What does MLS referee boss Joe Machnik do in the offseason? HeÆs orchestrating ways for the league to address four major issues.

SOCCER AMERICA: One of the most obvious problems for MLS referees must be the amount of abuse they took from players last year …

JOE MACHNIK: The first focal point addresses the outrageous amount of dissent in various forms that has become almost characteristic of many of our games.

It was great to hear, during our meetings at MLS Cup 2000, coaches and GMs say that itÆs out of hand and that this is a matter that canÆt just be left to the referees, but that must also be dealt with in the locker rooms.

SA: So what do you do?

JM: WeÆre putting together a videotape, which players and coaches will see before the preseason, demonstrating the behavior ù verbal or visual ù that will draw cautions.

Also, thereÆs been an unwritten rule that players donÆt get second yellows for dissent, and theyÆve taken advantage of it.

It will be made clear that cautionable dissent will draw a yellow card, and even if the player already has been cautioned, he will get his second yellow ù an ejection.

IÆve also suggested that we increase the penalty points for dissent cautions, in order to increase the chances for suspension, because I believe that the threat of suspension, much more so than fines, discourages misbehavior.

SA: The second focal point?

JM: Protecting attacking soccer. Too many times last season referees gave the benefit of doubt to the defenders.

There were probably a dozen incidents in 2000 when, instead of the defender getting the ejection he deserved, there was only a caution, a foul but no caution, no foul, or the attacking player getting called.

SA: The third?

JM: Despite the fact that we think weÆve improved, there were still maybe 15 goals called back for offside that were bona-fide goals. Replays keep proving that situations that looked offside were not, and we will encourage assistant referees to keep their flags down.

SA: The fourth?

JM: There is a greater need for teamwork. We have noticed decisions being made where the referee probably should have consulted the assistant referee or even the fourth official.

FIFA now calls linesmen assistant referees, and thatÆs because the culture needs to be changed: assistant referees shouldnÆt be afraid to raise their flags. And sometimes itÆs the fourth official who has the best view of a situation. We will stress that referees should use the input of their assistants.

by Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla