UCSB versus Cal Berkley – Referee Red Card Decision

This one is completely off topic, but I wanted to share a video of an incident during the UCSB versus Cal Berkley game that took place this weekend (full recap). Most of you probably know, but I played my college career at UCSB and still follow the teams every game.

In the video below, you will see two players go into a challenge, only for one player to get knocked out via a blatant punch – right in front of the referee. The UCSB player, Luis Silva (in the blue jersey) ends up getting a red card, while the Cal player Servando Carrasco (in the white jersey) only receives a yellow. Really? How does the referee come to that conclussion when he is standing right beside the play? Shocking decision!

What makes the incident even more unbearable is the fact that there will be no follow up repercussions for Carrasco or for the referee. The NCAA does not have a referee rating system in place, where coaches can give their evaluations of a performance. What makes this a joke is the fact that the Sunday League I play in HAS a referee rating system in place! What am I missing on this one?

The main reason I wanted to share this video with you is this: There is no place for this sort of malicious behavior in soccer – if you are in a similar situation don’t fall into the trap of retaliation, take the foul and get on with the game. You will be a better player for walking away and you will be showing a high level of respect for the game. Use this video as an example of what not to do.

I am keen to hear your thoughts on the incident, so leave me a comment below.