It’s got to be a bit ironic that a bit of non-D.C. United news that recently landed on my desk given the events of the D.C. United/Houston match earlier this evening. Nevertheless, here goes: U.S. Soccer director of referee development Paul Tamberino informed his colleagues this week via email that he will resign effective Dec. 1. An email to Tamberino seeking comment was not immediately answered.
Tamberino, a former referee himself – he was the MLS referee of the year each season from 1998-2001 – assumed the job in February 2008. He handles the assignment and oversight of referees on multiple levels, most notably Major League Soccer, and he also helps write the Week in Review, which appears weekly on the USSoccer.com website.
I’m still sniffing out exactly what this could mean both for U.S. Soccer and potentially MLS. Referee assignment and performance have both surfaced as issues recently with D.C. United. At the very least, it will be interesting to see if any of tonight’s match ends up in the next Week in Review.
