Photo by ISIphotos.com
From the "Not that guy again" department comes word that the referee for the U.S. Under-20 national team's crucial Under-20 World Cup match against Cameroon on Tuesday (12:40pm, ESPN2) will be none other than Jorge Larrionda.
Name doesn't ring a bell? He's the same referee who officiated the 2006 World Cup match between Italy and the United States (a match that saw three red cards, including two to American players). Larrionda most recently served as the referee for the U.S. team's shocking 2-0 upset win against Spain, a match that saw Larrionda issue a questionable red card to Michael Bradley in the dying moments of the match. After the match, Larrionda filed a report with FIFA claiming that Bradley verbally abused him after the match in the locker room area, a complaint that led to Bradley serving a toothless three-match suspension during the Gold Cup.
Perhaps this isn't bad news after all. Consider that the U.S. national team tied eventual WOrld Cup winners Italy and upset No. 1 ranked Spain in the two matches in question. Could we see another positive result for the Americans?
What do you think of this news? Surprised? Laughing to keep from crying? Calling your bookie to throw all your money on the USA getting a red card on Tuesday?
Share your thoughts below.
I’m gonna make some money off this game hehehe
I’ve never understood the uproar. I think all three sendings off in the US – Italy game were standard.
So all you gambling degenerates:
What is the over/under on yellow cards, red cards and yanks ghoing early to the shower???
After the line gets sets, I’m making a run to Delaware–oh wait–has the USSF joined in with the NFL, the other Big Three leagues and the NCAA to try to block the great Mid-Altantic, sales tax free State from taking bets on soccer?!?!?
Can I buy a parlay ticket from a 7-11?
At least when Dude refs, the scoreline is a kind to us…
Holy crap. Seriously, what are the odds? Or are we moving into conspiracy theories at this point?
Honduras has suspended civil rights 45 days and is now in control of their media, when will it be decided on if the WCQ will be relocated?
“I’ve never understood the uproar. I think all three sendings off in the US – Italy game were standard.
Posted by: Jared”
Generally speaking, any red card that involves Pablo Mastroeni is justified.
Seriously, Ives, step up the pre-game coverage of US-Honduras…maybe a daily update on the political situation, some comments form USSF, etc…- we’re not that far away and the arrangements for a different location would have to be made pretty soon, right? We’re less than 2 weeks away…
Also, Jared Jeffrey is my top candidate to get the obligatory red card, he was mowing people down on Saturday, would not be shocked to see him get a straight red tomorrow…
^^ Honduras is working to preserve it’s country’s civil rights from a “Chavezista” Dictator wannabe. The match should be played in Honduras, and this opinion is from a USA supporter that wants us to have every possible advantage to win and advance to South Africa.
This guy is a clown………I hope he gets a Jarred Jeffry cleat to the bag.
We beat Spain with this guy on the field (and almost beat Italy) – the only thng that would make me upset about his appointemnt was if it were to preclude him from calling the Costa Rica game in a couple of weeks.
^^Let’s leave out the politics. Por favor.
I agree with you to a point: if the match can be held safely in Honduras then it should be played in Honduras.
But if it can’t then it should be moved. I’m not about to put our guys any additional risk in order to make some sort of political point.
steve, there’s no chance he’ll be refereeing the costa rica game — he’s not from concacaf.
“I’ve never understood the uproar. I think all three sendings off in the US – Italy game were standard.
Posted by: Jared”
I thought Pope’s second yellow was soft-ish, and his first yellow was very soft. Mastro probably should have been sent off. It should also be noted that absolutely every Italian dive in that match drew a foul, including the one that led to their goal.
If this Cameroonian team is as physical as Cameroonian teams of years past, then having a hyper-sensitive ref will probably be to our advantage.
I’m having a premonition…I see it all very clearly…
Put me down for 3 yellows to the US and 2 yellows for Cameroon. No ejections. Larrionda finally gets to oversee a US loss and callously forces all the US players to stay on the field and endure it.
However, he inadvertently boosts the USMNT’s WC qualifying efforts when he files a report alleging that USMNT players Clark, Bornstein, Feilhaber, and Cherundolo were making mean faces at him through their televisions. All are suspended for two matches. BB starts Torres and Castillo, who combine for two goals and two assists in wins vs Honduras and Costa Rico. The US earns a seed at SA10. Everyone still wants BB fired.
Brock,
Couldn’t agree more with Yankiboy. Leave the politics out, it’s a safety question. No major corporation or government agency would send anything but emergency/critical employees into a situation like this (or the military). The USMNT should not be any different and is not a tool for political statements either way.
when a country prepares for a revolt, maybe playing a soccer game in that country is not the best idea….
as for the illogical argument, I’ll take the bait… how does suspending civil rights and shutting down opposition media constitute preservation of civil rights? you don’t violate people’s rights to preserve them… a dictator of any politicla persuasion is still a dictator…
Agree with JeffM — Two of the three reds in the Italy – US match were clearly deserved; however, both of Pope’s cards were very questionable.
Heck, even the Italian fans surrounding my seats in the stadium agreed when we booed the call.
I’m just surprised we seem to get the same refs so frequently. Are there really that few FIFA refs?
The constant “ref sucks” bitching and moaning is getting old. The US beat Spain for f**** sake. If Bradley had not wanted to banned, he should have zipped his yap. If anyone of you thinks you can do better … do it. And quit flapping your lips about it.
i was upset when i found out i wasnt going to see the game b/c i was working, but now im not
i think bradleys was a yellow…..the reds i truly remember in recent times were michael orozco’s(olympics) and rico(confed cup) b/c they were horrible calls…..they were both the type of plays that could look horrible from one persons view but IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT IT, nothing happened….rico just tapped the guy with his foot and should be a yellow at most, and orozco’s i just found hilarious, he moved his arm back into the nigerians chest slowly when he was being mauled and the nigerian flopped on the ground and cried out malice….the ref somehow thought it was an elbow to the face
all those red cards were deserved.
The only thing that concerns me after watching Cameroon play is that they dive alot and Larrionda bites on every dive.
We beat Spain and were the only team to get a point against the eventual World Cup Champions. So… he’s like a kind of twisted good luck charm?
Larrionda is bad because he feels the need to put himself in the game, even things out, make things right. In the Italy game the red for busting McBride’s face with an elbow was outside his control, the two that followed were driven by his righteous needs.
How about we send Larrionda to Honduras to sort things out?
I’m all about conspiracy!!!!
I’m preparing my email to FIFA right now. If there is a US red card, I will promptly send.
“We’ll be making some changes to our starting line up just like we did against Germany, so you can expect a few surprises. Hopefully we’ll perform better than we did in the first match. Cameroon are an excellent team and we have a lot of respect for them, but we’ll be going into the match well prepared,” Thomas Rongen, USA coach.
you heard it hear first. they’re well prepared and changes expected…
Korea is even with Germany at the present 1-1. The most glaring difference between this performance and the USA vs Germany is Korea’s team speed. They are beating Germany with speed down the wings and to 50/50 balls.
His shirt color says it all.