# MLS: Is the ref wearing pepper spray? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 7, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mls-is-the-ref-wearing-pepper-spray/598853 "2011-10-07T02:12:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mls-is-the-ref-wearing-pepper-spray/598853/1 "2011-10-07T02:12:11Z")
I’m watching a bit of the Whitecaps Real Salt Lake game while waiting for the puck to drop in the Canucks game and the soccer ref has a canister on a hip belt behind his back. Pepper spray? Is MLS a goon league? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mls-is-the-ref-wearing-pepper-spray/598853/2 "2011-10-07T02:30:22Z")
It’s a paint or chalk spray to mark the 10 yard cushion that must ge given to a free kick. It’s a good idea, should be adopted by other leagues. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mls-is-the-ref-wearing-pepper-spray/598853/3 "2011-10-07T15:57:38Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > It’s a paint or chalk spray to mark the 10 yard cushion that must ge given to a free kick. It’s a good idea, should be adopted by other leagues. Or they could, you know, follow the rules as written and Yellow Card defenders delaying restarts by infringing. All need for magic spray would vanish in a couple of weeks…