In 39 MLS matches in 2013, Sporting Kansas City conceded a single penalty kick (March 9 at Toronto FC) and only once saw a player sent off (June 22 at FC Dallas). Fast forward to Saturday's 2-0 loss at New England and the reigning MLS Cup champions were whistled for the team's third penalty and second red card through the season's first seven matches.
Happenstance? Hardly, according to the numbers...
Through 71 games in the 2014 MLS regular season, referees have pointed to the penalty spot and given marching orders at a record pace.
PENALTY KICKS
With 30 penalties through the first eight weeks of the season, MLS is on pace to have 136 penalty kicks in 2014 -- shattering the previous record high of 84 set in 2011.
<strong>YEAR</strong> |
<strong>PK</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>GP/PK</strong> |
<strong>PK/GP</strong> |
1996 |
51 |
160 |
3.14 |
0.32 |
1997 |
54 |
160 |
2.96 |
0.34 |
1998 |
56 |
192 |
3.43 |
0.29 |
1999 |
41 |
192 |
4.68 |
0.21 |
2000 |
66 |
192 |
2.91 |
0.34 |
2001 |
52 |
158 |
3.04 |
0.33 |
2002 |
47 |
140 |
2.98 |
0.34 |
2003 |
58 |
150 |
2.59 |
0.39 |
2004 |
49 |
150 |
3.06 |
0.33 |
2005 |
59 |
192 |
3.25 |
0.31 |
2006 |
44 |
192 |
4.36 |
0.23 |
2007 |
57 |
195 |
3.42 |
0.29 |
2008 |
48 |
210 |
4.38 |
0.23 |
2009 |
63 |
225 |
3.57 |
0.28 |
2010 |
56 |
240 |
4.29 |
0.23 |
2011 |
84 |
306 |
3.64 |
0.27 |
2012 |
72 |
323 |
4.49 |
0.22 |
2013 |
81 |
323 |
3.99 |
0.25 |
<em><strong>2014</strong></em> |
<em><strong>30</strong></em> |
<em><strong>71</strong></em> |
<em><strong>2.37</strong></em> |
<em><strong>0.42</strong></em> |
TOTAL |
1,068 |
3,771 |
3.53 |
0.28 |
RED CARDS
With 24 ejections to date, MLS is on pace to have 109 red cards in 2014 -- also an all-time record amount, surpassing the mark of 87 set in 2011. Of particular note, 22 of the 24 red cards this year have come in the 55 games since PSRA referees returned to the field following a referee lockout in Weeks 1 & 2. Accounting for the increased rate, MLS is on pace to have 125 red cards in 323 regular season games in 2014.
<strong>YEAR</strong> |
<strong>RC</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>GP/RC</strong> |
<strong>RC/GP</strong> |
1996 |
32 |
160 |
5.00 |
0.20 |
1997 |
36 |
160 |
4.44 |
0.23 |
1998 |
61 |
192 |
3.15 |
0.32 |
1999 |
56 |
192 |
3.43 |
0.29 |
2000 |
55 |
192 |
3.49 |
0.29 |
2001 |
47 |
158 |
3.36 |
0.30 |
2002 |
44 |
140 |
3.18 |
0.31 |
2003 |
38 |
150 |
3.95 |
0.25 |
2004 |
35 |
150 |
4.29 |
0.23 |
2005 |
42 |
192 |
4.57 |
0.22 |
2006 |
44 |
192 |
4.36 |
0.23 |
2007 |
54 |
195 |
3.61 |
0.28 |
2008 |
60 |
210 |
3.50 |
0.29 |
2009 |
82 |
225 |
2.74 |
0.36 |
2010 |
54 |
240 |
4.44 |
0.23 |
2011 |
87 |
306 |
3.52 |
0.28 |
2012 |
60 |
323 |
5.38 |
0.19 |
2013 |
79 |
323 |
4.09 |
0.24 |
<em><strong>2014</strong></em> |
<em><strong>24</strong></em> |
<em><strong>71</strong></em> |
<em><strong>2.96</strong></em> |
<em><strong>0.34</strong></em> |
TOTAL |
990 |
3,771 |
3.81 |
0.26 |
The Professional Referee Organization (aka PRO) was formed prior to the 2012 season and is responsible for managing the referee program in professional soccer leagues in the United States and Canada. U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer govern and fund the organization, with ongoing collaborative support from the Canadian Soccer Association and other professional leagues.
