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Jeff Carlisle
During the second-round qualifying match in the U.S. Open Cup between Bellevue Athletic and the uniquely named Sharktopus FC, Sharktopus manager Leo Ohannesian noticed something unusual. The Bellevue players appeared to have an unusually friendly rapport with the referee.
“As a dedicated soccer coach, I could question some of the calls,” Ohannesian told ESPN. “However, what struck me was how they referred to him as ‘buddy’ and used his first name. I thought, ‘That’s a bit strange.’ I typically call referees ‘sir.’
After Bellevue won the match 4-3, Ohannesian discovered the reason for the friendly tone: one of the Sharktopus players informed him that the referee had previously played for Bellevue.
Once home, Ohannesian browsed the referee’s Instagram and found footage of him as a player for Bellevue’s reserve team, B2.
“So, I reached out to U.S. Soccer and asked, ‘Is this something we can protest? Because it seems like a conflict of interest,'” he said. “Their response was, ‘What?'”
It turned out, not only was the situation protestable—at a cost of $500—but it led to the U.S. Open Cup adjudication & disciplinary panel’s decision to order a complete replay of the match.
“The replay has been ordered to ensure the integrity of the competition, given the confirmed conflict of interest, as the referee was a recent player for Bellevue Athletic’s second team, B2,” stated the panel.
The statement clarified, “The Panel wishes to emphasize that this decision does not imply any evidence or belief that any participant sought to influence the competition, nor should it be seen as a critique of the officiating during the match.”
Welcome to the unpredictable world of the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to teams of all levels across the country, where amateur sides often face off against professional squads. Established in 1913-14, it has occurred annually except for during the canceled 2020 and 2021 editions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The history of past champions is woven with the immigrant and working-class roots of the sport in the U.S., featuring teams like Bethlehem Steel and Fall River SC.
The likelihood that Bellevue Athletic or Sharktopus FC will join the ranks of past titans is slim. Since the inception of MLS in 1996, only one non-MLS team, the second-tier Rochester Rhinos, has secured the trophy, accomplishing this feat in 1999. Currently, only 16 out of 30 MLS teams participate, a disappointing trend for such a prestigious competition, although it still allows amateur clubs to compete against professional teams and gain recognition, whether through their performance or their team name.
Similar to cup competitions globally, it is not uncommon for lower-division teams to upset wealthier opponents. For instance, this year, the San Francisco-based amateur club El Farolito triumphed over professional teams like Real Monarchs of MLS Next PRO and Monterey Bay of the USL Championship.
There have been more than just surprising results. Former U.S. international Clint Dempsey was once banned for two years from the USOC for tearing up a referee’s notebook. The matches, often held in smaller venues, create a charged atmosphere.
The origins of the name Sharktopus FC have faded into obscurity. When asked about it, Ohannesian remarked, “No one knows.”
Amateur teams appear and disappear like raindrops during a storm, yet they often serve as vital connections within the community. Ohannesian recalled how, upon moving to the Seattle area in 2017, he found himself feeling “kind of lonely,” and it was through soccer that he discovered a community of like-minded individuals. Staying true to the animal-inspired theme, Sharktopus competes in the RATS League (for Recreational Adult Team Soccer) and has gradually improved its game to qualify for the USOC.
The involvement of such teams makes local rivalries an integral aspect of the tournament; hence the controversy surrounding the Bellevue-Sharktopus match.
Bellevue Athletic’s sporting director, Anastacio Rivera, acknowledged that the situation should not have occurred. He confirmed to ESPN that the referee is well-known in the Seattle area and had played for B2 as recently as June. Rivera mentioned that prior to the match, they asked the referee if there was any issue with officiating the game, and he assured them there was not.
Bellevue now feels unjustly penalized for a circumstance beyond its control. U.S. Soccer sources clarified that neither team is at fault. The referee has also received high ratings in prior matches. However, maintaining the integrity of the tournament is crucial, which Rivera fully understands.
“I want to be clear that we support the sentiment around avoiding conflicts of interest,” Rivera stated. “[The referee] probably shouldn’t have officiated our game. We felt that way, but when you ask him and he claims it’s all cleared, there’s not much more we can do in that moment.”
Rivera noted that Bellevue has lodged an appeal against the adjudication & disciplinary panel’s decision, meeting the Wednesday 4 p.m. CT deadline and paying a $500 fee.
If the ruling stands, the replay must be conducted before the third round of the competition begins on November 1, adding yet another wild chapter to the history of the USOC.