The internet was buzzing in the first half of tonight’s Seattle Sounders match in New England, but unfortunately for the Rave Green, it didn’t have anything to do with Aaron Kovar’s first professional goal.
Less than 20 minutes after Kovar’s strike put the team on top, midfielder Erik Friberg was called in the box for a handball and on the replay, the ball appeared to hit Friberg in the midsection. The Revs converted the PK, but Twitter immediately reacted.
Following the match, Kyle McCarthy, the match’s pool reporter, submitted a question for review to the referee. Seattle Times reporter Matt Pentz posted the response.
Following the match, Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said that while he hadn’t seen the play, he was able to speak to the officiating crew following the match. “I was told by the fourth official that they’re not even allowed to look at it [the replay] at halftime, which is amazing to me. It seems like you would want to look at it and see if you made a mistake or didn’t make a mistake,” he said. “I think penalty kicks and red cards – there’s always a stoppage in play. It takes time before the penalty kick is taken. It takes time before a player gets off the field after a red card. Those situations can easily be reviewed by having a monitor.”
Seattle has had a PK awarded to an opposing team in six out of 12 matches so far this season.
Schmid said that with technology being as it is, the opportunity to take a second look at key plays should be introduced. “Too often, games are decided by bad calls.”
