ORLANDO, Fla. – Adrian Heath admits he has a lot of issues to review from Orlando City SC’s helter-skelter MLS debut at home to New York City FC on Sunday, but three of them are of the yellow variety.
Seven players in all were carded during the 1-1 draw by referee Alan Kelly, the man at the eye of a 62,510-spectator storm inside the packed Citrus Bowl. But while visiting trio Mehdi Ballouchy, Jason Hernandez and Jeb Brovsky were cautioned for fouls, home threesome Brek Shea, Kevin Molino and Cristian Higuita were all adjudged guilty of simulation. Aurelien Collin was also shown a straight red for his high challenge on New York star David Villa.
It left head coach Heath with a vexing situation to explain afterwards and, while he was careful not to criticize Kelly, he did plead for more understanding with some situations.
“Every time someone falls over doesn’t mean it's simulation,” said Heath. “Look at the example with Kevin. He actually gets pushed, tries to stay on his feet and then falls over, and he gets booked for simulation.
“I know we make it hard on referees sometimes, but I think it’s something we’re going to have to be really, really careful about.”
Heath admitted he had never had three players booked in such a fashion before and he will probably have a word in the locker room before Friday’s trip to Houston (7 pm ET, UniMás, UDN, UnivisionDeportes.com). But he also wants to avoid creating an early dilemma for officials with Orlando games.
“Making decisions is hard within a split second but then having to think ‘Did he try to dive? Did he not?’ We’re in danger of over-complicating things. I’d hope we can have some common sense on some of these decisions.
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“I know the league is keen to eradicate this sort of thing but I’d also hope we don’t get players immediately signaling for cards when a player goes down as that doesn’t help the referee either.”
Villa actually had some sympathy for both Heath and Kelly, admitting it had been a difficult game to officiate and there was blame both ways in on the day.
“Referees have a tough job,” the Spanish Designated Player said. “I know a lot of times we make life difficult for them on the field, especially me, due to the heat of the battle. But they have a tough job, just like us. Mistakes happen.”
