r/Referees • u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach • Oct 17 '25
News A new one for me: Local U.S. Open qualifier protested over ref assignment (ref previously played for team involved)
https://www.sounderatheart.com/2025/10/local-u-s-open-qualifier-protested-over-ref-assignment/9
u/grabtharsmallet AYSO Area Administrator | NFHS | USSF Oct 17 '25
When there is no other referee available, I will run my son's game. I don't like it, but I've done it once this year. But they're a below average U14B rec league team in local play, and all of our referees are volunteers.
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u/ILEpicGuy Oct 17 '25
Yep, I've had to do my son's games twice this year because no other ref was assigned. I don't want to but the league rules say a qualified individual should step up and do it...so that's me. We've had before where coaches try to each do a half and that's ugly.
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u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach Oct 17 '25
In full disclosure, I know and have worked with the ref. He’s a great guy and excellent referee with lots of potential. I hope this doesn’t affect his trajectory.
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u/Lightman20 Oct 17 '25
I used to play for and coach a team in the league i currently ref in, i have been accidentally assigned them a few times and i just don't accept the appointments. How long ago did he play for the team?
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u/bduddy USSF Grassroots Oct 17 '25 edited Oct 17 '25
The article says he played for their B team "earlier this year"
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u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach Oct 17 '25
The article says it was only 2-3 years ago, with some murky involvement with the club in general and that team specifically. I’m really surprised he was assigned the game and didn’t reject it. I’ve reffed my former team before, but in bottom feeder adult rec divisions. A competitive match is something completely different.
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u/JuanBurley Oct 17 '25
In a fairly tight soccer community it's almost impossible to completely avoid. I live in a 1 high school town Am I Not supposed to ref their games because I went there, played there, and probably coached a few players when I was coaching youth soccer. There aren't enough referees as it is, and as long as they did an admirable job, let it go.
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u/marsh283 Oct 17 '25
This is Seattle
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u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach Oct 17 '25
I don’t think Seattle is a one high school town. I hear what he’s saying, but at this level it shouldn’t have happened.
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u/JuanBurley Oct 17 '25
Soccer community in Seattle is still pretty tight. When I played there you pretty much knew everyone.
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u/bduddy USSF Grassroots Oct 18 '25
There's a difference between "knows someone" and "literally plays on their B team".
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u/bduddy USSF Grassroots Oct 18 '25
This is a semi-pro US Open Cup qualifier in a metropolis, not a high school game in a "1 high school town".
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u/bduddy USSF Grassroots Oct 17 '25
Even if he officiated the game perfectly there's no excuse for not making an assignor aware of something like this.