Beginning this weekend, MLS referees will enforce stricter regulations on illegal tackles from behind, MLS vice-president of game operations Joe Machnik announced May 8. The decision was made after a teleconference call between the MLS head coaches, deputy commissioner Sunil Gulati, and U.S. Soccer referee managers Herb Silva and Al Kleinaitas.
As part of the effort to deter such tackling, Los Angeles defensive midfielder Danny Pena was fined $500 for a “violent and dangerous tackle” on MetroStars midfielder Roberto Donadoni in a May 4 match at Giants Stadium.
“We are going to be very specific with the referees in letting them know that the league is taking a stronger position on tackling from behind,” said Machnik. “There is no way that some of our players will be able to withstand 32 games with the type of fouls that are currently occurring on the field.”
Machnik said he would address all MLS referees during the league’s weekly referee teleconference call.
“We want to make it clear that every referee understands that the league and the federation are very serious about eliminating the violent tackles,” he added. “Evidently, the fines the league has levied on top of yellow cards for these tackles has not been sufficient to deter this kind of behavior.”