Malian referee under extreme heat for controversial call

It appears that the referees are once again getting the blame for a game's undesirable outcome.

Just like in other sports (i.e. basketball, MMA, boxing, etc.), the referees are taking the heat from the fans as a controversial call leads to a 2-2 draw between world cup teams USA and Slovenia in their June 18 match.

Malian Referee Koman Coulibaly made the controversial call at the 86th minute of the match, when American Maurice Edu scored another goal that could have given team USA the lead at 3:2. Coulibaly disallowed the goal due to offside.

The result? Huge outcry from the fans as evidenced by this sampling from twitter:

elkabong: I am absolutely, positively fucking apalled by the actions of the Slovenian team, and those of Koman Coulibaly. People should be rioting.

rt_mundial2010: Sudafrica 2010: 10 Catastrophes Blamed on Koman Coulibaly, the Awful Ref http://trim.su/X7TS (by Digger) #Sudafrica2010, #Mundial
chris_leung: The #USA #Worldcup team "got jobbed by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly" - Sports Illustrated: http://bit.ly/aGRDJu

leeunidas: Dear Koman Coulibaly: - We know you fucked up our goal. You know you fucked up our goal. Its over now, so... http://tumblr.com/xjhbv9vmr

MrSportsBlog: U.S. soccer team reels from bad call on Edu goal by Koman Coulibaly http://bit.ly/civSjs

MrSportsBlog: Many Americans still mad about lame World Cup ref Koman Coulibaly http://mrsportsblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/soccer-call-equals-robbery/

cvilleminer70: I DONT CARE WHAT ANY ONE SAYS USA WON 3-2. Koman Coulibaly NEEDS TO FUCKING GO.:

luketadams: Friday was an awful day for USA Soccer, the World Cup & Koman Coulibaly but it was a great day for Jim Joyce & Don Denkinger.

reemsaied: The Thief From Mali, referee Koman Coulibaly robs #USA from 3-2 win over #Slovenia. http://ow.ly/20N6I #worldcup2010

ryanrees1: @GoalUSA I do not think that referee, Koman Coulibaly will ever get a Visa or Green card to the United States after that pathetic display.

I definitely can't blame the fans for feeling this way, given the degree of difficulty in scoring in the sport. But I can't help but feel for the referee. Indeed, hard would be an understatement if you are to describe the task of officiating matches, especially at a stage as big as this.