Less than a month into the 2016 Major League Soccer season, there have already been 16 red-card ejections. Factor in retroactive bans by the Disciplinary Committee, and more than half of the league’s games to this point have produced suspensions.
But when judged against MLS’ recent history, are trigger-happy referees really that uncommon of a trend, especially this early in the season? And even if they are, is erring on the side of caution when it comes to dangerous tackles necessarily a bad thing?
That depends on who you ask.
The verdict was unanimous in Vancouver on Saturday night, after Whitecaps midfielder Matias Laba was sent off for making contact with Galaxy attacker Mike Magee’s ankle with cleat studs showing.