Toronto’s Bradley fined for criticizing officials

TORONTO – Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley has been fined by Major League Soccer for criticizing the officials after a game, despite the fact that the league commissioner agreed referee David Gantar had erred on a crucial call.

Bradley was upset that Gantar disallowed what would have been a go-ahead goal by Gilberto in the 90th minute of a 1-1 tie against Chicago on Sept. 13.

“It’s not the first time we’ve had this guy this year. And what can you say? He’s just not good enough,” Bradley said after the game.

MLS has since acknowledged the call was wrong.

“That referee did not get it right in that game, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of saying that,” commissioner Don Garber said. “I feel for Toronto FC.”

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The league did not say Tuesday how much money the U.S. national team star was fined.

Bradley said after the game in Chicago that Canadian officials are tough on Canadian MLS teams to avoid appearing biased.

“They continue to assign Canadian referees when an American team is playing a Canadian team. Because it’s obvious that now these guys are going to make a conscious effort to show they’re not being biased one way or another,” he said. “I can’t understand why you’d continue to do that.”

Bradley also criticized the level of refereeing in MLS in general.

“Consistently they put referees out there who are in over their heads,” he said. “It’s a shame, because they ruin games.”

Braley escaped a fine after criticizing referee Ted Unkel following Toronto’s 2-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City on July 26.

“It’s by no means an excuse, it was the same for both teams, but the referee was absolutely awful,” Bradley said after that game. “The people at the MLS (head) office in New York, when they talk about wanting to improve the league, the first thing that needs to be improved is the refereeing, bottom line.”

Then manager Ryan Nelsen also criticized Unkel and was fined by the league.