Wayne.in.Canada comments

First off I am a Canadian and yes I was disappointed by the ref deciding the game with not one but 2 controversial calls. That aside let’s look at the game logically.

Some of you are defending the refs call to award a free kick because the Canadian goalie had held the ball too long. Most would agree the call is never made but if a rule is a rule then you believe it should be enforced. Okay then why was Hope Solo not called for the same infraction. I had taped the game so I went back to review it after it was over. Hope Solo the American goalie could be seen on more than 5 occasions holding the ball in excess of 20 seconds. This was what you could clearly see on the TV. Anyone watching the game saw it. If a ref is doing their job they make the identical call for both teams. This was clearly not the case. You may be thinking that any ref can miss the occasional call – okay I agree but miss 5 calls. How could the ref miss more than 5 instances of the same infraction - that my friends is doubtful.

Next let's talk about the penalty awarded for the inadvertent handball. Anyone who has ever refereed a game knows this was a poor call but again for the sake of argument let’s say it was the correct call. Now fast forward to the final game for gold with the US against Japan. Japan was awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. Japan kicks the ball and it goes off the hand of the American player. This was identical to the handball by the Canadian in the prior game. Clear as day shown on many instant replays. The result - no call by the ref. So now we need to decide. Did the ref make a right call in the US - Canada game or the right call in the US - Japan game? They both can't be right. Different ref but the Americans once again get the call their way. In each game it could be argued that the US team would not have won the game were it not for these controversial calls.

In the same US - Japan game on another occasion Japan was close to scoring and had passed the ball towards one of their strikers right in front of the goal. The US player tackled the Japan player by wrapping her arms around her waist like a bear hug and dragged her to the ground. Clearly an offense and clearly it should have been awarded a penalty kick. Again this was shown over and over again on instant replay. So what was the result of this instance. The result - no call by the referee.

So in recapping. The Americans tied the game and went on to win against Canada due to not one but two controversial calls that went their way. Canada was upset and some cried that Canada was a sore loser. In the gold medal game against Japan the American team had not one but two controversial calls go their way that had they both been awarded penalty shots as they should have been – the Japanese would have at the very least tied the game if not won it with the one or two penalty shots that should have been awarded.

Maybe it’s time for FIFA to take a closer look at the apparent undue influence the Americans had over the referees at the Olympics.

One controversial call their way - okay perhaps a mistake. Two controversial calls their way - suspicious. Three controversial calls their way - this does not look good. Four controversial calls their way - well folks if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck I believe it's a duck.

Wake up FIFA - investigate this or risk losing all credibility for your sport. If the referees were unduly influenced then the wins by the US should be overturned. If they were overturned then Japan and Canada should be allowed to play for gold.

As a last note I believe that players and teams should be allowed to win or lose a game based on their own skill. A close game should never be decided by a referee making controversial calls. It’s just wrong.