NCAA denies UCSB’s appeal over referee

Following its recent second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament, UCSB filed an appeal with the NCAA, citing the referee assigned to do its match at Cal did not meet the qualifications set forth by the national organizing body of college sports to do a postseason game.

The appeal has been denied, Presidiosports.com has learned, as the NCAA maintains referee Mike Kampmeinert was qualified to do the match.

UCSB suffered a 2-1 overtime defeat at Cal on Nov. 21. In the match, Kampmeinert made two game-turning calls. He ejected Gaucho midfielder Luis Silva in the 26th minute after Silva went in on a slide tackle on a 50-50 ball and knocked the ball off the leg of Cal’s Servando Carrasco. An incensed Carrasco went after Silva, shoved him in the face and knocked him to the ground. He was issued a yellow card and remained in the match.

The Gauchos were left to play a man down for the remainder of the match.

Kampmeinert’s second critical call was a handball against the Gauchos in the penalty area with 1:40 left in regulation. Carrasco converted the resulting penalty kick to tie the score at 1-1 and send the game into overtime. Cal scored the game-winner with one second to go on the final countdown.

UCSB’s argument was based on what’s written in the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship Handbook. Under the section, Policies and Selection of Officials, it states: “For the Division 1 men’s soccer championship, an official is required to work a minimum of six regular-season Division 1 men’s soccer games in order to be eligible to work and round(s) of the championship.”

Following the loss to Cal, UCSB officials checked into Kampmeinert’s officiating record this season and discovered he called two NCAA Division 1 women’s games from the center of the field and worked as an assistant referee in two Division 1 men’s matches. He also worked as an assistant referee for matches in the Women’s Professional Soccer League and in the men’s U.S. Open Cup.

Kampmeinert’s selection could have been based on this ruling in the NCAA handbook: “… officials for all NCAA post season games shall be appointed by the men’s soccer committee in conjunction with the NCAA national (and regional) coordinator for officials using a comprehensive list based on input from the regional advisory committees, conferences and other officiating organizations. Officials for preliminary rounds must be within driving distance of the host site (400 miles one way).”

Kampmeinert is from Sacramento.

Kampmeinert, president of the Central California Soccer Referee Association, was an assistant referee last weekend in Stanford’s 5-0 win over Florida State in a NCAA women’s tournament quarterfinal match.

UCSB and the NCAA are reviewing the postgame action by some members of the men’s soccer team and the comments by coach Tim Vom Steeg following the loss to Cal.

Three team members, Michael Tetteh, Danny Barrera and Machael David, received red cards at the end of the match for confronting Kampmeinert and Vom Steeg was critical of the referee and NCAA’s process of assigning referees for NCAA Tournament matches.

The penalties could be severe. In its handbook, the NCAA lists the following penalties for misconduct:

1. Public or private reprimand of the individual;

2. Disqualification of the individual from further participation in the NCAA championship involved;

3. Banishment of the individual from participating in one or more subsequent championships of the sport involved;

4. Cancellation of all or a portion of payment to the institution of the Association’s transportation and/or per diem allowance for the individuals involved;

5. Withholding of all or a portion of the institution’s share of revenue distribution;

6. Banishment of the institution from participation in one or more subsequent championships in which its team in that sport otherwise would be eligible to participate;

7. Disqualification of an institution for a period of time from serving as host institution for one or more NCAA championships;

8. Cancellation of all or a portion of the honorarium for hosting an NCAA championship;

9. Financial or other penalties different from Nos. 1 through 8, but only if they have prior approval of the Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.