NWSL Officials were primed for a second go round of the season after a reminder from FIFA, PRO and the rest of the world to not end games early.
Photo Credit: http://www.proreferees.com/
How many minutes are there in a game? 85? 70? Who knows?!
After a situation in Boston where the head referee of the Boston Breakers versus Portland Thorns NWSL match ended the game and picked up the ball before the minimum of two minutes of stoppage time had elapsed and then realized that there was still time left in the game before restarting the game, PRO admitted that their referees were confused by how much time was actually in a soccer game.
"We had some referee's asking how much time was in a soccer game and whether it was necessary to continue a game that was all but over with all that stupid stoppage time in a match if they had dinner reservations at Alden & Harlow," stated general manager of PRO Peter Walton. "We had to reiterate that it was a minimum of stoppage time, not a general suggestion, and that they should always plan their dinner plans to be further out from the finish of the game."
The Nutmeg News can confirm that while nearly everyone including the players, crowd, coaches and assistant referees thought the game was over that it was, in fact, not. The result was that the game restarted and finished with 90 seconds of pure quality that shows how on level the refereeing from PRO is with other sports.
"We may have messed up the finish, but those 90 seconds were amazing," stated Walton. "It was right up there with Howard Webb in a Champions League final. And honestly, anyone could make that mistake, it isn't like we are getting paid to be referees. Soccer is a fluid game, maybe we should just be able to end games whenever we like. Until that happens, though, we DO plan in the future to actually have the game finish when it is designated to do so and not early."