Forsberg Irate about Gold-Medal Referee Selection

[Locke]

Colorado Avalanche and Swedish legend Peter Forsberg didn't mince words when it came to what he thought about Canadian referees working Sunday's gold medal game between Sweden and Canada.

"What a f___ing joke!" the seven-time All-Star said to Swedish reporters, calling the selection of officials Kelly Sutherland, Brad Meier, Greg Devorski and Derek Amell "comedy at its highest level."

Referees Sutherland and linesmen Devorski and Amell are Canadian, while referee Meier is an American who makes his home in Calgary.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444453

I actually kind of agree with him.

[kermitology]

Except for the fact that just because they're Canadian they'll probably work to call an extremely fair game. No way will anyone accept a biased refereeing result.

[sureLoss]

Rather have NHL refs than some of the jokes called refs from Europe.

If the men where to get the quality of reffing the women got in their gold medal game...

[Jiggy_12]

Nobody complains what city the refs are from during NHL games. If two refs are from
Toronto and officiating a Leafs game, should their opponent be upset?

The best officials in the world should be officiating the biggest game in the world. Period.

[Meers]

Kelly Sutherland is exactly the wrong referee for a gold medal game.

He can always be counted on by Colin Campbell to call a game the way the NHL's head office wants it called.

I assume the same applies in the Olympics.

Terrible, terrible choice. It will suggest the result is fixed.

[Red Ice Player]

Screw you Forsberg. It sounds like he's laying the groundwork for post game conspiracy talk. Meanwhile, this just motivates Team Canada even more to purge the demons of the 1994 final.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Nobody complains what city the refs are from during NHL games. If two refs are from
Toronto and officiating a Leafs game, should their opponent be upset?

The best officials in the world should be officiating the biggest game in the world. Period.

I get that, and I agree, but this is an international tournament and so the refs should be international. At least some sort of mix.

I think Forsberg has a point. an entirely Canadian/North American/NHL officiating staff seems ridiculous. It doesnt matter that it means the most qualified refs got the biggest job the optics of this are pretty grim.

[Turner]

As a Canadian if this somehow works in our favour I am all for it !

[Jiggy_12]

I'm actually more worried it works against us.

If any of this blows up before the game I'd be concerned the officials over compensate and actually consciously try to be too fair.

[RyZ]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2...y_already.html

“I don’t care,” said Swedish coach. “I hope they do their job. That’s all I can focus on. I can’t change it. No problem with that.”
Swedish captain Niklas Kronwall, a defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings, said he doesn’t think the nationality of the referees will give Canada an advantage.
“(People) make a bigger deal out of it than it has to be,” Kronwall told reporters. “We’re all used to NHL referees at this level. I think it’s the right decision.”

Definately the Swedish media getting the excuses ready.

[alan21]

Forsberg does have a point.
The corrupt Canadians are up to no good again!!!

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by RyZ

http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2...y_already.html

“I don’t care,” said Swedish coach. “I hope they do their job. That’s all I can focus on. I can’t change it. No problem with that.”
Swedish captain Niklas Kronwall, a defenceman for the Detroit Red Wings, said he doesn’t think the nationality of the referees will give Canada an advantage.
“(People) make a bigger deal out of it than it has to be,” Kronwall told reporters. “We’re all used to NHL referees at this level. I think it’s the right decision.”

Definately the Swedish media getting the excuses ready.

Good response from Kronwall

[FlamesAddiction]

I think they should be from countries that are neutral.

This can actually backfire on Canada if the refs go out of their way to not appear biased.

[Tailgator]

Really Forsberg? Considering the embarrassing joke european refs are, you should be counting your lucky stars the refs are Canadian. I'm sure you would rather have guys that can be bullied by the crowd into calling penalties for body-checking, but you can't always have what you want. Dork.

[jeep991]

Are Canadian refs known to be corrupt and biased around the world? I don't get the hate. You want the best refs to ref the big games. By best I mean NHL refs, I have no idea if these are the best refs from the NHL though.

[midniteowl]

Seriously , he will be equally upset if the refs are Finn and Norwegians.

[jg13]

sounds like he's already making excuses for a Swedish loss tomorrow.

[jayocal]

Sweden better start worrying about Canada's roster instead of the referees.

IMO, they will have much more influence on the game

[Kswiss]

Lol, didn't Team Forsberg throw a game in 06 to avoid playing Canada. How can someone complain about integrity when they don't have it themselves.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Kswiss

Lol, didn't Team Forsberg throw a game in 06 to avoid playing Canada. How can someone complain about integrity when they don't have it themselves.

The Swedes have pulled this crap before. I can remember calling them "Team Sandbag" back in the Eighties.