Washburn Rural vs Olathe South

Save

Posted: 9:20 AM Nov 5, 2008
Last Updated: 5:01 PM Nov 6, 2008
Reporter: ei

33 comments

Photos

Slow Motion of Controversial Play

Washburn Rural vs Olathe South

*BONUS* Footage

A | A | A

Quarter finals had 0's on the board the first half.

Second half Olathe South shoots from midfield to score.

With a minute to go Gage Palmer heads in a goal but is waved off by officials who say the goalie had possession of the ball before it was headed in.

That was the final as South moves on to the semi-finals.

Click Pictures to Enlarge

More Stories
Obama Bemoans Golf Swing To Russian Reporter

Federer Holds Off Roddick To Win 15th Major Title

Greinke Gets All-Star Nod

Tennessee Police Rule McNair's Death A Homicide

Stewart Wins At Daytona After Last-Lap Wreck

Callaspo drives in 3 as Royals beat White Sox 6-4

Serena Williams beats sisters Venus at Wimbledon

Briscoe Wins Pole At The Glen

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Cope Location: Topeka on Nov 13, 2008 at 06:02 PM
We as in Wasburn Rural want everyone to shut the hell up about this. It may have been a controversial call and I've seen footage from the press box view which show's the real truth and it's a bad call. The keeper basically just touches the ball and then Palmers' head meets the ball, and he didn't really even touch the goalie. However, we don't care anymore. We never should have been in the position to where a call decided the game. So, hats off to Olathe South. I hope to see you next year.

Posted by: Dan Location: Topeka on Nov 13, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Beautiful Game - Hey Alex Smith, that is the beautiful thing about soccer fields or pitches, there is no standard size and they all are unique as are the environment of the game. One of the great comments that I heard from both Olathe team's parents this past weekend was about Hummer; e.g., "Wow, this is nice, didn't know this was here!" and, "Who plays here?" It struck me with a focus that I did not think of before, many of the KC teams, and especially the Olathe schools in soccer, are in-bred with the schools that they traditionally play - even in "non-conference" games. The Topeka/Manhattan/Emporia teams regularly play home/away series with Shawnee Mission schools and Blue Valley schools but I never see Olathe venture outside their cozy little kingdom where all is square and right with the world...

Posted by: Dude Location: Topeka on Nov 12, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Who stepped off those measurements? They need a sobriety check. I doubt a school district would spend that much money and have markings that were four yards incorrect. I've been out there a bunch of times and seen lots of games and no one has ever mentioned that before. Crazy talk.

Posted by: Alex Smith Location: Olathe South on Nov 12, 2008 at 09:48 PM
It could have gone either way to be honest. If you do notice though, on the link to the alternate angle, the sideline referee never makes a run up the sideline. Usually when a goal is scored he sprints to half field to signal a goal. It is a close call though. The whole game was a good battle. It would have been a better one though had it been a nicer day and on a more legit field. Not hatin on you guys but one flank of the field is thirteen yards from eighteen yard box to sideline while the other is seventeen yards from box to sideline

Posted by: Lucky Location: Olathe on Nov 12, 2008 at 04:42 AM
Sometimes better to be lucky than good. OSouth won this year with a 50 yard goal when OSouth got fewer than 5 shots all night against WRHS and then gets call to pull the ball out of net when they can't keep WRHS out of the box for the last half, goon behavior (check out #2 pulling WRHS player to ground after getting beat on bonus footage (this is a Wizards player HOW?? - a performace repeated by other players in quarter, semi and final game. (check out state footage) #13 in state final kicking kid (broken ribs) when down and then gets a garbage goal on the back side, a picture of one of the OEast players mysteriously gets sent to OEast coach with no person to vouch that gets important OEast suspended (after OEast beat OSouth twice during the year). It will be interesting to see next year because OSouth returns most of those "outstanding" players. May luck be with you again!

Posted by: G Location: Olathe East on Nov 11, 2008 at 11:46 PM
I agree it wasn't a goal!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kansas City on Nov 11, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I have teamates that play on both Washburn and Olathe South.. and after seeing that goal I applaud my teamate Tanner Fox's goalkeeping.. and he without a dought had the ball in his hands when my other teamate.. Guage Palmer headed the ball into the net. The referee made the right decision and from the looks of it, it was a good game.

Posted by: witness Location: Topeka on Nov 11, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Here's the play from another angle: Check out this angle

Posted by: Dude Location: Topeka on Nov 10, 2008 at 04:16 PM
This will be the motivation Rural needs next season to win the title. Most of the other teams in the state lost a big senior class. Rural lost 7 great seniors, but will have a lot of talent back next year. In 2009, there will be no controversy.

Posted by: Player Location: Topeka on Nov 10, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I'm a member of the Washburn Rural Soccer Team. For the record Mr. Olathe South, we do have members on our team that play for the KC Wizards Youth Academy, as well as KCFC and the KC Legends. We also have some players that play for the Kansas ODP State Teams. Also, every one of our seniors has been contacted from colleges about playing for their programs. Get your facts straight before you decide to run your mouth. Now lets talk about the game. #6 one of your supposed "All Stars" got dominated by our junior defender that doesn't even play club soccer. So if you do play for the Wizards or the National ODP team... You got owned during the game! As far as your goal..could be considered a fluke but its a goal and it's soccer. Now for our goal... It was a goal..but it got taken away. If you think your team is so good, why did you spout off like that when you don't even have confidence to want to play us in OT. But I'm over it and life moves on. Congrats on your state title!

Posted by: Fan Location: Kansas City on Nov 10, 2008 at 03:21 PM
It's obvious from the comments of people watching the video over and over that if they can't tell, then how could the officials tell when they only saw it for a split second? If should have been a NO CALL. Let the kids decide the outcome in OT play. To the OS comment, you must be a soccer player - maybe a Wizard? Show some class--quit embarrassing your program.

Posted by: Witness Location: Topeka, KS on Nov 10, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I anything is remembered from this blog it should be this . . . . that #6 forward so eloquently and gracefully flew through the air like a "soaring eagle" from LITERALLY 3-4 YARDS away, never once batting his eagle eyes from that ball, knowing EXACTLY at that moment in time where that ball was going! Every move was that of a masterpiece, mathodically thought through, never touching ANYONE or ANYTHING except that ball! It was MAGICAL and will forever go down in high school soccer history as one of the greatest moments ever played!

Posted by: player Location: topeka ks on Nov 10, 2008 at 09:31 AM
ok first of all i want to thank your last comment and talk alittle more to that person below you. congradulations on your win.... im not a sore looser. thier are 2 wizzards players on our team...and clearly we were the beter team in that game.... nice half field FLUKE goal.... plus thier are also 2 of us that were on state and regional team and going somewhere in college thanks though buddy ... get your facts right b4 you come on here and talk all of that....way to win state though im happy for you

Posted by: KC resident Location: Kansas City on Nov 9, 2008 at 09:35 PM
To the olathe south comment. These kids are in high school and being a resident of Kansas City I am disgusted about the comment you made about the boys from W.R. and all other Topeka soccer players. Being from Kansas City I am embarrassed for myself and you for you're comments. If you're so happy about your state final victory celebrate don't bring these kids down. Thats some great sportsmanship if I've ever seen any. Judging by your ignorance I can only assume you yourself are a player from Olathe South. Which is even worse that you are so arrogant as to brag about your college recruits and KC Wizards Youth soccer team. If I remember correctly WR beat Aquinas this year 2-0 at Aquinas. Maybe KC soccer is as good as you think. I'll be sure in the future to root for the Topeka teams so that people like you won't make comments like these to embarrass the rest of us that call Kansas City home.

Posted by: Olathe South Location: Olathe on Nov 9, 2008 at 02:45 AM
Sorry boys you can complain all you want but Olathe South just won the state championship something you guys clearly couldn't do being that you think a referee lost the game for you, grow up and learn that players play the game if your team is so good why couldn't they score any other goals? Seriously Kansas City Soccer is so much better, and we just proved it again being that it was an all Olathe State final. Plus Olathe South has multiple college recruits could you please name one player who is going to a good soccer school on scholorship or one player that has played international soccer at either the Regional team or National Team level? Please if you could respond I would love to know being that not one KC Wizards Youth player was on the Washburn roster.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kansas on Nov 8, 2008 at 01:35 PM
To: "Another Referee, Location: Kansas" You obvously didn't watch this play very closly, did you? What are you, Ed Becker's buddy? If you did watch closly, you would see that the forward did NOT (and I quote you), "Jump into the OS keeper", NOR did he "come at the keeper with that level of force", etc (bla, bla bla)", as you have said. In fact, absolutely no contact was made between the keeper and the forward! Get your eyes checked, Mr. "Another Referee from Kansas"! It is purly evident that this forward ate his "Wheeties" for breakfact that Tuesday morning.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Kansas on Nov 8, 2008 at 01:08 PM
If anything is remembered from this blog, it should this . . . . that #6 Forward - Gage Palmer, so eloquently and gracefully flew through the air like a “soaring eagle” from LITTERALLY 3-4 YARDS AWAY, never once batting his eagle eyes from that ball . . . . . knowing exactly at that moment in time, where that ball was going. Every move was that of a masterpiece, methodically thought through, never touching anyone or anything, except for that ball. It was magical . . . . and will forever go down in high school soccer history as one of the greatest goals ever scored. Literally the play of the century. . . . . . .

Posted by: john Location: KS on Nov 7, 2008 at 09:56 PM
TWR is a great team and if they played to there full potential it wouldn't have even mattered, but still if a kid makes a great play, and plays the ball, the point should not be taken away. Olathe South did well and held them so congrats to them, but it was still an unfair call and the game should have gone into over time. Think of all the seniors, especially the one who scored the point, that were stripped from the shot at state. Also, It's not an unknown secret that Ed Becker among a few other topeka refs hate Washburn soccer for one reason or another.

Posted by: BobIsing Location: St Louis on Nov 6, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Goalie possesion means ball is in control of goalie. Not the case here. If that goalie wanted to really catch that ball, there would have possibly been an injured forward. North County (St Louis that is) is known for aggressive soccer and has produced great goalies who have made the bigs. First being Eric Delabar. He was a frickin' monster. The star of the game should never be a referee. What a great header! That was the end of the game and discussion here as far as I am concerned.

Posted by: Someone Not There Location: KC on Nov 6, 2008 at 08:09 PM
As someone who was not at the game and can only go off of the video, this call is ridiculous. With that much time on the clock, if the ref is unsure he needs to keep the whistle out of his mouth. His indecision has cost a team and a group of seniors the possibility to earn a win in overtime. As is the case in almost every sport these days, a ref on a power trip has taken the fun away from what sounded like a hard fought game. What ever happened to the rule that it has to obvious during crunch time to ever get called, not the other way around. During the final moments of any game, especially one in a playoff setting, should never be decided by a referee. I feel bad for Washburn Rural that they were not given the chance to earn a possible victory in overtime and wish the ref of this game will think twice before deciding "kids'" seasons with indecisive calls.

Posted by: Witness Location: Kansas on Nov 6, 2008 at 03:18 PM
It didn't take hours or days to conclude it was a bad call, everybody knew immediatly it was a bad call (that is, once the call was made several minutes after the goal was scored), and have video from 2 angles that proves it. That game was tied 1-1 with a minute left. That's just the facts, sorry if it bothers people. The goalie clearly did not have "control" of the ball as the player headed it in.

Posted by: A fan Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Maybe we can end this conversation: Great job Washburn Rural on another outstanding season! And good luck to Olathe South this weekend at the state tournament!

Posted by: Arbitor Location: kansas on Nov 6, 2008 at 12:46 PM
It is interesting that everyone has taken hours, even days to come to their conclusions. The referee, right or wrong, has only a second to make his decisions. Even after a conference the officials are acutly aware of the consequences. Either way one team is upset. "let the players decide the game." What a wonderful phrase. If a player commits a foul, he has made that decision. Don't be upset with the arbitor for acknowledging the player's choice. Remember 85% of a rferee's decisions are no brainers. You do not need an official for those. 10% are close calls, but most everyone agrees with it. BUT 5% are difficult calls that could go either way. Everyone agrees a call should be made. But no one is completely sure it should go their way. That is where the officials make their money. They are bold enough to put their tails on the line and make the tough calls. Without the referee we would not have a game. As a many time dissappointed parent, I still thank them for being there.

Posted by: Bob Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Instead of going back and forth with rules interpretations, we can make this simple. Did the keeper have possession or not? The referee only 10 feet from the play made no immediate signal. Only after conferencing with his AR did he arrive at that conclusion. The AR made no signal at the time of the play for a foul or any contact on the player. His flag stayed down. If the center ref had made any call one way or the other as it happened, although people would be upset about the loss there wouldn't be much of a controversy. Rural's video shows the center ref being indecisive, making no decision, listening to the Olathe South players argue and then going to the AR for help. That is why there is a controversy. The guy in charge didn't appear to make the call himself. And the guy that helped him made no call or signal at the time. It wasn't until the conference between them that they "decided" what they had "seen".

Posted by: Dan Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 09:46 AM
See pdf comparing NHSF, NCAA and FIFA Rule 12, Page 10-11. http://www.nfhs.org/core/contentmanager/uploads/Soccer_Rules_Comparative_Study.pdf

Posted by: Bob Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 08:45 AM
High school soccer does not use FIFA rules, it is governed by the National Federation of High Schools rule book.

Posted by: Bob Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 06:44 AM
Rural's other camera angle clearly shows no contact with the goalkeeper. The Rural forward's head contacts only the ball. Plus, the referees did not call a foul or contact with the goalkeeper. They said he had possession of the ball and it was knocked out of his hands.

Posted by: Dan Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 06:20 AM
(From FIFA.com) FIFA Fair Play The generic concept of fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football. It represents the positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. The Fair Play Campaign was conceived largely as an indirect result of the 1986 FIFA World Cup™ in Mexico, when the handball goal by Diego Maradona stimulated the admirable reaction of the England coach, Sir Bobby Robson. Since then, the campaign has had with the unconditional support of former FIFA President João Havelange and current President Joseph S. Blatter. To give fair play more visibility, FIFA created a programme that turned the generic notion into a simple design and an easy to understand code of conduct that could be recognised and respected by players and fans alike. Fair Play has a fundamental role in sport and there is a need to apply it to all sporting activities, especially children's activities.

Posted by: Dan Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 06:08 AM
FIFA Law 12: Offences committed by goalkeepers: When a goalkeeper has gained possession of the ball with his hands, he cannot be challenged by an opponent.

Posted by: Dan Location: Topeka on Nov 6, 2008 at 05:51 AM
Keeper never caught the ball, not sure he ever actually got his hands on it. Ed Becker could not have possibly determined this from his position as a line judge. A bang-bang play with a decsion to take the game away from the kids after careful reflection and to overrule the center ref who was much closer with a better angle. This is not the first time that Ed Becker makes the sensational call. It is about time that Ed Becker is restricted to ref or AR in lower level games. He should not be working these level of games. The kids could have decided the game on their own but Ed believed otherwise.

Posted by: Me Location: Kansas on Nov 5, 2008 at 11:39 PM
State wasn't taken away from these guys.. They let the game come down to this decision. The call could have gone either way and if TWR are so good why were there not bigger numbers on the scoreboard?

Posted by: Bob Location: Topeka on Nov 5, 2008 at 10:05 PM
No way to tell with this camera angle. Maybe Anonymous Referee is acutally Bad Call Referee. Rural has a copy of the play from a higher angle (taken from the press box) and the Rural player and goalkeeper get to the ball at the same instant. Also, if the goalkeeper has full possession of the ball, how is someone strong enough to head it out of his hands? You should try that experiment out at home. Hold on to a ball and see if someone can head it out of your hands. The keeper definitely gets his hands on the ball but there was not clear possession. Most referees will tell you to let the players decide the game. And if you are going to make a bad call maybe it shouldn't take you 5 minutes to talk it over. Should have been called right away or nothing at all. Seems strange that the guy 10 feet from the play had to get help from the guy 40 yards away. Too bad for the seniors at Rural.

Posted by: Another Referee Location: Kansas on Nov 5, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Whether the player's feet were off the ground when the keeper put his hands up is immaterial - he jumped into the OS keeper, and jumping into a player (especially with that level of force, and turning away from the flight of the ball) is a foul. The keeper caught the ball and the contact by the WR player caused him to lose the ball. Given the situation, what was on the line and the speed of the play, the officiating crew did an excellent job. I wonder how many games the poster Rogers has refereed at any level, much less high school. Walk a mile in the referee's shoes before you judge.

Posted by: Anonymous Referee Location: Kansas on Nov 5, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I don't know but if you pause it at the right time, goalie has hands on ball before headed into goal. Tough call!

Posted by: R. C. Rogers on Nov 5, 2008 at 09:58 AM
I have played this over and over via DVR and it is evident that both the forward and the keeper were on the ball at the same time. The forward (Gage Palmer) had his feet off the ground before the keeper had his hands up to catch the ball. The official said that the forward entered the box AFTER the goal keeper had the ball in his posession. BAD, BAD call . . . . BAD, BAD Official! Because of this BAD call, STATE was taken away (Literaly!!!!)from WRHS!