A coach can tell the press his team lost because the referee called an unwarranted free kick. Even if the coach is correct about that particular call, it’s unlikely he’ll also list any mistakes the referee made in his team’s favor. He won’t mention difficult, correct calls that helped his team. He is absolutely not going to mention the fouls his players committed that went unnoticed. If the coach is wrong, his comments still carry weight because they aren’t countered. Certainly not by the referees, who aren’t interviewed. With coaches and players blasting refs, and the media relaying their unchallenged claims, an atmosphere emerges in which fans lose all respect for officials. So, in MLS we have fines. Four players and coaches have paid for knocking officials in the press. (Another 11 were fined for on-field antics.) Is it right to limit free speech at press conferences? If asked his opinion about a call, shouldn’t a coach answer? Unfortunately, the referees’ critics often err and frequently mislead. Coaches have their interests ù even their livelihoods in mind ù and referee-bashing is how they shed responsibility. They don’t go around praising referees when their teams are justifiably punished. Have you heard them admonishing their own players who foul consistently? Referees blunder unintentionally. They see an incident from a poor angle, or misjudge an act in a very fast game. They are correct most of the time, but judged by their mistakes. The MLS will fine, and referees will keep getting blamed. There are two statements in this issue of Soccer America that could earn fines. To defuse these such situations, MLS should allow referees to make postgame statements. Let the public know what a player or coach said before he was ejected. Let a referee explain how he saw an incident. by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla