TORONTO - Major League Soccer says a yellow card to Toronto FC's Tony Tchani for his weekend goal celebration was not warranted.

"In my opinion, the referee could have used better judgment here," Paul Tamberino, director of the league's competition department, told The Canadian Press on Monday.

Since Tchani had received a yellow card minutes earlier, the second caution resulted in his ejection in the 42nd minute. It proved to be a turning point as the visiting Columbus Crew scored in the 49th minute against 10-men Toronto and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Tchani opened the scoring in the 41st minute, jumping the advertising boards in the northwest corner of BMO Field to celebrate his first Toronto FC goal by jumping into the arms of front-row fans.

When he returned to the field of play, he was shown the yellow card by referee David Gantar, who was handling his third MLS game.

Asked if he thought the celebration merited a yellow, Tamberino said: "I don't, no. I absolutely do not. ... It didn't do anything that would hurt the game."

Added Tamberino: "We want our players to celebrate . . . We want our players to be passionate about their goals, for sure."

Tamberino previously served as the U.S. Soccer Federation's director of referee development. He has officiated at the collegiate, professional, and international levels and earned MLS Referee of the Year honours in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

FIFA's Laws of the Game say: "While it is permissible for a player to demonstrate his joy when a goal has been scored, the celebration must not be excessive."

A player "must be cautioned" if, in the opinion of the referee, he:

  • Makes gestures which are provocative
  • Climbs on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored
  • Removes his shirt or covers his head with his shirt
  • Covers his head or face with a mask or other similar item.

The rule also says: "Leaving the field of play to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable offence in itself but it is essential that players return to the field of play as soon as possible."

"It's ironic that from the time Tony scores the goal and returns back to the field, it's 15 seconds," Tamberino said. "It takes the referee 40 seconds to administer the second yellow card."

Tamberino says he does not see jumping over advertising boards and approaching the fans as meeting the FIFA perimeter fence condition. He says that is more for jurisdictions outside of North America where fans are fenced off from the field and players jump on the fencing to shake it after scoring to incite the crowd.

Tchani also didn't provoke or inflame fans. Tamberino argued. "He didn't go to the opposing spectators," he said.

"The other two (rules) are clear-cut -- removes the jersey or pulls it over his head. So they're more black and white," he added.

The FIFA rules also say: "Referees are expected to act in a preventative manner and to exercise common sense in dealing with the celebration of a goal."

However it appears there is no recourse for Toronto FC. The only ground for repealing a card is mistaken identity, Tamberino said.

Tamberino says U.S. Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Association, rather than MLS, are in charge of training, assigning and assessing game officials.

"The league doesn't talk to the referees directly."

After Saturday's game, Tchani and some of his teammates cited confusion about the rule, noting recent games where other players had not been cautioned for goal celebrations.

Still, Toronto coach Aron Winter called Tchani's getting caught up in the moment "not clever."