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Mike Petke, Real Salt Lake coach, doesn’t play the same game many coaches do. He doesn’t duck his head and avoid making a controversial comment — and he definitely doesn’t hold back.
Today, being who he is, he revealed his fine from MLS commissioner Don Garber for his most recent scathing comments about MLS refereeing: $3,000.
I'll disclose my fine I believe in transparency and ACCOUNTABILITY. Accountability both from myself as well as all other party's. $3000 https://t.co/6CGWLmOaTf
— @petkemike (@petkemike) August 11, 2017
That fine was previously undisclosed, as you might imagine — that’s how all fines in this league are, really. There are lots of reasons for that, but those aren’t Mike Petke’s reasons. He’s a man with his own reasons, and for that, he deserves accolades and commendations.
Transparency and accountability: Those are two things Petke has preached during his still-short reign at Real Salt Lake. If he continues to hold himself to that standard as much as he holds his teams to it, he will continue to grow in stature in RSL supporters’ eyes.
After all, it’s that ethos that has started to take over at Real Salt Lake. It’s had some interesting consequences, and it will continue to do so, but it’s extremely clear at this point that we’re finally worrying about meaningful on-pitch decisions again. Long may that be the case.