Carroll's Elimination - Referee

Ref Grady is taken to task for four red cards issued to United, Fusion.

By Jerry Langdon
Gannett News Service

(Tuesday, August 24, 1999) -- Major League Soccer has in effect verbally disciplined referee Rich Grady, saying he was going too much "strictly by the book," culminating when he issued four red cards in last Saturday night's Miami Fusion-D.C. United match.

Joe Machnik, vice president for game operations, said during a teleconference call today that the official was reviewing the tape of the game with United States Soccer Federation director of referees Esse Baharmast. "It is our hope we won't have another game like this," he said of the FIFA-licensed official.

Grady has issued the most ejections, 20, in 36 games in MLS' four seasons, and also leads in yellow caution cards, with 162 -- averaging 0.56 and 4.50 per match. "Handing out cards is one way of controlling a game," Machnik said. "Man managing and people skills also can be used . . . We want to bring Rich closer to the middle."

Percentage-wise, he is No. 2 in red cards and yellow cards, behind Ricardo Valenzuela, who has 8 and 52, respectively, in 11 matches -- an average of 0.73 and 4.73.

Players complained in the Miami-D.C. United game that the infractions at most merited yellow cards, not expulsion. Critics say that some officials are over-reacting to Major League Soccer's concerns about overly rough play -- and are creating inconsistencies in particular with their calls on tackles from behind that are not endangering a player's safety.

Craigaldo wrote:only the second one......

Craigaldo wrote:we didnt blame the refs after the game. We just have so many "what ifs" now because we missed several point blank chances in the second half...it was hard to take...and to lose in double overtime with 29.6 seconds left before going to pks. Talk about a nightmare.....