Refs Receiving Too Much World Cup Attention

After another day where the referees stole he spotlight from the World Cup, many are screaming for some changes to be made.

Yes, the disallowed US goal is firmly implanted in the minds of all Americans. The second yellow card issued to Brazilian star Kaka' was as much a blown call, too. There have been others. FIFA has stated they like a little controversy, but this is one they cannot avoid any longer.

Look, I give these referees a lot of credit. There's is so much that goes on during a match, it's impossible to keep up with all the action. Players and team managers continually request why certain calls are made. Sometimes, they get a response from the match referee. Clint Dempsey had a pertinent statement after that match that should ring in all of our heads. Pay particular attention to the second half of his statement.

"To be fair, I think we should have won the game. That last goal, I don't know what the call was on that. ... No idea [what the foul was]. I have no idea. The ref didn't say nothing all game ... That's something you'll have to ask the ref. If there's any way you can figure that out, I'd like to know. That would be a good question."

What we all need to learn here is that FIFA's referees aren't required to answer any question at any time to any individual including players and coaches. That would be why the US has yet to receive any type of confirmation as to why Edu's goal was disallowed. The referees are required to issue a report immediately after a match is finished. Nothing more. No answers except for that report. Each match has an individual assigned to it to rate the referee and his assistants. These reports are usually kept in-house and not leaked to the public.

If you really think about this in a "bigger picture" kind of view, FIFA must also feel it answers to no one. It aids and abets the referees by enveloping them in a cloud of mystery. In essence, it appears that there is very little accountability here. If you have no one to answer to, who's going to see that your job is performed properly?

Considering the way officiating has transpired at this World Cup, I'm not surprised FIFA will publicly make a statement tomorrow. They have no choice. Fans around the globe has viewed the referees and their transgressions.

Blatter

My suspicions are that Koman Coulibaly, the referee from the US-Slovenia match, will not be involved in any further World Cup matches. I wouldn't be surprised if the Kaka' issue rears its ugly head or other highly questionable decisions are addressed as well. In this day and age of all the different forms of coverage available, there have been ramblings about finding a way to institute instant replay. FIFA has been adamant about such a move and I agree. Maybe, and I'm saying maybe, having a second referee on the field is the answer. Who knows. I'm hopeful that FIFA president Sepp Blatter and his team can devise such a method.

I will continue to watch soccer, or football, or futbol, however you prefer its spelling and/or reference based on the fact that I am a sports fan, not a referee fan. We cheer the players. I will continue to watch Landon Donovan roof shots. I will continue to watch Cristiano Ronaldo dive. I will continue to watch Lionel Messi display unfathomable goals. I will continue to watch Didier Drogba infuriate defenders. I will continue to watch (and sometimes listen to) Wayne Rooney use foul language.

There's no clear cut way to solve the issue of poor officiating. Just like players, refs have an off-day, too.

But doing it on this grand of a stage...