Coach says his threat towards the ref was a joke about himself, a breakdown

Nov 13, 2023 102.1K views 8:26
MLB 2023

What Happened

In the closing minutes of a closely contested match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS), tensions boil over on the pitch and on the sidelines. The Whitecaps, trailing 1-0, are pressing for an equalizer in extra time when a controversial incident occurs. As the Whitecaps earn a corner kick, their goalkeeper, who has been playing as an extra attacker, heads the ball back into the box. However, the referee, Tim Ford, gets in the way and disrupts the play. The ball falls to the Galaxy, who launch a counterattack. The Whitecaps' players and coaching staff vehemently protest, believing the referee has unfairly impacted the flow of the game. Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, an Italian, is furious. He storms the field, yelling and gesturing at the referee. "You messed this up!" he shouts, using the Italian phrase "Va-fun-cool" to express his outrage. The referee responds by issuing a red card, sending Sartini off the field. As Sartini departs, he blows kisses to the crowd, a gesture typical of Italian coaches. Once in the tunnel, his anger continues to simmer. In the post-match press conference, Sartini does not hold back, suggesting that the referee may end up "floating face down in False Creek" if his poor performance continues. This inflammatory remark causes an uproar, and Sartini is forced to clarify his words, explaining that he was merely making "self-irony" and did not intend any actual threat. He acknowledges that he made a "bad choice of words" and apologizes for the inappropriate comment. Throughout the incident, the Whitecaps players are visibly frustrated, with some seen praying on the sidelines for the officials to reconsider their decisions. The match, which held high stakes as the teams were locked in a best-of-three series, ultimately ends in a 1-0 victory for the Galaxy, leaving the Whitecaps' players and fans disappointed. Sartini's emotional outburst and the subsequent controversy surrounding his remarks have become the focal point of the match, overshadowing the on-field action and highlighting the intense emotions and high stakes involved in this MLS rivalry.

Full Transcript

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At the end, we didn't have a fair chance, to be honest.

Because today, unfortunately, the referee had a bad game.

The referee was a disaster.

We have to be completely honest.

All right, this breakdown is brought to you by Giraffe Kings.