Sounders: Interesting Rationale Behind Not Appealing Evans’ Suspension
By Paul Taylor
As much as Brad Evans’ one-game ban may seem unfair, the Seattle Sounders’ reason for not appealing the suspension is entirely understandable.
As Brad Evans’ red card last weekend in Vancouver showed, it’s tough for sports fans to look at a situation objectively. While Seattle Sounders‘ supporters are convinced Evans was hard-done by, those who follow the Whitecaps are adament the referee made the right decision.
In that respect, the Sounders’ reasoning behind deciding not to appeal the one-game suspension makes for interesting reading. And whether you’re a fan of the rave green or anyone else, it’s definitely worth consideration.
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General manager Garth Lagerwey explained his rationale on Thursday, while talking to the Seattle Times‘ Matt Pentz and the rest of the media: “We always support our player, that’s always our preference.
“What matters in situations like this is not what we believe but what we can prove…This review of a red card is not done by the Disciplinary Committee but rather by a separate committee of three referees.”
Really, that’s the main problem with any appeal. You essentially have to convince the committee that the referee made a serious and obvious error in judgement.
Or, as Lagerwey put it: “To provide some more color, that means if you showed the video clip to 100 people, 100 people would say this is a serious and obvious error.
“In our conversations internally and with folks around the league, we didn’t think we were able to meet that standard, and therefore, we chose not to appeal.”
No doubt Evans will be frustrated by this decision, after telling the media he hoped the red card woud be rescinded: “I mean there’s no blood, there’s no foul, there’s nothing there – The reply I saw is exactly what I thought.”
Overall though, it doesn’t matter how much the Sounders’ captain says there was virtually no contact. It still comes down to proving the referee was wrong in believing there was intent.
As Lagerwey said: “Evans’ charge was violent conduct and attempting to strike an opponent. He wasn’t technically attempting to strike Edgar. He was in very, very close proximity.
“When you have a head movement like that that’s pretty quick and pretty unexpected, I think it’s hard to reach the standard of serious and obvious error by the referee, that he couldn’t possibly have construed that as something in the direction of Edgar.”
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What’s your take on the Sounders not appealing Evan’s suspension? Do you agree with the decision or not, and why? Let us know in the comments section below.