Seattle Reign FC have been fined following coach and GM Laura Harvey's comments following the loss to Portland last weekend. (Photo copyright Patricia Giobetti | http://www.printroom.com/pro/psgiobetti)
The NWSL announced on Friday that NWSL executive director Cheryl Bailey has fined Seattle Reign FC an undisclosed amount for comments critical of the match officials that were made by general manger and head coach Laura Harvey following last Saturday’s loss to Portland Thorns FC.
Portland won the game 1-0 on an 83rd minute penalty call, though where the foul was remains unclear. After the loss, Harvey sounded off.
“The referees are a joke,” she told SoccerWire’s Liviu Bird.
Earlier this week, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) issued a statement admitting that the penalty was wrongly given.
After a pass is made from Christine Sinclair to Allie Long, referee Margaret Domka witnessed Seattle Reign defender Kristen Meier hold Allie Long inside the penalty area to prevent her from gaining possession of the ball, and called a penalty kick. The available video evidence does not show this hold to have significantly impacted Long’s ability to play the ball prior to being cleared by the Seattle defense, and play should have been allowed to continue.”
All fines collected by the NWSL will be donated to a charitable partner to be announced, the league said in a release. The league office will choose the charity.
The league originally announced that the NWSL disciplinary committee issued the fine, but that was since corrected to say Bailey issued it. The disciplinary committee is made up of five people including a NWSL Representative, Former Professional Women’s Player, Referee Representative, FIFA Expert and Former Executive.
