TFC's Altidore: MLS referees 'some of the worst in the world'

TORONTO, ON - April 6 At the end of the game, Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore (17) tousles the hair of Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (31) with whom he battled throughout the afternoon. The Toronto Football Club (TFC) ttied the Chicago Fire 2-2 at BMO field in Toronto in MLS action. April 6, 2019 (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Richard Lautens / Toronto Star / Getty

Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore didn't pull any punches in assessing the quality - or lack thereof - of officiating in MLS.

Away on international duty, Altidore missed TFC's 1-1 draw with D.C. United on Saturday night, though the U.S. international did catch an incident in which teammate Ayo Akinola was denied what resembled a stonewall penalty.

"MLS refs are some of the worst in the world. Absolutely horrible," Altidore noted in a tweet highlighting the foul.

Here's the incident in question:

That’s gonna have to be a “hmm” from me chief 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Wvpz1oGU8J
— Eric Giacometti (@Eric_Giacometti) June 30, 2019

VAR was not employed in this instance, but the embattled video review technology was used in added time when match official Robert Sibiga awarded D.C. a penalty for a foul on Frederic Brillant. Wayne Rooney scored the spot-kick to deny Toronto an unlikely away victory with a makeshift starting XI.