Maybe the VAR was watching The Simpsons! – RSL coach Petke slams MLS officials

Real Salt Lake coach Mike Petke welcomed MLS to “drain his bank account” after an astonishing rant at the standard of officiating in the league.

Petke was left fuming after RSL fell to a 3-2 defeat at Minnesota United on Saturday, with a series of challenges on his players unpunished – including a clash between Darwin Quintero and Justen Glad in the build-up to the opening goal.

The former New York Red Bulls coach was sent to the stands in the second half after making his frustrations clear to referee Alan Kelly and fourth official Fotis Bazakos.

And Petke’s mood had not improved by the conclusion of the match as he slammed the rules that prevent referees from addressing the media and acknowledged a potential fine as he questioned VAR official Katja Koroleva’s performance.

“Let me tell you something: the conversation with the fourth official over the last four games, starting three games ago, was that Jefferson Savarino is being targeted,” Petke told reporters.

“You know what the fourth official says to me? ‘Yeah, I know. We talked about it, we’ve watched it. We’re good.’

“Continuous fouls, fouls, fouls. Nothing. I don’t want to talk about the last four games, though. I want to talk about tonight. Because up until that point we had more shots leading into the second half. We were blocked up. We were good denying anything.

“You know, it’s not good enough. The only thing I get from MLS is, ‘Stop criticising the referees.’

Love you @petkemike

— Real Salt Lake (@RealSaltLake) July 15, 2018

“I want to know where the referees are right now. Why can’t we ask the referee a question? Why can’t we do that? Why can’t we ask, ‘Why didn’t you go to VAR? Why didn’t you call that? Why, when the studs are coming up, did you just give a yellow card?’

“That would make them more human. To MLS, it would be better for this league – for the fans, for the owners, for the coaches, for the players – to hear from them and hear their side of the story.

“Perhaps then they say, ‘OK, I see it, maybe it happened a little fast.’

“Maybe the guy in the booth, wherever the hell he is, watching this [match], maybe he was watching The Simpsons at the same time. I don’t know. I have no idea, but it’s not good enough to me.

“And I’ll take the fine. Jeff Agoos [MLS vice president of competition], fine me. Fine me. I don’t care anymore.

“No other coach in this league steps up a little more than they should. I’m going to. Drain my bank account. I don’t give a s*** anymore, OK?”

Those darn @TheSimpsons marathons. pic.twitter.com/5bdsJyBLdq

— Nick Rimando (@NickRimando) July 15, 2018