THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 29, 1995 TAG: 9507290427
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
In a decision that has jeopardized the Hampton Roads Mariners' playoff hopes, the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues reversed its earlier ruling of the team's protest, handing the Mariners an additional loss and leaving tonight's home game with Washington as Hampton Roads' last chance to gain ground in the standings.
The Mariners (12-7) are fourth in the USISL's Atlantic Division, but their position is not secure. Although four teams advance to the playoffs, Hampton Roads needs other clubs in the division to falter in order to advance to postseason competition.
The Mariners will not fight the USISL's decision.
``I don't see any way of getting around (the loss),'' said Hampton Roads general manager Shawn McDonald. ``At this point it seems like beating a dead horse.''
The situation began June 3, when the Mariners dropped a 2-1 decision to division rival Myrtle Beach at home. In that game, Hampton Roads officials contend referee Bill Gates blew a call that disallowed a Mariners goal. The team filed a protest using a videotape of the match as primary evidence.
The USISL upheld the protest on June 27 and agreed to substitute one of Hampton Roads' designated makeup games against an out-of-division opponent in place of the loss to Myrtle Beach.
One week later, international soccer's governing body, Federation Internationale de Football Association, sent the USISL a letter reasserting its disapproval of the use of video evidence to overturn a referee's decision. Fearing the repercussions of going against FIFA, the USISL relented and validated the Mariners' loss to Myrtle Beach.
``We were out of line. Our committee had no knowledge of that rule,'' USISL director of compliance Pat Parker said of the intial decision by the league's Review, Appeals and Discipline Committee to uphold the protest. ``We know we can't go against FIFA. When they say you can't do something, there's no exception.''
Parker cited amendments to FIFA's 1995 Laws of the Game detailing the use of video evidence, which the organization faxed to him in the wake of the protest, as the primary reason the USISL reversed its decision. But according to Vinnie Mauro, director of officials for U.S. Soccer, those amendments had no bearing on the Mariners' case.
``FIFA never uses a videotape against a referee. Otherwise we'd have millions of videos and most games would have to be redone or voided.''
FIFA laws state that video evidence can only be used as additional proof in disciplinary cases.
According to Mauro, under FIFA guidelines a team can only protest a referee's action if it involves a technical mistake or misinterpretation of rules. A referee's judgment cannot be protested.
Hampton Roads players said Gates initially told them he disallowed the goal because a team cannot score on a rebound of a penalty kick, a technical mistake on Gates' part. Asked about the call after the game, Gates said that he waved off the goal because the Mariners had encroached, a judgment call.
The impetus for FIFA's involvement in the Mariners' case may have been the fact that other teams in the Atlantic Division complained about the protest being upheld.
``Our beef was not with Hampton Roads. I would have done exactly what they did as far as protesting a match when it looked like poor interpretation of rules by a referee,'' said Brian Davidson, president and head coach of the Charlotte Eagles. ``Our beef was with the RAD Committee and the league. Ninety percent of the games played out of our division, we win. In the division, it's a dogfight.'' ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
MARINERS vs. WASHINGTON MUSTANGS
Site: First Colonial High School, Virginia Beach
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $5 for adults, $4 for youth.
About the Mariners (12-7): Hampton Roads will try to snap a
two-game losing skid buoyed by the return of captain Mark Waite, who
is 12 pounds lighter after an illness last weekend. In order to make
the playoffs, the team needs a solid performance against Washington.
Both the Mariners and Myrtle Beach can finish the season with 119
points, but the Boyz would advance because they've beaten Hampton
Roads twice. If the Mariners beat Washington and score at least two
goals, they will eliminate Greensboro, but the team still has to
rely on Myrtle Beach losing one of its final two games to be safe.
The Boyz are riding a six-game winning streak.
About the Mustangs (6-10): Washington wraps up its season against
Hampton Roads coming off a shutout two weeks ago of former Eastern
Division leader Richmond, which has defeated the Mariners twice.
Forward Adonis Maxwell is Washington's leading scorer with seven
goals. The Mustangs have seven former or current Georgetown
University players on the roster, including Ben McKnight, Chris
Jones, and Chris Ashby.
by CNB