Perhaps the most recognizable face among American referees, FIFA ref Brian Hall has handled games at major competitions around the world — including last yearÆs Asia Cup — and has an MLS Cup under his belt. The Redwood City, Calif., resident is the focus of this edition of Socceramerica.comÆs referee series, ôView from the Middle.ö INTERVIEW BY BRYAN ALVAREZ SOCCER AMERICA: What is the toughest call in soccer? BRIAN HALL: There are three calls that could influence the outcome of any game: the penalty kick, the red card, and the goal/no goal decision (whether or not a ball actually crossed the line). No one is tougher than the other. It’s the situation that makes the decision tough. SA: What could be done to make the officials’ jobs easier? BH: Coaches, refs, and administrators getting on the same page and working together for the good of the game. We need to sit around a table, in a non-adversarial way and discuss the requirements for each of the three groups to be successful. That would make everyone’s job easier. SA: Is there such a thing as a “make-up” call? BH: No. Referees make mistakes just like players and coaches. When refs make mistakes, everyone is looking for the next call to be the make-up call. Refs don’t go out on the field after a borderline decision, and try to make up for it. It’s like the old saying, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” SA: What rule change would you like to see? BH: FIFA has done a great job lately by putting in rules to speed the game up. The rule I like, that they are still experimenting with, is that if there is dissent or encroachment, they move the ball 10 yards closer to the goal. It would be a good rule because players are getting better on free kicks. Anything that promotes attacking soccer, protects skillful players and allows the beauty and artistry of the game to show itself, I support. SA: What’s the worst thing about being a referee? BH: In the United States, while it has improved this year, there is a lot of dissension in the game. I refed at the UNCAF tournament, recently. I refed the biggest rivalry in Central America, Guatemala vs. El Salvador. They don’t complain like players in the U.S. Even at the youth level in the U.S., there is a lack of discipline in players and coaches. I’ve coached youth teams to three state championships. You still see parents and coaches verbally attack refs at that level. SA: What makes refereeing worthwhile for you? BH: Every game is a new challenge. It’s always a new situation. No two games are ever the same. I like to see if I am able to fairly and successfully manage each event. We are underpaid and there is a lot of politics at the higher level, but I keep coming back for the love of the game and the challenges. SA: What’s been your most frightening moment? BH: It goes back a few years ago to the Peninsula Soccer League in San Jose. It was an ethnic league. I was refing the championship game between two Portuguese teams. There was a controversial goal. The question was whether it was offside or not. One team attacked me and I had to be escorted out of the Watson bowl in San Jose. There were 2,000 drunk spectators betting money on that game and I had abandoned it before it was over. They were flapping their arms and making chicken noises. I got in my car, a four-cylinder Pontiac Sunbird, and was tailed by spectators for 45 minutes! SA: Your most embarrassing moment? BH: One game, I was refing in the Kingdome in Seattle on Astroturf. I was sprinting forward and turned to go backwards. I got stuck in the turf and I did a huge somersault. I tried to act cool and roll into a run like nothing had happened. But, it was caught on replay. They put it on the big screen, and replayed it in slow motion at various points in the game. SA: During your playing days, were you ever red-carded? BH: Once. I was a goalkeeper. I took down a striker, which was a yellow-card offense at the time. The ref came over and reached for his card. But, he had both cards in the same pocket and pulled them both out. He showed me the red side while he saw the yellow side. I thought I got red-carded for a yellow card offense. I had a few choice words for him and he then rightfully red-carded me. SA: How important is playing experience to being a good ref? BH: I feel that you have to have some playing experience. Does it have to be at a pro level? No. FIFA has recently lowered the age to be a ref to 25. They want younger and faster refs to keep up with the game. It would be hard for all of them to have pro experience. Also, Esse Baharmast, talks about something called the “ouch factor.” YouÆve got to have played so that when you see someone fouled, you feel the same pain that they felt. It brings you into the mentality of a player. I’ve coached for 21 years, we’ve won three state championships and had one second-place finish. I stay on top of the game through coaching. I understand tactics and what the players are thinking. When I’m refing, it helps me manage players’ psyche. Different nationalities have different attitudes and approaches. Players at different positions also have different psyches.