I still remember sitting in the stadium during that pivotal 2016 MLS season, feeling the collective groan ripple through the crowd after yet another questionable call went against the home team. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a veteran coach who perfectly captured what we were witnessing: "Sa isang malapitan na laro, kung magkakaron ka ng apat na bad calls against you, ang laking bagey na nun," he'd told me. "That will cost you 6-8 points in a close game, plus it will cost your momentum, it will cost your morale to go down." This insight became my lens for understanding the 2016 MLS season - a year where officiating controversies frequently overshadowed what was otherwise one of the most competitive campaigns in league history.
Looking back at the raw numbers, the 2016 MLS season produced some staggering statistics that still hold up today. The league's 20 teams combined for 1,317 goals across 340 regular season matches, averaging 2.87 goals per game - making it the highest-scoring season since 2011. But what the numbers don't show you are those critical moments where referee decisions genuinely altered championship trajectories. I'm convinced that at least three teams lost potential playoff positions due to controversial calls in crucial matches during the final month of the season. The Supporters' Shield race between FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids came down to just four points in the end, and when you consider that Dallas suffered through at least two clearly incorrect penalty decisions in their final eight matches, you start to understand how thin the margins really were.
The playoffs provided even more drama, though not always for the right reasons. Toronto FC's journey to their first MLS Cup appearance was marked by several contentious moments, particularly in their Eastern Conference semifinal against New York City FC. I was covering that match from press row, and the energy completely shifted after what most neutral observers agreed was a missed handball call that should have given NYCFC a penalty in the 68th minute. Instead of potentially tying the game, NYC's momentum evaporated, and Toronto scored twelve minutes later to seal the series. That single non-call didn't just affect one game - it altered the entire playoff landscape. The emotional toll on players was visible immediately; you could see shoulders slump and frustration boil over in ways that definitely carried into subsequent matches.
Seattle's championship run provided the perfect redemption arc for a team that had struggled with consistency throughout the season. Their 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Toronto in the MLS Cup Final capped off a remarkable postseason, but what many forget is how close they came to elimination in the Western Conference finals against Colorado. The Rapids dominated possession and created better chances for large stretches of the match, only to be undone by a questionable offside call that nullified a potential game-winning goal in the 83rd minute. Having rewatched that sequence dozens of times, I'm still not convinced it was the right call - the Rapids player appeared level at worst. That single decision essentially decided who would compete for the championship, and while Seattle certainly earned their trophy through gritty performances, the path there wasn't without controversy.
What fascinates me most about reviewing that season is recognizing how these officiating incidents sparked genuine change within the league. The 2016 campaign served as a catalyst for implementing VAR, which would debut the following year after numerous coaches and executives voiced concerns about game-changing errors. I've spoken with several players who competed that year, and many still harbor resentment about specific calls that cost their teams crucial points. One veteran defender told me he estimated his team lost "at least 11 points" directly from referee mistakes - a number that would have been enough to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. While we can debate the exact figure, the sentiment reflects how profoundly these moments impacted the competitive landscape.
The individual brilliance throughout the season often rose above the controversies, thank goodness. Bradley Wright-Phillips netting 24 goals for the Red Bulls, Sebastian Giovinco's incredible 17 goals and 15 assists for Toronto, and rookie Jordan Morris scoring 12 times for Seattle - these performances gave us moments of pure footballing joy amidst the frustration. I'll always remember Giovinco's stunning free kick against Montreal in the playoffs, a goal so perfect it temporarily made us forget about any officiating debates. That's the beautiful thing about soccer - moments of individual genius can transcend everything else happening on the pitch.
Reflecting on the 2016 MLS season seven years later, I'm struck by how those controversial moments ultimately strengthened the league's resolve to improve officiating standards. The introduction of VAR, while not perfect, represented a significant step toward addressing the very concerns that dominated conversations throughout that campaign. The tight scorelines and dramatic highlights from that season - from last-minute winners to spectacular saves - created a compelling product that helped MLS continue its growth trajectory. But for those of us who lived through that year week by week, we'll always remember it as a season where the human element of officiating proved just as decisive as the athletic brilliance on display. The final table showed Seattle as champions, but the true story of the 2016 MLS season lives in those narrow margins where games, and perhaps trophies, were won and lost through moments that had nothing to do with player skill or coaching strategy.
