Gesture Politics. MLS referees will be cracking down on exaggerated displays of outrage in 2016
Exaggerated hand waving and arms flailing in pursuit of free kicks is next on the target list of bad habits the authorities want to see disappear from MLS.
We’ve all seen it; players and coaches indulging in fake displays of outrage and disbelief at the award or non-award of a free kick.
In return, his opponent, cleared of any wrongdoing, looks at the actor and shakes his head or occasionally expresses his personal disgust at the theatrical attempt to influence the official. He may even stand over his downed opponent and say “Get up, you diving little bastard” or something to that effect.
On the sideline, the coach throws his arms to the sky and looks heavenwards. On a good day, his staff might even rise from the bench as one. A colleague of the alleged victim will join thumb and forefinger to show the referee how to hold a red card, as if only the referee’s lack of dexterity has prevented the dismissal of the culprit.
At its best, it’s theater. At its worst, it’s an attempt to influence the referee into overreacting and making the wrong decision. No fan likes to see one of his players cautioned or sent off, seemingly at the request or under the influence of an opposing player.
However the days of overacting and histrionics in MLS may be over. A source inside the refereeing community told Prost Amerika that the men in the middle will be cracking down on the enhanced theatrics players use to influence officials, whether to gain free kicks or secure cards for their opponent.
It’s not just the players who could be in hot water. Coaches and benches who use exaggerated gestures and language to lean on officials are also going to earn the referee’s displeasure. It is unlikely that coaches will be sent to the stand immediately, but they will be politely asked to refrain and only receive a warning should they persist.
If that second warning does not suffice, clubs can expect to see ejections from the bench although Prost understands that officials will seek to initially avoid sending head coaches to the stand. Instead, they may remove a club employee, a kit man or assistant coach, or an official whose absence is less likely to hamper the offending club’s ability to strategize. The policy is intended to improve coach and bench behaviour but in a limited and gradual fashion without seeking headlines and confrontation. This “Ask, warn, eject” policy will be introduced into the league this season.
All 20 clubs have been informed of the new policy in the hope that they will immediately moderate their employees’ conduct ad set a better example to spectators, as well as to coaches and players at lower levels of the game.
As well as this new initiative, the referees will focus on increasing last season’s gains on reducing dissent.
A further area where fans can expect to see stronger action is persistent fouling. Referees have been told to make clearer to the crowd where a yellow card has been issued for team persistent fouling. The assistant referees have been asked to provide the referees with more assistance by communicating better when they see one player fouling too often, or one opposition player falling victim to a concerted effort to foul him out of the game. This should please fans who have wanted greater protection for the league’s more creative players.
The source also told us that they refereeing community was generally satisfied with the reduction in embellishment in MLS. It seems to be less effective in winning undeserved free kicks and the likelihood of retroactive sanction makes it far less worth the risk.
No referee will get every decision right in the course of a game. However the authorities’ measures for 2016 seem determined to reduce the amount of pressure they come under to make bad decisions. The beneficiaries will hopefully be fairer play and some protection for those players who just get on with playing the game and do not seek to unduly pressure referees.
Slowly but surely, the standard of refereeing in MLS is improving, and players and coaches are now being asked to help that further by refraining from pressurizing officials into bad decisions.
