Whatever the reasons you ascribe to the atrocious officiating rampant in the CONCACAF Champions League, be it simple slanted incompetence, conscience bias, or outright corruption, it is very clear that there's a problem. Whether that problem begs action on the part of fans, bloggers, and writers is a much more difficult question. Besides, how much effect could any action have?


The issue of effectiveness is essentially one of defeatism; if you believe that a "protest", be it via demonstrations of disgust in a stadium setting or through electronic means like emails and social media, is ultimately pointless because CONCACAF is opaque and intransigent, then throw up your hands and move along. While the goal of any action is results, in this case it's more about the show of force; MLS is growing, the fan base is ever more sizable and rabid, and CONCACAF should be made aware that there's a reason to listen.


By proxy, or in addition to the CONCACAF-aimed anger, clear message can be sent to USSF and other member federations that pressure must be placed on the regional body to fix the problem. This isn't about one call in one game, this is about a pattern of downright laughable decisions that impugn the credibility of not only the Champions League but everything else that bears the "CONCACAF" stamp. It's bad enough the the region is bathed in the noxious light of a unscrupulous star called Jack Warner, only yesterday again implicated in a World Cup ticket scam; that fans must put up their teams participating in a competition that too often smells of corruption is disgusting.


Make no mistake: CONCACAF's problems affect all MLS teams, present and future. It's easy to dismiss the "moaning" of one group of fans, particularly if that fan base isn't exactly popular with everyone else, but petty bickering should be set aside. If your team isn't in the competition this year, it might be next year or the year after.


The only valid reason to avoid making noise about this problem is denying its existence. I find that a difficult assessment to make.


Don Garber appears to be holding his tongue, likely in order to avoid upsetting the cart carrying the US World Cup bid, and we can assume US Soccer is following the same strategy. There's what should be, and then there's what is: Jack Warner is, and his displeasure at a American uprising could conceivably keep the World Cup from coming back to the US. But a presumed lack of action on the part of Garber, Gulati, and others in power should not deter anyone from voicing their concerns; again, the show of solidarity is just as important than any response by the powers that be. Make enough noise, and you're sure to be noticed. American and Canadian fans have never been better positioned to make themselves heard.


CONCACAF might never change. Corruption might always be par for the course. MLS teams might, in a practical sense, be best advised to suck it up and learn how to play within the broken (or perhaps bent) system. Luckily, none of that precludes fans, team administrators or commissioners from taking it upon themselves to make a speaking out clearly and forcefully. Adjusting in an effort to win is not mutually exclusive to speaking out that things must get better.


In this situation, we're all on the same team. Fan bias and recency may give it the look of a problem limited to a few teams in just 2010, but this is not the first year MLS teams have found themselves on the wrong end of suspicious decisions in this competition. Timing does not render the argument and concern illegitimate. This is not just a wine made from sour grapes. You can rest the problem will continue indefinitely unless the process of calling for something to be done begins in earnest.


If not now, when?


Meanwhile, I don't have time at the moment to comment on how poorly MLSsoccer.com has handled the fall out. Let's just say it wasn't constructive.