Poor Refereeing at Stars Cup

[Unregistered]

My issue is with the age group in this video is that IF you make this call you have set a really low bar for fouls given the low level of coordination and skill. Some people want the game called differently in the box. I strongly disagree with that. Pointing out that certain nationalities have a propensity for diving is tricky. Personally I don't think it is a South American thing. That being said I find that diving is more prevalent among players for whom english is not a first language. As an official I view diving as a bad habit and a stupid habit. It hurts your team more than it helps. A much bigger problem is players with the ball who are out of control and that run into a defender and then expect a foul to be called. Not gonna happen.

What you view as bias is nothing more than one team taking liberty with the LOTG and an official trying to reign them in. Before becoming an official I always wondered if I would have problems with bias. I frequently referee games that involve teams from my home team. I try to be a professional and get the calls right. If you do that there is no chance that you will be biased.

For the video posted? The official COULD have called a PK but I support his decision to let play continue. It makes for a better game and if there is doubt that a foul was committed you are better off holding the whistle. I also understand the parents bias. They want the call because they want to win. The official does not have this luxury.

This is a game between two of the top 20 U12 boys teams in the New England region. Coordination and skill is at a high level.

Your opinion about diving being more prevalent among people whose first language is not English is ignorant and problematic. So as a referee, do you talk to all the darker skinned or foreign looking players before a game to check if they have a heavy accent?

[Unregistered]

This is a game between two of the top 20 U12 boys teams in the New England region. Coordination and skill is at a high level.

Your opinion about diving being more prevalent among people whose first language is not English is ignorant and problematic. So as a referee, do you talk to all the darker skinned or foreign looking players before a game to check if they have a heavy accent?

lol. Coordination and skill might be at a high level for a u12 team.

But coordination and skill are far from a high level relative to any meaningful metric.

[Unregistered]

This is a game between two of the top 20 U12 boys teams in the New England region. Coordination and skill is at a high level.

Your opinion about diving being more prevalent among people whose first language is not English is ignorant and problematic. So as a referee, do you talk to all the darker skinned or foreign looking players before a game to check if they have a heavy accent?

Ha ha ha ha ha....ho ho ho ho!

Top 20 U12 team in the New England Region? You're kidding, right? I don't even know where you would come up with this information. And please, do not say gotsoccer, please don't go there and make yourself sound more ignorant that you already have to this point.

[Unregistered]

This is a game between two of the top 20 U12 boys teams in the New England region. Coordination and skill is at a high level.

Your opinion about diving being more prevalent among people whose first language is not English is ignorant and problematic. So as a referee, do you talk to all the darker skinned or foreign looking players before a game to check if they have a heavy accent?

Alert! Alert!! Alert!!! Liberal lefty going on a rampage about profiling and racism. Actually, maybe the Refs refer to Ebonics.....there now you really have something to respond to.

[Unregistered]

lol. Coordination and skill might be at a high level for a u12 team.

But coordination and skill are far from a high level relative to any meaningful metric.

huh? meaningful metrics for coordination and skill in soccer? There are none that are widely used or accepted- so stop talking out of your bum.

[Unregistered]

huh? meaningful metrics for coordination and skill in soccer? There are none that are widely used or accepted- so stop talking out of your bum.

I'd say not falling over yourself is a good start for a meaningful metric.

[Unregistered]

This is a game between two of the top 20 U12 boys teams in the New England region. Coordination and skill is at a high level.

Your opinion about diving being more prevalent among people whose first language is not English is ignorant and problematic. So as a referee, do you talk to all the darker skinned or foreign looking players before a game to check if they have a heavy accent?

I do not consider any u12 team to be "skilled". Every player has more flaws than strengths. I never said anything about skin color. I have officiated many many games. Diving is more prevelant among certain ethnic groups. Fact, not opinion.

[Unregistered]

I do not consider any u12 team to be "skilled". Every player has more flaws than strengths. I never said anything about skin color. I have officiated many many games. Diving is more prevelant among certain ethnic groups. Fact, not opinion.

I'm a coach who has players from many ethnic groups on my team. So if diving is "more prevelant among certain ethnic groups" or "whose first language is not english" - how do you stay fair when you see a dark skinned player (mexican, brazilian, asian, italian, mix - who knows these days where this kids come from) get "tripped" in the box. Did he dive? He could be in that "certain ethnic group" where diving is more prevalent. How do you know??

[Unregistered]

Diving is more prevalent among certain ethnic groups? Huh? Was that on your licensing test? Question #23, "Diving" is more prevalent among a) girls b) boys c) boys with darker skin and accents or d) none of the above.

I think you seriously need your head examined. Why would you even post something so ridiculous?

[Unregistered]

wow!

This is the second or third ref who has posted saying that diving is more prevalent among certain groups. First one said South Americans, the other said "people whose first language is not English" and another (same person?) said "certain ethnic groups".

Coaches- better accept only 2nd generation, white americans on your team or your players have a higher chance of getting a yellow for diving!!!

Are these guys for real???

[Unregistered]

Wouldn't be surprised if one of these guys is the ref in the video!!!

[Unregistered]

There is a lot of racial bias among referees in MA. I have seen it first hand in my many years coaching in this state. These guys make the really good refs look bad and spoil the pipeline for new recruits.

[Unregistered]

Throwing the race card out there is wrong on so many levels. Now you are sterotyping the officials just like certain people did the players.

[Unregistered]

Throwing the race card out there is wrong on so many levels. Now you are sterotyping the officials just like certain people did the players.

You are right. My apologies. I was just saying that I've seen it several times- did not mean to paint a broad brush. Most refs are good chaps.

[Unregistered]

These videos are fun, always disagreement on what is a foul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gr7H...e=relatedBelow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p0I4...eature=related

Please make note of where the referees are when these "incidents" occur.