I have long been an advocate of an Independent Referee’s Body being set up to control all matters refereeing. This Body should also manage, train, control and promote refereeing in all its forms.

It should be responsible for the recruitment, selection, and discipline of match officials for association football (soccer).

It should be free from all interference from what I call soccer politicians who sometimes appear to have their own agenda and are not thinking of the interests of men and women who go out week after week sometimes at great cost and inconvenience to themselves and their families.

Law 5 of the FIFA Laws of the Game states quite clearly, “the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.” I highlighted that particular part for a specific reason.

It goes on to state, “the referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.”

Now I think that is pretty clear. So I ask myself these questions:

What part of that do soccer administrators NOT understand?

Is there anything confusing about the wording?
Why are soccer politicians interfering with the Laws of the Game?

It never ceases to amaze me the lack of knowledge shown by coaches and managers, and television commentators for that matter, when it comes to the FIFA Laws of the Game.

In a recent MLS game between New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew, the Red Bulls manager appears to have lost all sense of self control with his rather childish, but potentially dangerous and inflammatory outburst.

Mike Petke became so incensed after a penalty kick was awarded against his team that he launched into a tirade of childish petulance that is no good for him or for the game we all love so much

LA Galaxy completely outplayed and obliterated Seattle Sounders in the Home Depot Center stadium yesterday.  And Robbie Keane had a particularly good game scoring three out of four goals for the LA Galaxy.  Controversially, Robbie Keane’s hat-trick came thanks to referee Baldomero Toledo’s two crucial decisions.  First, referee Toledo awarded a penalty kick to LA Galaxy for a foul on LA Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes by Seattle’s Jimmy Traore in the 32^nd minute of the game.  Secondly, when Robbie Keane’s penalty kick shot was saved by Michael Gspurning, referee Toledo ordered that the penalty kick be re-taken because two Seattle Sounders players encroached into the penalty area before the penalty kick was taken.  Robbie Keane did not make the same mistake twice and buried his second-chance penalty kick.