Fort Lauderdale Strikers owner Noel Lemon has asked American Soccer League Commissioner David Prouty to investigate referees Joe Michna and Helder Dias, who combined to give the Strikers eight yellow cards and three red cards in games played last week.
“It’s fair to say something is wrong when you get as many cards in two games as the entire season,” said Lemon, who is chairman of the ASL’s competition committee, which oversees referees.
Tapes of home games against Tampa Bay and the Washington Diplomats were sent to the league office, and Lemon asked Prouty to suspend Michna and Helder until the investigation is completed.
“We’ve made certain facts available to the commissioner that are very disturbing to us,” Lemon said. “We are not at liberty to say what they are. Some of it does not involve judgment calls.”
When asked if he felt Michna and Helder held prejudices against the Strikers, Lemon said, “That’s what we believe, and we feel we have submitted strong evidence to back up our position.”
Prouty said he and Director of Officials Jim Allen would review the game films. ASL referees are supplied by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
