On this weeks TSNFC podcast we spent a long time discussing the handball decision that effectively ended Vancouver Whitecaps season. [url=https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/]Stitched Soccer Jerseys[/url] . Much has been said and written about whether or not World Cup referee Mark Geiger made the right

On this weeks TSNFC podcast we spent a long time discussing the handball decision that effectively ended Vancouver Whitecaps season. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . Much has been said and written about whether or not World Cup referee Mark Geiger made the right call to penalize Kendall Waston in last weeks playoff match at Dallas, with many differing opinions on the matter. There doesnt seem to be a consensus, although Geigers boss - referees chief Peter Walton - said it was the correct decision and a standard call. As a veteran Premier League referee who now runs the Professional Referees Organization in North America, Waltons opinion should be respected, but the controversy surrounding the decision - and many other handball decisions we see all over the world each week - could easily be avoided if there were a change to the law. In my view, there are two things wrong with the current law. Firstly, the punishment doesnt fairly reflect the size of the crime. Secondly, there is too much room for interpretation of the referee which makes consistency of decisions almost impossible. Here are the main points of the current FIFA Law: Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm. The referee must take the following into consideration: ? the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand) ? the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball) ? the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an infringement Deliberate - done consciously and intentionally I dont think Kendall Waston made a conscious and intentional decision to handle the ball inside the penalty area in the last 10 minutes of a playoff match. In my mind it was a momentary lapse in concentration from the towering defender rather than a deliberate act. In relation to this law, it seems deliberate can also mean a player didnt react quickly enough to move his hand/arm out of the way of the ball. But the fact the law allows such ambiguity means officials are in the spotlight more than necessary whether or not they get the decision right. There must be a better way. Although video replays will certainly assist officials decision making in other areas, in the instance of Waston it wouldnt have made much difference because even with review, the decision would have been made depending on the officials interpretation of the law. One suggestion I have seen is to award a penalty anytime the ball hits a hand or arm inside the area whether it is intentional or not. A clear rule - it doesnt matter how it happens, if the ball strikes the hand, it is a penalty. Theres very little room for argument and interpretation there, but I think it would lead to far too many penalties and also an excessive number of game changing moments. Again, the punishment wouldnt match the offence. New Law So how about this. In order to provide clarity, I would be in favour of a rule change along the following lines: Anytime a player makes contact with the ball inside the penalty area with his hand or arm, an indirect free kick will be given. There is no room for interpretation - if it hits the arm or hand whether deliberate or not, it is an indirect free kick. There is one exception. If a player handles the ball to prevent a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity, a penalty is given. With this rule applied, Kendall Wastons handball would have been penalized with an indirect free kick, still giving the opposing team the benefit of a set piece close to goal but eliminating the need for a referee to award a penalty for an incident that was not going to end in a goal. For me, that far better reflects the size of the infringement and also would remove much of the debate surrounding penalty kicks awarded for handball. Im not na?ve enough to expect that changing the law would eliminate all problems. Im sure in some instances there would still be controversy and debate surrounding what is or isnt an obvious goal scoring opportunity. But I believe it would drastically decrease the amount of times a game is decided by a referees decision and therefore lead to more post-game talk about players instead of officiating – and that can only be a good thing. Replica Soccer Jerseys .C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have activated defenceman Joni Pitkanen from injured reserve. Fake Soccer Jerseys . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . According to Tony Barrett of The Times, the Liverpool captain is set to announce that he will leave the club at the end of the 2014-15 season.BALTIMORE -- Orioles third baseman Manny Machado has a right knee ligament strain -- welcome news for a team contending for a berth in the AL playoffs. The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees. Machado had to be helped off the field and had a pair of crutches resting against his locker when he talked to reporters. The Orioles spent much of Tuesday waiting out a steady rain and awaiting the results of Machados MRI. One issue was resolved by late afternoon: Baltimores game against the Yankees was postponed and will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader on Sept. 12. The status of Machados knee, however, remained unclear until the team issued this statement on Twitter: INF Manny Machado has been diagnosed with a right knee ligament strain. An update on his condition will be provided tomorrow." Machado isnt Baltimores only injured infielder. Shortstop J.J. Hardy has a sprained lleft thumb. Cheap Soccer Jerseys. . Before the result of Machados MRI become available, Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked if either player was a candidate for the disabled list. "Im not going to handicap it," he replied. "I dont know yet, but just because someone goes on the DL doesnt mean that hes not going to play again this year, or hes going to have surgery or this and that. Sometimes that does clean it up. Right now weve got rooms for both of them in Chicago and Cleveland." The Orioles have a scheduled off day Thursday before opening a three-game series in Cleveland, followed by three games apiece against the White Sox and Cubs. Showalter said Machado appeared hopeful of avoiding the disabled list for a second time this season. The 2013 All-Star began the season on the DL while recovering from off-season surgery on his left knee. "He was optimistic (Monday) night. I wouldnt let him be anything else," Showalter said. "Unfortunately, hes had a little experience with it, so he knows the difference. Hes joking around and speaking very positively." ' ' '