By Ben Nicholson
July 31 – MLS Commissioner Don Garber took the opportunity at the recent MLS All-Star game to show that, on the league’s 20th anniversary season, the MLS is a forward thinking enterprise. His half time comments indicated the league is seeking to evolve with technological growth and its own popularity growth.
Garber expressed his intention to explore the incorporation of video replay into MLS refereeing. He said that he had already spoken to the Board about how instant replay might work, claiming, “we think it can work, we’d love to see it work.”
He went on to say that the MLS must first talk to U.S. Soccer and FIFA, that “we’ve got to make sure the technology works, but you should know that MLS is a supporter of the idea.”
This is welcome news to MLS fans that have in recent years lamented the competency of their domestic referees, suggesting that the qualitative player improvement in the league has not been matched by the officiating.
Particularly pleased may be Michael Bradley, US national team player, who stated, in July 2014: “The people at the MLS office in New York, when they talk about wanting to improve the league, the first thing that needs to be improved is the refereeing.”
Garber also speculated about changing the format of the All-Star Game. He suggested switching back to the traditional US model of dividing the country in half for an Eastern Conference versus Western Conference match-up.
The MLS previously adopted this familiar format, a lauded feature of the NBA that deals up much talent and little serious competition, until 2005 before tactically switching to take on the rest of the world in view to expanding the global reach of domestic North American soccer.
But with the rapid development of the MLS, Garber believes it is worth reconsidering.
“I think there was a time when we needed to show the world that we could play against them. Now the world is kind of looking at us and wondering how can [they] be a part of it. So doing an East vs. West with all the great players we have probably makes sense, and maybe it’s time for a change. But we’ll go through a process through the year where we’ll try to figure that out,” said Garber.
As MLS commissioner, Garber had two free roster picks on the MLS All-Star team. He chose Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who both, at the time of choosing, had not played a single MLS game. Though a shrewd commercial choice, he was subjected to bemused criticism from fans who wanted to reward those who have been slugging away all season in the league.
All’s well that ends well, though, as both withdrew from the game because of injury and the All-Stars went on to defeat Tottenham 2-1.
Garber also fielded questions about the integrity of the MLS in wake of the recent corruption allegations made against FIFA and CONCACAF. Garber’s response to a question asking if the league is clean: “One hundred thousand percent. No question.”
Garber found time, as well, to reaffirm the league’s commitment to granting David Beckham’s MLS franchise pending the securing of a stadium.
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