Caps try to ignore officiating issues
Red cards are talk of league
Jordan Harvey won’t be changing his style. The same goes for Tim Parker.
As controversial refereeing decisions dominated the conversation in Major League Soccer this week, the defenders for the Vancouver Whitecaps — one a veteran of 11-plus professional seasons, the other a second-year player — said the last thing they plan to do is let up on the pitch.
“I’ve gotten red cards in the past,” Harvey, 32, said. “I’m just going to continue to play and let the chips fall where they may.”
MLS referees have issued 16 reds through 42 games, not a drastic increase from last season’s 14 dismissals over the same span, but it’s the inconsistent calls and reversal of decisions after the fact by the league’s disciplinary committee that has irked many players.
“You can let it change your game,” said Parker, 23. “Obviously what the referee decides is what it’s going to be, but I think in the back of your mind you kind of know that in every tackle there could be a rash decision made.
“The league wants to get a little bit more control over the games. In their eyes that’s going to better this league. But for some of us, we don’t feel the same way.”
The Whitecaps (2-2-1) will be without Matias Laba when they visit D.C. United after the influential defensive midfielder was sent off for a challenge against Los Angeles Galaxy’s Mike Magee in the first half of last weekend’s 0-0 home draw.
It was a call that left Vancouver fuming and even had some members of other teams openly questioning the level and consistency of officiating.
“It’s unfortunate for MLS right now that that’s the narrative,” Caps goalkeeper David Ousted said. “It has to come from MLS to give (referees) a better understanding of what’s a red and what’s not ... we’re in this together — the players and the MLS and the refs to make this league hopefully one of the best of the world, but it has to come from all sides.”
Vancouver will dress a sixth different starting lineup in as many games to begin the season at RFK Stadium versus a United side that has yet to taste victory in 2016.