A few days ago, after a first-round playoff game in MLS between Houston and Dallas, I used a letter from a fan (and referee) to illustrate a weakness in the league policy about officiating. One of the most experienced referees in the league systematically ignored one of his responsibilities for ensuring a fairly-played match for the entertainment of the spectators and for the good of the game.

That performance, as it now becomes clear, came at the start of ten days in which Major League Soccer’s inadequate officiating was embarrassingly exposed for spectators and television viewers to cry over. The assassination of The Beautiful Game continued unabated . . .

The Chicago Fire beat D.C. United on aggregate goals on November 1, after a 2-2 draw in Washington. It was not without controversy, however, for the referee , a full-time official, took no disciplinary action when United goalkeeper tripped Calen Carr at the edge of the penalty-area in the second half. No penalty-kick, no sending off.

The official partially redeemed himself when he sent off a player at the end of the game (94 minutes). Although it was an “easy” decision because the player was from the losing team and will suffer no consequences, it was better than ignoring the offense, as happened in similar circumstances last year.

The Chicago coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, could not stay silent. He said that since he joined the club at mid-season he’s had trouble adjusting to the quality of the officiating in the league. “I just can’t hold it any longer,” Osorio said. “It’s really, really bad. … The one thing I know for a fact we have to improve is the refereeing. Hopefully they will not fine me for saying that.”

Then another fine mess the following night: another of the league’s full-time referees worked the FC Dallas/Houston match on November 2. By the time it was over, eleven players had had their name inscribed in the book: nine cautioned, one sent off for violent conduct, and another sent off on getting his second caution. Twelve acts of misconduct in 120 minutes of play, seven in regulation, five in overtime. Would any spectator enjoy watching such a match?

There is a positive in all this. Three of the cards were for delaying a restart, presumably after the referee or his masters had read my piece complaining about such lack of enforcement. (This site on October 29.) Like those late-night commercials say: “But that’s not all you get!”

On Saturday, Kansas City played Chivas USA in the final game of their series. It ended in a draw and so K.C. went through, but not before some terrible fouls. I could write a long article about this single game, but suffice it to say that the young referee, looking completely shell-shocked by what was going on around him, never got a grip on the proceedings after he allowed play to continue in the 19th minute when a player was floored by a foul-from-behind that left him down and in pain. No foul, no caution, nothing, for an potentially crippling foul for which the laws require that the criminal be sent off.

But there’s more! Later in the game, the referee got a clear view of one player launching himself airborne at an opponent, feet-first, studs raised, impacting the player above the ankle. Known as a “two-footed tackle”, it is hated by players, is an automatic red card in the Premiership in England, but here it resulted in only a caution, presumably for “ungentle conduct”.

Soon I will explain why some of this decision-making comes about.