The Rockets’ Red Glare: Understanding Sinclair’s and Canada’s Anger

It’s far too easy to call them childish, or spoiled, or just plain bitter. When Christine Sinclair tore into Norwegian ref What’s Her Name, it was clear that the entire nation felt slighted. Or, slapped.

Sinclair doesn’t blow her top too often. She is a Canadian, after all. Politeness seeps from her, much like it does from her opponents on the American side, Alex Morgan and the rest of that cast. (Well, not all of them, right Ms. So-low?)

So, while it sounds like the Canadians were whining over things they couldn’t control, you have to understand the situation. Speaking directly of the questionable officiating of one individual – which carried on for the full 120 minutes of Monday’s women’s semifinal – Sinclair and her team were honest and emotional.

Can you really blame them?

They’ve played their entire lives with nothing but a gold medal on their minds, and they finally had that chance. Canada can’t even fill a hand with the amount of wins they’ve historically had against any American soccer team. They just don’t beat them. 1-0. 1-1. 2-1. 2-2. 3-2. Yes! 3-3. 3-4.

Damn.

It was heartbreaking even without the botched officiating. Sinclair had just lost the biggest game of her life, a game that was a career in the making. She and her teammates may never get a shot like this again. Well, they almost surely won’t.

They had their hearts ripped out, and they feel someone in particular was responsible. After all, while goalkeeper Erin McLeod was holding the ball past the time limit, every one playing her position does. Nothing was deliberate, but it cost them the game. The referee made a call she would never normally make, and she made it in the game’s dying minutes.

After the loss, while Team Canada was trying to collect themselves and quell their justifiably bitter emotions, the cameras were shoved in their face and they vented. Good on them. It’s about time Canadians showed some flair, passion, and anger, and not just in the “Vancouver” way.

And, for that, they may get punished. Shame on FIFA, but we’re proud of our girls.