In the week after a 1-0 loss to Colorado last week, Portland Timbers’ head coach John Spencer was fined and suspended for his comments about the officiating. During that game, Drew Moor scored a controversial goal and the Timbers were denied a penalty kick on a missed call. This culminated in Spencer being sent off at the end of the game for arguing with the fourth official.

Major League Soccer, much like many of the other leagues around the world, typically cracks down on coaches or managers who dispute refereeing decisions. Fines and touchline bans are commonplace for anyone deigning to contend some of the more dubious calls that have occurred in the past. Despite these heavy consequences, we continue to see instances in which the referee’s judgment is debated upon. The question is, should someone be punished for expressing his viewpoint in reaction to something that didn’t go his way, provided that this expression is made in a non-offensive manner?