Vancouver’s Dos Santos Fined For Comments Criticizing Officials

If Marc Dos Santos was intending to buy after match-drinks for his old Montreal friends this evening, he’ll be doing it with pockets lighter than before after MLS yesterday imposed an undisclosed fine.

The fine occurred after Dos Santos made disparaging comments regarding referee Allen Chapman when responding to journalists’ questions on Wednesday.

The Vancouver head coach was perturbed about some refereeing decisions in the recent 0-1 defeat by Colorado Rapids, and strongly suggested a pattern was emerging when Chapman is on refereeing duty for games involving Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Utah-based official was acting as the VAR last Sunday, and Dos Santos took exception to calls made by Chapman to influence the pitch referee in situations where he considered “a clear and obvious error had not occurred”.

Remaining extremely calm and collected, Dos Santos said, “It’s not the first time we had incidents like that with Allen, and I just think it was time for me to say something publicly, because it’s not the first time. It looks like that maybe there’s something he’s not comfortable with us, I don’t know?”

The Vancouver coach went on to describe the events he was unhappy with including a red card administered by Chapman to Erik Godoy in a game at San Jose last season. On that occasion Vancouver appealed the decision and it was overturned.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Dos Santos made it clear he felt there was an issue because, “...it’s aways the same person.”
“The wording is very clear. It has to be a clear and obvious error. FIFA states it like that. It’s incredibly clear, so [when] it’s not clear and obvious the decision of the ref has to stay.

“For me what’s uncomfortable is it’s a lot with Allen and if I see him in the street I’m going to be nice with him, good with him, but I don’t understand, it’s a lot of calls like that.

“If it was with different scenarios and with different people... [but] when it’s always the same [person] then it’s weird for me.

“I don’t want to say anything to get into trouble, but I’m going to say this... it’s very weird for me that it’s always the same person.”



Check out the latest, The Ball Is Round Podcast (Episode 28). Recorded Wednesday evening, the TBIR team discusses the upcoming Vancouver Whitecaps v CFM clash (with special guest Michael McColl of AFTN podcast), looks back on the 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew... and features the CONCACAF Futsal Championship & The Old Trafford Break-in.

They talk the Montreal football issues of the week and cover all the usual favourite features... including, Eve’s Time Machine Social Media & CHOICES... Don’t miss it!

Every Week - The Ball Is Round... @TBIRMontreal - please follow us for regular, weekly CF Montreal, Canadian, MLS and international content in English!