the referee's role and responsibility to eliminate tackles from behind, or tackles that are late, from the game. Every instance MUST be punished appropriately in order to protect players and deter the criminals. So today I am delighted to show an example of one of OUR referees doing what he is supposed to do in an MLS game.
Thanks to Steve Horton for pointing out this incident and for providing the URL so that you can all see the foul here at 2:37 of the clip. It's not nearly so bad as some of the others I have shown on this blog, but it makes the point: ANY TACKLE that endangers the safety of the opponent must be dealt with by expulsion. We can change the game:
Bravo! The match report on mls.net indicates Moreno was sent off for violent conduct. Splitting hairs but isn't this serious foul play?
Posted by: John P. | April 10, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Thanks! I was looking for a clip of that since you mentioned. Excellent courage Mr. Toledo! Really a shameful tackle - who knows what was going through Moreno's head for him to do that. Really no place for such a play in "the Beautiful Game".
Posted by: Vince Hradil | April 10, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Oops that wasn't you who mentioned this play, it was Steven Goff at the Wash Post. Sorry.
Posted by: Vince Hradil | April 10, 2009 at 05:55 PM