#worldcup19

If you are living under a rock and unaware that the National Women’s Soccer League contains some of the best soccer players in the world, then it’s time for you to move out. As the 2019 NWSL season comes to an end, fans are eagerly waiting for the 2020 season, hopefully with better referees.  

Throughout the 2019 season, fans, players and coaches have called-out referees for their horrible officiating. As many of you know, referees have the power to make calls that can impact the results of the game. These decisions also play a vital role on who will take home the Championship title. Time and time again, fans, players, and coaches have been vocal about how some of the NWSL officials have been making bad calls – some of which have cost a team the win and three points.

Throughout the season, players, fans, coaches, and former players have voiced their opinions on why US Soccer should have higher standards for the NWSL.

On August 10th, (Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash), Reyna Fonceca “wrongly called a penalty kick, as the NWSL later admits and there should have never been a foul.” Ali Krieger, USWNT and Orlando Pride player, who is a two-time World Cup champion, voiced her concerns, “We’re putting a good product out on the field and every year we’re getting better and the referees seem like they are not,” she said. “So, I beg the NWSL — just the standard needs to be higher. It’s just unfortunate that you feel like the referee is ruining the game. They are taking the fun out of the game because they are not good enough.”

On September 17th, (Houston Dash vs. The North Carolina Courage), Allysha Chapman, Houston Dash defender, had a high-boot kick to the face, but no foul was given. In the 58th minute of the same game, Sofia Huerta was taken down in the box by a NCC player, but no foul was given. However, Thomas Snyder gave a penalty kick to The NCC after Kristie Mewis, Houston Dash defender, who was arguably doing great defending, fouled a player. The NCC scored and won on a PK, while Kristie Mewis was given a yellow card. Kealia Ohai, Houston Dash Captain, tweeted, “Sad when a ref ruins the game. Proud of our team @HoustonDash Horrible call.”

These incidences are not isolated, rather, wrong calls have been given throughout the entire season. So, why is it that fans, players, and coaches have been consistently frustrated by these calls and left unhappy? Well, the issue does not necessarily lie within these referees, but within the structure of U.S. Soccer. According to ussoccer.com, there are different tiers in which referees officiate: FIFA (highest tier), P.R.O., National, Regional and Grassroots (lowest tier). The NWSL is primarily officiated by the National tier, a tier under Major League Soccer. Again, the NWSL contains world-class athletes from all over the world — many of which play for their national team and competed in the World Cup/Olympics. In order for women’s soccer to grow, a top-flight soccer league can’t have minor-league officiating, but deserves higher standards. In closing, this is a plea to U.S. Soccer: give world-class athletes what they deserve, not subpar officials.

Writer: @uswntxnwsl on IG

As a South African I'd like to thank the English for a hard played game and all the penalties they gave us in the 1st half, yes, indeed, God save the Queen. 🙃

As a South African I cannot explain how proud I am of our team, back in top after a long long time. It was so good to see a team that showcased SA's diverse demographic and worked so well together. Every one pitched in and while there were a few shining stars it was never up to One Diva to carry the show.