“Players in the MLS make tackles that would render them a red card in Europe, but here they don’t even receive a yellow card”
Exclusive: Ljungberg Speaks out on MLS and Us
June 19
Swedish journalist Mattias Danielsson became a Prost Amerikan for the day and grabbed some Swedish language chat with Freddie Ljungberg. In return for showing him where the cookies were in the press box, he sent us Freddie’s thoughts in English.
On Living among us Seattleites
“I write an autograph now and then but remain quite anonymous. It’s nice to live by the water, being able to relax, going out with the dog without being followed by paparazzi.”
“We’re on the Same Level as the Dutch League”
On the Standard of Major League Soccer
“The level here (in the MLS) is not the same as in the English Premier league, no question. But we´re on the same level as the Dutch league and the pace is much higher here, and the offensive quality is much better than in Allsvenskan (the Swedish Premier league/First division).”
On Refereeing
Questioned about his occasional fractious relationship with MLS referees, Freddie’s answer may raise some eyebrows and will definitely create some discussion.
“I have to make a protest. Players in the MLS make tackles that would render them a red card in Europe, but here they don’t even receive a yellow card.”
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I agree with Ljunberg, our referees are too worried about the slightest amount of contact above the shoulders, but seem to not have any problem with two footed, cleats up, slide tackles.
The gifted jersey cost the ref a two match ban, but only after the league first said he wouldn’t be disciplined at all. (Aside from not being assigned a game one week — which they specifically said was NOT a suspension — to allow him to “clear his head.” Exact wording they used.) It was only after negative publicity that they reversed themselves.
Very Mickey Mouse.
The gifted jersey cost the ref a two match ban. The league wasn’t silent.
*He’s absolutely correct about MLS referees*
I don’t think that’s a surprise though. The real question is whether he and others think that the referees and physicality (inability to play futbol) of MLS is holding it back from progressing beyond the Dutch league.
As a person who bought tickets to the inaugural season of MLS(1995 – 1996) and then waited a year for the league to get started, I could not agree more. Many of the tackles in MLS are all-out assaults that would get investigated by the police in Europe. And please do not get me started on the whole “far” offside/”near” offside controversy because it has been called inconsistently for the entire MLS history. MLS refereeing has always been a topic in MLS history but the league and the commissioner have been tone-deaf for fifteen years. In Columbus, OH one referee accepted a jersey from a player. Such an action in FIFA, depending on where and when it occurred, could have brought a lifetime ban. In the MLS, the silence from the league was deafening. We have another fifteen years before the MLS refereeing will improve. Sad, sad, sad.