Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter has been disciplined by MLS commissioner Don Garber for his scathing criticism of the referees following a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas.
Porter, among other things, called the pair of red cards his team received “ridiculous” and said the referees weren’t doing enough to protect star Darlington Nagbe.
The league would not disclose the amount of Porter’s fine.
The Portland manager said the play that saw Je-Vaughn Watson and Michael Harrington sent off was"a ridiculous call,” and noting he believed “there’s nothing there.” The incident wasn’t caught on camera, but Major League Soccer later rescinded the red cards, meaning the players will not be suspended.
In addition, Porter was furious that Nagbe was “getting kicked up and down the field in every single game” and believed it’s the referees fault for Nagbe’s eventual removal at halftime due to injury.
(MORE: Porter concerned with refs, player safety)
Earlier last month, USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann was wary about the league’s apparent failure to protect Clint Dempsey, so Porter isn’t the first to get upset with the official’s lack of action.
However, it’s still the rules that referees must obtain a level of respect in the public eye, and therefore it’s understandable that Porter was reprimanded. Especially scathing was his remark asking “why aren’t these guys [the officials] doing their job?”