Category Archives: Officiating

FIFA to minimize requirement of red cards on penalty area offenses

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Roy Kessel

It is bad enough that every minor foul in the penalty area results in a penalty kick, a sanction severe enough to decide many matches. At least now FIFA is looking for alternatives which would allow the officials not to … finish reading FIFA to minimize requirement of red cards on penalty area offenses

Posted in Athletes, Current Stories, Daily Digest, FIFA, Governing Bodies, Officiating, Penalties, Soccer, WTL (Where's the Line?) | Leave a comment

MLB still deserves failing grade for lack of replay in World Series

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Roy Kessel

As we see every year, there was another missed call in game 4 of the World Series.  So why is Commissioner Bud Selig still so resistant to replay, with a feeling that replay will ruin the sport? Rangers manager Ron … finish reading MLB still deserves failing grade for lack of replay in World Series

Posted in Baseball, Commissioners, Daily Digest, Features & Commentary, Instant replay, Leagues, MLB, Officiating | Leave a comment

ACC admits officials error in FSU-Wake game

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Roy Kessel

The Atlantic Coast Conference acknowledged a referee made a “clear mistake” during a first-down measurement during the Florida State-Wake Forest football game according to the Tallahassee Democrat. During the third quarter of the game, ACC officials were measuring whether a … finish reading ACC admits officials error in FSU-Wake game

Posted in College Football, Conferences, Current Stories, Daily Digest, Football, Officiating, Universities, WTL (Where's the Line?) | Leave a comment

RTC: College celebration rule again shows why it is among worst in sports

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Roy Kessel

Watch the tape of the LSU TD that was called back. You have a punter running the ball in on a fake punt. He puts his arms out a bit. Probably the least celebratory celebration you have seen. This rule … finish reading RTC: College celebration rule again shows why it is among worst in sports

Posted in College Football, Daily Digest, Features & Commentary, Football, Governing Bodies, Leagues, NCAA, Officiating, Penalties, RTC (Rules to Change), Universities | Leave a comment

WAC apologizes for 22 minute replay delay

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Roy Kessel

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson on Tuesday apologized for an “excessive” delay during Saturday’s Hawaii-Louisiana Tech football game in Ruston. As you can see in this AP report, the officiating crew took 22 minutes to conduct an instant replay … finish reading WAC apologizes for 22 minute replay delay

Posted in AYK (Are you Kidding??), College Football, Commissioners, Current Stories, Daily Digest, Football, Officiating | Leave a comment

FIFA delays goal-line technology until at least 2013

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Roy Kessel

It is hard to believe that FIFA is not doing everything possible to get goal-line technology into the sport as quickly as possible.  It would seem that soccer is one of the few sports that would easily allow this technology … finish reading FIFA delays goal-line technology until at least 2013

Posted in Current Stories, Daily Digest, FIFA, Governing Bodies, Officiating, RTC (Rules to Change), Soccer, WTL (Where's the Line?) | Leave a comment

Was Serena’s fine enough?

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Roy Kessel

Serena Williams was fined $2000 for her outburst at the chair umpire during the Women’s Final at the U.S. Open. It was not the first time she has been fined but if there is really a desire to deter conduct, … finish reading Was Serena’s fine enough?

Posted in ATP, Athletes, Daily Digest, Fines, Officiating, Tennis, The Ugly Truth | Tagged , | Leave a comment

IAAF not willing to change false start rule

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Roy Kessel

No sport likes to lose any of its star players from one of its marquee events.  So when Usain Bolt had a false start and was disqualified from the finals of the World Athletic Championship, many wondered whether the IAAF … finish reading IAAF not willing to change false start rule

Posted in Athletes, Current Stories, Daily Digest, Governing Bodies, IOC, International Sports, Officiating, Olympic Sports, RTC (Rules to Change), Track and Field | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Female boxer loses sex bias claim in stopped fight

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Roy Kessel

A female fighter was upset that her bout was stopped just because she had a broken hand and claimed that a male fighter would not have been forced to stop fighting. From the AP report:  The California State Athletic Commission … finish reading Female boxer loses sex bias claim in stopped fight

Posted in Athletes, Boxing, Daily Digest, MOJ (Miscarriage of Justice), Officiating | Leave a comment

FIFA bans 6 officials for life

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Roy Kessel

FIFA has banned six officials for life after they helped fix two international exhibitions. The three Hungarian and three Bosnian match officials were banned after all seven goals in a Feb. 9 doubleheader (Latvia vs. Bolivia, Bulgaria vs. Estonia) organized by a … finish reading FIFA bans 6 officials for life

Posted in Bribes, Daily Digest, FIFA, Firings, Governing Bodies, Officiating, Police Blotter, Scheduling, Suspensions | Leave a comment

RTC: When will MLB wake up to replay

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Roy Kessel

There is absolutely no excuse for MLB to continue to put its head in the sand and not implement instant replay to correct easily correctable mistakes like we saw last night in the Pirates-Braves game.  Even MLB admitted that the … finish reading RTC: When will MLB wake up to replay

Posted in Athletes, Baseball, Commissioners, Daily Digest, Instant replay, Leagues, MLB, MOJ (Miscarriage of Justice), Officiating, RTC (Rules to Change) | Leave a comment

NHL addressing head shots with rule changes

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Roy Kessel

As concussions continue to receive more attention, all leagues are looking at ways to reduce the number of high impact collisions to players’ heads.  The NHL has taken a surprisingly aggressive approach to this issue.  The modified Rule 48 gained … finish reading NHL addressing head shots with rule changes

Posted in Athlete violence, Athletes, Coaches, Concussions, Daily Digest, Fans, Fines, Hockey, Leagues, NHL, Officiating, RTC (Rules to Change), Suspensions | Leave a comment

Coach John Spencer of MLS received fine and ban

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Mauri Miller

John Spencer, coach of the Portland Timbers, was fined $2,500 and received a one game ban for comments regarding the officiating during his Timbers’ 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids. In addition to saying, “poor, poor performance by the referee,” … finish reading Coach John Spencer of MLS received fine and ban

Posted in Coaches, Commissioners, Daily Digest, Fines, Governing Bodies, Leagues, MLS, Officiating, Soccer, Suspensions | Leave a comment

Madrid Appeals Coaching Ban

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Mauri Miller

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho received a five-game Championship League ban for accusing the UEFA and referees of conspiring to help Barcelona. The comments came after Madrid’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinals. Mourinho was … finish reading Madrid Appeals Coaching Ban

Posted in Coaches, Daily Digest, Officiating, Soccer, Suspensions, Trash talking, UEFA | Leave a comment

South African Man Attempts to Fix Soccer Game

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Mauri Miller

South African police arrested a 41-year-old man after a sting operation in which he tried to bribe match officials to fix a soccer game. He attempted to bribe officials to throw the game in favor of a team seeking promotion … finish reading South African Man Attempts to Fix Soccer Game

Posted in Arrests, Bribes, Daily Digest, Indictments, Jail/Prison, Officiating, Police Blotter, Soccer | Leave a comment

Jonathan Papelbon Upset About Ban

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Mauri Miller

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox closer, notched his 200th career save against the Yankees all while he appealed his three-game suspension. Papelbon was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount after he bumped umpire Tony Randazzo during an extra-innings win over the … finish reading Jonathan Papelbon Upset About Ban

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MLB will keep Joyce away from Galarraga’s games

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Roy Kessel

MLB has decided that James Joyce will not be allowed to umpire any games pitched by Armando Galarraga.  The decision was not reached because of their concern over Joyce’s blown call that cost Galarraga a perfect game, but because the … finish reading MLB will keep Joyce away from Galarraga’s games

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FIFA claims to have thwarted max fixing. But did it?

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Roy Kessel

According to this AP report, FIFA claims that it thwarted a match fixing plan in a match in March.  But when nyou read the account below, it really doesn’t add up?  If you “thwarted” it, why were the referees allowed … finish reading FIFA claims to have thwarted max fixing. But did it?

Posted in AYK (Are you Kidding??), Athletes, Bribes, Daily Digest, FIFA, Officiating, Soccer, WTL (Where's the Line?) | Leave a comment

Croat sentenced to 5+ years for match fixing

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Roy Kessel

(AP) A Croat and two co-defendants have been convicted of fraud by a German court for their part in what has been described as Europe’s biggest match-fixing scandal. Ante Sapina was sentenced to 5½ years in prison on Thursday. He confessed … finish reading Croat sentenced to 5+ years for match fixing

Posted in Athletes, Bribes, Daily Digest, FIFA, Fans, Jail/Prison, Officiating, Police Blotter, Soccer | Leave a comment

Salvatore admits mistake in Bulls-Hawks game

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Roy Kessel

It is unusual for a professional referee to admit a mistake and even more rare for the league to allow the official to make a public statement about it.  But after he blew the call late in the Hawks-Bulls game … finish reading Salvatore admits mistake in Bulls-Hawks game

Posted in Athletes, Basketball, Coaches, Daily Digest, NBA, Officiating | Leave a comment