For Kreis' sake, hire some decent officials

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis was suspended a game and fined $1,000 for saying what everyone knows is true: the officiating in Major League Soccer is terrible.

After RSL's match against the LA Galaxy on May 3, Kreis vented to the Deseret Morning News:

"I have a team doing their best to reward fans through a frustrating time and a frustrating few years. I feel the players are doing what they need to, the coaching staff is doing what they do, but being wronged by critical referee decisions is unacceptable."

Ok, a grand isn't really that big a deal, even in the low-paying world of American professional soccer, but sitting the guy for a match is a bit extreme for voicing the frustration that has existed among of players and coaches for some time. Why doesn't MLS use all the fines they've handed out over the last 12 years to hire better officials because across the board these guys are about as competent as a lawyer with a degree from Falwell's Liberty University.

The problems boil down to consistency, which is a hallmark of good officiating. Look, I don't care if you don't decide to give a red card to the player whose two-footed challenged not only broke his opponent's legs but also the legs of his unborn child, as long as you don't turn around and eject the guy who accidentally sneezed on the corner flag. Be consistent! A lack of consistency in calls begets frustration and frustration begets recklessness.

Week after week I watch as effective build ups are whistled dead for calls off the ball when an advantage should have been played. At other times, poor calls or missed calls have changed games, giving or taking away goals and sending players off without reason. PLayers' tempers flare and referees lose control of games. That's when the cards really start flying.

Look at last week's Chivas USA vs. Houston game. Six cards were handed out in the second half, three in half number one, and there was a grand total of 35 fouls called. More startling is that there were only a dozen fouls in the first half, meaning that the whistle blew every two minutes in half number two. And that isn't counting substitution stoppages, offside calls, set-pieces. Was it a physical game against two teams that dislike each other? Yes, but a good referee would establish a tone early and then let them play, not encourage a free-for-all and then haphazardly try to crack down in the second half. Football should be about pace and flow, that is how the beautiful game was meant to be played. I'm tired of the men in the middle with their dayglow shirts taking the attention away from the players and shining the spotlight on themselves.

Kreis' outburst won't help, of course, but kudos for him for point out that it's the players that people are there to watch, not the monkeys in the middle.