The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
United critical of official after loss
Atlanta manager cites same referee for calls during home setbacks.
Atlanta United manager Gerardo Martino’s right leg was practically vibrating in agitation under the table as he said some of the 800 words focused on officiating after Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Martino has never held back from criticizing officials in his 47 regular-season games in charge of the Five Stripes.
But he unloaded on Sunday on one particular ref who played a significant role in taking two
would-be goals from United in its past two home games and giving one to Sunday’s opponent by not suggesting a review of a call that resulted in a penalty kick.
That referee is Mark Geiger. The veteran official was on the field and took away a goal from Josef Martinez in a 2-0 loss to Sporting KC two weeks ago; was in the replay booth Sunday and suggested that referee Chris Penso review another goal scored by Martinez that was disallowed; and didn’t suggest that Penso review a penalty called against Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson. Replays showed that New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips threw himself to the ground to draw the call. The penalty was converted to tie the game 1-1 in the 42nd minute.
“I don’t want to take away credit from Red Bulls, so I don’t want to justify it with VAR, because Red Bulls are a very good team and the same thing for Kansas City, but the reality is that both games had the same protagonist, and when I say the same ... I’m talking about the same person,” Martino said. “In one game he refereed and in the other he reviewed. And they were decisive in the outcome of the game.”
At the beginning of the press conference, Martino acted as if he didn’t know Geiger was the Video
Assistant Referee, which is an official who watches the game on a TV feed. The VAR watches in a booth on the same level as press row, high above the field. Martino said he didn’t know Geiger was the Video Assistant Referee until he was told by a reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“So it was Mark Geiger?” he asked. “The same one who officiated the match against Kansas City? I didn’t know. I just found out.”
By the end of the questions about VAR, it seemed like Martino was well aware who was watching from above.
“The worry is for you all because the person reviewing VAR is going to the World Cup,” Martino said of Geiger. “It’s going to speak poorly of you all, not me.”
Atlanta United’s players, who were interviewed in the locker room before Martino spoke in a room a few yards down the concourse, were also critical of Geiger.
Gonzalez Pirez said the Martinez’s goal shouldn’t have been disallowed for what Penso said was a foul on Tim Parker after Geiger communicated to him to watch a replay of the sequence before the goal in the 32nd minute. On the play, Martinez and Parker were both chasing a through pass. Martinez ran toward Parker’s right shoulder, causing him to move right. Martinez then cut back to his left. Their feet got tangled and Parker fell down. Penso originally ruled a goal. Penso later said that Martinez tripped Parker. Martino said he can only think of a
few times in his career he has seen that called against the offensive player. Gonzalez Pirez said both officials should be suspended.
“The Josef goal? What did he say,” Gonzalez Pirez said. “It’s stupid. It’s stupid. Because Parker runs to one side and Josef runs to the other side? He says foul. This is a foul? This is real? This is stupid. The referee every week, every single week, the same.”
Michael Parkhurst, Atlanta United’s captain, said Penso told him that it was a clear and obvious foul by Martinez.
“I said you had a clear view of it the first time and you didn’t call it, so it couldn’t have been too clear,” he said.
“He said he second-guessed himself and didn’t call it.”
On Robinson’s foul that led to the penalty kick 10 minutes later, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said he didn’t think it was a foul because that kind of contact is typical and calling it risks turning soccer into a non-contact sport. Guzan questioned why replay wasn’t used on that play.
“Referees are human,” he said. “I get it. It’s not an easy job. When you have it at your disposal, and you are still making decisions the way some decisions are going, not just tonight, but throughout the year, you have so start asking questions.”